Optimizing battery life and network resources during position location tracking scenario

• US 8,620,393 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2008
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Eitan, Alecsander, Strauss, Nir, Bornstein, Gilad
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Fayyaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bilodeau, David
• Application Number:
  US12/139,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20090312032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,027 Days
• Field of Search: 455/574, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/01 Determining conditions which influence positioning, e.g. radio environment, state of motion or energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An apparatus and method for optimizing battery life and network resources during position tracking is disclosed. The position of a target being tracked is compared with a predefined geofence boundary. If the position of the target is far from the geofence boundary, position fix of the target is calculated using low quality of service (QoS) parameters. If the position of the target is not far from the geofence boundary, position fix of the target is calculated using high quality of service (QoS) parameters.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

defining a geofence center and a geofence boundary;

receiving geofence network information associated with an area defined by the geofence boundary;

obtaining mobile station network information;

determining whether the mobile station network information identifies a cell at least partially within the geofence boundary;

performing an operation when the mobile station network information does not identify a cell at least partially within the geofence boundary, the operation comprising;

incrementing a skip counter, wherein the skip counter is configured to count a number of times that the mobile station network information does not identify a cell at least partially within the geofence boundary;

determining whether the skip counter exceeds a threshold representative of a maximum number of consecutive times a mobile station device obtaining the mobile station network information is determined to not be at least partially within the geofence boundary before performing calculations to obtain a pseudorange-based low Quality of Service (QoS) position fix using a first set of parameters;

in response to determining that the skip counter does not exceed the threshold, performing a second operation; and

in response to determining that the skip counter exceeds the threshold, performing operations to calculate a position fix using the first set of parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting the position fix.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first set of parameters comprises non-satellite positioning system based pseudoranges.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of parameters comprises non-satellite positioning system based pseudoranges.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second operation comprises generating a position report.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second operation comprises:

obtaining updated mobile station network information; and

determining whether the updated mobile station network information identifies a cell at least partially within the geofence boundary.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold is configurable.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the mobile station network information relates to the mobile station device and wherein the threshold is configured based on a distance between the mobile station device and the geofence boundary.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if the position fix is within the area defined by the geofence boundary.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing information that the position fix is within the area defined by the geofence boundary.

11. A method comprising:

defining a geofence center and a geofence boundary;

receiving geofence network information associated with an area defined by the geofence boundary;

obtaining mobile station network information associated with a mobile station device;

determining whether the mobile station network information identifies a cell at least partially within the geofence boundary;

in response to determining that the mobile station network information identifies a cell at least partially within the geofence boundary, retrieving a last real position fix of the mobile device and a time associated with the last real position fix;

calculating a distance radius based at least in part on the last real position fix and a distance the mobile station device is capable of traveling during a time period, wherein the time period is based on the time associated with the last real position fix;

defining a mobile station boundary that is centered at the last real position fix based on the distance radius, wherein the mobile station boundary represents a boundary limit of a location of the mobile station device, wherein the mobile station boundary is different from the geofence boundary;

determining whether the mobile station boundary is within a threshold distance from the geofence boundary;

calculating a position fix using quality of service parameters based on whether the mobile station boundary is within the threshold distance from the geofence boundary, wherein the quality of service parameters include one of a first set of parameters and a second set of parameters;

incrementing a skip counter value when the mobile station boundary is not within the threshold distance from the geofence boundary;

comparing the skip counter value with a pre-determined threshold value representative of a maximum number of consecutive times the mobile station device obtaining the mobile station network information is determined to not be at least partially within the geofence boundary before performing calculations to obtain a pseudorange-based low Quality of Service (QoS) position fix using the first set of parameters; and

performing operations to obtain new mobile station network information when the skip counter value exceeds the pre-determined threshold.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the quality of service parameters are the first set of parameters when the mobile station boundary is not within the threshold distance from the geofence boundary.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the quality of service parameters are the second set of parameters when the mobile station boundary is within the threshold distance from the geofence boundary.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising outputting the position fix.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising outputting the position fix.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the first set of parameters comprises non-satellite positioning system based pseudoranges.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the first set of parameters comprises non-satellite positioning system based pseudoranges from at least one of inertial sensors, a mobile switching center identification, a code division multiple access zone, a roaming list, an advanced forward link trilateration, a radio frequency identification, Bluetooth information, and Zigbee system information.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the second set of parameters comprises satellite positioning system based pseudoranges.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one of the satellite positioning system based pseudoranges is from a pseudolite.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the second set of parameters comprises non-satellite positioning system based pseudoranges.

21. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining if the position fix is within the area defined by the geofence boundary.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing information that the position fix has entered the area defined by the geofence boundary.

23. A position tracking device comprising:

a receiving unit for receiving geofence network information associated with an area defined by a geofence boundary and for receiving mobile station network information associated a mobile device;

a comparator unit for determining whether the mobile station network information identifies a cell at least partially within the geofence boundary;

a skip counter configured to count a number of times that the mobile station network information does not identify a cell at least partially within the geofence boundary, wherein the skip counter is incremented each time that the mobile station network information does not identify a cell at least partially within the geofence boundary; and

a processor with programmable instructions for;

defining a geofence center and the geofence boundary;

calculating a position fix;

performing an operation when the skip counter does not exceed a threshold representative of a maximum number of consecutive times the position mobile device receiving the mobile station network information is determined to not be at least partially within the geofence boundary before performing calculations to obtain a pseudorange-based low Quality of Service (QoS) position fix; and

performing a second operation when the skip counter exceeds the threshold.

24. The position tracking device of claim 23, wherein the processor calculates the position fix using a first set of parameters.

25. The position tracking device of claim 23, wherein the programmable instructions include instructions for recovering a last real position fix when the mobile station network information identifies a cell at least partially within the geofence boundary.

26. The position tracking device of claim 25, wherein the programmable instructions include instructions for calculating a distance radius based on the last real position fix and a distance the mobile station device is capable of traveling during a time period and defining a mobile station boundary that is centered at the last real position fix, wherein the mobile station boundary represents a boundary limit of a location of a mobile station device, wherein the mobile station boundary is different from the geofence boundary.

27. The position tracking device of claim 26, wherein the programmable instructions include instructions for determining if the mobile station boundary is within a threshold distance from the geofence boundary.

28. The position tracking device of claim 27, wherein the processor calculates the position fix using a first set of parameters if the mobile station boundary is not within the threshold distance from the geofence boundary.

29. The position tracking device of claim 27, wherein the processor calculates the position fix using a second set of parameters if the mobile station boundary is within the threshold distance from the geofence boundary threshold.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code stored thereon, comprising program code to:

define a geofence center and a geofence boundary;

receive geofence network information associated with an area defined by the geofence boundary;

obtain mobile station network information associated with a mobile device;

determine whether the mobile station network information identifies a cell at least partially within the geofence boundary;

increment a skip counter in response to determining that the mobile station network information does not identify a cell at least partially within the geofence boundary, wherein the skip counter is configured to count a number of times that the mobile station network information does not identify a cell at least partially within the geofence boundary;

determine whether the skip counter exceeds a threshold representative of a maximum number of consecutive times the mobile device obtaining the mobile station network information is determined to not be at least partially within the geofence boundary before performing calculations to obtain a pseudorange-based low Quality of Service (QoS) position fix using a first set of parameters;

perform a second operation in response to the skip counter not exceeding the threshold; and

perform operations to calculate a position fix using the first set of parameters in response to the skip counter exceeding the threshold.

31. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code stored thereon, comprising program code to:

define a geofence center and a geofence boundary;

receive geofence network information associated with an area defined by the geofence boundary;

obtain mobile station network information associated with a mobile device;

determine whether the mobile station network information identifies a cell at least partially within the geofence boundary;

recover information associated with a last real position fix of the mobile station device when the mobile station network information identifies a cell at least partially within the geofence boundary;

calculate a distance radius based at least in part on the last real position fix and a distance the mobile station device is capable of traveling during a time period;

define a mobile station boundary that is centered at the last real position fix based at least in part on the distance radius, wherein the mobile station boundary represents a boundary limit of a location of a mobile station device, wherein the mobile station boundary is different from the geofence boundary;

determine whether the mobile station boundary is within a threshold distance from the geofence boundary;

calculate a position fix using quality of service parameters based on whether the mobile station boundary is within the threshold distance from the geofence boundary;

incrementing a skip counter value when the mobile station boundary is not within a threshold distance from the geofence boundary;

comparing the skip counter value with a pre-determined threshold value representative of a maximum number of consecutive times the mobile device obtaining the mobile station network information is determined to not be at least partially within the geofence boundary before performing calculations to obtain a pseudorange-based low Quality of Service (QoS) position fix; and

performing operations to obtain new mobile station network information when the skip counter value exceeds the pre-determined threshold.

32. An apparatus comprising:

means for defining a geofence center and a geofence boundary;

means for receiving geofence network information associated with an area defined by the geofence boundary;

means for obtaining mobile station network information;

means for determining whether the mobile station network information identifies cell at least partially within the geofence boundary;

means for performing an operation when the mobile station network information does not identify a cell at least partially within the geofence boundary, the operation comprising;

incrementing a skip counter, wherein the skip counter is configured to count a number of times that the mobile station network information does not identify a cell at least partially within the geofence boundary;

determining whether the skip counter exceeds a threshold representative of a maximum number of consecutive times the apparatus obtaining the mobile station network information is determined to not be at least partially within the geofence boundary before performing calculations to obtain a pseudorange-based low Quality of Service (QoS) position fix using a first set of parameters;

in response to determining that the skip counter does not exceed the threshold, performing a second operation; and

in response to determining that the skip counter exceeds the threshold, performing operations to calculate a position fix using the first set of parameters.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising means for outputting the position fix.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the first set of parameters comprises non-satellite positioning system based pseudoranges.

35. An apparatus comprising:

means for defining a geofence center and a geofence boundary;

means for receiving geofence network information associated with an area defined by the geofence boundary;

means for obtaining mobile station network information associated with a mobile station device;

means for determining whether the mobile station network information identifies a cell at least partially within the geofence boundary;

in response to determining that the mobile station network information identifies a cell at least partially within the geofence boundary, means for retrieving a last real position fix of the mobile device and a time associated with the last real position fix;

means for calculating a distance radius based at least in part on the last real position fix and a distance the mobile station device is capable of traveling during a time period, wherein the time period is based on the time associated with the last real position fix;

means for defining a mobile station boundary that is centered at the last real position fix based on the distance radius, wherein the mobile station boundary represents a boundary limit of a location of the mobile station device, wherein the mobile station boundary is different from the geofence boundary;

means for determining whether the mobile station boundary is within a threshold distance from the geofence boundary;

means for calculating a position fix using quality of service parameters based on whether the mobile station boundary is within the threshold distance from the geofence boundary, wherein the quality of service parameters include one of a first set of parameters and a second set of parameters;

means for incrementing a skip counter value when the mobile station boundary is not within a threshold distance from the geofence boundary;

means for comparing the skip counter value with a pre-determined threshold value representative of a maximum number of consecutive times the mobile station device obtaining the mobile station network information is determined to not be at least partially within the geofence boundary before performing calculations to obtain a pseudorange-based low Quality of Service (QoS) position fix using the first set of parameters; and

means for performing operations to obtain new mobile station network information when the skip counter value exceeds the pre-determined threshold.