Provision of location information

• US 7,528,772 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2002
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Niemenmaa, Jarko, Ruutu, Ville
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIU, HARRY K
• Application Number:
  US10/501,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20050046613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,661 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.06, 342/368, 342/378, 342/357.1, 342/357.02, 455/456.1, 455/456.3
• US Class Current: 342/357.23
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/06 employing an initial estimate of the location of the receiver as aiding data or in generating aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/256 relating to timing, e.g. time of week, code phase, timing offset
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0244 Accuracy or reliability of position solution or of measurements contributing thereto

Abstract

A method of providing information regarding the location of a mobile user equipment (1) in a system wherein the location is determined based on information signalled from entities (10) of a positioning system and assistance data signalled from a station (5) of a communication system. In the method the likely location of the mobile user equipment relative to the station is first determined. Based on the determined likely location, an estimate of the delay in transmitting a signal from the station to the mobile user equipment is estimated. Assistance data is then signalled from the station to the mobile user equipment, said assistance data comprising information about the timing of the positioning system. A more accurate location determination is accomplished at the user equipment based on signals from the entities of the positioning system, the assistance data and said estimated delay.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining a likely location of mobile user equipment relative to a station;

determining an estimate of a delay between transmission of a signal from the station and reception of said signal at the mobile user equipment based on the determined likely location;

signaling assistance data from the station to the mobile user equipment, said assistance data comprising information about the timing of a positioning system; and

calculating a more accurate location determination at the user equipment based on signals from the entities of the positioning system, the assistance data and said estimated delay,

wherein the location is determined based on information signaled from entities of a positioning system and assistance data signaled from the station of the communication system.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein information about the estimated delay is transmitted from the station to the mobile user equipment.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the estimate of the delay is determined at the mobile user equipment.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the entities of the positioning system comprise at least one satellite.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the positioning system comprises a global positioning system.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the delay estimate is used to relate the timing of the positioning system with the time at which the mobile user equipment is likely to receive a certain signal from the communication system.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the delay estimate is used to relate the timing of the positioning system with the time at which the mobile user equipment is likely to receive said assistance data signal.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said delay estimate is included in the assistance data.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the likely location of the user equipment is estimated based on information about the mass center of the coverage area of the station.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, comprising use of information about a weighted mass centre.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein average timing advance or round trip time is used in estimation of said delay in transmission of signals from the station to the mobile user equipment.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the likely location is determined based on information of the average location of the mobile user equipment.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the likely location is determined based on at least one signal strength measurement.

14. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising broadcasting in a cell information regarding estimated delay in transmission of signals from the base station of the cell to a mobile user equipment in a location within said cell.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the estimated delay in transmission of the signal from the station to the mobile user equipment is determined based on information of at least one further condition regarding the radio propagation conditions of signals transmitted from the station to the mobile user equipment.