Method, apparatus and computer program product for self-learning location method selection logic

• US 8,938,263 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Niemenmaa, Jarko, Ruutu, Ville
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US13/889,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20140155096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 455/457, 455/456.1, 455/456.5, 455/550.1
• US Class Current: 455/457
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location 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

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided that enable a method for providing location information to be selected based upon a determination, such as a minimization, of the consumption of location server resources that will be consumed by the method. The method, apparatus and computer program product may determine a selected location method from a set of location methods based on predetermined selection criteria. Specifically, the selected location method may be selected to meet a location accuracy requirement specified in a request for location information while consuming a determinable, such as a minimum, amount of resources. The predetermined selection criteria may be updated over time such that method, apparatus and computer program product are self-learning.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

initiating the method by determining a selected location method from a set of location methods based on predetermined selection criteria;

communicating the selected location method to a position determining entity, the selected location method to be used to determine location information of a mobile terminal;

updating the predetermined selection criteria responsive to information received from the position determining entity, the information being descriptive of the predetermined selection criteria based at least on employment of the selected location method with respect to the determined location information, wherein the updating occurs prior to a re-initiation of the method; and

determining a new selected location method from the set of location methods based on the updated predetermined selection criteria.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising an initial operation of receiving a request for location information, the request being associated with a requested location accuracy.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising determining the set of location methods from a plurality of location methods, the set of location methods including location methods having an expected accuracy at least equal to the requested location accuracy.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined selection criteria comprise an expected accuracy and a resource consumption, and wherein determining the selected location method comprises selecting the selected location method as one of the set of location methods having the expected accuracy at least equal to the requested location accuracy and a resource consumption that meets a predefined resource usage criteria.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein updating the predetermined selection criteria comprises updating the expected accuracy based on accuracy information associated with the selected location method.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein updating the predetermined selection criteria comprises associating information about a location of an event generating an update with the update.

7. A method according to claim 4, wherein updating the predetermined selection criteria comprises updating the resource consumption associated with the selected location method.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein updating the predetermined selection criteria comprises associating information about a location of an event generating an update with the update.

9. A method according to claim 4, wherein determining the selected location method comprises using initial information regarding a location of the mobile terminal.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the initial information regarding the location of the mobile terminal includes an identity of a cell serving the mobile terminal.

11. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion for initiating the method by determining a selected location method from a set of location methods based on predetermined selection criteria;

a second executable portion for communicating the selected location method to a position determining entity, the selected location method used to determine location information of a mobile terminal;

a third executable portion for updating the predetermined selection criteria responsive to information received from the position determining entity, the information being descriptive of the predetermined selection criteria based at least on employment of the selected location method with respect to the determined location information, wherein the updating occurs prior to a re-initiation of the method; and

a fourth executable portion for determining a new selected location method from the set of location methods based on the updated predetermined selection criteria.

12. A computer program product according to claim 11, further comprising a fifth executable portion for an initial operation of receiving a request for location information, the request being associated with a requested location accuracy.

13. A computer program product according to claim 12, further comprising a sixth executable portion for determining the set of location methods from a plurality of location methods, the set of location methods including location methods having an expected accuracy at least equal to the requested location accuracy.

14. A computer program product according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined selection criteria comprise an expected accuracy and a resource consumption, and the first executable portion includes instructions for selecting the selected location method as one of the set of location methods having the expected accuracy at least equal to the requested location accuracy and a resource consumption that meets a predefined resource usage criteria.

15. A computer program product according to claim 14, wherein the third executable portion includes instructions for updating the expected accuracy based on accuracy information associated with the selected location method.

16. A computer program product according to claim 14, wherein the third executable portion includes instructions for updating the resource consumption associated with the selected location method.

17. An apparatus comprising a processor configured to control a location method selection module, wherein the location method selection module is configured to:

initiate a process by determining a selected location method from a set of location methods based on predetermined selection criteria;

communicate the selected location method to a position determining entity, the selected location method to be used to determine location information of a mobile terminal;

update the predetermined selection criteria responsive to information received from the position determining entity, the information being descriptive of the predetermined selection criteria based at least on employment of the selected location method with respect to the determined location information, wherein the updating occurs prior to a re-initiation of the process; and

determine a new selected location method from the set of location methods based on the updated predetermined selection criteria.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the location method selection module is further configured to receive a request for location information, the request being associated with a requested location accuracy.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the location method selection module is further configured to determine the set of location methods from a plurality of location methods, the set of location methods including location methods having an expected accuracy at least equal to the requested location accuracy.

20. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the location method selection module is in communication with a statistical database and a resource consumption table.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the statistical database includes a list of each of the plurality of location methods and the expected accuracy associated with each of the plurality of location methods.

22. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the statistical database includes a list of each of the plurality of location methods and an expected accuracy associated with each of the plurality of location methods, and the resource consumption table includes the list of each of the plurality of location methods and a resource consumption associated with each of the plurality of location methods.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the predetermined selection criteria comprise the expected accuracy and the resource consumption, and wherein the selected location method is determined by selection of one of the set of location methods having the expected accuracy at least equal to a requested location accuracy and a resource consumption that meets a predefined resource usage criteria.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the update of the predetermined selection criteria comprises an update of the expected accuracy based on accuracy information associated with the selected location method.

25. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the update of the predetermined selection criteria comprises an update of the resource consumption associated with the selected location method.

26. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the apparatus is a location server in a wireless communication network.

27. An apparatus in accordance with claim 26, wherein the position determining entity is co-located with the location server.

28. An apparatus comprising:

a statistical database;

a resource consumption table; and

a means for selecting a location method in communication with both the statistical database and the resource consumption table wherein the means for selecting the location method is configured to;

initiate a process by determining a selected location method from a set of location methods based on predetermined selection criteria;

communicate the selected location method to a position determining entity, the selected location method used to determine location information of a mobile terminal; and

update the predetermined selection criteria responsive to information received from the position determining entity, the information being descriptive of the predetermined selection criteria based at least on employment of the selected location method with respect to the determined location information, wherein the updating occurs prior to a re-initiation of the process; and

determine a new selected location method from the set of location methods based on the updated predetermined selection criteria.

29. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the means for selecting the location method is further configured to receive a request for location information, the request being associated with a requested location accuracy.