SYNCHRONOUS NETWORK DEVICE TIME TRANSFER FOR LOCATION DETERMINATION

• US 20140253373A1
• Filed: 03/08/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Srivastava, Aditya N.
• Granted Patent: US 9,274,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.42
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems

Abstract

Examples disclosed herein relate to a method performed at a first mobile station that includes receiving a request for positioning assistance data from a second mobile station over a communication link; and transmitting one or more messages to the second mobile station in response to the request, wherein the one or more messages include the requested positioning assistance data, wherein the first mobile station is on a synchronous network.

Claims

1. A method for location determination, the method comprising, at a first mobile station:

receiving a request for positioning assistance data from a second mobile station over a communication link; and

transmitting one or more messages to the second mobile station in response to said request, wherein said one or more messages include the requested positioning assistance data, wherein said first mobile station is on a synchronous network, wherein said requested positioning assistance data comprises at least a current time according to said synchronous network and a time uncertainty.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said second mobile station is on an asynchronous network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said positioning assistance data comprises Doppler windows.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication link comprises a peer-to-peer communication link.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said request for positioning assistance data comprises a broadcast available to more than one mobile station.

6. A mobile station comprising:

a receiver to receive a request for positioning assistance data from another mobile station over a communication link; and

a transmitter to transmit one or more messages to said another mobile station in response to said request, wherein said one or more messages include the requested positioning assistance data, wherein said mobile station is on a synchronous network, wherein said requested positioning assistance data comprises at least a current time according to said synchronous network and a time uncertainty.

7. The mobile station of claim 6, wherein said another mobile station is on an asynchronous network.

8. The mobile station of claim 6, wherein said positioning assistance data further comprises Doppler windows.

9. The mobile station of claim 6, wherein said communication link comprises a peer-to-peer communication link.

10. An article comprising:

a storage medium of a first mobile station comprising machine-readable instructions stored thereon which are executable by a special purpose computing apparatus to;

process a request for positioning assistance data from a second mobile station over a communication link; and

initiate transmission of one or more messages to the second mobile station in response to said request, wherein said one or more messages include the requested positioning assistance data, wherein said first mobile station is on a synchronous network.

11. The article of claim 10, wherein said second mobile station is on an asynchronous network.

12. The article of claim 10, wherein said positioning assistance data comprises Doppler windows.

13. The article of claim 10, wherein said communication link comprises a peer-to-peer communication link.

14. The article of claim 10, wherein said request for positioning assistance data comprises a broadcast available to more than one mobile station.

15. A mobile station comprising:

means for receiving a request for positioning assistance data from another mobile station over a communication link; and

means for transmitting one or more messages to said another mobile station in response to said request, wherein said one or more messages include the requested positioning assistance data, wherein said mobile station is on a synchronous network.

16. The mobile station of claim 15, wherein said another mobile station is on an asynchronous network.

17. The mobile station of claim 15, wherein said positioning assistance data comprises Doppler windows.

18. The mobile station of claim 15, wherein said communication link comprises a peer-to-peer communication link.

19. The mobile station of claim 15, wherein said request for positioning assistance data comprises a broadcast available to more than one mobile station.

20. A method for location determination, the method comprising, at a first mobile station:

transmitting a broadcast message through a wireless communication link requesting positioning assistance data;

receiving, in response to said broadcast message, one or more response messages from a second mobile station on a synchronous network, wherein said one or more response messages include the requested positioning assistance data; and

applying said positioning assistance data to acquisition of a network signal.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said network signal comprises a satellite positioning system (SPS) signal.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said network signal comprises a land-based signal.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said positioning assistance data comprises an estimate of time according to said synchronous network.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein said positioning assistance data further comprises a time uncertainty.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

determining whether said estimate of time according to said synchronous network is more accurate than an estimate of time in possession of said first mobile station before said receiving, said determining based, at least in part, on said time uncertainty.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said estimate of time in possession of said first mobile station before said receiving comprises a time reference based, at least in part, on an internal dock of said first mobile station.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein said mobile station is on an asynchronous network.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein said positioning assistance data further comprises Doppler windows.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein said wireless communication link comprises a peer-to-peer communication link.

30. A mobile station comprising:

a transmitter to transmit a broadcast message through a wireless communication link requesting positioning assistance data;

a receiver to receive, in response to said broadcast message, one or more response messages from another mobile station on a synchronous network, wherein said one or more response messages include the requested positioning assistance data; and

a processor to;

apply said positioning assistance data to acquisition of a satellite positioning system (SPS) signal.

31. The mobile station of claim 30, wherein said positioning assistance data comprises an estimate of time according to said synchronous network.

32. The mobile station of claim 31, wherein said positioning assistance data further comprises a time uncertainty.

33. The mobile station of claim 30, wherein said mobile station is on an asynchronous network.

34. The mobile station of claim 30, wherein said positioning assistance data comprises Doppler windows.

35. The mobile station of claim 30, wherein said wireless communication link comprises a peer-to-peer communication link.

36. An article comprising:

A storage medium comprising machine-readable instructions stored thereon which are executable by a special purpose computing apparatus in a mobile station to;

initiate transmission of a broadcast message through a wireless communication link requesting positioning assistance data; and

apply positioning assistance data to acquisition of a satellite positioning system (SPS) signal, wherein said positioning assistance data is included in one or more response messages received in response to said broadcast message from another mobile station on a synchronous network.

37. The article of claim 36, wherein said positioning assistance data comprises an estimate of time according to said synchronous network.

38. The article of claim 37, wherein said positioning assistance data further comprises a time uncertainty.

39. The article of claim 36, wherein said mobile station is on an asynchronous network.

40. The article of claim 36, wherein said positioning assistance data comprises Doppler windows.

41. The article of claim 36, wherein said wireless communication link comprises a peer-to-peer communication link.

42. A mobile station comprising:

means for transmitting a broadcast message through a wireless communication link requesting positioning assistance data;

means for receiving, in response to said broadcast message, one or more response messages from another mobile station on a synchronous network, wherein said one or more response messages include the requested positioning assistance data; and

means for applying said positioning assistance data to acquisition of a satellite positioning system (SPS) signal.

43. The mobile station of claim 42, wherein said positioning assistance data comprises an estimate of time according to said synchronous network.

44. The mobile station of claim 43, wherein said positioning assistance data further comprises a time uncertainty.

45. The mobile station of claim 42, wherein said mobile station is on an asynchronous network.

46. The mobile station of claim 42, wherein said positioning assistance data comprises Doppler windows.

47. The mobile station of claim 42, wherein said wireless communication link comprises a peer-to-peer communication link.

48. A method for location determination, the method comprising, at a first mobile station:

transmitting a broadcast message through a wireless communication link requesting positioning assistance data;

receiving, in response to said broadcast message, one or more response messages from a second mobile station and a third mobile station on a synchronous network, wherein said one or more response messages include the requested positioning assistance data comprising a first time uncertainty corresponding to said second mobile station and a second time uncertainty corresponding to said third mobile station; and

comparing said first and second time uncertainties to determine whether to apply said positioning assistance data of said second mobile station or said third mobile station to acquisition of a satellite positioning system (SPS) signal.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said first mobile station is on an asynchronous network.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein said positioning assistance data comprises Doppler windows.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein said wireless communication link comprises a peer-to-peer communication link.