Method and apparatus for locating position of a mobile device in an assisted satellite positioning system

• US 8,041,370 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2010
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Abraham, Charles, Pomerantz, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar; Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAM, DUNG LE
• Application Number:
  US12/707,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20100151853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4566, 455/457, 455/41.2, 342/351.14, 342/357.1, 342/357.06, 342/357.09, 342/357.21, 342/357.22, 342/357.23
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Method and apparatus for locating position of a mobile device in an assisted satellite positioning system is described. In one example, satellite measurement data is obtained from a plurality of satellites at a mobile device. Position of the mobile device is computed using the satellite measurement data. The position is sent to a cellular device via a wireless ad hoc network. In one example, the wireless ad hoc network comprises a BLUETOOTH communication link. In one example, the mobile device is configured to receive assistance data from a position server through the wireless ad hoc network. For example, the mobile device may comprise a housing configured to plug into a cigarette lighter connector of an automobile and the cellular device may comprise a cellular telephone without location-determination capabilities (i.e., the cellular telephone does not include an integrated GPS receiver).

Claims

1. A method for locating position, comprising:

obtaining satellite measurement data from a plurality of satellites at a mobile device;

obtaining assistance data; and

receiving said position at a mobile-cellular device via a wireless ad hoc network; and

wherein obtaining assistance data further comprises;

transmitting, from said mobile device to said mobile-cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network, a request for assistance data;

receiving assistance data at said mobile device from said mobile-cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network;

transmitting, from said mobile-cellular device to said server via a cellular network, said request for assistance data; and

receiving said assistance data at said mobile-cellular device from said server via said cellular network; and

wherein obtaining assistance data is responsive to receiving a request for said position at said mobile device from said mobile cellular device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless ad hoc network comprises a BLUETOOTH communication link.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving said request at said cellular device from a position server via a cellular network for said position at said mobile device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said request is transmitted between said position server and said cellular device using a short message service (SMS) protocol.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

sending, in response to said request, said position to said position server via a cellular network.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

sending said position from said position server to a user terminal via a packet switched network.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving assistance data at said mobile device from said cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network;

wherein said position is computed in response to said assistance data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said assistance data comprises satellite trajectory data.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving said assistance data at said cellular device from a position server via a cellular network.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said assistance data is transmitted between said position server and said cellular device using a short message service (SMS) protocol.

11. A method for locating position, comprising:

obtaining satellite measurement data from a plurality of satellites at a mobile device;

obtaining assistance data;

sending said satellite measurement data from said mobile device to a cellular device via a wireless ad hoc network;

sending said satellite measurement data from said mobile-cellular device to a position server via a cellular network; and

receiving position of said mobile device in response to said satellite measurement data; and

wherein obtaining assistance data further comprises;

transmitting, from said mobile device to said mobile-cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network, a request for assistance data;

receiving assistance data at said mobile device from said mobile-cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network;

transmitting, from said mobile-cellular device to said server via said a cellular network, said request for assistance data; and

receiving said assistance data at said mobile-cellular device from said server via said cellular network; and

wherein obtaining assistance data is responsive to receiving a request for said position at said mobile device from said mobile cellular device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said wireless ad hoc network comprises a BLUETOOTH communication link.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said satellite measurement data is transmitted from said cellular device to said position server using a short message service (SMS) protocol.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving said request at said cellular device from said position server via said cellular network for said position at said mobile device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said request is transmitted between said position server and said cellular device using a short message service (SMS) protocol.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving acquisition assistance data at said mobile device from said cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network;

wherein said satellite measurement data is obtained in response to said assistance data.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said acquisition assistance data comprises expected pseudorange data.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving said acquisition assistance data at said cellular device from said position server via said cellular network.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said assistance data is transmitted between said position server and said cellular device using a short message service (SMS) protocol.

20. A mobile position system, comprising:

a mobile global positioning system (GPS) device comprising;

a GPS receiver for receiving satellite measurement data; and

a first wireless transceiver; and

a mobile cellular device without location-enabling capabilities comprising;

a second wireless transceiver for receiving location information from said GPS receiver via a wireless ad hoc network formed with said first wireless transceiver; and

wherein the mobile position system obtains assistance data, obtaining assistance data further comprising;

transmitting, from said mobile device to said mobile-cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network, a request for assistance data;

receiving assistance data at said mobile device from said mobile-cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network;

transmitting, from said mobile-cellular device to said server via a cellular network, said request for assistance data; and

receiving said assistance data at said mobile-cellular device from said server via said cellular network; and

wherein obtaining assistance data is responsive to receiving a request for said position at said mobile device from said mobile cellular device.

21. The mobile position system of claim 20, wherein the mobile GPS device is comprises an adaptor for receiving power from an automotive vehicle.

22. The mobile position system of claim 20, wherein the mobile GPS device is comprises an adaptor for receiving power from a cigarette lighter of an automotive vehicle.

23. The mobile position system of claim 20, wherein the mobile cellular device is a mobile cellular telephone.

24. The mobile position system of claim 20, wherein each of said first wireless transceiver and said second wireless transceiver comprises a BLUETOOTH transceiver.