Method and apparatus for location determination of a wireless device within an environment

• US 7,426,197 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Issued: 09/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Fischer, Sven, Schotten, Hans Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): FERGUSON, KEITH
• Application Number:
  US11/245,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20060109811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-457, 455/422.1, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/403, 455/445, 455/500, 455/517, 455/550.1, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/73, 455/557, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/575.1, 455/90.1, 455/90.3, 370/328, 370/338, 370/310, 370/313, 340/539, 340/568.2, 340/568.8, 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.8, 340/572.4, 340/425.36, 340/286.07, 340/286.09
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/68 Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining a location of a wireless device within an environment. A wireless device, which is operable in a wireless communication system, comprises a transmitter for transmitting a first signal to a transponder, where the transponder operates independent of the wireless communication system. The wireless device further includes a receiver for receiving a second signal from the transponder, where the second signal includes identifying data associated with the transponder. The wireless device further includes a processor for determining a location of the wireless device within the environment or classifying the environment based at least in part upon the received identifying data.

Claims

1. A method for a wireless device operable in a wireless communication system, comprising:

downloading a location database into the wireless device, wherein the location database comprises a plurality of transponder identifications, location information and control information;

transmitting a first signal to a transponder, said transponder operating independent of said wireless communication system;

receiving a second signal from the transponder, said second signal including identifying data associated with the transponder;

determining a location of the wireless device within an environment or classifying the environment based at least in part upon the received identifying data, wherein determining the location of the wireless device is accomplished at the wireless device by using the location database;

determining an action to perform based on the location of the wireless device by using the location database on the wireless device to access the control information for the transponder; and

performing the action at the wireless device in response to the determined location of the wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining a location of the wireless device further comprises:

retrieving location data, defining the location within the environment, that is associated with the identifying data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing an action at the wireless device further comprises:

displaying the location data at the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing an action at the wireless device further comprises:

transmitting the location data of the wireless device to the wireless communication system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing an action at the wireless device further comprises:

changing an operating mode or profile of the wireless device based upon the location data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting a first signal to a transponder further comprises transmitting a first signal to a radio frequency identification device (RFID).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving a second signal further comprises:

receiving an identification of the transponder.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving a second signal further comprises:

receiving the control information from the transponder, the control information causing the wireless device to perform an action in accordance with the received control information.

9. An apparatus for a wireless device operable in a wireless communication system, comprising:

means for downloading a location database into the wireless device, wherein the location database comprises a plurality of transponder identifications, location information and control information;

means for transmitting a first signal to a transponder, said transponder operating independent of said wireless communication system;

means for receiving a second signal from the transponder, said second signal including identifying data associated with the transponder;

means for determining a location of the wireless device within an environment or classifying the environment based at least in part upon the received identifying data, wherein determining the location of the wireless device is accomplished at the wireless device by using the location database;

means for determining an action to perform based on the location of the wireless device by using the location database on the wireless device to access the control information for the transponder; and

means for performing the action at the wireless device in response to the determined location of the wireless device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said means for determining a location of the wireless device further comprises:

means for retrieving location data, defining the location within the environment, that is associated with the identifying data.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said means for performing an action at the wireless device further comprises:

means for displaying the location data at the wireless device.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said means for performing an action at the wireless device further comprises:

means for transmitting the location data of the wireless device to the wireless communication system.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said means for performing an action at the wireless device further comprises:

means for changing an operating mode or profile of the wireless device based upon the location data.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said means for transmitting a first signal to a transponder further comprises means for transmitting a first signal to a radio frequency identification device (RFID).

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said means for receiving a second signal further comprises:

means for receiving an identification of the transponder.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said means for receiving a second signal further comprises:

means for receiving the control information from the transponder, the control information causing the wireless device to perform an action in accordance with the received control information.

17. A wireless device operable in a wireless communication system, comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a first signal to a transponder, said transponder operating independent of said wireless communication system;

a receiver for receiving a second signal from the transponder, said second signal including identifying data associated with the transponder; and

a processor for;

downloading a location database into the wireless device, wherein the location database comprises a plurality of transponder identifications, location information and control information;

determining a location of the wireless device within an environment or classifying the environment based at least in part upon the received identifying data, wherein determining the location of the wireless device is accomplished at the wireless device by using the location database;

determining an action to perform based on the location of the wireless device by using the location database on the wireless device to access the control information for the transponder; and

performing the action at the wireless device in response to the determined location of the wireless device.

18. The wireless device of claim 17, wherein said processor retrieves location data, defining the location within the environment, that is associated with the identifying data.

19. The wireless device of claim 17, wherein said action performed includes displaying the location data at the wireless device.

20. The wireless device of claim 17, wherein said transmitter transmits the location data of the wireless device to the wireless communication system.

21. The wireless device of claim 17, wherein said processor changes an operating mode or profile of the wireless device based upon the location determined.

22. The wireless device of claim 17, wherein the transponder comprises a radio frequency identification device (RFID).

23. The wireless device of claim 17, wherein said identifying data comprises an identification of the transponder.

24. The wireless device of claim 17, wherein said receiver receives the control information from the transponder, the control information causing the processor to perform an action in accordance with the received control information.

25. A computer-readable storage medium programmed with a set of instructions that perform a method, comprising:

downloading a location database into a wireless device, wherein the location database comprises a plurality of transponder identifications, location information and control information;

transmitting a first signal from the wireless device operable in a wireless communication system to a transponder, said transponder operating independent of said wireless communication system;

receiving a second signal at the wireless device from the transponder, said second signal including identifying data associated with the transponder;

determining a location of the wireless device within an environment or classifying the environment based at least in part upon the received identifying data, wherein determining the location of the wireless device is accomplished at the wireless device by using the location database;

determining an action to perform based on the location of the wireless device by using the location database on the wireless device to access the control information for the transponder; and

performing the action at the wireless device in response to the determined location of the wireless device.

26. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein said determining a location of the wireless device further comprises:

retrieving location data, defining the location within the environment, that is associated with the identifying data.

27. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein said performing an action at the wireless device further comprises:

displaying the location data at the wireless device.

28. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein said performing an action at the wireless device further comprises:

transmitting the location data of the wireless device to the wireless communication system.

29. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein said performing an action at the wireless device further comprises:

changing an operating mode or profile of the wireless device based upon the location data.

30. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein said transmitting a first signal to a transponder further comprises transmitting a first signal to a radio frequency identification device (RFID).

31. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein said receiving a second signal further comprises:

receiving an identification of the transponder.

32. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein said receiving a second signal further comprises:

receiving the control information from the transponder, the control information causing the wireless device to perform an action in accordance with the control information.

33. A wireless device operable in a wireless communication system, comprising:

means for downloading a location database into the wireless device, wherein the location database comprises a plurality of transponder identifications, location information and control information;

means for transmitting a first signal to a transponder, said transponder operating independent of said wireless communication system;

means for receiving a second signal from the transponder, said second signal including identifying data associated with the transponder;

means for determining a location of the wireless device within an environment or classifying the environment based at least in part upon the received identifying data, wherein determining the location of the wireless device is accomplished at the wireless device by using the location database;

means for determining an action to perform based on the location of the wireless device by using the location database on the wireless device to access the control information for the transponder; and

means for performing the action at the wireless device in response to the determined location of the wireless device.