Upload and download of position reference data

• US 8,818,400 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2008
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Laine, Tommi Antero, Wirola, Lauri Aarne Johanns
• Primary Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US13/122,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20110294519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,149 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/404.1, 455/411, 455/457, 455/556.1, 342/357.29, 370/328, 726/2, 709/217
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/01 Determining conditions which influence positioning, e.g. radio environment, state of motion or energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0236 Assistance data, e.g. base station almanac
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/219 Managing data history or versioning querying versioned data G06F16/2474; querying temporal data G06F16/2477

Abstract

An apparatus, method and computer program, the apparatus, comprising: receiver circuitry configured to receive first position reference data from a remote location, the first position reference data relating to a first geographical area and being for assisting the apparatus to determine a position of the apparatus within the first geographical area, using wireless signals received at the apparatus; collection circuitry configured to collect second position reference data, the second position reference data being for modification of the first position reference data, at a remote location; positioning circuitry configured to determine a position of the apparatus, the position being within the first geographical area; transmitter circuitry configured to transmit collected second position reference data; and processing circuitry configured, in dependence upon the determined position of the apparatus and the first position reference data, to selectively control transmission of collected second position reference data by the transmitter circuitry.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

processing circuitry; and

at least one memory storing computer program instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause at least the following to be performed;

controlling, based at least in part upon a position of the apparatus and received first position reference data, at least one of the following at the apparatus;

whether second position reference data is collected by the apparatus and whether collected second position reference data is transmitted by the apparatus, wherein

the received first position reference data relates to a first geographical area and is configured to assist determination of the position of the apparatus within the first geographical area using received wireless signals, and wherein

the second position reference data is for modification of the first position reference data at a remote location.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer program instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, further cause at least the following to be performed:

analyzing the received first position reference data to determine which portion of the received first position reference data relates to the position of the apparatus, if any; and

controlling, based at least in part upon the determination, at least one of the following at the apparatus;

whether second position reference data is collected by the apparatus and whether collected second position reference data is transmitted by the apparatus.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer program instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, further cause at least the following to be performed:

analyzing received instructions to determine which portion of the received instructions relates to the position of the apparatus, the received instructions relating to at least one of collection of second position reference data in the first geographical area and transmission of position reference data in the first geographical area; and

controlling, based at least in part upon the determination, at least one of the following at the apparatus;

whether second position reference data is collected by the apparatus in the first geographical area and whether collected second position reference data is transmitted by the apparatus in the first geographical area.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the determined portion of the received instructions includes at least one parameter relating to one or more of controlling the transmission or collection of second position reference data;

and wherein at least one of;

whether second position reference data is collected by the apparatus and whether collected second position reference data is transmitted by the apparatus is controlled at the apparatus based at least in part upon analysis of the at least one parameter.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one parameter indicates at least one property of second position reference data to be one or more of collected or transmitted;

and wherein at least one of;

whether second position reference data having the property is collected by the apparatus and whether collected second position reference data having the property is transmitted by the apparatus is controlled at the apparatus based at least in part upon the analysis of the at least one parameter.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one parameter indicates a frequency at which second position reference data is to be one or more of collected or transmitted by the apparatus;

and wherein at least one of;

whether second position reference data is collected by the apparatus and whether collected second position reference data is transmitted by the apparatus is controlled in accordance with the indicated frequency.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one parameter is analyzed in relation to at least one operational characteristic of the apparatus;

and at least one of;

whether second position reference data is collected by the apparatus and whether collected second position reference data is transmitted by the apparatus is controlled based at least in part upon the analysis.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one parameter relates to a time or time period for controlling when collected second position reference data is transmitted, and the operational characteristic of the apparatus relates to a current time or time period.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one parameter relates to a position, and the at least one operational characteristic relates to a position of the apparatus.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one parameter relates to accuracy of a position, and the at least one characteristic relates to accuracy of a determined position of the apparatus.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one parameter is analyzed in relation to at least one operational characteristic of the apparatus by carrying out a decision process, a first result of which causes either or both:

collection of second position reference data, and transmission of collected second position reference data, and a second result of which causes second position reference data not to be collected, nor transmission of collected second position reference data.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer program instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, further cause at least the following to be performed:

collection of second position reference data by receiving short range radio signals.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the computer program instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, further cause at least the following to be performed:

collection of second position reference data by measuring at least one aspect of received short range radio signals.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a hand portable electronic apparatus.

15. A method, comprising:

controlling, based at least in part upon a position of an apparatus and received first position reference data, at least one of the following at the apparatus;

whether second position reference data is collected by the apparatus and whether collected second position reference data is transmitted by the apparatus, wherein

the received first position reference data relates to a first geographical area and is configured to assist determination of the position of the apparatus within the first geographical area using received wireless signals, and wherein

the second position reference data is for modification of the first position reference data at a remote location.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising determining which portion of the first position reference data relates to the position of the apparatus, if any;

and controlling, based at least in part upon the determination, at least one of the following at the apparatus;

whether second position reference data is collected by the apparatus and whether collected second position reference data is transmitted by the apparatus.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising analyzing received instructions to determine which portion of the received instructions relates to the position of the apparatus, the received instructions relating to at least one of collection of second position reference data in the first geographical area and transmission of position reference data in the first geographical area;

and controlling, based at least in part upon the determination, at least one of the following at the apparatus;

whether second position reference data is collected by the apparatus in the first geographical area and whether collected second position reference data is transmitted by the apparatus in the first geographical area.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least one parameter of the received instructions indicates at least one property of second position reference data to be one or more of collected or transmitted;

and the method further comprises analyzing the at least one parameter and controlling, based at least in part upon the analysis, at least one of the following at the apparatus;

whether second position reference data having the property is collected by the apparatus and whether collected second position reference data having the property is transmitted by the apparatus.

19. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least one parameter of the received instructions indicates a frequency at which second position reference data is to be one or more of collected or transmitted;

and the method further comprises analyzing the at least one parameter and controlling, based at least in part upon the analysis, at least one of the following at the apparatus;

whether second position reference data is collected by the apparatus in accordance with the indicated frequency and whether collected second position reference data is transmitted by the apparatus in accordance with the indicated frequency.

20. A method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising analyzing at least one parameter of the received instructions in relation to at least one operational characteristic of the apparatus, and based at least in part upon the analysis, controlling at least one of the following at the apparatus:

whether second position reference data is collected by the apparatus and whether collected second position reference data is transmitted by the apparatus.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the at least one parameter is analyzed in relation to at least one operational characteristic of the apparatus by carrying out a decision process, a first result of which causes either or both:

collection of second position reference data, and transmission of collected second position reference data, and a second result of which causes second position reference data not to be collected, nor transmission of collected second position reference data.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the at least one parameter relates to a time or time period for controlling when collected second position reference data is transmitted, and the operational characteristic of the apparatus relates to a current time or time period.

23. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the at least one parameter relates to a position, and the at least one operational characteristic relates to a position of the apparatus.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the at least one parameter relates to accuracy of a position, and the at least one characteristic relates to accuracy of a determined position of the apparatus.

25. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the determined portion of received instructions includes at least one parameter relating to one or more of controlling collection and transmission of collected second position reference data, and the method further comprises controlling at the apparatus at least one of:

whether second position reference data is collected by the apparatus and whether collected second position reference data is transmitted by the apparatus based at least in part upon analysis of the at least one parameter.

26. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein position reference data is collected by receiving short range radio signals.

27. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein position reference data is collected by measuring at least one aspect of received short range radio signals.

28. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the apparatus is a hand portable electronic apparatus.

29. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer program instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, cause at least the following to be performed:

controlling, based at least in part upon a position of the apparatus and received first position reference data, at least one of the following at the apparatus;

whether second position reference data is collected by the apparatus and whether collected second position reference data is transmitted by the apparatus, wherein

the received first position reference data relates to a first geographical area and is configured to assist determination of the position of the apparatus within the first geographical area using received wireless signals, and wherein

the second position reference data is for modification of the first position reference data at a remote location.

30. A non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 29, wherein the computer program instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, further cause at least the following to be performed:

analyzing the received first position reference data to determine which portion of the first position reference data relates to the position of the apparatus, if any; and

controlling, based at least in part upon the determination, at least one of the following at the apparatus;

whether second position reference data is collected by the apparatus and whether collected second position reference data is transmitted by the apparatus.

31. A non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 29, wherein the computer program instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, further cause at least the following to be performed:

analyzing received instructions to determine which portion of the instructions relates to the position of the apparatus, the received instructions relating to at least one of collection of second position reference data in the first geographical area and transmission of position reference data in the first geographical area; and

controlling, based at least in part upon the determination, at least one of the following at the apparatus;

whether second position reference data is collected by the apparatus in the first geographical area and whether collected second position reference data is transmitted by the apparatus in the first geographical area.

32. A non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 31, wherein the determined portion of the received instructions includes at least one parameter relating to one or more of controlling the collection or transmission of second position reference data, and the computer program instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, further cause at least the following to be performed:

analyzing the at least one parameter and controlling at least one of;

whether second position reference data is collected by the apparatus, and whether collected second position reference data is transmitted by the apparatus based at least in part upon analysis of the at least one parameter.

33. A non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed claim 29, wherein the computer program instructions, when executed by processing circuitry, further cause at least the following to be performed:

collection of second position reference data by receiving short range radio signals.

34. A non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 29, wherein the computer program instructions, when executed by processing circuitry, further cause at least the following to be performed:

collection of second position reference data by measuring at least one aspect of received short range radio signals.

35. An apparatus, comprising:

processing circuitry; and

at least one memory storing computer program instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause at least the following to be performed;

controlling transmission of first position reference data and instructions to a plurality of further apparatuses, the further apparatuses being at a remote location from the apparatus, wherein the first position reference data relates to a first geographical area and is configured to assist a receiving further apparatus to determine a position of the receiving further apparatus within the first geographical area, using received wireless signals, wherein

the transmitted instructions are configured to control at least one of;

whether second position reference data is collected, in the first geographical area, by the plurality of further apparatuses, and whether collected second position reference data is transmitted, in the first geographical area, by the plurality of further apparatuses, and wherein

the second position reference data is for modification of the first position reference data.

36. An apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the instructions include at least one parameter configured to control one or more of collection or transmission of second position reference data by the further apparatuses.

37. A method, comprising:

controlling transmission of first position reference data and instructions from an apparatus to a plurality of further apparatuses, the further apparatuses being at a remote location from the apparatus, wherein the first position reference data relates to a first geographical area and is configured to assist a receiving further apparatus to determine a position of the receiving further apparatus within the first geographical area, using received wireless signals, and wherein

the instructions are configured to control at least one of;

whether second position reference data is collected, in the first geographical area, by the plurality of further apparatuses, and whether collected second position reference data is transmitted, in the first geographical area, by the plurality of further apparatuses, and wherein

the collected second position reference data is for modification of the first position reference data.

38. A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the instructions include at least one parameter configured to control one or more of collection or transmission of second position reference data by the further apparatuses.

39. A method, comprising:

analyzing a plurality of portions of position reference data received from a plurality of apparatuses, each portion of position reference data comprising identification data and position data, wherein the identification data identifies a wireless transmitter and the position data indicates a position of the identified wireless transmitter within a geographical area;

categorizing the portions of position reference data into sets, based at least in part upon the positions indicated in the position data, wherein each set relates to a geographical sub-area within the geographical area;

associating a version number with each set;

causing the sets of position reference data and their associated version number to be stored in a database;

causing the stored position reference data to be provided to a first apparatus;

analyzing a plurality of portions of further position reference data received from a plurality of apparatuses;

determining which set each portion of further position reference data relates to, based at least in part upon the positions indicated in the position data of each portion of further position reference data;

causing the database to be updated by causing at least one of the sets to be updated to include the portions of further position reference data, based at least in part upon the determination;

changing the version number associated with the updated at least one set; and

causing position reference data to be provided, to the first apparatus, that is in an updated set having a changed version number.

40. An apparatus, comprising:

processing circuitry; and

at least one memory storing computer program instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause at least the following to be performed;

analyzing a plurality of portions of position reference data received from a plurality of further apparatuses, each portion of position reference data comprising identification data and position data, wherein the identification data identifies a wireless transmitter and the position data indicates a position of the identified wireless transmitter within a geographical area;

categorizing the portions of position reference data into sets, based at least in part upon the positions indicated in the position data, wherein each set relates to a geographical sub-area within the geographical area;

associating a version number with each set;

causing the sets of position reference data and their associated version number to be stored in a database;

causing the stored position reference data to be provided to a first apparatus;

analyzing a plurality of portions of further position reference data received from a plurality of further apparatuses;

determining which set each portion of further position reference data relates to, based at least in part upon the positions indicated in the position data of each portion of further position reference data;

causing the database to be updated by causing at least one of the sets to be updated to include the portions of further position reference data, based at least in part upon the determination;

changing the version number associated with the updated at least one set; and

causing position reference data to be provided to the first apparatus, wherein the provided position reference data is in an updated set having a changed version number.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the apparatus comprises a server.

42. An apparatus, comprising:

means for controlling, based at least in part upon a position of the apparatus and received first position reference data, at least one of the following at the apparatus;

whether second position reference data is collected by the apparatus and whether collected second position reference data is transmitted by the apparatus, wherein

the received first position reference data relates to a first geographical area and is configured to assist determination of the position of the apparatus within the first geographical area using received wireless signals, and wherein

the second position reference data is for modification of the first position reference data at a remote location.

43. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer program instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, cause at least the following to be performed:

controlling transmission of first position reference data and instructions from an apparatus to a plurality of further apparatuses, the further apparatuses being at a remote location from the apparatus, wherein the first position reference data relates to a first geographical area and is configured to assist a receiving further apparatus to determine a position of the receiving further apparatus within the first geographical area, using received wireless signals, wherein the transmitted instructions are configured to control at least one of;

whether second position reference data is collected, in the first geographical area, by the plurality of further apparatuses, and whether collected second position reference data is transmitted, in the first geographical area, by the plurality of further apparatuses, and wherein the second position reference data is for modification of the first position reference data.

44. A non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 43, wherein the instructions include at least one parameter for controlling one or more of collection and transmission of second position reference data by the further apparatuses.

45. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer program instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, cause at least the following to be performed:

analyzing a plurality of portions of position reference data received from a plurality of apparatuses, each portion of position reference data comprising identification data and position data, wherein the identification data identifies a wireless transmitter and the position data indicates a position of the identified wireless transmitter within a geographical area;

categorizing the portions of position reference data into sets, based at least in part upon the positions indicated in the position data, wherein each set relates to a geographical sub-area within the geographical area;

associating a version number with each set;

causing the sets of position reference data and their associated version number to be stored in a database;

causing the stored position reference data to be provided to a first apparatus;

analyzing a plurality of portions of further position reference data received from a plurality of apparatuses;

determining which set each portion of further position reference data relates to, based at least in part upon the positions indicated in the position data of each portion of further position reference data;

causing the database to be updated by causing at least one of the sets to be updated to include the portions of further position reference data, based at least in part upon the determination;

changing the version number associated with the updated at least one set; and

causing position reference data to be provided, to the first apparatus, that is in an updated set having a changed version number.