Method and apparatus for processing position information in a mobile device

• US 9,037,154 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2007
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Global Locate Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: van Diggelen, Frank, Abraham, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, JUSTIN YE
• Application Number:
  US11/773,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20080039117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,877 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.6, 455/456.4, 455/456.5, 342/357.09, 342/357.12
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/25 involving aiding data received from a cooperating element, e.g. assisted GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/396 Determining accuracy or reliability of position or pseudorange measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position

Abstract

Method and apparatus for processing position information in a mobile device is described. In one example, a request for a position to be computed within a predefined period of time is received. A plurality of positions is calculated within the predefined period of time. At least one of the plurality of positions is cached in a position cache. Accuracy data is derived with respect to at least one of the plurality of positions. A best position stored in the position cache is identified in response to the accuracy data. The best position may be sent to a server in communication with the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of processing position information in a mobile device, comprising:

receiving a request for a position to be computed within a predefined period of time;

calculating a plurality of positions within said predefined period of time;

caching at least one of said plurality of positions in a position cache;

deriving accuracy data with respect to at least one of said plurality of positions;

identifying a best position calculated during said predefined period of time; and

in response to said best position failing to meet an accuracy threshold, sending an indication that no accurate position was obtained.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said best position is identified before expiration of said predefined period of time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said best position is a last calculated position of said plurality of positions with respect to expiration of said predefined period of time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing at least a portion of said accuracy data in said position cache.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said deriving step comprises:

computing an indicia of accuracy for each position stored in said position cache; and

storing each said computed indicia of accuracy in said position cache.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each said indicia of accuracy is derived from at least one of a covariance matrix of a Kalman filter, pseudorange residual data, or dilution of precision data.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

sending said best position and a stored indicia of accuracy associated with said best position to a server in communication with said mobile device.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

comparing a stored indicia of accuracy associated with said best position to said accuracy threshold; and

sending said best position to a server in communication with said mobile device in response to said stored indicia of accuracy associated with said best position satisfying said accuracy threshold;

wherein said indication of no accurate position is sent to said server.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending said best position to a server in communication with said mobile device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said request is received from a server in communication with said mobile device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said request is generated by said mobile device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising deleting any position that does not satisfy said accuracy threshold.

13. A method of processing position information in a mobile device, comprising:

receiving a request for a position to be computed within a predefined period of time;

computing a best position and a corresponding indicia of accuracy within said predefined period of time;

comparing said indicia of accuracy to a threshold;

retaining said best position in a cache in response to said indicia of accuracy satisfying said threshold;

in response to said indicia of accuracy failing said threshold searching said cache for a previously retained position having a best accuracy; and

in response to no accurate previously retained position being stored in said cache, sending an indication of no accurate position to a server.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

sending said best position to a server in communication with said mobile device.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

identifying said previously retained position in said cache having a best accuracy; and

sending said previously retained position to a server in communication with said mobile device.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

identifying a previously retained position in said cache having a best accuracy in response to said indicia of accuracy failing said threshold;

comparing said best accuracy of said previously retained position to a second threshold; and

sending said previously retained position to a server in communication with said mobile device in response to said best accuracy satisfying said second threshold.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

searching said cache for another previously retained position having a second best accuracy in response to said best accuracy failing said threshold.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said computing step comprises:

calculating a plurality of positions within said predefined period of time;

caching at least one of said plurality of positions;

deriving an indicia of accuracy with respect to at least one of said plurality of positions;

and identifying said best position and said corresponding indicia of accuracy.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said best position is identified before expiration of said predefined period of time.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said best position is a last calculated position of said plurality of positions with respect to expiration of said predefined period of time.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein said request is received from a server in communication with said mobile device.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein said request is generated by said mobile device.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising deleting any position that does not satisfy said accuracy threshold.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein said best position is computed from a plurality of position calculations and wherein said computing is stopped before the predefined period expires.

25. A mobile device, comprising:

an A-GPS receiver for processing satellite signals;

a processor for calculating, from the processed satellite signals, a plurality of positions within a predetermined time, and for calculating accuracy data associated with said plurality of positions; and

a position cache, coupled to the processor, that stores at least one of said plurality of positions;

wherein the processor is configured to compare said accuracy data associated with said plurality of positions to an accuracy threshold; and

wherein the processor is configured to send an indication of no accurate position if none of the said positions meet said accuracy threshold.

26. The mobile device of claim 25, wherein the position cache is configured to store said accuracy data.

27. The mobile device of claim 25, wherein the processor derives said accuracy data from at least one of a Kalman filter, dilution of precision data or pseudorange residual data.

28. The mobile device of claim 25, further comprising:

a transceiver for receiving a request for a position to be computed within said predetermined time from a server.