User plane uplink time difference of arrival (U-TDOA)

• US 8,150,421 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2006
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyhook Holding, Inc. (Liberty Broadband Corp.)
• Original Assignee: TruePosition Incorporated
• Inventors: Ward, Matthew L., Anderson, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): PLATA, EDD RIANNE L
• Application Number:
  US11/533,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20070155401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,023 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.5, 455/456.3, 455/404.2, 701/214, 701/215
• US Class Current: 455/456.5
• 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 8/08 Mobility data transfer

Abstract

A system for locating a mobile wireless device is configured to communicate with a wireless communications system via a control plane and a user plane. The user plane includes a data channel, and the system includes a server configured to communicate via the data channel with a wireless device to be located. The server obtains from the wireless device information useful for tasking the wireless location system. The information useful for tasking may include information indicative of at least one cell site neighboring a serving cell site with which the wireless device is communicating. This may include information indicative of a serving cell site, a reverse channel through which the wireless device is communicating, and/or a hopping pattern, etc. The system may be used, for example, in connection with a GSM or UMTS wireless communications system.

Claims

1. A system for locating a mobile wireless device configured to communicate with a wireless communications system via a control plane and a user plane, wherein the user plane comprises a data channel, comprising:

a wireless location system (WLS) comprising a plurality of location measuring units (LMUs) configured to be tasked to receive uplink transmissions from the wireless device and to employ algorithms to locate said wireless device using data derived from received uplink transmissions, wherein said WLS is overlaid on said wireless communications system;

a server configured to communicate with said WLS and to communicate via a user plane data channel with a wireless device to be located, and to obtain from said wireless device, via said user plane data channel, information useful for tasking said WLS, wherein said user plane data channel comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) link carried by a user plane of the wireless communications system;

wherein said information useful for tasking includes the following;

a hop pattern being used by the wireless device; and

information useful for at least partially demodulating a signal from the wireless device to extract control signaling and error coding;

wherein said server is further configured to communicate said information useful for tasking to the WLS.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said information useful for tasking further includes information identifying a reverse channel through which the wireless device is communicating with a serving cell site, and wherein said information identifying a reverse channel comprises a frequency assignment.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said information useful for tasking further includes information identifying a reverse channel through which the wireless device is communicating with a serving cell site, and wherein said information identifying a reverse channel comprises a channel number assignment.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said information useful for tasking comprises radio channel information including information indicative of specific receivers which may be used to locate the wireless device, and information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned to locate the wireless device.

5. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned includes information identifying a radio frequency.

6. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned includes information identifying a frame.

7. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned includes information identifying a timeslot.

8. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned includes information identifying a hop pattern.

9. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned includes information identifying a modulation scheme.

10. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said information useful for at least partially demodulating comprises an encryption key.

11. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said information useful for at least partially demodulating comprises information for error coding and correction.

12. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a serving cell global identifier (CGI).

13. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a serving cell absolute radio frequency channel number (ARFCN).

14. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a serving cell base station identity code (BSIC).

15. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a prior cell global identifier (CGI) and timing advance (TA).

16. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an uplink receive level and quality.

17. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a downlink receive level and quality.

18. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a timing advance (TA).

19. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises a Network Measurement Report (NMR).

20. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an absolute radio frequency channel number (ARFCN).

21. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a timeslot.

22. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a channel type.

23. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a subchannel number.

24. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a frequency list.

25. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a mobile allocation index offset (MAIO).

26. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a hopping sequence number (HSN).

27. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a frame number.

28. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an encryption key.

29. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an encryption algorithm.

30. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an error correction coding method and level.

31. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an assigned frame.

32. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a modulation scheme.

33. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a code division multiple access (CDMA) spreading code.

34. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a pilot pseudo noise (PN) offset.

35. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a reverse pilot channel format.

36. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a beta parameter.

37. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a long code mask.

38. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a spreading factor.

39. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said server is configured to communicate with said wireless communications system via an Internet protocol-based (IP-based) interface.

40. A system as recited in claim 39, wherein said IP-based interface employs XML (extensible markup language).

41. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless location system is overlaid on said wireless communications system such that at least one of said LMUs is co-located and shares resources with a base transceiver station (BTS) of said wireless communications system.

42. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said system includes said wireless device and said wireless device is a location device platform (LDP) device comprising a wireless communications subsystem, a processor and a computer readable storage medium, said LDP device being configured to communicate with said server for providing said information useful for tasking a wireless location system.

43. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless communications subsystem comprises a radio receiver and a radio transmitter, and wherein said processor and computer readable storage medium are configured such that said LDP device is primarily limited to use as a gaming device.

44. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said server is a location enabling server (LES) comprising a processor and a computer readable storage medium, said LES being configured to communicate with a gaming server and said wireless location system for the purpose of providing government-regulated gaming services to said wireless device.

45. A system as recited in claim 44, wherein the provision of said gaming services is based on the geographic location of said wireless device.

46. A system as recited in claim 45, wherein said processor and computer readable storage medium are configured such that said LES receives requests from said gaming server and provides information to said gaming server, wherein said information is useful by said gaming server in determining what, if any, gaming services are to be provided to said wireless device.

47. A system as recited in claim 46, wherein said processor and computer readable storage medium are configured such that said LES receives requests from said gaming server and requests location information from said wireless location system.

48. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said system is configured to operate in connection with a global system for mobile (GSM) wireless communications system.

49. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said system is configured to operate in connection with a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) wireless communications system.

50. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said system is configured to operate in connection with a code division multiple access (CDMA) 2000 wireless communications system.

51. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said system is configured to operate in connection with a WiFi wireless communications system.

52. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said system is configured to operate in connection with a WiMax wireless communications system.

53. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the server is configured to transmit control commands to the wireless device to be located for the purpose of disabling discontinuous transmission.

54. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the server is configured to transmit control commands to the wireless device to be located for the purpose of increasing the transmit power of the wireless device to be located.

55. A method for locating a mobile wireless device configured to communicate with a wireless communications system via a control plane and a user plane, wherein the user plane comprises a data channel, comprising:

configuring a server to communicate via the user plane data channel with a wireless device, wherein said user plane data channel comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) link carried by the user plane of the wireless communications system;

obtaining from said wireless device information useful for tasking a wireless location system, wherein said information useful for tasking includes the following;

information indicative of a serving cell site with which the wireless device is communicating;

information indicative of at least one cell site neighboring the serving cell site;

radio channel information including information identifying a reverse channel through which the wireless device is communicating with the serving cell site;

information indicative of a hop pattern; and

information useful for at least partially demodulating a signal from the wireless device to extract control signaling and error coding; and

tasking said wireless location system using the information obtained from said wireless device.

56. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said information identifying a reverse channel comprises a frequency assignment.

57. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said information identifying a reverse channel comprises a channel number assignment.

58. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information further comprises information indicative of specific receivers which may be used to locate the wireless device.

59. A method as recited in claim 58, wherein said information indicative of specific receivers includes information identifying a serving cell.

60. A method as recited in claim 58, wherein said information indicative of specific receivers includes information identifying a neighbor cell.

61. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information further comprises information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned to locate the wireless device.

62. A method as recited in claim 61, wherein said information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned includes information identifying a radio frequency.

63. A method as recited in claim 61, wherein said information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned includes information identifying a frame.

64. A method as recited in claim 61, wherein said information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned includes information identifying a timeslot.

65. A method as recited in claim 61, wherein said information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned includes information identifying a hop pattern.

66. A method as recited in claim 61, wherein said information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned includes information identifying a modulation scheme.

67. A method as recited in claim 61, wherein said information useful for at least partially demodulating comprises an encryption key.

68. A method as recited in claim 67, wherein said information comprises information for error coding and correction.

69. A method as recited in claim 61, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a serving cell global identifier (CGI).

70. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a serving cell absolute radio frequency channel number (ARFCN).

71. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a serving cell base station identity code (BSIC).

72. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a prior cell global identifier (CGI) and timing advance (TA).

73. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an uplink receive level and quality.

74. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a downlink receive level and quality.

75. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a timing advance (TA).

76. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises a Network Measurement Report (NMR).

77. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an absolute radio frequency channel number (ARFCN).

78. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a timeslot.

79. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a channel type.

80. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a subchannel number.

81. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a frequency list.

82. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a mobile allocation index offset (MAIO).

83. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of hopping sequence number.

84. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a frame number.

85. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an encryption key.

86. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an encryption algorithm.

87. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an error correction coding method and level.

88. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an assigned frame.

89. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a modulation scheme.

90. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a code division multiple access (CDMA) spreading code.

91. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a pilot pseudo noise (PN) offset.

92. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a reverse pilot channel format.

93. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a beta parameter.

94. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a long code mask.

95. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a spreading factor.

96. A method as recited in claim 55, comprising configuring said server to communicate with said wireless communications system via an Internet protocol-based (IP-based) interface.

97. A method as recited in claim 96, wherein said IP-based interface employs XML (extensible markup language).

98. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein the wireless location system comprises a plurality of location measuring units (LMUs) and further comprising configuring said LMUs to be tasked to receive uplink transmissions from the wireless device and to employ time difference of arrival (TDOA) algorithms to locate said wireless device.

99. A method as recited in claim 98, further comprising overlaying said wireless location system on said wireless communications system such that at least one of said LMUs is co-located and shares resources with a base transceiver station (BTS) of said wireless communications system.

100. A method as recited in claim 55, further comprising providing said wireless device in the form of a location device platform (LDP) device comprising a wireless communications subsystem, a processor and a computer readable storage medium, and configuring said LDP device to communicate with said server for providing said information useful for tasking a wireless location system.

101. A method as recited in claim 100, wherein said wireless communications subsystem comprises a radio receiver and a radio transmitter, and wherein said processor and computer readable storage medium are configured such that said LDP device is primarily limited to use as a gaming device.

102. A method as recited in claim 55, further comprising providing said server in the form of a location enabling server (LES) comprising a processor and a computer readable storage medium, and configuring said LES to communicate with a gaming server and said wireless location system so as to provide government-regulated gaming services to said wireless device.

103. A method as recited in claim 102, wherein the provision of said gaming services is based on the geographic location of said wireless device.

104. A method as recited in claim 103, wherein said processor and computer readable storage medium are configured such that said LES receives requests from said gaming server and provides information to said gaming server, wherein said information is useful by said gaming server in determining what, if any, gaming services are to be provided to said wireless device.

105. A method as recited in claim 104, wherein said processor and computer readable storage medium are configured such that said LES receives requests from said gaming server and requests location information from said wireless location system.

106. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said method is performed in connection with a global system for mobile (GSM) wireless communications system.

107. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein said method is performed in connection with a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) wireless communications system.

108. A method as recited in claim 55, comprising transmitting control commands, via the user plane data channel, to the wireless device to be located for the purpose of disabling discontinuous transmission.

109. A method as recited in claim 55, comprising transmitting control commands, via the user plane data channel, to the wireless device to be located for the purpose of increasing the transmit power of the wireless device to be located.

110. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions for instructing a location enabling server (LES) in performing a method for locating a mobile wireless device configured to communicate with a wireless communications system via a control plane and a user plane, wherein the user plane comprises a data channel, said method comprising:

configuring said LES to communicate via said user plane data channel with a wireless device, wherein said user plane data channel comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) link carried by a user plane of the wireless communications system;

obtaining from said wireless device information useful for tasking a wireless location system, wherein said information useful for tasking includes the following;

information indicative of a serving cell site with which the wireless device is communicating,

information indicative of at least one cell site neighboring the serving cell site,

radio channel information including information identifying a reverse channel through which the wireless device is communicating with the serving cell site,

information indicative of a hop pattern, and

information useful for at least partially demodulating a signal from the wireless device to extract control signaling and error coding; and

tasking said wireless location system using the information obtained from said wireless device.

111. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said information identifying a reverse channel comprises a frequency assignment.

112. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110 wherein said information identifying a reverse channel comprises a channel number assignment.

113. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of specific receivers which may be used to locate the wireless device.

114. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 113, wherein said information indicative of specific receivers includes information identifying a serving cell.

115. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 113, wherein said information indicative of specific receivers includes information identifying a neighbor cell.

116. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned to locate the wireless device.

117. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 116, wherein said information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned includes information identifying a radio frequency.

118. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 116, wherein said information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned includes information identifying a frame.

119. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 116, wherein said information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned includes information identifying a timeslot.

120. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 116, wherein said information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned includes information identifying a hop pattern.

121. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 116, wherein said information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned includes information identifying a modulation scheme.

122. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information useful for at least partially demodulating a signal from the wireless device.

123. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 122, wherein said at least partially demodulating comprises demodulating enough to extract control signaling and error coding.

124. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 123, wherein said information useful for at least partially demodulating a signal comprises an encryption key.

125. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 124, wherein said information useful for at least partially demodulating a signal comprises information for error coding and correction.

126. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a serving cell global identifier (CGI).

127. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a serving cell absolute radio frequency channel number (ARFCN).

128. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a serving cell base station identity code (BSIC).

129. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a prior cell global identifier (CGI) and timing advance (TA).

130. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an uplink receive level and quality.

131. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a downlink receive level and quality.

132. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a timing advance (TA).

133. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises a Network Measurement Report (NMR).

134. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an absolute radio frequency channel number (ARFCN).

135. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a timeslot.

136. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a channel type.

137. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a subchannel number.

138. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a frequency list.

139. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a mobile allocation index offset (MAIO).

140. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of hopping sequence number (HSN).

141. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a frame number.

142. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an encryption key.

143. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an encryption algorithm.

144. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an error correction coding method and level.

145. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an assigned frame.

146. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a modulation scheme.

147. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a code division multiple access (CDMA) spreading code.

148. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a pilot pseudo noise (PN) offset.

149. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a reverse pilot channel format.

150. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a beta parameter.

151. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a long code mask.

152. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a spreading factor.

153. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said method comprises the use of an Internet protocol-based (IP-based) interface for communications between the server and the wireless location system.

154. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 153, wherein said IP-based interface employs XML (extensible markup language).

155. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said method comprises transmitting control commands, via the user plane data channel, to the wireless device to be located for the purpose of disabling discontinuous transmission.

156. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 110, wherein said method comprises transmitting control commands, via the user plane data channel, to the wireless device to be located for the purpose of increasing the transmit power of the wireless device to be located.

157. A wireless device adapted for use with a system for locating mobile wireless devices configured to communicate with a wireless communications system via a control plane and a user plane, wherein the user plane comprises a user plane data channel, comprising:

a wireless communications subsystem;

a processor; and

a computer readable storage medium;

wherein said device is configured to communicate via said user plane data channel with a server used by said system to provide to said server information useful for tasking a wireless location system, wherein said user plane data channel comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) link carried by the user plane of the wireless communications system;

wherein said information useful for tasking includes the following;

information indicative of a serving cell site with which the wireless device is communicating;

information indicative of at least one cell site neighboring the serving cell site;

radio information including information identifying a reverse channel through which the wireless device is communicating with the serving cell site;

information indicative of a hop pattern; and

information useful for at least partially demodulating a signal from the wireless device to extract control signaling and error coding.

158. A wireless device as recited in claim 157, wherein said wireless communications subsystem comprises a radio receiver and a radio transmitter, and wherein said processor and computer readable storage medium are configured such that said wireless device is primarily limited to use as a gaming device.

159. A wireless device as recited in claim 157, wherein said information identifying a reverse channel comprises a frequency assignment.

160. A wireless device as recited in claim 157, wherein said information identifying a reverse channel comprises a channel number assignment.

161. A wireless device as recited in claim 157, wherein said information useful for tasking comprises radio channel information.

162. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of specific receivers which may be used to locate the wireless device.

163. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned to locate the wireless device.

164. A wireless device as recited in claim 163, wherein said information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned includes information identifying a radio frequency.

165. A wireless device as recited in claim 163, wherein said information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned includes information identifying a frame.

166. A wireless device as recited in claim 163, wherein said information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned includes information identifying a timeslot.

167. A wireless device as recited in claim 163, wherein said information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned includes information identifying a hop pattern.

168. A wireless device as recited in claim 163, wherein said information indicative of a channel to which receivers should be tuned includes information identifying a modulation scheme.

169. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information useful for at least partially demodulating a signal from the wireless device.

170. A wireless device as recited in claim 169, wherein said at least partially demodulating comprises demodulating enough to extract control signaling and error coding.

171. A wireless device as recited in claim 170, wherein said information useful for at least partially demodulating comprises an encryption key.

172. A wireless device as recited in claim 170, wherein said information useful for at least partially demodulating comprises information for error coding and correction.

173. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a serving cell global identifier (CGI).

174. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a serving cell absolute radio frequency channel number (ARFCN).

175. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a serving cell base station identity code (BSIC).

176. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a prior cell global identifier (CGI) and timing advance (TA).

177. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an uplink receive level and quality.

178. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a downlink receive level and quality.

179. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a timing advance (TA).

180. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises a Network Measurement Report (NMR).

181. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an absolute radio frequency channel number (ARFCN).

182. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a timeslot.

183. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a channel type.

184. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a subchannel number.

185. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a frequency list.

186. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a mobile allocation index offset (MAIO).

187. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a hopping sequence number.

188. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a frame number.

189. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an encryption key.

190. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an encryption algorithm.

191. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an error correction coding method and level.

192. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of an assigned frame.

193. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a modulation scheme.

194. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a code division multiple access (CDMA) spreading code.

195. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a pilot pseudo noise (PN) offset.

196. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a reverse pilot channel format.

197. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a beta parameter.

198. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a long code mask.

199. A wireless device as recited in claim 161, wherein said radio channel information comprises information indicative of a spreading factor.

200. A wireless device as recited in claim 157, wherein said wireless device is a location device platform (LDP) device.

201. A wireless device as recited in claim 200, wherein said wireless communications subsystem comprises a radio receiver and a radio transmitter, and wherein said processor and computer readable storage medium are configured such that said LDP device is primarily limited to use as a gaming device.

202. A wireless device as recited in claim 157, wherein said device is configured to operate in connection with a global system for mobile (GSM) wireless communications system.

203. A wireless device as recited in claim 157, wherein said device is configured to operate in connection with a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) wireless communications system.

204. A wireless device as recited in claim 157, wherein said device is configured to operate in connection with a code division multiple access (CDMA) 2000 wireless communications system.

205. A wireless device as recited in claim 157, wherein said device is configured to operate in connection with a WiFi wireless communications system.

206. A wireless device as recited in claim 157, wherein said device is configured to operate in connection with a WiMax wireless communications system.

207. A wireless device as recited in claim 157, wherein the device is configured to receive control commands from the server for the purpose of disabling discontinuous transmission.

208. A wireless device as recited in claim 157, wherein the device is configured to receive control commands from the server for the purpose of increasing the transmit power of the wireless device.