Prioritized list of potential culled satellite ephemeris information for quick, accurate assisted locating satellite location determination

• US 7,154,438 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2005
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Lamprecht, Leslie Johann, Martin, Jeffrey Thomas, Pitt, Lance Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULL, FRED H
• Application Number:
  US11/080,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20060082500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.15, 342/357.09
• US Class Current: 342/357.42
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data

Abstract

Locating satellites (e.g., GPS) are culled into a preferred group having a longest dwell time based on a time passing through an ellipsoid arc path through a cone of space, and communicated to mobile devices within a particular region (e.g., serviced by a particular base station). The locating satellites may be culled into a prioritized list. Each satellite is assigned an order of precedence based on a remaining dwell time within a primary inverted cone. Thus, a number ‘N’ of satellite'"'"'s ephemeris data may be used, along with a preferred ‘order of precedence’ for secondary satellites to be used as backups as necessary.

Claims

1. A method of culling a plurality of locating satellites into a sub-plurality for communication, comprising:

culling a plurality of locating satellites into a sub-plurality of a minimum preferred number of primary locating satellites; and

culling a remaining number of locating satellites that are not a primary locating satellite into a secondary sub-plurality of locating satellites to be used as backups should any of said sub-plurality of primary locating satellites be unavailable.

2. The method of culling a plurality of locating satellites into a sub-plurality for communication according to claim 1, wherein:

said preferred number is 4.

3. The method of culling a plurality of locating satellites into a sub-plurality for communication according to claim 1, wherein:

said steps of culling are both performed in a wireless communication system base station in communication with a relevant mobile device.

4. The method of culling a plurality of locating satellites into a sub-plurality for communication according to claim 1, wherein:

said steps of culling are both performed in a mobile device.

5. The method of culling a plurality of locating satellites into a sub-plurality for communication according to claim 1, further comprising:

passing an identity of said culled group of locating satellites comprising said primary sub-plurality and said secondary sub-plurality, to a mobile device.

6. The method of culling a plurality of locating satellites into a sub-plurality for communication according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of locating satellites comprise:

a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS).

7. Apparatus for culling a plurality of locating satellites into a sub-plurality for communication, comprising:

means for culling a plurality of locating satellites into a sub-plurality of a minimum preferred number of primary locating satellites; and

means for culling a remaining number of locating satellites that are not a primary locating satellite into a secondary sub-plurality of locating satellites to be used as backups should any of said sub-plurality of primary locating satellites be unavailable.

8. The apparatus for culling a plurality of locating satellites into a sub-plurality for communication according to claim 7, wherein:

said preferred number is 4.

9. The method of culling a plurality of locating satellites into a sub-plurality for communication according to claim 7, wherein:

said means for culling said primary locating satellites, and said means for culling said secondary locating satellites, are both comprised in a wireless communication system base station in communication with a relevant mobile device.

10. The method of culling a plurality of locating satellites into a sub-plurality for communication according to claim 7, wherein:

said means for culling said primary locating satellites, and said means for culling said secondary locating satellites, are both comprised in a mobile device.

11. The method of culling a plurality of locating satellites into a sub-plurality for communication according to claim 7, further comprising:

passing an identity of said culled group of primary locating satellites and an identity of said culled group of secondary locating satellites, to a mobile device.

12. The method of culling a plurality of locating satellites into a sub-plurality for communication according to claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of locating satellites comprise:

a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS).