GPS application using network assistance

• US 7,904,096 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2006
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shyr, You-Yuh, Cheng, MingQiang, Yu, Bo
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Barry W
• Application Number:
  US11/506,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20070072623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,663 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.5, 455/404.2, 455/414.2
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• 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: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A Global Positioning System (GPS) system includes multiple GPS application servers. The multiple GPS application servers provide GPS assistant information for locating a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal receives GPS information from multiple GPS satellites. The GPS assistant information is determined based on a GPS position and a geographic position of a GPS application server of the multiple GPS application servers. The GPS application server is nearest of the multiple GPS application servers to the mobile terminal, and the geographic position of the GPS application server is known.

Claims

1. A method for locating an electronic device, comprising:

receiving a first request from an end user device, wherein said first request includes an identifier that specifically identifies a particular electronic device;

determining, in response to said first request, a rough position of said electronic device based on information received from a base station network;

selecting a GPS application server from a plurality of GPS application servers based on said rough position, wherein said GPS application server is the nearest of said GPS application servers to said rough position and wherein a geographic position of said GPS application server is known; and

in response to said first request, using said identifier to identify said electronic device in order to send a second request to said electronic device, wherein said electronic device is activated in response to receiving said second request and sends position information to said end user device via said base station network, and wherein said position information received by said end user device is corrected using GPS assistant information obtained from said GPS application server.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating a position of said electronic device using GPS satellite information and said GPS assistant information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said calculating said position comprises:

sending said GPS satellite information and said GPS assistant information from said electronic device to a positioning server through said base station network; and

calculating said position of said electronic device using said positioning server.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said calculating said position comprises calculating said position using said GPS satellite information and said GPS assistant information at said electronic device.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising tracking said electronic device using said position of said electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving said first request comprises receiving said first request through an internet network.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating said GPS assistant information by comparing a GPS position of said GPS application server and a geographic position of said GPS application server.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing communication between said electronic device and a base station of said base station network, wherein said electronic device is within a predetermined distance from said base station; and

associating said rough position with a location of said base station.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining said position of said electronic device based on said rough position and said GPS assistant information.

10. A mobile device, comprising:

a GPS chip comprising a GPS receiver operable for acquiring position information from a GPS satellite; and

a transceiver coupled to said GPS chip and operable for communicating said position information to a base station network;

wherein an end user device initiates a first request that includes an identifier that specifically identifies said mobile device;

wherein in response to said first request said base station network identifies a rough position of said mobile device;

wherein said rough position is used to select a GPS application server from a plurality of GPS application servers, said GPS application server the nearest of said plurality to said rough position;

wherein said identifier is used to identify said mobile device and to send a second request to said mobile device;

wherein said mobile device is activated in response to said second request and sends position information to said end user device via said base station network; and

wherein said position information received by said end user device is corrected using GPS assistant information obtained from said GPS application server.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein a position of said mobile device using GPS satellite information and said GPS assistant information.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein said position is calculated by sending said GPS satellite information and said GPS assistant information from said mobile device to positioning server through said base station network, wherein said positioning server calculates said position.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein said position is calculated by calculating said position using said GPS satellite information and said GPS assistant information at said mobile device.

14. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein said mobile device is tracked using said position of said mobile device.

15. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein said first request is received through an internet network.

16. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein said GPS assistant information is calculated by comparing a GPS position of said GPS application server and a geographic position of said GPS application server.

17. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein said mobile device is a predetermined distance from a base station of said base station network, wherein said rough position is associated with a location of said base station.