Position determination using wireless local area network signals and television signals

• US 8,149,168 B1
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyhook Holding, Inc. (Liberty Broadband Corp.)
• Original Assignee: TruePosition Incorporated
• Inventors: Rabinowitz, Matthew, Spilker, James J. Jr., Young, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Dao
• Application Number:
  US11/622,838
• Time in Patent Office: 1,908 Days
• Field of Search: 342/450, 342/453, 342/457, 342463-465, 455/456.6, 455/457
• US Class Current: 342/450
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0242 Determining the position of transmitters to be subsequently used in positioning G01S5/0289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0263 by combining or switching between positions derived from two or more separate positioning systems

Abstract

Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer-readable media comprise a first receiver to receive a wireless television signal; a first measurement unit to generate a measurement of the wireless television signal; wherein a position of the apparatus is determined based on the measurement of the wireless television signal; a second receiver to receive a wireless local area network (WLAN) signal; and a second measurement unit to generate a measurement of the WLAN signal; wherein a position of a transmitter of the WLAN signal is determined based on the position of the apparatus and the measurement of the WLAN signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first receiver to receive a wireless television signal;

a first measurement unit to generate a measurement of the wireless television signal;

wherein a position of the apparatus is determined based on the measurement of the wireless television signal;

a second receiver to receive a wireless local area network (WLAN) signal; and

a second measurement unit to generate a measurement of the WLAN signal;

wherein a position of a transmitter of the WLAN signal is determined based on the position of the apparatus and the measurement of the WLAN signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second receiver is compliant with all or part of IEEE standard 802.11, including draft and approved amendments 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11e, 802.11g, 802.11i, 802.11k, 802.11n, 802.11v, and 802.11w.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the measurement of the WLAN signal includes at least one of:

a measurement of the received power level of the WLAN signal; and

a media access control (MAC) address of the transmitter of the WLAN signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a transmitter to transmit a signal representing the measurement of the wireless television signal and the measurement of the WLAN signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a position unit to determine the position of the apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

a transmitter to transmit a signal representing the position of the apparatus and the measurement of the WLAN signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wireless television signal comprises at least one of:

an American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) digital television (DTV) signal;

a Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signal;

a Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) signal;

an Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal; and

a National Television System Committee (NTSC) analog television signal.

8. An apparatus comprising:

first receiving means for receiving a wireless television signal;

first measuring means for generating a measurement of the wireless television signal;

wherein a position of the apparatus is determined based on the measurement of the wireless television signal;

second receiving means for receiving a wireless local area network (WLAN) signal; and

second measuring means for generating a measurement of the WLAN signal;

wherein a position of a transmitter of the WLAN signal is determined based on the position of the apparatus and the measurement of the WLAN signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second receiving means is compliant with all or part of IEEE standard 802.11, including draft and approved amendments 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11e, 802.11g, 802.11i, 802.11k, 802.11n, 802.11v, and 802.11w.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the measurement of the WLAN signal includes at least one of:

a measurement of the received power level of the WLAN signal; and

a media access control (MAC) address of the transmitter of the WLAN signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting means for transmitting a signal representing the measurement of the wireless television signal and the measurement of the WLAN signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

positioning means for determining the position of the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the wireless television signal comprises at least one of:

an American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) digital television (DTV) signal;

a Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signal;

a Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) signal;

an Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal; and

a National Television System Committee (NTSC) analog television signal.

14. A method comprising:

receiving a wireless television signal at a receiver;

generating a measurement of the wireless television signal;

wherein a position of the receiver is determined based on the measurement of the wireless television signal;

receiving a wireless local area network (WLAN) signal; and

generating a measurement of the WLAN signal;

wherein a position of a transmitter of the WLAN signal is determined based on the position of the receiver and the measurement of the WLAN signal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the WLAN signal is compliant with all or part of IEEE standard 802.11, including draft and approved amendments 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11e, 802.11g, 802.11i, 802.11k, 802.11n, 802.11v, and 802.11w.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the measurement of the WLAN signal includes at least one of:

a measurement of the received power level of the WLAN signal; and

a media access control (MAC) address of the transmitter of the WLAN signal.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting a signal representing the measurement of the wireless television signal and the measurement of the WLAN signal.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining the position of the receiver.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the wireless television signal comprises at least one of:

an American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) digital television (DTV) signal;

a Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signal;

a Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) signal;

an Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal; and

a National Television System Committee (NTSC) analog television signal.

20. Computer-readable media embodying instructions executable by a computer to perform a method comprising:

generating a measurement of a wireless television signal received at a receiver;

wherein a position of the receiver is determined based on the measurement of the wireless television signal; and

generating a measurement of a wireless local area network (WLAN) signal;

wherein a position of a transmitter of the WLAN signal is determined based on the position of the receiver and the measurement of the WLAN signal.

21. The computer-readable media of claim 20, wherein the WLAN signal is compliant with all or part of IEEE standard 802.11, including draft and approved amendments 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11e, 802.11g, 802.11i, 802.11k, 802.11n, 802.11v, and 802.11w.

22. The computer-readable media of claim 21, wherein the measurement of the WLAN signal includes at least one of:

a measurement of the received power level of the WLAN signal; and

a media access control (MAC) address of the transmitter of the WLAN signal.

23. The computer-readable media of claim 21, further comprising:

causing transmission of a signal representing the measurement of the wireless television signal and the measurement of the WLAN signal.

24. The computer-readable media of claim 21, further comprising:

determining the position of the receiver.

25. The computer-readable media of claim 21, wherein the wireless television signal comprises at least one of:

an American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) digital television (DTV) signal;

a Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signal;

a Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) signal;

an Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal; and

a National Television System Committee (NTSC) analog television signal.

26. An apparatus comprising:

a first receiver to receive a wireless television signal;

a first measurement unit to generate a measurement of the wireless television signal;

a second receiver to receive a wireless local area network (WLAN) signal; and

a second measurement unit to generate a measurement of the WLAN signal;

wherein a position of the apparatus is determined based on the measurement of the wireless television signal and the measurement of the WLAN signal.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the second receiver is compliant with all or part of IEEE standard 802.11, including draft and approved amendments 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11e, 802.11g, 802.11i, 802.11k, 802.11n, 802.11v, and 802.11w.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

a position unit to determine the position of the apparatus based on the measurement of the wireless television signal and the measurement of the WLAN signal.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:

a transmitter to transmit a signal representing the position of the apparatus.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

a third receiver to receive a satellite positioning signal; and

a third measurement unit to generate a measurement of the satellite positioning signal;

wherein the position of the apparatus is determined based on the measurement of the wireless television signal, the measurement of the WLAN signal, and the measurement of the satellite positioning signal.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising:

a position unit to determine the position of the apparatus based on the measurement of the wireless television signal, the measurement of the WLAN signal, and the measurement of the satellite positioning signal.

32. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the wireless television signal comprises at least one of:

an American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) digital television (DTV) signal;

a Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signal;

a Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) signal;

an Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal; and

a National Television System Committee (NTSC) analog television signal.

33. An apparatus comprising:

first receiving means for receiving a wireless television signal;

first measuring means for generating a measurement of the wireless television signal;

second receiving means for receiving a wireless local area network (WLAN) signal; and

second measuring means for generating a measurement of the WLAN signal;

wherein a position of the apparatus is determined based on the measurement of the wireless television signal and the measurement of the WLAN signal.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the second receiving means is compliant with all or part of IEEE standard 802.11, including draft and approved amendments 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11e, 802.11g, 802.11i, 802.11k, 802.11n, 802.11v, and 802.11w.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

positioning means for determining the position of the apparatus based on the measurement of the wireless television signal and the measurement of the WLAN signal.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

third receiving means for receiving a satellite positioning signal; and

third measuring means for generating a measurement of the satellite positioning signal;

wherein the position of the apparatus is determined based on the measurement of the wireless television signal, the measurement of the WLAN signal, and the measurement of the satellite positioning signal.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising:

positioning means for determining the position of the apparatus based on the measurement of the wireless television signal, the measurement of the WLAN signal, and the measurement of the satellite positioning signal.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the wireless television signal comprises at least one of:

an American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) digital television (DTV) signal;

a Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signal;

a Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) signal;

an Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal; and

a National Television System Committee (NTSC) analog television signal.

39. A method comprising:

receiving a wireless television signal at a receiver;

generating a measurement of the wireless television signal;

receiving a wireless local area network (WLAN) signal; and

generating a measurement of the WLAN signal;

wherein a position of the receiver is determined based on the measurement of the wireless television signal and the measurement of the WLAN signal.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the WLAN signal is compliant with all or part of IEEE standard 802.11, including draft and approved amendments 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11e, 802.11g, 802.11i, 802.11k, 802.11n, 802.11v, and 802.11w.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

determining the position of the receiver based on the measurement of the wireless television signal and the measurement of the WLAN signal.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

receiving a satellite positioning signal; and

generating a measurement of the satellite positioning signal;

wherein the position of the receiver is determined based on the measurement of the wireless television signal, the measurement of the WLAN signal, and the measurement of the satellite positioning signal.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising:

determining the position of the receiver based on the measurement of the wireless television signal, the measurement of the WLAN signal, and the measurement of the satellite positioning signal.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein the wireless television signal comprises at least one of:

an American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) digital television (DTV) signal;

a Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signal;

a Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) signal;

an Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal; and

a National Television System Committee (NTSC) analog television signal.

45. Computer-readable media embodying instructions executable by a computer to perform a method comprising:

generating a measurement of a wireless television signal received at a receiver; and

generating a measurement of a wireless local area network (WLAN) signal;

wherein a position of the receiver is determined based on the measurement of the wireless television signal and the measurement of the WLAN signal.

46. The computer-readable media of claim 45, wherein the WLAN signal is compliant with all or part of IEEE standard 802.11, including draft and approved amendments 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11e, 802.11g, 802.11i, 802.11k, 802.11n, 802.11v, and 802.11w.

47. The computer-readable media of claim 46, further comprising:

determining the position of the receiver based on the measurement of the wireless television signal and the measurement of the WLAN signal.

48. The computer-readable media of claim 46, further comprising:

generating a measurement of a satellite positioning signal;

wherein the position of the receiver is determined based on the measurement of the wireless television signal, the measurement of the WLAN signal, and the measurement of the satellite positioning signal.

49. The computer-readable media of claim 48, further comprising:

determining the position of the receiver based on the measurement of the wireless television signal, the measurement of the WLAN signal, and the measurement of the satellite positioning signal.

50. The computer-readable media of claim 46, wherein the wireless television signal comprises at least one of:

an American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) digital television (DTV) signal;

a Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) signal;

a Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) signal;

an Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal; and

a National Television System Committee (NTSC) analog television signal.