Location obtained by combining last known reliable position with position changes

• US 8,643,544 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Taylor, Kirk S., Chen, Liren, Steenstra, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Dao
• Application Number:
  US11/774,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20090009397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,405 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.2, 342/357.23, 342/357.32, 342/451, 342/357.25, 701/207, 701/213, 701/468, 701/469
• US Class Current: 342/451
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/40 Correcting position, velocity or attitude
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/49 whereby the further system is an inertial position system, e.g. loosely-coupled

Abstract

Location of a wireless communication device is determined by a combination of geolocation and a detection of augmenting data such as acceleration and/or speed over time measurements. A last known terrestrial navigation fix is established based on reliable terrestrial navigation or GPS data. A zone of valid location fixes based on the last known terrestrial navigation fix and an output of a rate detection circuit can be established. A weighted average is taken of using independent location measurement and detected location using last known reliable position plus change in position by integrating position changes over time.

Claims

1. A method for determining location of as wireless communication device, the method comprising:

establishing a last known position fix based on reliable geo-positioning data;

establishing a measurement of position based on at least one of a measurement of change from the last known position fix or a separate independent measurement of location;

establishing a weighted average of measured location fixes using the last known position fix and the measurement of position.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an event;

responding to the detected event to initialize a transmission by providing a signal through a multiuser subscriber network, and

selectively activating terrestrial navigation in accordance with sensed conditions.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an event; and

responding to the detected event to initialize a position fix by using UPS.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising

using rate detection to provide, a detection of a location condition;

and

establishing a zone of valid location axes based on the last known position fix and the rate detection.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the rate detection including providing measurements of positional rate change and directional orientation.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

responding to the establishment of the last known position fix by establishing the last known position fix as an initial location.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing the weighted average based on the a measurement of change from the initial location.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an alert signal upon detection of at least one location event.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an event;

responding to the detected event to initialize a transmission by providing a signal with location information through a multiuser subscriber network, and

selectively activating data augmentation in accordance with sensed conditions.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting at least a first event related to location;

providing, in response to detection of the first event, the geolocation data by activating monitoring of geolocation;

using the geolocation data to detect a second event related to location;

in the case of detection of the second event related to location, providing geolocation data concerning the wireless communication device.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a zone of valid location fixes based on the last known position fix and the measurement of change from the last known position fix;

wherein the weighted average of measured location fixes uses measured location fixes within the zone of valid location fixes.

11. A wireless device for providing location data concerning an object, the wireless device comprising:

a wireless communication circuit capable of communication with a multiuser wireless subscriber network;

geolocation circuit;

a location augmentation circuit; and

a control circuit to activate the geolocation circuit to establish a last known terrestrial navigation fix, and responsive to the location augmentation circuit to provide location update data, the control circuit providing a weighted average of location data based on received location data from the geolocation circuit and the location augmentation circuit.

12. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the control circuit establishing a zone of valid location fixes based on the received location data, wherein the wherein the weighted average of location data uses location data within the zone of valid location fixes.

13. The wireless device of claim 12, further comprising a rate detection device, control circuit responsive to an output of the rate detection device and using said output along with the location data in the establishment of the zone of valid location fixes.

14. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the rate detection device includes a rate detection circuit measuring positional rate and directional orientation.

15. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the control circuit is a provided as a chipset including at least one monolithic integrated circuit.

16. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code for establishing a last known position fix based on reliable geo-positioning data;

code for establishing a measurement of position based on at least one of a measurement of change from the last known position fix or a separate independent measurement of location; and

code for establishing a weighted average of measured location fixes using the last known position fix and the measurement of position.

17. Apparatus for providing information regarding the location of a wireless communication device, the apparatus comprising:

means for establishing a last known terrestrial navigation fix based on reliable terrestrial navigation data or GPS positioning method;

rate detection means; and

means for establishing a weighted average of location fixes based on the last known terrestrial navigation fix and an output of the rate detection means.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising the rate detection means providing measurements of positional rate and directional orientation.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for responding to the establishment of the last known terrestrial navigation fix by establishing said fix as an initial location; and

means, responsive to the rate detection means, to establish a zone of valid location fixes based on the output of the rate detection means, as a modifier of the initial location.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for detecting an event;

means, responsive to the detection of the detected event, to initialize a transmission by providing a signal through a multiuser subscriber network, and

means for selectively activating data augmentation in accordance with sensed conditions.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising means for transmitting an alert signal upon detection of at least one location event.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for establishing a zone of valid, location fixes based on the last known terrestrial navigation fix and the output of the rate detection means;

wherein the means for establishing a weighted average of location fixes uses location fixes within the zone of valid location fixes.