Method and system for a location-based broker service (LBS) client broker

• US 8,081,107 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kosolobov, Andrei, Lundgren, David Albert, Malkos, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Dao
• Application Number:
  US12/394,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20100220005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.21, 342/357.46, 342/357.62, 342/357.63, 342/357.64, 701/213, 701/215
• US Class Current: 342/357.62
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/12 wherein the cooperating elements are telecommunication base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system

Abstract

A GNSS enabled handset receives signals from different resources comprising GNSS satellites and/or from a wireless network. The GNSS enabled handset acquires location information comprising various positioning resource data comprising GPS data and/or WiFi data from the received signals. The GNSS enabled handset calculates a plurality of possible position fixes based on the acquired location information using various positioning approaches. A current position fix associated with the GNSS enabled handset is determined based on the plurality of calculated possible position fixes via running a location-based service (“LBS”) client on the GNSS enabled handset. The LBS client determines the plurality of possible position fixes using various positioning approaches in a particular or determined order. Confidence levels for each of the calculated plurality of possible positions are determined and used to refine the current position fix. The refined current position fix is used for a location-based service from a LBS application server.

Claims

1. A method of processing signals, the method comprising:

acquiring at a GNSS enabled device, corresponding location information of said GNSS enabled device from a plurality of different resources;

calculating by said GNSS enabled device, a plurality of possible positions of said GNSS enabled device each based on said acquired corresponding location information of said GNSS enabled device from distinct one of said plurality of different resources; and

determining by said GNSS enabled device, a current position of said GNSS enabled device based on said calculated plurality of possible positions.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said acquired corresponding location information comprises GNSS data, GNSS assistance data, LTO data, reference positions, reference time, FEMTOCELL data, wireless PAN data, WLAN data, WiMAX data, and/or cellular data.

3. The method according to claim 2, comprising calculating said plurality of possible positions of said GNSS enabled device based on one or more of said GNSS data, said GNSS assistance data, said LTO data, said reference positions, reference time, FEMTOCELL data, wireless PAN data, WLAN data, WiMAX data, cellular data, and/or user input.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising calculating each of said plurality of possible positions of said GNSS enabled device in a determined order based on said acquired corresponding location information.

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising determining a confidence level for each of said calculated plurality of possible positions in said determined order.

6. The method according to claim 5, comprising refining said determined current position based on determined corresponding confidence levels associated with said calculated plurality of possible positions.

7. The method according to claim 5, comprising refining said determined current position in said determined order based on current calculated possible position and/or previous calculated possible positions.

8. The method according to claim 7, comprising selecting one of said current calculated possible position and said previous calculated possible positions to represent said refined determined current position.

9. The method according to claim 7, comprising combining said current calculated possible position with said previous calculated possible positions to represent said refined determined current position.

10. The method according to claim 6, comprising communicating said refined determined current position to a location-based server.

11. The method according to claim 10, comprising receiving a location-based service from said location-based server based on said communicated refined determined current position.

12. A system for processing signals, the system comprising:

one or more circuits for use in a GNSS enabled device, said one or more circuits being operable to acquire location information corresponding to said GNSS enabled device from a plurality of different resources;

said one or more circuits are operable to calculate by said GNSS enabled device, a plurality of possible positions of said GNSS enabled device, each of the plurality of possible positions being based on said acquired corresponding location information of said GNSS enabled device from a distinct one of said plurality of different resources; and

said one or more circuits are operable to determine by said GNSS enabled device, a current position of said GNSS enabled device based on said calculated plurality of possible positions.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said acquired corresponding location information comprises GNSS data, GNSS assistance data, LTO data, reference positions, reference time, FEMTOCELL data, wireless PAN data, WLAN data, WiMAX data, and/or cellular data.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to calculate said plurality of possible positions of said GNSS enabled device based on one or more of said GNSS data, said GNSS assistance data, said LTO data, said reference positions, reference time, FEMTOCELL data, wireless PAN data, WLAN data, WiMAX data, cellular data, and/or user input.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to calculate each of said plurality of possible positions of said GNSS enabled device in a determined order based on said acquired corresponding location information.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to determine a confidence level for each of said calculated plurality of possible positions in said determined order.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to refine said determined current position based on corresponding determined confidence levels associated with said calculated plurality of possible positions.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to refine said determined current position in said determined order based on current calculated possible position and/or previous calculated possible positions.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to select one of said current calculated possible position and said previous calculated possible positions to represent said refined determined current position.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to combine said current calculated possible position with said previous calculated possible positions to represent said refined determined current position.

21. The system according to claim 17, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to communicating said refined determined current position to a location-based server.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to receive a location-based service from said location-based server based on said communicated refined determined current position.