Methods and apparatus for mobile device location determination

• US 8,781,496 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2011
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Richardson, Thomas, Jovicic, Aleksandar, Measson, Cyril, Li, Junyi
• Primary Examiner(s): Karikari, Kwasi
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLLIDAY, JAIME MICHELE
• Application Number:
  US13/008,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20120184286A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 4554561-457
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0236 Assistance data, e.g. base station almanac
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• 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 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for resolving an ambiguity with regard to a mobile device'"'"'s location are described. In various embodiments, when a level of ambiguity with regard to the location of a mobile device is detected, and the level of ambiguity is above a threshold, an ambiguity resolution request signal is generated and transmitted. In this manner, a wireless terminal needing help in determining its location reliably may request such help but at other times may determine its own location without assistance. In some embodiments the ambiguity resolution request signal includes information, e.g., location probabilities, on one or more locations which are under consideration as possible locations of the mobile device. A device responding to the ambiguity resolution request provides information allowing the mobile device confronted with a location ambiguity to eliminate at least on location under consideration or to generate a new probability for one or more locations under consideration.

Claims

1. A method of operating a first mobile device, comprising:

determining that a level of ambiguity with regard to which one of a plurality of candidate regions includes the location of the first mobile device exceeds a threshold;

generating, in response to said level of ambiguity exceeding said threshold, an ambiguity resolution request signal, wherein the ambiguity resolution request signal includes information identifying said first mobile device and multiple candidate regions;

transmitting the ambiguity resolution request signal;

removing at least one candidate region from the plurality of candidate regions based on a response signal which is in response to said transmitted ambiguity resolution request signal; and

determining the location of the first mobile device in a candidate region remaining in the plurality of candidate regions after removing said at least one candidate region.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a set of candidate regions where the first mobile device could be located, said set of candidate regions being said plurality of candidate regions.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving said response signal in response to said transmitted ambiguity resolution request signal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a probability level for each of multiple candidate regions in said plurality of candidate regions, each determined probability corresponding to a single candidate region; and

determining said level of ambiguity with regard to which one of said plurality of candidate regions includes the location of the first mobile communications device from at least one of the generated probability levels.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said multiple candidate regions are a subset of the plurality of candidate regions for which a level of ambiguity exceeds a threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitted ambiguity resolution request signal further includes information indicating for at least one of said multiple candidate regions, a level of probability that said one of the candidate regions includes the location of said first mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an ambiguity resolution request signal from a second mobile communications device; and

transmitting location related information indicating that at least one candidate region being considered by said second mobile communications device is not the location at which said second mobile communications device is located.

8. A first mobile device, comprising:

means for determining that a level of ambiguity with regard to which one of a plurality of candidate regions includes the location of the first mobile device exceeds a threshold;

means for generating an ambiguity resolution request signal, in response to said level of ambiguity exceeding said threshold, wherein the ambiguity resolution request signal includes information identifying said first mobile device and multiple candidate regions;

means for transmitting the ambiguity resolution request signal;

means for removing at least one candidate region from the plurality of candidate regions based on a response signal which is in response to said transmitted ambiguity resolution request signal; and

means for determining the location of the first mobile device in a candidate region remaining in the plurality of candidate regions after removing said at least one candidate region.

9. The first mobile device of claim 8, further comprising:

means for determining a set of candidate regions where the first mobile device could be located, said set of candidate regions being said plurality of candidate regions.

10. The first mobile device of claim 8, further comprising:

means for receiving said response signal in response to said transmitted ambiguity resolution request signal.

11. The first mobile device of claim 8, further comprising:

means for generating a probability level for each of multiple candidate regions in said plurality of candidate regions, each determined probability corresponding to a single candidate region; and

means for determining said level of ambiguity with regard to which one of said plurality of candidate regions includes the location of the first mobile communications device from at least one of the generated probability levels.

12. The first mobile device of claim 8, wherein said multiple candidate regions are a subset of the plurality of candidate regions for which a level of ambiguity exceeds a threshold.

13. The first mobile device of claim 8, wherein said transmitted ambiguity resolution request signal further includes information indicating for at least one of said multiple candidate regions, a level of probability that said one of the candidate regions includes the location of said first mobile device.

14. The first mobile device of 8, further comprising:

means for receiving an ambiguity resolution request signal from a second mobile communications device; and

means for transmitting location related information indicating that at least one candidate region being considered by said second mobile communications device is not the location at which said second mobile communications device is located.

15. A first mobile device, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

determine that a level of ambiguity with regard to which one of a plurality of candidate regions includes the location of the first mobile device exceeds a threshold;

generate an ambiguity resolution request signal, in response to said level of ambiguity exceeding said threshold, wherein the ambiguity resolution request signal includes information identifying said first mobile device and multiple candidate regions;

transmit the ambiguity resolution request signal;

remove at least one candidate region from the plurality of candidate regions based on a response signal which is in response to said transmitted ambiguity resolution request signal; and

determine the location of the first mobile device in a candidate region remaining in the plurality of candidate regions after removing said at least one candidate region; and

a memory coupled to said at least one processor.

16. The first mobile device of claim 15, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to:

determine a set of candidate regions where the first mobile device could be located, said set of candidate regions being said plurality of candidate regions.

17. The first mobile device of claim 15, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to:

receive said response signal in response to said transmitted ambiguity resolution request signal.

18. The first mobile device of claim 15, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to:

generate a probability level for each of multiple candidate regions in said plurality of candidate regions, each determined probability corresponding to a single candidate region; and

determine said level of ambiguity with regard to which one of said plurality of candidate regions includes the location of the first mobile communications device from at least one of the generated probability levels.

19. The first mobile device of claim 15, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to:

receive an ambiguity resolution request signal from a second mobile communications device; and

transmit location related information indicating that at least one candidate region being considered by said second mobile communications device is not the location at which said second mobile communications device is located.

20. A computer program product for use in a first mobile device, comprising:

non-transitory computer readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to determine that a level of ambiguity with regard to which one of a plurality of candidate regions includes the location of the first mobile device exceeds a threshold;

code for causing the at least one computer to generate an ambiguity resolution request signal, in response to said level of ambiguity exceeding said threshold, wherein the ambiguity resolution request signal includes information identifying said first mobile device and multiple candidate regions;

code for causing the at least one computer to transmit the ambiguity resolution request signal;

code for causing the at least one computer to remove at least one candidate region from the plurality of candidate regions based on a response signal which is in response to said transmitted ambiguity resolution request signal; and

code for causing the at least one computer to determine the location of the first mobile device in a candidate region remaining in the plurality of candidate regions after removing said at least one candidate region.