Multiple location estimates in a cellular communication system

• US 6,449,486 B1
• Filed: 05/25/1999
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Polaris Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Polaris Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Rao, Padmanabha R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Congvan
• Application Number:
  US09/318,678
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456, 455/403, 455/436, 455/422, 455/437, 455/439, 455/440, 455/12.1, 455/13.2, 455/9, 342/352, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.08
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0045 Transmission from base station to mobile station G01S5/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Technique for determining the location of a mobile unit in a wireless communication system and presenting it to a remote party. In a scenario with first and second position estimates, the first position estimate is presented within a first predetermined time interval of call setup between the mobile unit and the remote party, and, if the second position estimate is available for presentation to the remote party, the second position estimate is presented within a second predetermined time interval after presentation of the first position estimate. Else, status information on availability of the second position estimate is presented within the second predetermined time interval.

Claims

1. A method for presenting a first and second position estimate of a mobile unit to a remote party in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

presenting the first position estimate within a first predetermined time interval of call setup between said mobile unit and said remote party; and

presenting the second position estimate within a second predetermined time interval after presentation of the first position estimate, if the second position estimate is available for presentation to the remote party,

else presenting a status information on availability of said second position estimate within said second predetermined time interval after presentation of said first position estimate to said remote party.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first position estimate is derived from the identity of the cell in which the mobile unit is located.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first position estimate is derived from a multitude of cell identities provided to the remote party by the mobile unit.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second position estimate is derived from the interaction of the mobile unit with the wireless network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second position estimate is derived from a GPS receiver embedded in the mobile unit.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the status information consists of the state of the GPS receiver in the mobile unit.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the status information consists of the availability of satellite signals to the GPS receiver in the mobile unit.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the status information includes the expected time of arrival of the second position estimate.

9. A method for presenting a first and second position estimate of a mobile unit to a remote party in a wireless communication network, the second position estimate being derived from a GPS receiver embedded in the mobile unit, the method comprising:

presenting the first position estimate within a first predetermined time interval of call setup between said mobile unit and said remote party; and

presenting the second position estimate within a second predetermined time interval after presentation of the first position estimate, if the second position estimate is available for presentation to the remote party,

else presenting, within said second predetermined time interval after presentation of said first position estimate to said remote party, a status information including the expected time of arrival of the second position estimate,

wherein if the second position estimate is available, the second position estimate is presented to the remote party at a time subsequent to presentation of the expected time of arrival,

else if the second position estimate is not available at said expected time of arrival a second status update is presented to the remote party.