Sensor-assisted location-aware mobile device

• US 8,823,585 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2010
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Abraham, Charles, Buer, Mark, Garrett, David, Lundgren, David Albert, Murray, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing, Gregory C
• Application Number:
  US12/748,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20110199259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.32, 342/357.31
• US Class Current: 342/357.31
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system

Abstract

A GNSS enabled mobile device moves from a first area where GNSS signal quality and/or level is above a threshold to a second area where GNSS signal quality and/or level is below the threshold. The GNSS enabled mobile device in the second area determines its own location utilizing previous GNSS measurements in the first area. GNSS signals are received to calculate GNSS measurements whenever the GNSS enabled mobile device is in the first area. The calculated GNSS measurements are utilized to determine a location of the GNSS enabled mobile device within the first area. The GNSS enabled mobile device in the second area utilizes the most current GNSS measurements in the first area to determine its own location. Sensors such as an image sensor, a light sensor, an audio sensor and/or a location sensor are used to refine the location of the GNSS enabled mobile device in the second area.

Claims

1. A method for communication in an environment, the method comprising:

performing by one or more circuits in a Global navigation satellite-based systems (GNSS) enabled mobile device;

in a first area where GNSS signal quality is above a particular threshold value;

acquiring GNSS signals from one or more GNSS satellites;

calculating a position of the GNSS enabled mobile device based on the GNSS signals; and

storing the calculated position as previous GNSS measurements; and

in a second area where the GNSS signal quality is below the particular threshold value;

acquiring sensor data of sensors located throughout the environment, the sensor data of at least one of the sensors including locations of a plurality of sensor targets; and

determining a location of the GNSS enabled mobile device in the second area based on the locations of the sensor targets and the previous GNSS measurements calculated by the GNSS enabled mobile device when the GNSS enabled mobile device was in the first area.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving GNSS signals from a plurality of visible GNSS satellites whenever the GNSS enabled mobile device is in the first area.

3. The method according to claim 2, comprising calculating GNSS measurements utilizing the GNSS signals received in the first area.

4. The method according to claim 3, comprising updating the previous GNSS measurements utilizing the calculated GNSS measurements.

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising determining the position of the GNSS enabled mobile device within the second area utilizing the updated previous GNSS measurements in the first area.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising collecting, in the second area, the sensor data from the sensors for encountered sensor targets with known locations within the environment in the second area.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the sensors comprise an image sensor, a light sensor, an audio sensor and/or a location sensor.

8. The method according to claim 6, comprising refining the determined location of the GNSS enabled mobile device in the second area utilizing the locations of the sensors.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising compiling, by each of the sensors, information from a plurality of sensor targets.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of sensor targets includes at least one of a physical object, an indoor space, and an outdoor space.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising powering down a GNSS receiver when in the second area.

12. A Global navigation satellite-based systems (GNSS) enabled mobile device capable of communicating in an environment, the GNSS enabled mobile device comprising:

a GNSS receiver configured to acquire GNSS signals from one or more GNSS satellites when the GNSS enabled mobile device is in a first area where GNSS signal quality is above a particular threshold value;

a host processor configured to calculate a position of the GNSS enabled mobile device based on the GNSS signals;

a memory configured to store the calculated position as previous GNSS measurements;

a wireless transceiver configured to acquire sensor data of sensors located throughout the environment when the GNSS enabled mobile device is in a second area where the GNSS signal quality is below the particular threshold value, the sensor data of at least one of the sensors including locations of a plurality of sensor targets, and

wherein the host processor is configured to determine a location of the GNSS enabled mobile device in the second area based on the locations of the sensor targets and the previous GNSS measurements calculated by the GNSS enabled mobile device when the GNSS enabled mobile device was in the first area.

13. The GNSS enabled mobile device according to claim 12, wherein the GNSS receiver is configured to receive GNSS signals from a plurality of visible GNSS satellites whenever the GNSS enabled mobile device is in the first area.

14. The GNSS enabled mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the host processor is configured to calculate GNSS measurements utilizing the GNSS signals received in the first area.

15. The GNSS enabled mobile device according to claim 14, wherein the host processor is configured to update the previous GNSS measurements stored in the memory utilizing the calculated GNSS measurements.

16. The GNSS enabled mobile device according to claim 15, wherein the host processor is configured to determine the position of the GNSS enabled mobile device within the second area utilizing the updated previous GNSS measurements in the first area.

17. The GNSS enabled mobile device according to claim 12, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to collect, in the second area, the sensor data from the sensors for encountered sensor targets with known locations within the environment in the second area.

18. The GNSS enabled mobile device according to claim 17, wherein the sensors comprise an image sensor, a light sensor, an audio sensor and/or a location sensor.

19. The GNSS enabled mobile device according to claim 17, wherein the host processor is configured to refine the determined location of the GNSS enabled mobile device in the second area utilizing the locations of the sensors.