Methods and apparatus for providing location data with variable validity and quality

• US 8,396,484 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2008
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cortxt Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cortxt Incorporated
• Inventors: Johnson, Roderick Michael, Scheurman, Brad, Blackwell, Dane, Jones, Ryan Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): Behnamian, Shahriar
• Application Number:
  US12/192,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20090061898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.4, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 342/357.43, 342/357.42
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/258 relating to the satellite constellation, e.g. almanac, ephemeris data, lists of satellites in view
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Methods, systems and computer program products for determining a location of a device based on location information are described. In some implementations, location assist information may be requested so as to determine a location of sufficient quality to satisfy a requesting application. Upon receiving the location assist information, empherides from one or more visible sources may be requested. The location assist information may be used to determine the location of the device until the device has received and decoded the empherides.

Claims

1. A method comprising

receiving a request for location services, the request generated by a requesting device and received by a system separate from the requesting device;

determining a locale associated with the requesting device;

determining a set of visible triangulation sources based on the locale;

selecting, by the system, an accuracy level based on the requesting device;

determining, from the set, a subset of the visible triangulation sources that will provide a location fix at the selected accuracy level;

determining a time period associated with the location fix, wherein the location fix is accurate during the time period;

constructing a message that includes information required by the requesting device to locate the requesting device, the message constructed in a format that the requesting device uses to provide the location fix for the time period; and

broadcasting the message at least to the requesting device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein constructing the message includes constructing an SMS message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein constructing a message includes determining a subset of parameters associated with each triangulation source to be provided in the message.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the subset includes less than all available parameters for the triangulation source.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein constructing the message includes providing clock correction along with the subset of parameters.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein constructing the message includes integrating harmonic correction factors in the subset of parameters.

7. The method of claim 1 where the time period is less than 4 hours.

8. The method of claim 1 where the time period is substantially one minute.

9. The method of claim 1 where time period is used to determine the locale.

10. The method of claim 1 where the time period is used to determine the set of visible triangulation sources.

11. The method of claim 1 where the time period is used to determine the subset of visible triangulation sources.

12. A method comprising:

requesting, by request to a system separate from a device, location assist information so as to determine a location of the device;

receiving the location assist information from the system including receiving a broadcast message that includes the location assist information, the system having selected an accuracy level based on the device and determined a validity period based on the selected accuracy level, wherein the location assist information is accurate during the validity period; and

constructing a location datafile including a minimal set of information required to locate the device and associated with those triangulation sources that are visible during a time period associated with a service offered to or provided by the device.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

specifying a time interval requirement for a service using the location assist information , where the time interval requirement is less than that associated with the ephemeris information and specifically less than 4 hours.

14. A method comprising:

receiving a request for location services from a requesting device, the request received by a system separate from the requesting device;

selecting, by the system, an accuracy level based on the requesting device;

determining, by the system and based on the selected accuracy level, a valid time period for use of location data;

constructing a message that includes information required by the requesting device to locate the requesting device within the selected accuracy level, wherein the location data is accurate only during the valid time period, and where the message is constructed in a format that the requesting device uses to provide the location data for the valid time period; and

delivering the message to the requesting device using a broadcast method.

15. A broadcast method comprising:

determining a broadcast locale;

determining a broadcast time;

determining a broadcast interval;

determining a time validity equivalent in accordance with the broadcast interval;

determining a set of triangulation sources visible from within the broadcast locale during the broadcast interval;

selecting an accuracy level based on a listening device;

determining a subset of the visible sources that will provide a location fix at the selected accuracy level, the selected accuracy level having a valid time period, wherein the location fix is accurate during the valid time period; and

constructing a message that includes information required by the listening device to assist a location service to locate the listening device including constructing the message in a format that the requesting device uses to provide the location fix for the valid time period.

16. The method of claim 15 where the location service is a GPS based service.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein constructing a message includes determining a subset of parameters associated with each triangulation source to be provided in the broadcast message.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the subset includes less than all available parameters for a triangulation source that are associated with the ephemeris information.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein a rough order of broadcast time is known by the listening device and using the rough order of broadcast time to receive and align a broadcast time to GPS Time of Week (TOW) and/or Coordinated Universal Time for input to a GPS associated with the listening device.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the broadcasted message includes a clock correction along with triangulation source parameter data.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein constructing the message includes integrating harmonic correction factors in triangulation source parameter data.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein the method supports multiple geographically unique broadcast locales.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein the broadcast message is encrypted.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the broadcast message can be decrypted by a listening device with a valid subscription.

25. A method in a listening device comprising;

determining a time to listen for a broadcast message including using a clock corrected time to activate listening;

receiving a broadcast message at the time that includes triangulation source parameter data of a quality and accuracy selected based on a listening device, the selected quality and accuracy being associated with a valid time period; and

using the broadcast message to assist in a determination of a location of the listening device, where the location is accurate at the selected quality and accuracy during the valid time period.

26. A method comprising:

requesting location assist information so as to determine a location of a device that is accurate according to an accuracy level during a time period to satisfy a requesting application, the accuracy level selected based on the device;

receiving the location assist information;

requesting ephemerides for one or more visible sources; and

using the location assist information to determine the location of the device until the device has received and decoded the ephemerides.

27. The method of claim 26 where the accuracy of the location degrades outside the time period.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising using the received and decoded empherides after decoding.

29. The method of claim 26 where receiving the location assist information includes receiving an SMS message including the location assist information.