Generic positioning protocol

• US 8,660,574 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Edge, Stephen W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Application Number:
  US12/416,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20090253440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,791 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/456.5, 455/456.6
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/03 Cooperating elements; Interaction or communication between different cooperating elements or between cooperating elements and receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0018 Transmission from mobile station to base station
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

In an aspect, a generic positioning protocol (GPP) may be used to support satellite-based positioning methods and terrestrial-based positioning methods for different access types. A terminal may exchange a first GPP message with first information for a positioning method and an access type supported by GPP. The terminal may exchange a second GPP message with second information for the positioning method and the access type. Each GPP message may include at least one position element, and each position element may be for a specific positioning method. The terminal may obtain a position estimate for itself based on the second information. In another aspect, positioning may be performed based on measurements for cells of different wireless access types. In yet another aspect, received transmission times may be transformed to converted times based on common timing, which may be applicable for multiple wireless access types.

Claims

1. A method of performing positioning, comprising:

exchanging a first generic positioning protocol (GPP) message comprising first information for a first positioning method and a first access type supported by a GPP, wherein the GPP supports multiple positioning methods and at least three access types;

exchanging a second GPP message comprising second information for the first positioning method and the first access type; and

obtaining a position estimate for a terminal based on the second information,

wherein the exchanging the first GPP message comprises sending the first GPP message comprising a request for location information to the terminal, and wherein the exchanging the second GPP message comprises receiving the second GPP message comprising the location information from the terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third GPP message comprising a request for assistance data at a location center; and

sending a fourth GPP message comprising the assistance data from the location center.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third GPP message comprising a request for assistance data from the terminal; and

sending a fourth GPP message comprising the assistance data to the terminal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining at least one position element from the first GPP message, each position element being for a specific positioning method and carrying information for the specific positioning method.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining first and second position elements from the first GPP message, the first position element comprising the first information for the first positioning method, and the second position element comprising information for a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning method.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

exchanging at least one message for a second positioning protocol to determine whether the terminal supports the GPP.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second positioning protocol comprises Radio Resource LCS Protocol (RRLP), Radio Resource Control (RRC), or IS-801.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiple positioning methods supported by the GPP comprise at least one of an observed time difference (OTD) positioning method, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning method, and an enhanced cell identity (E-CID) positioning method.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a positioning method identifier (ID) from the GPP message; and

determining whether the first positioning method is an existing or a new positioning method based on the positioning method ID.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least three access types supported by the GPP comprise at least one of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), CDMA 1X, High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), Long Term Evolution (LTE), IEEE 802.11, and IEEE 802.16.

11. An apparatus for performing positioning, comprising:

means for exchanging a first generic positioning protocol (GPP) message comprising first information for a first positioning method and a first access type supported by a GPP, wherein the GPP supports multiple positioning methods and at least three access types;

means for exchanging a second GPP message comprising second information for the first positioning method and the first access type; and

means for obtaining a position estimate for a terminal based on the second information,

wherein the means for exchanging the first GPP message comprises means for sending the first GPP message comprising a request for location information to the terminal, and wherein the means for exchanging the second GPP message comprises means for receiving the second GPP message comprising the location information from the terminal.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

means for receiving a third GPP message comprising a request for assistance data at a location center; and

means for sending a fourth GPP message comprising the assistance data from the location center.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

means for obtaining first and second position elements from the first GPP message, the first position element comprising the first information for the first positioning method, and the second position element comprising information for a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning method.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

means for exchanging at least one message for a second positioning protocol to determine whether the terminal supports the GPP.

15. An apparatus for performing positioning, comprising:

at least one processor configured to exchange a first generic positioning protocol (GPP) message comprising first information for a first positioning method and a first access type supported by a GPP, wherein the GPP supports multiple positioning methods and at least three access types, to exchange a second GPP message comprising second information for the first positioning method and the first access type, and to obtain a position estimate for a terminal based on the second information, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send the first GPP message comprising a request for location information to the terminal, and to receive the second GPP message comprising the location information from the terminal.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive a third GPP message comprising a request for assistance data at a location center;

and to send a fourth GPP message comprising the assistance data from the location center.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is configured to obtain first and second position elements from the first GPP message, the first position element comprising the first information for the first positioning method, and the second position element comprising information for a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning method.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is configured to exchange at least one message for a second positioning protocol to determine whether the terminal supports the GPP.

19. A

non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:

code for causing at least one computer to exchange a first generic positioning protocol (GPP) message comprising first information for a first positioning method and a first access type supported by a GPP, wherein the GPP supports multiple positioning methods and at least three access types,

code for causing the at least one computer to exchange a second GPP message comprising second information for the first positioning method and the first access type, and

code for causing the at least one computer to obtain a position estimate for a terminal based on the second information,

wherein the code for causing the at least one computer to exchange the first GPP message comprises code for causing the at least one computer to send the first GPP message comprising a request for location information to the terminal, and wherein the code for causing the at least one computer to exchange the second GPP message comprises code for causing the at least one computer to receive the second GPP message comprising the location information from the terminal.