Method and system for propagating GNSS assistance data among communication devices in a GNSS group

• US 8,350,755 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2010
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Abraham, Charles, Buer, Mark, Garrett, David, Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Lundgren, David Albert, Murray, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing, Gregory C
• Application Number:
  US12/748,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20110205110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.64, 342/357.42
• US Class Current: 342/357.42
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/27 creating, predicting or correcting ephemeris or almanac data within the receiver

Abstract

A communication device within a GNSS group propagates GNSS assistance data to one or more other communication devices in the GNSS group utilizing direct device-to-device connections. The GNSS assistance data comprises ephemeris received from one or more GNSS satellites and/or predicted ephemeris. As a source device, the communication device generates, and/or acquires from other resources such as a remote location server, the predicted ephemeris. As a destination device, the communication device receives existing GNSS assistance data from a source device and/or other communication devices in the GNSS group. A GNSS position for the communication device and corresponding time information are used to refresh the received GNSS assistance data. In instances where the communication device further acts as a relay device, the refreshed GNSS assistance data is relayed to other communication devices over wired and/or wireless direct device-to-device connections utilizing appropriate communication technologies such as WiFi, Bluetooth and/or Bluetooth low energy.

Claims

1. A method for communication, the method comprising:

in a communication device that is within a Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) group that comprises a plurality of communication devices;

calculating a position for said communication device utilizing GNSS assistance data;

refreshing said GNSS assistance data by adding said position for said communication device and corresponding time information;

establishing a device-to-device connection from said communication device to one or more communication devices of said plurality of communication devices; and

propagating said refreshed GNSS assistance data from said communication device to said one or more communication devices utilizing said device-to-device connection.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said GNSS assistance data comprises ephemeris received from one or more GNSS satellites and/or predicted ephemeris.

3. The method according to claim 2, comprising generating said predicted ephemeris by said communication device.

4. The method according to claim 2, comprising acquiring said ephemeris and/or predicted ephemeris from a remote location server.

5. The method according to claim 2, comprising receiving said GNSS assistance data from another communication device of said plurality of communication devices.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said device-to-device connections comprise wired and/or wireless device-to-device connections between said communication device and said one or more communication devices of said plurality of communication devices.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising utilizing two or more different communication technologies for said device-to-device connections.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said GNSS group comprises a GNSS spreading group.

9. A system for communication, the system comprising:

a processor and/or circuits for use in a communication device that is operable within a Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) group that comprises a plurality of communication devices, wherein said processor and/or circuits are configured to;

calculate a position for said communication device utilizing GNSS assistance data;

refresh said GNSS assistance data by adding said position for said communication device and corresponding time information;

establish a device-to-device connection from said communication device to one or more communication devices of said plurality of communication devices; and

propagate said GNSS assistance data from said communication device to said one or more communication devices utilizing said device-to-device connection.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said GNSS assistance data comprises ephemeris received from one or more GNSS satellites and/or predicted ephemeris.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said processor and/or circuits are configured to generate said predicted ephemeris by said communication device.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein said processor and/or circuits are configured to acquire said ephemeris and/or predicted ephemeris from a remote location server.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein said processor and/or circuits are configured to receive said GNSS assistance data from another communication device of said plurality of communication devices.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein said device-to-device connection comprises a wired and/or wireless device-to-device connection between said communication device and said one or more communication devices of said plurality of communication devices.

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein said processor and/or circuits are configured to utilize two or more different communication technologies for said device-to-device connection.

16. The system according to claim 9, wherein said GNSS group comprises a GNSS spreading group.

17. A method, comprising:

receiving assistance data at a relay communication device within a Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) spreading group;

calculating a position for said relay communication device utilizing said assistance data at said relay communication device;

refreshing said assistance data by adding said position for said relay communication device and corresponding time information at said relay communication device;

establishing at least one device-to-device connection from said relay communication device to at least one other communication device within said GNSS spreading group; and

propagating said refreshed assistance data from said relay communication device to said at least one other communication device utilizing said at least one device-to-device connection.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said propagating further comprises propagating said refreshed assistance data to a subsequent relay communication device within said GNSS spreading group.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said receiving farther comprises receiving said assistance data from a source communication device within said GNSS spreading group, said source communication device having received said assistance data from a remote location server.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said receiving further comprises receiving said assistance data from a prior relay communication device within said GNSS spreading group, said prior relay communication device having refreshed said assistance data with its own calculated position and corresponding time information.