Apparatus and methods for geographic position approximation of an event occurring on a wireless device

• US 8,606,299 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Fok, Kenny, Yip, Eric Chi Chung, Lushin, Mikhail A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ, JULIO R
• Application Number:
  US11/477,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20070161380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,722 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/456.1, 455/404.2, 455/550.1, 455/456.2
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Apparatus and methods may approximate a location of an event occurring on a wireless device based upon at least one of a first set of location fix information corresponding to a first set of location fix information corresponding to a first position fix of the wireless device prior to the event and a second set of location fix information corresponding to a second position fix of the wireless device after the event. An event positioning determination module may calculate an approximate geographic location of the wireless device at the time of the event based upon a predetermined relationship between the event and at least one of the first and second set of location fix information.

Claims

1. A method for approximating a geographic location corresponding to an operational event occurring on a wireless device, comprising:

detecting the event occurring on the wireless device and a time the event occurred;

obtaining at least one of a first set of location fix information corresponding to a first geographic position of the wireless device prior to the time of the event and/or a second set of location fix information corresponding to a second geographic position of the wireless device subsequent to the time of the event, wherein the at least one set of location fix information includes a time, horizontal location information, and horizontal velocity information; and

calculating an approximate latitude and longitude of the wireless device location at the detected time that the event occurred on the wireless device based upon at least one predetermined relationship between the event time and the at least one set of location fix information, wherein calculating an approximate latitude and a longitude of the event further comprises determining a validity of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information, wherein determining validity further comprises at least one of;

determining that a time difference between the time of the event and a time of fix of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information is less than or equal to a predetermined time threshold; and

determining that a distance traveled by the wireless device between the time of the event and the time of fix of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or second set of location fix information is less than or equal to a predetermined distance threshold.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein calculating based on the at least one predetermined relationship further comprises determining the approximate latitude and longitude of the event based on the horizontal velocity information and a time difference between the event and the at least one set of fix information.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and/or second location fix information includes vertical location information and vertical velocity information, and further comprising calculating an approximate altitude of the event based on the at least one predetermined relationship using at least one of the vertical location information and/or the vertical velocity information.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein calculating the approximate latitude and longitude of the event is based on the at least one predetermined relationship being between both of the first set of location fix information and the second set of location fix information, further comprising applying a predetermined weighting to each of the first set of location fix information and the second set of location fix information.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting an event tracking configuration to the wireless device from across a wireless network, wherein the event tracking configuration controls the retrieval of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the event corresponds to a predetermined operation of the wireless device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the event corresponds to one or more predetermined configurable combinations of data associated with the operation of the wireless device.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein calculating an approximate latitude and longitude of the event further comprises:

determining that the first set of location fix information and the second set of location fix information are valid;

determining that the first set of location fix information and the second set of location fix information comprise horizontal velocity information; and

estimating a latitude coordinate and a longitude coordinate of the event, wherein the predetermined relationship is based on both of the first set of location fix information and the second set of location fix information.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein estimating the latitude coordinate and longitude coordinate comprises:

calculating a first latitude (AL_1—

lat) using the formula;

AL_1—

lat=arcsin [ sin(G_1—

lat)*cos(Hd₁)+cos(G_1—

lat)+sin(Hd₁)*cos(G_1—

θ

)];

calculating a first longitude (AL_1—

lon), using the formula;

AL_1—

lon=mod(G_1—

lon−

dlon₁+π

,2*π

)−

π

;

wherein dLon₁ is calculated as;

dLon₁=arctan 2([ sin(G_1—

θ

)*sin(Hd₁)*cos(G_1—

lat)],[ cos(Hd₁)−

sin(G_1—

lat) *sin(AL_1—

lat)]);

calculating a second latitude (AL_2—

lat) using the formula;

AL_2—

lat=arcsin [ sin(G_2—

lat)*cos(Hd₂)+cos(G_2—

lat)+sin(Hd₂)*cos(G_2—

θ

];

calculating a second longitude (AL_2—

lon) using the formula;

AL_2—

lon=mod(G_2—

lon−

dLon₂ +π

,2*π

)−

π

;

wherein dLon₂ is calculated as;

dLon₂=arctan 2([ sin(G_2—

θ

)*sin(Hd₂)*cos(G_2—

lat), [ cos(Hd₂)−

sin(G_2—

lat) *sin(AL_2—

lat)]); and

determining an estimated latitude (L_lat) and an estimated longitude (L_lon) according to the following;

if |Hd₁|=|Hd₂|, then

L_Lat=AL_2—

lat; and

L_Lon=AL_2—

lon;

else

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein both the first and second set of location fix information comprise vertical velocity information, and further comprising calculating an altitude of the event using the vertical velocity information associated with both the first geographic position and the second geographic position.

11. The method according to claim 10, comprising:

calculating a first vertical distance (Vd₁) using the formula;

Vd₁=(G_1—

vv)*(Ets−

G_1—

ts);

calculating a second vertical distance (Vd₂) using the formula;

Vd₂=(G_2—

vv)*(Ets−

G_2—

ts);

calculating a first altitude (AL_1—

alt) using the formula;

AL_1—

alt=G_1—

alt+Vd₁;

calculating a second altitude (AL_1—

alt) using the formula;

AL_2—

alt=G_2—

alt+Vd₂; and

determining an extimated altitude (L_alt) of th event using the formula;

If (|Vd₁|=|Vd₂|) then

L_alt=AL_2—

alt;

else

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising;

determining that the valid set of location fix information comprises altitude and vertical velocity information; and

calculating an altitude of the event using the valid set of location fix information.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein calculating the estimated altitude comprises:

calculating a vertical distance (Vd) using the formula;

Vd=(G_n—

vv)*(Ets−

G_n—

ts);

calculating a first approximate altitude (AL_alt) using the formula;

AL_—

alt=G_n—

alt+Vd; and

setting the estimated altitude (L_alt) using the formula;

L_alt=AL_alt;

wherein;

Ets is the time of the event;

G_n—

alt is an altitude comprising the valid set of location fix information;

G_n—

vv is a vertical velocity comprising the valid set of location fix information; and

G_n—

ts is a time associated with the valid set of location fix information.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein calculating an approximate latitude and longitude of the event further comprises:

determining that only one of the first set and second set of location fix information is valid,

determining that the valid set of location fix information comprises horizontal velocity information; and

calculating an estimated latitude coordinate and an estimated longitude coordinate of the event wherein the predetermined relationship is based on the valid set of location fix information.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein calculating an estimated latitude coordinate and an estimated longitude coordinate of the event further comprises:

calculating a first approximate latitude (AL_lat) using the formula;

AL_—

lat=arcsin [ sin(G_n—

lat)*cos(Hd)+cos(G_n—

lat)+sin(Hd)*cos(G_n—

θ

)];

calculating a first longitude (AL_lon) using the formula;

AL_—

lon=mod(G_—

lon−

dlon+π

, 2* π

)−

π

;

wherein dLon is calculated as;

dLon=arctan 2([ sin(G_θ

)*sin(Hd)cos(G_—

lat)], [ cos(Hd)−

sin(G_—

lat) *sin(AL_—

lat)]);

setting an estimated latitude (L_lat) of the event and an estimated longitude (L_lon) of the event according to;

L_Lat=AL_lat; and

L_Lon=AL_lon;

wherein;

G_n—

lat is a latitude coordinate associated with the valid set of location fix information;

G_n—

lon is a longitude coordinate associated with the valid set of location fix information;

Hd is a distance traveled based on a time difference between the time of the valid set of location fix information and the time of the event; and

G_n—

θ

is a bearing component of a horizontal velocity associated with the valid set of location fix information.

16. An apparatus for approximating a geographic location corresponding to an operational event occurring on a wireless device, comprising:

means for detecting the event occurring on the wireless device and a time the event occurred;

means for obtaining at least one of a first set of location fix information corresponding to a first geographic position of the wireless device prior to the time of the event and/or a second set of location fix information corresponding to a second geographic position of the wireless device subsequent to the time of the event, wherein the at least one set of location fix information includes a time of fix, horizontal location information, and horizontal velocity information; and

means for calculating an approximate latitude and a longitude of the wireless device at the detected time that the event occurred on the wireless device based upon at least one predetermined relationship between the event time and the at least one set of location fix information, wherein calculating an approximate latitude and a longitude of the event further comprises determining a validity of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information, wherein determining validity further comprises at least one of;

determining that a time difference between the time of the event and a time of fix of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information is less than or equal to a predetermined time threshold; and

determining that a distance traveled by the wireless device between the time of the event and the time of fix of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or second set of location fix information is less than or equal to a predetermined distance threshold.

17. A computer-readable, non-transitory medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations, the instructions including:

instructions to detect an operational event occurring on a wireless device and a time of the event;

instructions to obtain at least one of a first set of location fix information corresponding to a first geographic position of the wireless device prior to the time of the event and/or a second set of location fix information corresponding to a second geographic position of the wireless device subsequent to the time of the event, wherein the at least one set of location fix information includes a time, horizontal location information, and horizontal velocity information; and

instructions to calculate an approximate latitude and longitude of the wireless device at the time of the event based upon at least one predetermined relationship between the time of the event and the at least one set of location fix information, wherein calculating an approximate latitude and a longitude of the event further comprises determining a validity of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information, wherein determining validity further comprises at least one of;

determining that a time difference between the time of the event and a time of fix of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information is less than or equal to a predetermined time threshold; and

determining that a distance traveled by the wireless device between the time of the event and the time of fix of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or second set of location fix information is less than or equal to a predetermined distance threshold.

18. At least one processor configured to perform the actions of:

detecting an operational event occurring on a wireless device and a time of the event;

obtaining at least one of a first set of location fix information corresponding to a first geographic position of the wireless device prior to the time of the event and/or a second set of location fix information corresponding to a second geographic position of the wireless device subsequent to the time of the event, wherein the at least one set of location fix information includes a time, horizontal location information, and horizontal velocity information; and

calculating an approximate latitude and longitude of the wireless device at the time that the operational event occurred based upon at least one predetermined relationship between the time of the event and the at least one set of location fix information, wherein calculating an approximate latitude and a longitude of the event further comprises determining a validity of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information, wherein determining validity further comprises at least one of;

determining that a time difference between the time of the event and a time of fix of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information is less than or equal to a predetermined time threshold; and

determining that a distance traveled by the wireless device between the time of the event and the time of fix of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or second set of location fix information is less than or equal to a predetermined distance threshold.

19. An apparatus for approximating a geographic location corresponding to an operational event occurring on a wireless device, comprising:

an event position determination module operable to detect the event occurring on the wireless device and the time of the event, and obtain at least one of a first set of location fix information corresponding to a first geographic position of the wireless device prior to the time of the event and/or a second set of location fix information corresponding to a second geographic position of the wireless device subsequent to the time of the event, wherein the at least one set of location fix information comprises a time, horizontal location information, and horizontal velocity information; and

wherein the event position determination module is operable to calculate an approximate latitude and longitude of the wireless device at the time of the event based upon at least one predetermined relationship between the time of the event and the at least one set of location fix information, wherein calculating an approximate latitude and a longitude of the event further comprises determining a validity of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information, wherein determining validity further comprises at least one of;

determining that a time difference between the time of the event and a time of fix of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information is less than or equal to a predetermined time threshold; and

determining that a distance traveled by the wireless device between the time of the event and the time of fix of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or second set of location fix information is less than or equal to a predetermined distance threshold.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the at least one of the set of location fix information further comprises vertical velocity information, and wherein the event position determination module is further operable to determine an estimated altitude of the event based upon the vertical velocity information.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location information is generated based on a detection of a predetermined event on the wireless device.

22. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the event position determination module is further operable to transmit an event tracking configuration across a wireless network to the wireless device, wherein the event tracking configuration is executable by the wireless device to generate at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location information.

23. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the event corresponds to a predetermined operation of the wireless device.

24. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the event corresponds to one or more predetermined configurable combinations of data associated with an operation of the wireless device.

25. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the at least one predetermined relationship is operable to determine the approximate geographic location of the event based on the horizontal velocity information and a time difference between the event and the at least one set of fix information.

26. A method for tracking information relating to an event occurring on a wireless device, comprising:

detecting an occurrence of an operational event on the wireless device and a time of the event, wherein the event is defined by an event tracking configuration;

storing event information relating to the detected occurrence of the defined event;

generating a position determination request based on the detected occurrence of the defined event;

storing a first set of location fix information prior to the occurrence of the defined event and a second set of location fix information subsequent to the occurrence of the defined event, wherein the second set of location fix information is based on the position determination request, and wherein at least one of the first and/or second set of location fix information comprises a geographic location and a horizontal velocity of the wireless device operable to be utilized in a predetermined relationship with the event information to determine an approximate geographic location of the wireless device at the time of the the event; and

calculating an approximate latitude and longitude of the wireless device at the time of the event occurrence based upon at least one predetermined relationship between the time of the event occurrence and the at least one set of location fix information, wherein calculating an approximate latitude and a longitude of the event further comprises determining a validity of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information, wherein determining validity further comprises at least one of;

determining that a time difference between the time of the event occurrence and a time of fix of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information is less than or equal to a predetermined time threshold; and

determining that a distance traveled by the wireless device between the time of the event occurrence and the time of fix of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or second set of location fix information is less than or equal to a predetermined distance threshold.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of the location fix information further comprises vertical velocity information operable to be utilized in the predetermined relationship to determine an altitude component of the approximate geographic location.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of the location fix information further comprises horizontal bearing operable to be utilized in the predetermined relationship to determine the approximate geographic location.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising transmitting the event information and the location fix information across a wireless network to another device for determining the approximate geographic location.

30. At least one processor configured to perform the actions of:

detecting an occurrence of an operational event on the wireless device and a time of the event, wherein the event is defined by an event tracking configuration;

storing event information relating to the detected occurrence of the defined event;

generating a position determination request based on the detected occurrence of the defined event;

storing a first set of location fix information prior to the occurrence of the defined event and a second set of location fix information subsequent to the occurrence of the defined event, wherein the second set of location fix information is based on the position determination request, and wherein at least one of the first and/or second set of location fix information comprises a geographic location and a horizontal velocity of the wireless device operable to be utilized in a predetermined relationship with the event information to determine an approximate geographic location of the wireless device at the time of the event; and

calculating an approximate latitude and longitude of the wireless device at the time of the event based upon at least one predetermined relationship between the time of the event and the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information, wherein calculating an approximate latitude and a longitude of the event further comprises determining a validity of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information, wherein determining validity further comprises at least one of;

determining that a time difference between the time of the event and a time of fix of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information is less than or equal to a predetermined time threshold; and

determining that a distance traveled by the wireless device between the time of the event and the time of fix of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or second set of location fix information is less than or equal to a predetermined distance threshold.

31. A computer-readable, non-transitory medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations, the instructions including:

instructions to detect an occurrence of an operational event on the wireless device and a time of the event, wherein the event is defined by an event tracking configuration;

instructions to store event information relating to the detected occurrence of the defined event;

instructions to generate a position determination request based on the detected occurrence of the defined event; and

instructions to store a first set of location fix information prior to the occurrence of the defined event and a second set of location fix information subsequent to the occurrence of the defined event, wherein the second set of location fix information is based on the position determination request, and wherein at least one of the first and/or second set of location fix information comprises a geographic location and a horizontal velocity of the wireless device operable to be utilized in a predetermined relationship with the event information to determine an approximate geographic location of the wireless device at the detected time of the event; and

instructions to calculate an approximate latitude and longitude of the wireless device at the time of the event based upon at least one predetermined relationship between the time of the event and the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information, wherein calculating an approximate latitude and a longitude of the event further comprises determining a validity of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information, wherein determining validity further comprises at least one of;

determining that a time difference between the time of the event and a time of fix of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information is less than or equal to a predetermined time threshold; and

determining that a distance traveled by the wireless device between the time of the event and the time of fix of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or second set of location fix information is less than or equal to a predetermined distance threshold.

32. A wireless device for tracking information relating to an event occurring on the wireless device, comprising:

means for detecting an occurrence of an operational event on the wireless device and a time of the event, wherein the event is defined by an event tracking configuration;

means for storing event information relating to the detected occurrence of the defined event;

means for generating a position determination request based on the detected occurrence of the defined event; and

means for storing a first set of location fix information prior to the occurrence of the defined event and a second set of location fix information subsequent to the occurrence of the defined event, wherein the second set of location fix information is based on the position determination request, and wherein at least one of the first and/or second set of location fix information comprises a geographic location and a horizontal velocity of the wireless device operable to be utilized in a predetermined relationship with the event information to determine an approximate geographic location of the wireless device at the detected time of the occurrence of the defined event; and

means for calculating an approximate latitude and longitude of the wireless device at the time of the event based upon at least one predetermined relationship between the time of the event and the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information, wherein calculating an approximate latitude and a longitude of the event further comprises determining a validity of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information, wherein determining validity further comprises at least one of;

determining that a time difference between the time of the event and a time of fix of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information is less than or equal to a predetermined time threshold; and

determining that a distance traveled by the wireless device between the time of the event and the time of fix of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or second set of location fix information is less than or equal to a predetermined distance threshold.

33. A wireless device, comprising:

a computer platform comprising a plurality of detected event data relating to an operation of the wireless device;

an event tracking module in communication with the computer platform and having the event tracking module define one of the plurality of events to track, the event tracking module further comprising event tracking logic operable to initiate storage of event information and further operable to generate a position determination request upon detecting the defined one of the plurality of events; and

a memory operable to store the event information and location fix information, wherein the location fix information comprises a first set of location fix information prior to the occurrence of the defined event and a second set of location fix information subsequent to the occurrence of the defined event, wherein the second set of location fix information is based on the position determination request, and wherein at least one of the first and/or second set of location fix information comprises geographic location information and horizontal velocity information operable, based on a predetermined relationship with the event information, for determining an approximate geographic location of the wireless device at a time of the event;

wherein the event tracking module is further operable to calculate an approximate latitude and longitude of the wireless device at the time of the event based upon at least one predetermined relationship between the time of the event and the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information, wherein calculating an approximate latitude and a longitude of the event further comprises determining a validity of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information, wherein determining validity further comprises at least one of;

determining that a time difference between the time of the event and a time of fix of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or the second set of location fix information is less than or equal to a predetermined time threshold; and

determining that a distance traveled by the wireless device between the time of the event and the time of fix of at least one of the first set of location fix information and/or second set of location fix information is less than or equal to a predetermined distance threshold.

34. The wireless device of claim 33, wherein the event information comprises an event time, and wherein the location fix information further comprises at least one of a location fix time, a horizontal bearing, a horizontal velocity, a vertical velocity and/or an altitude.

35. The wireless device of claim 33, further comprising a location module in communication with the computer platform and executable upon receipt of the position determination request to initiate retrieval of the second set of location fix information.