Base station almanac assisted positioning

• US 8,669,899 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2011
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sheynblat, Leonid
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Dao
• Application Number:
  US13/310,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20120179660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 829 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.2, 342/357.28, 342/357.31, 342/357.72, 342/357.73, 370/328, 707/769, 707/770
• US Class Current: 342/357.28
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0236 Assistance data, e.g. base station almanac
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• 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 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A database provides base station almanac information pertaining to more than one network mode of communication. A wireless device accesses this database through a centralized server or network, or via the base station, base station controller or the like, with which it is currently communicating.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a base station database containing base station almanac information relevant to at least two communication modes in which a multimode wireless device is configured to communicate with other communication devices for radio-location and communication purposes;

an almanac processor in communication with the base station database; and

a computer readable medium tangibly embodying instructions, when executed by the almanac processor, for;

accessing the base station database; and

retrieving base station almanac information relevant to a selected communication mode.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the base station database comprises:

a regional database configured to store almanac information for a group of base stations; and

a centrally located database configured to store base station almanac information from a plurality of regional databases.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the regional database includes base station almanac information that is geographically organized.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the regional database is organized according to a particular service provider.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the base station database is organized according to a hierarchical coverage scheme.

6. A system comprising:

means for containing in a base station database base station almanac information relevant to at least two communication modes in which a multimode wireless device is configured to communicate with other communication devices for radio-location and communication purposes;

means for communicating between an almanac processor and the base station database;

means for accessing the base station database by the almanac processor; and

means for retrieving base station almanac information, relevant to a selected communication mode, by the almanac processor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the base station database comprises:

a regional database configured to store almanac information for a group of base stations; and

a centrally located database configured to store base station almanac information from a plurality of regional databases.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the regional database includes base station almanac information that is geographically organized.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the regional database is organized according to a particular service provider.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the base station database is organized according to a hierarchical coverage scheme.

11. A method of managing a base station database comprising:

accessing the base station database; and

retrieving base station almanac information relevant to a selected communication mode, wherein;

the base station database contains base station almanac information relevant to at least two communication modes in which a multimode wireless device is configured to communicate with other communication devices for radio-location and communication purposes; and

an almanac processor is in communication with the base station database.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the base station database comprises:

a regional database configured to store almanac information for a group of base stations; and

a centrally located database configured to store base station almanac information from a plurality of regional databases.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the regional database includes base station almanac information that is geographically organized.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the regional database is organized according to a particular service provider.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the base station database is organized according to a hierarchical coverage scheme.

16. A system comprising:

a base station database containing base station almanac information relevant to at least two communication modes in which a multimode wireless device is configured to communicate with other communication devices for radio-location and communication purposes; and

an almanac processor, in communication with the base station database, for;

accessing the base station database; and

retrieving base station almanac information relevant to a selected communication mode.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the base station database comprises:

a regional database configured to store almanac information for a group of base stations; and

a centrally located database configured to store base station almanac information from a plurality of regional databases.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the regional database includes base station almanac information that is geographically organized.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the regional database is organized according to a particular service provider.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the base station database is organized according to a hierarchical coverage scheme.