Methods, systems and computer program products for providing location determination information to an assisted location service

• US 8,010,124 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Osborn, William R., Bloebaum, Leland S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI N
• Application Number:
  US10/395,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20040192345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,081 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456, 455/457, 379/93.05, 379/211.02, 379/201.01, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/02 Details of the space or ground control segments
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/09 providing processing capability normally carried out by the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station

Abstract

Systems for providing location determination information to an assisted location service associated with a wireless communication network include a satellite positioning system receiver that generates a set of first format location information based on measurements of signals transmitted from positioning system satellites. A conversion circuit of the system, separate from the satellite positioning system receiver, is configured to receive the set of first format location information from the satellite positioning system receiver and to convert the set of first format location information to a second format, different from the first format to provide the location determination information. The system further includes a transmitter configured to transmit the location determination information to the assisted location service over the wireless communication network. Methods and computer program products for providing location determination information to an assisted location service associated with a wireless communication network are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for providing location determination information to an assisted location service associated with a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

receiving a set of first format location information based on measurements of signals transmitted from positioning system satellites from a full function autonomous satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver, wherein the set of first format location information includes Euclidian space location information;

converting the set of first format location information to a second location reference format, different from the first format, external to the full function autonomous SPS receiver to provide the location determination information;

formatting the location determination information for transmission over the wireless communication network; and

transmitting the location determination information to the assisted location service over the wireless communication network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the SPS receiver comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and wherein the assisted location service comprises a TIA/EIA/IS-801-1 compatible service.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein converting the set of first format location information comprises converting the Euclidian space location information to signal space location information to provide the location determination information.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the Euclidian space location information comprises a pseudo-range to at least one of the positioning system satellites and the signal space location information comprises a code phase in chips.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the SPS receiver comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that receives a GPS signal having an associated code and wherein converting the pseudo-range to a code phase in chips comprises:

converting the pseudo-range to units of time related to a period of the code to provide a code time; and

converting a fractional part of the code time into a phase of the code in chips.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the pseudo-range is in meters and wherein converting the pseudo-range to units of time comprises:

dividing the pseudo-range by the speed of light to provide a quotient;

multiplying the quotient by one thousand to provide a product having an integer part and a fractional part; and

wherein converting a fractional part of the code time comprises multiplying the fractional part of the product by 1023 to provide the code phase in chips.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the code phase in chips has an integer part and a fractional part and wherein transmitting the location determination information comprises transmitting the integer part of the code phase as a first parameter and the fractional part of the code phase as a second parameter over the wireless communication network.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

determining a measurement time in SPS time for a received signal from at least one of the positioning system satellites; and

converting the measurement time in SPS time to wireless communication network time to provide the location determination information.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising receiving wireless communication network time information over the wireless communication network and wherein converting the measurement time information comprises converting the measurement time in SPS time to wireless communication network time based on the received wireless communication network time information.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the wireless communication network comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA) system and wherein converting the measurement time in SPS time to wireless communication network time to provide the location determination information comprises subtracting a number of leap seconds added to a universal time clock since a reference time from GPS system time.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising receiving universal time clock time information from at least one of the positioning system satellites and wherein converting the measurement time information comprises converting the measurement time in SPS time to wireless communication network time based on the received universal time clock time information.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a set of first format location information includes determining a measurement time in SPS time for received signal from at least one of the positioning system satellites and wherein converting the set of first format location information includes converting the measurement time in SPS time to wireless communication network time to provide the location determination information.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the SPS comprises a global positioning system (GPS) and wherein the method further comprises receiving wireless communication network time information over the wireless communication network and wherein converting the measurement time information comprises converting the measurement time in GPS time to wireless communication network time based on the received wireless communication network time information.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the wireless communication network comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA) system and wherein the received wireless communication network time information comprises a number of leap seconds added to a universal time clock since a reference time and wherein converting the measurement time in SPS time to wireless communication network time to provide the location determination information comprises subtracting the number of leap seconds from GPS time.

15. A method for providing location determination information to an assisted location service associated with a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

determining Euclidian space location information based on measurements of signals transmitted from positioning system satellites;

converting the Euclidian space location information to signal space location information to provide the location determination information; and

transmitting the location determination information to the assisted location service over the wireless communication network.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the positioning system satellites comprise global positioning system (GPS) satellites and wherein the assisted location service comprises a TIA/EIA/IS-801-1 compatible service.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the Euclidian space location information comprises a pseudo-range to at least one of the positioning system satellites and the signal space location information comprises a code phase in chips.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the SPS receiver comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that receives a GPS signal having an associated code and wherein converting the pseudo-range to a code phase in chips comprises:

converting the pseudo-range to units of time related to a period of the code to provide a code time; and

converting a fractional part of the code time into a phase of the code in chips.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the pseudo-range is in meters and wherein converting the pseudo-range to units of time comprises:

dividing the pseudo-range by the speed of light to provide a quotient;

multiplying the quotient by one thousand to provide a product having an integer part and a fractional part; and

wherein converting a fractional part of the code time comprises multiplying the fractional part of the product by 1023 to provide the code phase in chips.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the code phase in chips has an integer part and a fractional part and wherein transmitting the location determination information comprises transmitting the integer part of the code phase as a first parameter and the fractional part of the code phase as a second parameter over the wireless communication network.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

determining a measurement time in satellite positioning system (SPS) time for a received signal from at least one of the positioning system satellites; and

converting the measurement time in SPS time to wireless communication network time to provide the location determination information.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising receiving wireless communication network time information over the wireless communication network and wherein converting the measurement time information comprises converting the measurement time in SPS time to wireless communication network time based on the received wireless communication network time information.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the wireless communication network comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA) system and wherein converting the measurement time in SPS time to wireless communication network time to provide the location determination information comprises subtracting a number of leap seconds added to a universal time clock since a reference time from GPS system time.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising receiving universal time clock time information from at least one of the positioning system satellites and wherein converting the measurement time information comprises converting the measurement time in SPS time to wireless communication network time based on the received universal time clock time information.

25. A system for providing location determination information to an assisted location service associated with a wireless communication network, the system comprising:

a full function autonomous satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver that generates a set of first format location information based on measurements of signals transmitted from positioning system satellites, wherein the set of first format location information includes Euclidian space location information;

a conversion circuit separate from the SPS receiver that is configured to receive the set of first format location information from the SPS receiver and to convert the set of first format location information to a second location reference format, different from the first format to provide the location determination information; and

a transmitter configured to format the location determination information for transmission over the wireless communication network and to transmit the location determination information to the assisted location service over the wireless communication network.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the SPS receiver comprises a full function autonomous global positioning system (GPS) receiver and wherein the assisted location service comprises a TIA/EIA/IS-801-1 compatible service.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the conversion circuit is configured to convert the Euclidian space location information to signal space location information to provide the location determination information.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the Euclidian space location information comprises a pseudo-range to at least one of the positioning system satellites and the signal space location information comprises a code phase in chips, wherein the SPS receiver comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that is configured to receive a GPS signal having an associated code, and wherein the conversion circuit is configured to convert the pseudo-range to units of time related to a period of the code to provide a code time and convert a fractional part of the code time into a phase of the code in chips.

29. A mobile terminal including the system of claim 28.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein the satellite positioning receiver is configured to determine a measurement time in SPS time for a received signal from at least one of the positioning system satellites and wherein the conversion circuit is configured to convert the measurement time in SPS time to wireless communication network time to provide the location determination information.

31. The system of claim 30 further comprising a receiver that receives wireless communication network time information over the wireless communication network and wherein the conversion circuit is configured to convert the measurement time in SPS time to wireless communication network time based on received wireless communication network time information.

32. A mobile terminal including the system of claim 31.

33. The system of claim 25 further comprising a wireless communication network receiver that receives wireless communication network time information over the wireless communication network and wherein the conversion circuit is configured to convert the measurement time in SPS time to wireless communication network time based on received wireless communication network time information.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the SPS receiver comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and wherein the wireless communication network comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA) system and wherein the received wireless communication network time information comprises a number of leap seconds added to a universal time clock since a reference time and wherein the conversion circuit is configured to subtract the number of leap seconds from GPS time to provide the location determination information.

35. A mobile terminal including the system of claim 25.

36. A system for providing location determination information to an assisted location service associated with a wireless communication network, the system comprising:

means for receiving a set of first format location information based on measurements of signals transmitted from positioning system satellites from a full function autonomous satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver, wherein the set of first format location information includes Euclidian space location information;

means for converting the set of first format location information to a second location reference format, different from the first format, external to the full function autonomous SPS receiver to provide the location determination information; and

means for formatting the location determination information for transmission over the wireless communication network and for transmitting the location determination information to the assisted location service over the wireless communication network.

37. A mobile terminal including the system of claim 36.

38. A system for providing location determination information to an assisted location service associated with a wireless communication network, the system comprising:

means for determining Euclidian space location information based on measurements of signals transmitted from positioning system satellites;

means for converting the Euclidian space location information to signal space location information to provide the location determination information; and

means for transmitting the location determination information to the assisted location service over the wireless communication network.

39. A mobile terminal including the system of claim 38.

40. A computer program product for providing location determination information to an assisted location service associated with a wireless communication network, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code comprising;

computer-readable program code that receives a set of first format location information based on measurements of signals transmitted from positioning system satellites from a full function autonomous satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver, wherein the set of first format location information includes Euclidian space location information;

computer-readable program code that converts the set of first format location information to a second location reference format, different from the first format, external to the full function autonomous SPS receiver to provide the location determination information; and

computer-readable program code that formats the location assistance information for transmission over the wireless communication network and transmits the location determination information to the assisted location service over the wireless communication network.

41. A computer program product for providing location determination information to an assisted location service associated with a wireless communication network, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code comprising;

computer-readable program code that determines Euclidian space location information based on measurements of signals transmitted from positioning system satellites;

computer-readable program code that converts the Euclidian space location information to signal space location information to provide the location determination information; and

computer-readable program code that transmits the location determination information to the assisted location service over the wireless communication network.

42. A method for providing location determination information to an assisted location service, the method comprising:

receiving a set of first format location information based on measurements of signals transmitted from positioning system satellites from a full function autonomous satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver, wherein the set of first format location information includes Euclidian space location information;

converting the set of first format location information to a second location reference format, different from the first format, external to the full function autonomous SPS receiver to provide the location determination information;

formatting the location determination information for transmission over a wireless link; and

transmitting the location determination information to the assisted location service over the wireless link.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the SPS receiver comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and wherein the assisted location service comprises a TIA/EIA/IS-801-1 compatible service.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the set of first format location information includes Euclidian space location information comprising a pseudo-range to at least one of the positioning system satellites and wherein the second location reference format includes signal space location information comprising a code phase in chips, wherein the SPS receiver comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that receives a GPS signal having an associated code, and wherein converting the pseudo-range to a code phase in chips comprises:

converting the pseudo-range to units of time related to a period of the code to provide a code time; and

converting a fractional part of the code time into a phase of the code in chips.

45. A method for providing location determination information to an assisted location service, the method comprising:

determining Euclidian space location information based on measurements of signals transmitted from positioning system satellites;

converting the Euclidian space location information to signal space location information to provide the location determination information; and

transmitting the location determination information to the assisted location service over a wireless link.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the positioning system satellites comprise global positioning system (GPS) satellites and wherein the assisted location service comprises a TIA/EIA/IS-801-1 compatible service.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein the Euclidian space location information comprises a pseudo-range to at least one of the positioning system satellites and the signal space location information comprises a code phase in chips, and wherein converting the pseudo-range to a code phase in chips comprises:

converting the pseudo-range to units of time related to a period of the code to provide a code time; and

converting a fractional part of the code time into a phase of the code in chips.

48. A system for providing location determination information to an assisted location service, the system comprising:

a full function autonomous satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver that generates a set of first format location information based on measurements of signals transmitted from positioning system satellites, wherein the set of first format location information includes Euclidian space location information;

a conversion circuit separate from the SPS receiver that is configured to receive the set of first format location information from the SPS receiver and to convert the set of first format location information to a second location reference format, different from the first format to provide the location determination information; and

a transmitter configured to format the location determination information for transmission over a wireless link and to transmit the location determination information to the assisted location service over the wireless link.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein the SPS receiver comprises a full function autonomous global positioning system (GPS) receiver and wherein the assisted location service comprises a TIA/EIA/IS-801-1 compatible service.

50. The system of claim 48 wherein the second location reference format comprises signal space location information.

51. A mobile terminal including the system of claim 50.

52. A system for providing location determination information to an assisted location service, the system comprising:

means for receiving a set of first format location information based on measurements of signals transmitted from positioning system satellites from a full function autonomous satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver, wherein the set of first format location information includes Euclidian space location information;

means for converting the set of first format location information to a second location reference format, different from the first format, external to the full function autonomous SPS receiver to provide the location determination information; and

means for formatting the location determination information for transmission over a wireless link and for transmitting the location determination information to the assisted location service over the wireless link.

53. A mobile terminal including the system of claim 52.

54. A system for providing location determination information to an assisted location service, the system comprising:

means for determining Euclidian space location information based on measurements of signals transmitted from positioning system satellites;

means for converting the Euclidian space location information to signal space location information to provide the location determination information; and

means for transmitting the location determination information to the assisted location service over a wireless link.

55. A mobile terminal including the system of claim 54.

56. A computer program product for providing location determination information to an assisted location service, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code comprising;

computer-readable program code that receives a set of first format location information based on measurements of signals transmitted from positioning system satellites from a full function autonomous satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver, wherein the set of first format location information includes Euclidian space location information;

computer-readable program code that converts the set of first format location information to a second location reference format, different from the first format, external to the full function autonomous SPS receiver to provide the location determination information; and

computer-readable program code that formats the location determination information for transmission over a wireless link and transmits the location determination information to the assisted location service over the wireless link.

57. A computer program product for providing location determination information to an assisted location service, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code comprising;

computer-readable program code that determines Euclidian space location information based on measurements of signals transmitted from positioning system satellites;

computer-readable program code that converts the Euclidian space location information to signal space location information to provide the location determination information; and

computer-readable program code that transmits the location determination information to the assisted location service over a wireless link.