MULTI-MODE WIRELESS POSITION ASSOCIATION

• US 20140155084A1
• Filed: 12/03/2012
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Pon, Rayman Wai
• Application Number:
  US13/692,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20140155084A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0236 Assistance data, e.g. base station almanac
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0242 Determining the position of transmitters to be subsequently used in positioning G01S5/0289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

Position information obtained from a first wireless communication point may be associated with a second wireless communication point when signals are received from both the first and second wireless communication points, e.g., at or approximately at the same time. The wireless communication points may be, e.g., wireless network base station, access points, femto cells, etc. The position information may be a position for the first wireless communication point and a position uncertainty, which may be based on distances to the first and second wireless communication points, e.g., determined using wireless signal characteristics. The position information may be an uncertainty region determined based on position information from multiple wireless communication points. The position information associated with the second wireless communication point may be used in an application, e.g., obtaining a GPS position fix.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining position information from a first wireless signal from a first wireless communication point;

receiving a second wireless signal from a second wireless communication point;

associating the position information with the second wireless communication point; and

storing the position information associated with the second wireless communication point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication point and the second wireless communication point are in different wireless networks.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second wireless signal is received at approximately the same time as the first wireless signal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising uploading the position information associated with the second wireless communication point to a server.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving the position information associated with the second wireless communication point; and

using the position information in an application.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication point and the second wireless communication point comprise at least one of a wireless network base station, an access point, and a femto cell.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the position information comprises a position for the first wireless communication point and a position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point with respect to the position for the first wireless communication point.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point with respect to the position for the first wireless communication point is based on a first distance to the first wireless communication point and a second distance to the second wireless communication point.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining the position uncertainty comprising:

determining a first signal characteristic for the first wireless signal, the first signal characteristic comprising at least one of a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and a travel time;

using the first signal characteristic to determine the first distance to the first wireless communication point;

determining a second signal characteristic for the second wireless signal;

using the second signal characteristic to determine the second distance to the second wireless communication point; and

combining the first distance and the second distance to generate the position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point with respect to the position for the first wireless communication point.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

using the position information associated with the second wireless communication point and position uncertainty data associated with a third wireless communication point to determine a second position information for the third wireless communication point, wherein the second position information comprises the position for the first wireless communication point and a second position uncertainty for the third wireless communication point based on the position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point and a third distance to the third wireless communication point.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the position information comprises an uncertainty region, the method further comprising determining an uncertainty region comprising:

determining a plurality of positions of a corresponding plurality of wireless communication points from a plurality of wireless signals received from the plurality of wireless communication points;

determining associated position uncertainties for the second wireless communication point with respect to each of the plurality of positions; and

using the plurality of positions and associated positioned uncertainties to determine the uncertainty region for the second wireless communication point.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the position information for the first wireless communication point is determined using a database or is contained within the first wireless signal.

13. A mobile device comprising:

a wireless interface capable of receiving a first wireless signal from a first wireless communication point and capable of communicating with a second wireless communication point;

a storage element; and

a processor coupled the storage element and the wireless interface, the processor configured to determine position information from the first wireless signal, associate the position information with the second wireless communication point, and to store the position information associated with the second wireless communication point in the storage element.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the first wireless communication point and the second wireless communication point are in different wireless networks.

15. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the second wireless signal is received at approximately the same time as the first wireless signal.

16. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the wireless interface to upload the position information associated with the second wireless communication point to a server.

17. The mobile device of claim 13, further comprising:

wherein the processor is further configured to retrieve the position information associated with the second wireless communication point, and use the position information in an application.

18. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the first wireless communication point and the second wireless communication point comprise at least one of a wireless network base station, an access point, and a femto cell.

19. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to determine the position information by being configured to determine from the first wireless signal a position for the first wireless communication point and a position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point with respect to the position for the first wireless communication point.

20. The mobile device of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured to determine the position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point with respect to the position for the first wireless communication point based on a first distance to the first wireless communication point and a second distance to the second wireless communication point.

21. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the position uncertainty by being configured to:

determine a first signal characteristic for the first wireless signal, the first signal characteristic comprising at least one of a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and a travel time;

use the first signal characteristic to determine the first distance to the first wireless communication point;

determine a second signal characteristic for a second wireless signal received from the second wireless communication point;

use the second signal characteristic to determine the second distance to the second wireless communication point;

combine the first distance and the second distance to generate the position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point with respect to the position for the first wireless communication point.

22. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to use the position information associated with the second wireless communication point and position uncertainty data associated with a third wireless communication point stored in the storage element to determine a second position information for the third wireless communication point, wherein the second position information comprises the position for the first wireless communication point and a second position uncertainty for the third wireless communication point based on the position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point and a third distance to the third wireless communication point.

23. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to determine the position information by being configured to determine an uncertainty region by being configured to:

determine a plurality of positions of a corresponding plurality of wireless communication points from a plurality of wireless signals received by the wireless interface from the plurality of wireless communication points;

determine associated position uncertainties for the second wireless communication point with respect to each of the plurality of positions; and

use the plurality of positions and associated positioned uncertainties to determine the uncertainty region for the second wireless communication point.

24. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to determine the position information for the first wireless communication point from the storage element or from the first wireless signal.

25. A mobile device comprising:

means for determining position information from a first wireless signal from a first wireless communication point;

means for receiving a second wireless signal from a second wireless communication point;

means for associating the position information with the second wireless communication point; and

means for storing the position information associated with the second wireless communication point.

26. The mobile device of claim 25, further comprising:

means for retrieving the position information associated with the second wireless communication point; and

means for using the position information in an application.

27. The mobile device of claim 25, wherein the position information comprises a position for the first wireless communication point and a position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point with respect to the position for the first wireless communication point.

28. The mobile device of claim 27, wherein the position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point with respect to the position for the first wireless communication point is based on a first distance to the first wireless communication point and a second distance to the second wireless communication point.

29. The mobile device of claim 28, further comprising:

means for using the position information associated with the second wireless communication point and position uncertainty data associated with a third wireless communication point to determine a second position information for the third wireless communication point, wherein the second position information comprises the position for the first wireless communication point and a second position uncertainty for the third wireless communication point based on the position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point and a third distance to the third wireless communication point.

30. The mobile device of claim 25, wherein the position information comprises an uncertainty region, the mobile device further comprising:

means for determining a plurality of positions of a corresponding plurality of wireless communication points from a plurality of wireless signals received from the plurality of wireless communication points;

means for determining associated position uncertainties for the second wireless communication point with respect to each of the plurality of positions; and

means for using the plurality of positions and associated positioned uncertainties to determine the uncertainty region for the second wireless communication point.

31. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code stored thereon, comprising:

program code to determine position information from a first wireless signal from a first wireless communication point;

program code to receive a second wireless signal from a second wireless communication point;

program code to associate the position information with the second wireless communication point; and

program code to store the position information associated with the second wireless communication point.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, further comprising:

program code to retrieve the position information associated with the second wireless communication point; and

program code to use the position information in an application.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the position information comprises a position for the first wireless communication point and a position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point with respect to the position for the first wireless communication point.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point with respect to the position for the first wireless communication point is based on a first distance to the first wireless communication point and a second distance to the second wireless communication point.

35. A method comprising:

receiving a first wireless signal from a first wireless communication point;

retrieving position information associated with the first wireless communication point, wherein the position information associated with the first wireless communication point is based on position data broadcast by a second wireless communication point; and

using the position information associated with the first wireless communication point in an application.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the first wireless communication point and the second wireless communication point are in different wireless networks.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein using the position information associated with the first wireless communication point in an application comprises using the position information to assist in obtaining a position fix from a satellite, geofencing or obtaining local weather conditions.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the position information is retrieved from one of a local database and a server.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein the first wireless communication point and the second wireless communication point comprises at least one of a wireless network base station, an access point, and a femto cell.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein the position information comprises a position for the second wireless communication point and a position uncertainty for the first wireless communication point with respect to the position for the second wireless communication point.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein the position information comprises an uncertainty region defined by a plurality of positions for a plurality of wireless communication points and a plurality of position uncertainties for the first wireless communication point with respect to the plurality of positions.

42. A mobile device comprising:

a wireless interface capable of receiving a first wireless signal from a first wireless communication point; and

a processor coupled the wireless interface, the processor configured to retrieve position information associated with the first wireless communication point, wherein the position information associated with the first wireless communication point is based on position data broadcast by a second wireless communication point, and use the position information associated with the first wireless communication point in an application.

43. The mobile device of claim 42, wherein the processor is configured to use the position information associated with the first wireless communication point in an application by being configured to use the position information to assist in obtaining a position fix from a satellite positioning system using a satellite positioning system receiver coupled to the processor, geofencing, or obtaining local weather conditions.

44. The mobile device of claim 42, wherein the processor is configured to retrieve the position information from one of a local database and a server using the wireless interface.

45. The mobile device of claim 42, wherein the first wireless communication point and the second wireless communication point comprises at least one of a wireless network base station, an access point, and a femto cell.

46. The mobile device of claim 42, wherein the position information comprises at least one of a position for the second wireless communication point with a position uncertainty for the first wireless communication point with respect to the position of the second wireless communication point and an uncertainty region defined by a plurality of positions for a plurality of wireless communication points and a plurality of position uncertainties for the first wireless communication point with respect to the plurality of positions.

47. A mobile device comprising:

means for receiving a first wireless signal from a first wireless communication point;

means for retrieving position information associated with the first wireless communication point, wherein the position information associated with the first wireless communication point is based on position data broadcast by a second wireless communication point; and

means for using the position information associated with the first wireless communication point in an application.

48. The mobile device claim 47, wherein the means for using the position information associated with the first wireless communication point in an application uses the position information to assist in obtaining a position fix from a satellite positioning system, geofencing, or obtaining local weather conditions.

49. The mobile device claim 47, wherein the means for retrieving position information retrieves the position information from one of a local database and a server.

50. The mobile device claim 47, wherein the position information comprises at least one of a position for the second wireless communication point with a position uncertainty for the first wireless communication point with respect to the position for the second wireless communication point and an uncertainty region defined by a plurality of positions for a plurality of wireless communication points and a plurality of position uncertainties for the first wireless communication point with respect to the plurality of positions.

51. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code stored thereon, comprising:

program code to receive a first wireless signal from a first wireless communication point;

program code to retrieve position information associated with the first wireless communication point, wherein the position information associated with the first wireless communication point is based on position data broadcast by a second wireless communication point; and

program code to use the position information associated with the first wireless communication point in an application.

52. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 51, wherein the position information comprises at least one of a position for the second wireless communication point with a position uncertainty for the first wireless communication point with respect to the position for the second wireless communication point and an uncertainty region defined by a plurality of positions for a plurality of wireless communication points and a plurality of position uncertainties for the first wireless communication point with respect to the plurality of positions.

53. A method comprising:

receiving from a remote mobile device position information obtained from a first wireless communication point and an identification of a second wireless communication point that is accessed by the remote mobile device;

associating the position information obtained from the first wireless communication point with the second wireless communication point; and

storing the position information associated with the second wireless communication point.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the first wireless communication point and the second wireless communication point are in different wireless networks.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein the second wireless communication point is accessed by the remote mobile device at approximately the same time as the first wireless communication point.

56. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

receiving a request for the position information associated with the second wireless communication point; and

transmitting the position information associated with the second wireless communication point.

57. The method of claim 53, wherein the first wireless communication point and the second wireless communication point comprise at least one of a wireless network base station, an access point, and a femto cell.

58. The method of claim 53, wherein the position information comprises a position for the first wireless communication point and a position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point with respect to the position for the first wireless communication point.

59. The method of claim 53, wherein the position information comprises a position for the first wireless communication point, the method further comprising:

obtaining a first distance between the remote mobile device and the first wireless communication point;

obtaining a second distance between the remote mobile device and the second wireless communication point; and

combining the first distance and the second distance to generate a position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point respect to the position for the first wireless communication point.

60. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

receiving and storing position uncertainty data associated with a third wireless communication point; and

using the position information associated with the second wireless communication point and the position uncertainty data associated with the third wireless communication point to determine a second position information for the third wireless communication point, wherein the second position information comprises a position for the first wireless communication point and a second position uncertainty for the third wireless communication point with respect to the position of the first wireless communication point.

61. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of position information obtained from a plurality of wireless communication points;

using the plurality of position information to determine an uncertainty region for the second wireless communication point; and

storing the uncertainty region for the second wireless communication point.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein each of the position information comprises a position of a different wireless communication point and an associated position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point with respect to the position of the different wireless communication point.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein each of the position information comprises a position of a different wireless communication point and corresponding position uncertainty data associated with the second wireless communication point, the method further comprising using the corresponding position uncertainty data to determine an associated position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point with respect to the position of the different wireless communication point.

64. A server comprising:

an external interface for communication with remote mobile devices;

a storage element; and

a processor coupled to the external interface and the storage element, the processor configured to receive from a remote mobile device through the external interface position information obtained from a first wireless communication point and an identification of a second wireless communication point that is accessed by the remote mobile device;

associate the position information obtained from the first wireless communication point with the second wireless communication point; and

store the position information associated with the second wireless communication point in the storage element.

65. The server of claim 64, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive through the external interface a request for the position information associated with the second wireless communication point; and

transmit through the external interface the position information associated with the second wireless communication point.

66. The server of claim 64, wherein the position information comprises a position for the first wireless communication point and a position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point with respect to the position for the first wireless communication point.

67. The server of claim 64, wherein the position information comprises a position for the first wireless communication point, the processor further configured to:

obtain a first distance between the remote mobile device and the first wireless communication point;

obtain a second distance between the remote mobile device and the second wireless communication point; and

combine the first distance and the second distance to generate a position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point with respect to the position for the first wireless communication point.

68. The server of claim 64, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive and store position uncertainty data associated with a third wireless communication point; and

use the position information associated with the second wireless communication point and the position uncertainty data associated with the third wireless communication point to determine a second position information for the third wireless communication point, wherein the second position information comprises a position for the first wireless communication point and a second position uncertainty for the third wireless communication point with respect to the position for the first wireless communication point.

69. The server of claim 64, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a plurality of position information obtained from a plurality of wireless communication points;

use the plurality of position information to determine an uncertainty region for the second wireless communication point; and

store the uncertainty region for the second wireless communication point in the storage element.

70. A server comprising:

means for receiving from a remote mobile device position information obtained from a first wireless communication point and an identification of a second wireless communication point that is accessed by the remote mobile device;

means for associating the position information obtained from the first wireless communication point with the second wireless communication point; and

means for storing the position information associated with the second wireless communication point.

71. The server of claim 70, further comprising:

means for receiving a request for the position information associated with the second wireless communication point; and

means for transmitting the position information associated with the second wireless communication point.

72. The server of claim 70, wherein the position information comprises a position for the first wireless communication point and a position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point with respect to the position for the first wireless communication point.

73. The server of claim 70, wherein the position information comprises a position for the first wireless communication point, the server further comprising:

means for obtaining a first distance between the remote mobile device and the first wireless communication point;

means for obtaining a second distance between the remote mobile device and the second wireless communication point; and

means for combining the first distance and the second distance to generate a position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point with respect to the position for the first wireless communication point.

74. The server of claim 70, further comprising:

means for receiving and storing position uncertainty data associated with a third wireless communication point; and

means for using the position information associated with the second wireless communication point and the position uncertainty data associated with the third wireless communication point to determine a second position information for the third wireless communication point, wherein the second position information comprises a position for the first wireless communication point and a second position uncertainty for the third wireless communication point with respect to the position for the first wireless communication point.

75. The server of claim 70, further comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of position information obtained from a plurality of wireless communication points;

means for using the plurality of position information to determine an uncertainty region for the second wireless communication point; and

means for storing the uncertainty region for the second wireless communication point.

76. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code stored thereon, comprising:

program code to receive from a remote mobile device position information obtained from a first wireless communication point and an identification of a second wireless communication point that is accessed by the remote mobile device;

program code to associate the position information obtained from the first wireless communication point with the second wireless communication point; and

program code to store the position information associated with the second wireless communication point.

77. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 76, further comprising:

program code to receive a request for the position information associated with the second wireless communication point; and

program code to transmit the position information associated with the second wireless communication point.

78. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 76, wherein the position information comprises a position for the first wireless communication point and a position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point with respect to the position for the first wireless communication point.

79. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 76, wherein the position information comprises a position for the first wireless communication point, the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprising:

program code to obtain a first distance between the remote mobile device and the first wireless communication point;

program code to obtain a second distance between the remote mobile device and the second wireless communication point; and

program code to combine the first distance and the second distance to generate a position uncertainty for the second wireless communication point with respect to the position for the first wireless communication point.

80. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 76, further comprising:

program code to receive and storing position uncertainty data associated with a third wireless communication point; and

program code to use the position information associated with the second wireless communication point and the position uncertainty data associated with the third wireless communication point to determine a second position information for the third wireless communication point, wherein the second position information comprises a position for the first wireless communication point and a second position uncertainty for the third wireless communication point with respect to the position for the first wireless communication point.

81. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 76, further comprising:

program code to receive a plurality of position information obtained from a plurality of wireless communication points;

program code to use the plurality of position information to determine an uncertainty region for the second wireless communication point; and

program code to store the uncertainty region for the second wireless communication point.