Method and Apparatus for Determining the Position Using Radio Signals and Atmospheric Pressure

• US 20150309155A1
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Belloni, Fabio, Kainulainen, Antti, Ranki, Ville
• Application Number:
  US13/637,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20150309155A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02585 at least one of the measurements being a non-radio measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/12 by co-ordinating position lines of different shape, e.g. hyperbolic, circular, elliptical or radial
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method comprising: receiving signals associated with multiple antenna elements; determining constraint information based upon an atmospheric pressure measurement taken at an apparatus; and using the received signals and the constraint information to determine the position of the apparatus.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A method comprising:

receiving signals associated with multiple antenna elements;

determining constraint information based upon an atmospheric pressure measurement taken at an apparatus; and

using the received signals and the constraint information to determine the position of the apparatus, wherein the constraint information is dependent upon a ratio of a reference pressure and the taken pressure measurement.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the constraint information is dependent upon one or more reference pressures and the taken pressure measurement.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the reference pressure is a current atmospheric pressure measurement at a reference location.

23. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the constraint information is a height dependent upon the taken pressure measurement.

24. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the constraint information is dependent upon an atmosphere model and the taken pressure measurement.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the atmosphere model is updated via received data.

26. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein receiving signals associated with multiple antenna elements comprises receiving at the multiple antenna elements at a receiver a signal transmitted from the apparatus.

27. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein using the received signals and the constraint information to determine the position of the apparatus comprises:

estimating a bearing of the apparatus from the receiver using the received signals; and

estimating a position of the apparatus using the estimated bearing and the constraint information.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the multiple antenna elements are antenna elements of a ceiling mounted antenna array.

29. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein receiving signals associated with multiple antenna elements comprises receiving at the apparatus multiple signals transmitted from respective multiple antenna elements at different locations.

30. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein using the received signals and the constraint information to determine the position of the apparatus comprises:

estimating a bearing for the apparatus using the received signals;

estimating a position of the apparatus using the estimated bearing and the constraint information.

31. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the received radio signals are beacon signals.

32. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

determine constraint information based upon an atmospheric pressure measurement taken at an apparatus, wherein the constraint information is dependent upon a ratio of a reference pressure and the taken pressure measurement; and

use received signals associated with multiple antenna elements

and the constraint information to determine the position of the apparatus.

33. An apparatus as claimed in claim 32 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform the method of claim 32.

34. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving signals associated with multiple antenna elements;

means for determining constraint information based upon an atmospheric pressure measurement taken at an apparatus;

means for using the received signals and the constraint information to determine the position of the apparatus, wherein the constraint information is dependent upon a ratio of a reference pressure and the taken pressure measurement.

35. A computer program which when loaded into a processor enables the processor to:

determine constraint information based upon an atmospheric pressure measurement taken at an apparatus, wherein the constraint information is dependent upon a ratio of a reference pressure and the taken pressure measurement; and

use received signals associated with multiple antenna elements

and the constraint information to determine the position of the apparatus.

36. An apparatus comprising:

a pressure sensor configured to take a local atmospheric pressure measurement;

a transmitter configured to transmit a signal for positioning the apparatus, the signal encoding the local atmospheric pressure measurement.

37. A system comprising:

an apparatus

A computer program which when loaded into a processor enables the processor to;

determine constraint information based upon an atmospheric pressure measurement taken at an apparatus, wherein the constraint information is dependent upon a ratio of a reference pressure and the taken pressure measurement; and

use received signals associated with multiple antenna elements

and the constraint information to determine the position of the apparatus and

an apparatus wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform the method of determining constraint information based upon an atmospheric pressure measurement taken at an apparatus, wherein the constraint information is dependent upon a ratio of a reference pressure and the taken pressure measurement; and

using received signals associated with multiple antenna elements

and the constraint information to determine the position of the apparatus.

38. A computer product comprising computer executable program code on a computer readable non-transitory medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code for perform the method of determining constraint information based upon an atmospheric pressure measurement taken at an apparatus, wherein the constraint information is dependent upon a ratio of a reference pressure and the taken pressure measurement; and

using received signals associated with multiple antenna elements

and the constraint information to determine the position of the apparatus.