Method and apparatus for creating and using a base station almanac for position determination
First Claim
1. A method of using a base station almanac for position determination in a wireless communication network, comprising:
- storing, in a single record of the base station almanac, at least two data values for a single attribute of a single transmitting entity, wherein each of the at least two data values is stored in a respective instance or part of a field in the single record of the single transmitting entity; and
using the at least two data values in the field of the record for position determination for wireless terminals in the wireless communication network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for creating and using a base station almanac for position determination is described. The base station almanac includes a number of records, where each record can describe a sector or a transmitter (e.g., a base station or a repeater) in a wireless communication network. Each record includes a protocol type field that indicates the one or more protocols supported by the record (e.g., IS-801, J-STD-36, GSM, W-CDMA, and so on). Each record also includes a unique sector identifier for the sector/transmitter for each supported protocol, where each identifier is defined based on the associated protocol. A record may also include multiple maximum antenna ranges (MARs), where each MAR is associated with a respective reference power level. One of the multiple MARs can be selected for use for position determination depending on received signal strength. The base station almanac further includes other features.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of using a base station almanac for position determination in a wireless communication network, comprising:
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storing, in a single record of the base station almanac, at least two data values for a single attribute of a single transmitting entity, wherein each of the at least two data values is stored in a respective instance or part of a field in the single record of the single transmitting entity; and using the at least two data values in the field of the record for position determination for wireless terminals in the wireless communication network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of using a base station almanac for position determination in a wireless communication network, comprising:
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storing, in a single record of the base station almanac, at least two maximum antenna ranges (MARs) for a single transmitting entity associated with the single record wherein each of the at least two MARs is associated with a respective reference power level, and wherein each MAR is indicative of a geographic area within which a wireless terminal is expected to be located if received signal strength measured by the wireless terminal for the single transmitting entity meets or exceeds the reference power level associated with the MAR; and using the at least two MARs for position determination for wireless terminals in the wireless communication network. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of using a base station almanac for position determination in a wireless communication network, comprising:
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storing an enclosed space indicator for each of a plurality of records of the base station almanac, wherein the enclosed space indicator for each record indicates whether a transmitting entity described by the record is associated with an enclosed environment; and using the enclosed space indicators for the plurality of records for position determination of a wireless terminal in a wireless communication network by selectively omitting a search for satellite signals based upon whether the enclosed space indicator for a given record among the plurality of records indicates an enclosed environment for a given transmitting entity associated with the wireless terminal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A position determination system comprising:
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a storage unit for storing an enclosed space indicator for each of a plurality of records of the base station almanac, wherein the enclosed space indicator for each record indicates whether a transmitting entity described by the record is associated with an enclosed environment; and a controller operative to use the enclosed space indicators for the plurality of records for position determination of a wireless terminal in a wireless communication network by selectively omitting a search for satellite signals based upon whether the enclosed space indicator for a given record among the plurality of records indicates an enclosed environment for a given transmitting entity associated with the wireless terminal.
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20. A position determination system configured to use a base station almanac for position determination in a wireless communication network, comprising:
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a storage unit configured to store, in a single record of the base station almanac, at least two data values for a single attribute of a single transmitting entity, wherein each of the at least two data values is stored in a respective instance or part of a field in the single record of the single transmitting entity; and a controller configured to use the at least two data values in the field of the record for position determination for wireless terminals in the wireless communication network.
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21. A position determination system configured to use a base station almanac for position determination in a wireless communication network, comprising:
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means for storing, in a single record of the base station almanac, at least two data values for a single attribute of a single transmitting entity, wherein each of the at least two data values is stored in a respective instance or part of a field in the single record of the single transmitting entity; and means for using the at least two data values in the field of the record for position determination for wireless terminals in the wireless communication network.
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22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a position determination system configured to use a base station almanac for position determination in a wireless communication network, cause the position determination system to perform actions, the instructions comprising:
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program code to store, in a single record of the base station almanac, at least two data values for a single attribute of a single transmitting entity, wherein each of the at least two data values is stored in a respective instance or part of a field in the single record of the single transmitting entity; and program code to use the at least two data values in the field of the record for position determination for wireless terminals in the wireless communication network.
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23. A position determination system comprising:
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means for storing an enclosed space indicator for each of a plurality of records of the base station almanac, wherein the enclosed space indicator for each record indicates whether a transmitting entity described by the record is associated with an enclosed environment; and means for using the enclosed space indicators for the plurality of records for position determination of a wireless terminal in a wireless communication network by selectively omitting a search for satellite signals based upon whether the enclosed space indicator for a given record among the plurality of records indicates an enclosed environment for a given transmitting entity associated with the wireless terminal.
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24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a position determination system configured to use a base station almanac for position determination in a wireless communication network, cause the position determination system to perform actions, the instructions comprising:
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program code to store an enclosed space indicator for each of a plurality of records of the base station almanac, wherein the enclosed space indicator for each record indicates whether a transmitting entity described by the record is associated with an enclosed environment; and program code to use the enclosed space indicators for the plurality of records for position determination of a wireless terminal in a wireless communication network by selectively omitting a search for satellite signals based upon whether the enclosed space indicator for a given record among the plurality of records indicates an enclosed environment for a given transmitting entity associated with the wireless terminal.
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Specification