Methods and apparatuses for requesting/providing sensitivity assistance information associated with various satellite positioning systems in wireless communication networks

• US 8,358,243 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2009
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Ie-Hong, Rowitch, Douglas Neal, Fischer, Sven
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing, Gregory C
• Application Number:
  US12/501,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20100013702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.4, 342/357.42, 342/357.64, 342/357.73
• US Class Current: 342/357.42
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/09 providing processing capability normally carried out by the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/246 involving long acquisition integration times, extended snapshots of signals or methods specifically directed towards weak signal acquisition

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use by devices within a wireless communication network to request and/or provide sensitivity assistance information signals associated with one or more Satellite Positioning Systems (SPSs).

Claims

1. A machine-implemented method for use in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

providing modified format Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Sensitivity Assistance (SA) information derived from predicted GNSS signal data according to a type of GNSS system, the type of GNSS system having a native-formatting for GNSS signals, the native formatting having characteristics comprising one or more of an error correction encoding, preamble information, and time mark information, the modified format GNSS Sensitivity Assistance (SA) information comprising the predicted GNSS signal data encoded without one or more of the characteristics used in the native formatting; and

sending the modified format GNSS SA information as one or more signals over a communication link from a location server operatively enabled to provide position location assistance to a mobile station having a GNSS receiver capable of receiving and decoding native formatted signals according to the type of GNSS system.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the providing modified format GNSS SA information comprises formatting the modified format GNSS SA information with one or more of a hamming code and meander encoding, but lacking time mark data.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising

producing native-formatted Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Sensitivity Assistance (SA) information comprising the predicted GNSS signal data;

and

using the produced native-formatted Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Sensitivity Assistance (SA) information as a basis for performing the act of providing.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising obtaining native-formatted GNSS information and producing the predicted GNSS signal data responsive to a request from the mobile station, the request specifying the one or more of the characteristics of the native formatting not used in the modified format.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the producing of the predicted GNSS signal data comprises producing GNSS signal data as would have been received by the mobile station from a satellite.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of sending is performed by transmitting at least one Position Determination Data Message (PDDM) comprising the modified format GNSS SA information.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the act of sending is performed by transmitting the modified format GNSS SA information in a provide element of at least one Position Determination Data Message (PDDM).

8. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising sending said at least one PDDM unsolicited.

9. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the act of sending is performed in response to said location server receiving at least one soliciting PDDM from said mobile station, said at least one soliciting PDDM comprising a request for SA data.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein said request element signals comprise an indicator signal identifying the type of GNSS system.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the type of satellite positioning system is at least one of a GPS resource, an SBAS resource, a QZSS resource, a GLONASS resource, a Galileo resource, and/or a Compass/BeiDou resource.

12. A method to be performed in a mobile device having a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver, the method comprising:

receiving one or more format modified Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensitivity assistance (SA) information signals over a communication link, the format modified GNSS SA information signals comprising predicted GNSS signal data according to a type of GNSS receiver in the mobile device, the format of the signal data being in a native format of GNSS signal data for that type of GNSS receiver excepting exclusion of one or more formatting characteristics comprising preamble, error correction encoding, and time mark information; and

attempting to acquire at least one GNSS signal by the GNSS receiver in the mobile device using the predicted GNSS signal data from the GNSS SA information signal to increase sensitivity of the receiver.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the attempting to acquire comprises reconstructing the native format GNSS signal by operations including adding time mark symbols to the predicted GNSS signal data.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the native format GNSS signal comprises preamble information signals and the predicted GNSS signal data excludes preamble information signals.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising adding time mark information to the received format modified GNSS SA information signals.

16. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the act of attempting to acquire at least one GNSS signal comprises

creating one or more native formatted GNSS SA information signals based on the predicted GNSS signal data received in the one or more format modified GNSS SA information signals, using a reference time signal received by the mobile device.

17. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said one or more format modified GNSS SA information signals is received via at least one Position Determination Data Message (PDDM).

18. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

receiving said one or more format modified GNSS SA information signals in a provide element of said at least one PDDM.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

sending at least one soliciting PDDM from said mobile station to a location server,

said at least one soliciting PDDM comprising request element signals.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein said request element signals comprise an indicator signal indicating a request to receive SA information without preamble bits.

21. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein said request element signals comprise an indicator signal indicating a request to receive SA information without convolutional encoding and without time mark information.

22. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said one or more format modified GNSS SA information signals are modified from a format associated with at least one of a GPS resource, an SBAS resource, a QZSS resource, a GLONASS resource, a Galileo resource, and/or a Compass/BeiDou resource.

23. An apparatus for use in providing position location assistance to a mobile station within a wireless communication network, the apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining native-formatted Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Sensitivity Assistance (SA) information comprising predicted GNSS signal data having formatting characteristics comprising one or more of an error correction encoding, preamble information, and time mark information, the formatting characteristics determined according to a type of Global Navigation Satellite System;

means for providing modified format GNSS SA information derived from the predicted GNSS signal data from the native-format GNSS SA information; and

means for sending the modified format GNSS SA information as one or more signals over a communication link from a location server operatively enabled to provide position location assistance to the mobile station.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein the means for obtaining native-formatted GNSS SA information comprises a GNSS receiver and a means for producing predicted GNSS signal data for the mobile station.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein the means for providing the modified format GNSS SA information is operable to exclude preamble information in said one or more native-formatted GNSS SA information signals.

26. The apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein the means for providing the modified format GNSS SA information is operable to exclude, from the modified format GNSS SA information, time mark information signals in said one or more native-formatted GNSS SA information signals.

27. The apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein the means for obtaining comprises a means for receiving native-formatted GNSS signals from a satellite.

28. The apparatus as recited in claim 23, further comprising:

means for receiving at least one soliciting message from said mobile station, said at least one soliciting message comprising request element signals identifying at least one modification to the native format of the GNSS SA information signals.

29. The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein said one or more format modified GNSS SA information signals are associated with at least one GNSS resource comprising at least one of a GPS resource, an SBAS resource, a QZSS resource, a GLONASS resource, a Galileo resource, and/or a Compass/BeiDou resource.

30. An apparatus for use in a mobile station operatively enabled to receive position location assistance within a wireless communication network, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving at least one message, from a location server, said at least one message comprising one or more format modified Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensitivity assistance (SA) information signals comprising predicted GNSS signal data in a format for a type of GNSS receiver in the mobile station, except that one or more formatting characteristics selected from an error correction encoding, preamble information, and time mark information are excluded; and

means for acquiring at least one GNSS signal using at least a portion of said one or more received GNSS SA information signals.

31. The apparatus as recited in claim 30, wherein the modified format GNSS SA information signals lack time mark information and further comprising:

means for creating one or more native format GNSS SA information signals comprising time mark information corresponding to said received one or more format modified GNSS SA information signals, using a time signal reference; and

wherein said means for acquiring said at least one GNSS signal uses the created one or more native format GNSS SA information signals.

32. The apparatus as recited in claim 30, wherein the format modified GNSS SA information signals lack preamble information and further comprising means for creating one or more native formatted GNSS SA information signals comprising preamble information, based on the format modified GNSS SA information signals.

33. The apparatus as recited in claim 31, further comprising:

means for creating native formatted GNSS data from the SA information signals corresponding to said received one or more format modified GNSS SA information signals.

34. The apparatus as recited in claim 30, further comprising:

means for sending at least one soliciting message to said location server, said at least one soliciting message specifying format modifications to be made to the GNSS data to be received from the location server.

35. The apparatus as recited in claim 34, wherein the format modifications are specified with respect to a native format of a GNSS system type selected from GPS, SBAS, QZSS, GLONASS, Galileo, and Compass/BeiDou.

36. A location server apparatus for use in providing position location assistance to a mobile station within a wireless communication network, the location server apparatus comprising:

a signal processor operatively enabled to produce predicted GNSS signal data for use in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensitivity assistance (SA) information signals, to be transmitted to the mobile station, the predicted GNSS data based at least in part on one or more received GNSS signals and being format modified to exclude one or more formatting characteristics of preamble information, error correction encoding and time mark information present in native format GNSS signals; and

a transmitter operatively coupled to at least said signal processor and operable to send the GNSS SA information to the mobile station.

37. The location server apparatus as recited in claim 36, wherein the native format GNSS SA information signals comprise preamble information signals and the format modifications comprise excluding preamble information from the GNSS SA information sent to the mobile station.

38. The location server apparatus as recited in claim 36, wherein the native format comprises time mark information and the format modifications comprise excluding time mark information from the GNSS SA information sent to the mobile station.

39. The location server apparatus as recited in claim 36, further comprising:

a receiver for receiving at least one soliciting message sent by said mobile station, said at least one soliciting message comprising a request for GNSS SA information according to a specified type of GNSS system.

40. The location server apparatus as recited in claim 39, wherein the type of GNSS is specified as one of a GPS resource, an SBAS resource, a QZSS resource, a GLONASS resource, a Galileo resource, and/or a Compass/BeiDou resource.

41. An apparatus for use in a mobile station operatively enabled to receive position location assistance within a wireless communication network, the apparatus comprising:

a wireless communication network interface operatively enabled to receive at least one message, from a location server, said at least one message comprising Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensitivity assistance (SA) information signals derived from predicted GNSS signal data according to a type of GNSS system, the type of GNSS system having a known native-formatting for GNSS signals, the native formatting having characteristics comprising one or more of an error correction encoding, preamble information, and time mark information, the GNSS Sensitivity Assistance (SA) information comprising the predicted GNSS signal data encoded without one or more of the characteristics used in the native formatting; and

a GNSS receiver operatively enabled to acquire GNSS signals using the received GNSS SA information signals.

42. The apparatus as recited in claim 41, further comprising:

a signal processor operatively enabled to produce native formatted GNSS information corresponding to said received GNSS SA information signals; and

wherein said GNSS receiver is operatively enabled to selectively acquire GNSS signals using the produced native formatted GNSS information.

43. The apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said GNSS SA information signals are based on GNSS signals received by the location server.

44. The apparatus as recited in claim 43, wherein said native formatting comprises preamble information signals and said GNSS SA information signals are received without preamble information signals.

45. The apparatus as recited in claim 43, wherein said native formatting comprises time mark information and said GNSS SA information signals are received without time mark information.

46. The apparatus as recited in claim 45, wherein said signal processor is operatively enabled to establish native formatted GNSS SA information, using a reference time signal.

47. The apparatus as recited in claim 42, wherein said signal processor is operatively enabled to establish at least one GNSS signal based on the received GNSS SA information.

48. The apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said wireless communication network interface is operatively enabled to send at least one soliciting message to said location server, said at least one soliciting message comprising a request for eGNSS SA information, and one or more format modifications to be made to the GNSS SA information, compared with native formatting of GNSS signals for a type of GNSS signal capable of being received by the receiver.

49. The apparatus as recited in claim 48, wherein the type of GNSS signal capable of being received is at least one of a GPS resource, an SBAS resource, a QZSS resource, a GLONASS resource, a Galileo resource, and/or a Compass/BeiDou resource.

50. An article comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer implementable instructions stored thereon to perform a method comprising;

establishing one or more format modified Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensitivity assistance (SA) information signals based, at least in part, on one or more received GNSS signals, the format modified GNSS SA information comprising modifications to one or more of preamble information, error correction encoding and time mark information, compared to a native format of a type of GNSS system that transmitted the received GNSS signals, and further comprising predicted GNSS signal data encoded without one or more of characteristics used in the native format; and

initiating transmission of said one or more the format modified GNSS SA information signals over a communication link to a mobile station, said one or more format modified GNSS SA information signals being transmitted via at least one message.

51. The article as recited in claim 50, wherein the establishing comprises removing preamble information from the native format in establishing the format modified GNSS SA information.

52. The article as recited in claim 50, wherein the establishing comprises excluding time mark information from the GNSS SA information.

53. The article as recited in claim 50, wherein the method further comprises

accessing at least one soliciting message from said mobile station, said at least one soliciting message comprising requested format modifications to a native format of GNSS information capable of being received by a GNSS receiver in the mobile station.

54. A non-transitory article of machine readable media having stored thereon machine executable instructions for a method to be performed in a mobile station comprising:

accessing at least one message from a location server, said at least one message comprising one or more format modified Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensitivity assistance (SA) information signals the format modified GNSS SA information comprising modifications to one or more of preamble information, error correction encoding and time mark information, compared to a native format of a type of GNSS system receiver available to the mobile station, and further comprising predicted GNSS signal data encoded without one or more of characteristics used in the native format; and

providing at least a portion of said one or more GNSS SA information signals to the GNSS system receiver operatively enabled to acquire at least one GNSS signal using the provided GNSS SA information signals.

55. The article as recited in claim 54, wherein the method further comprises adding time mark information to the received format modified GNSS SA information in creating native formatted GNSS SA information.

56. The article as recited in claim 54, wherein the method further comprises creating one or more native formatted GNSS SA information signals based on the format modified GNSS SA information and at least one reference time signal.

57. The article as recited in claim 54, wherein the method further comprises:

initiating transmission of a soliciting message to said location server, said at least one soliciting message comprising request element signals identifying a type of GNSS resource.

58. The article as recited in claim 57, wherein the type of GNSS resource is one of a GPS resource, an SBAS resource, a QZSS resource, a GLONASS resource, a Galileo resource, and/or a Compass/BeiDou resource.