System for determining position of mobile communication terminal and method thereof

• US 6,847,325 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2003
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Hyong-Won
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Dao
• Application Number:
  US10/437,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20030193432A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.01, 342/357.02, 342/357.03, 342/357.06, 342/357.14, 342/357.15, 701/213, 701/214, 701/215
• US Class Current: 342/357.29
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/09 providing processing capability normally carried out by the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/41 Differential correction, e.g. DGPS [differential GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/46 the supplementary measurement being of a radio-wave signal type
• 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 19/50 whereby the position solution is constrained to lie upon a particular curve or surface, e.g. for locomotives on railway tracks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station

Abstract

A position determination system of a hybrid method, which is capable of complementing the problems of a position determination method, in which a global positioning system (GPS) is used, and a position determination method, in which a mobile communication signal is used, by combining the above two methods with each other, is provided. Also, it is possible to improve the reliability and the correctness in determining the position of a mobile communication terminal using a dispersing type hybrid position calculation method and a centralized hybrid position calculation method.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first indication of position that is at least partially derived from a satellite communication;

receiving a second indication of position that is at least partially derived from a cellular communication; and

selectively utilizing either the first indication or the second indication by determining which of the first indication and the second indication is more accurate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the satellite communication is from a global positioning system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first indication of position is at least partially derived from a satellite communication and a correction value.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cellular communication is a cellular phone communication.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second indication is at least partially derived from communication characteristics between a mobile terminal and a plurality of base stations.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the communication characteristics include at least one reception angle and time delay of a signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectively utilizing comprises:

selecting the first indication, if the first indication has a higher accuracy than the second indication; and

selecting the second indication, if the second indication has a higher accuracy than the first indication.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining the accuracies comprises analyzing geographical data, the first indication, and the second indication.

9. An apparatus configured to:

receive a first indication of position that is at least partially derived from a satellite communication;

receive a second indication of position that is at least partially derived from a cellular communication; and

selectively utilize either the first indication or the second indication based upon a determination of an accuracy of the first indication and an accuracy of the second indication.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the satellite communication is from a global positioning system.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first indication of position is at least partially derived from a satellite communication and, a correction value.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cellular communication is a cellular phone communication.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second indication is at least partially derived from communication characteristics between a mobile terminal and a plurality of base stations.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the communication characteristics include at least one reception angle and time delay of a signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein to selectively utilize comprises:

selecting the first indication, if the first indication has a higher accuracy than the second indication; and

selecting the second indication, if the second indication has a higher accuracy than the first indication.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the determining the accuracies comprises analyzing geographical data, the first indication, and the second indication.