Positioning with wireless local area networks and WLAN-aided global positioning systems

• US 9,100,786 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2013
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Yi-Hsiu
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US14/070,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20140057654A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/456.1, 342/457
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/06 employing an initial estimate of the location of the receiver as aiding data or in generating aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/252 Employing an initial estimate of location in generating assistance data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/28 Satellite selection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/29 carrier including Doppler, related G01S19/246 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/12 by co-ordinating position lines of different shape, e.g. hyperbolic, circular, elliptical or radial
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1851 Systems using a satellite or space-based relay H04B7/18508, H04B7/18521 take precedence; providing specific services H04B7/18523 - H04B7/18576
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Accurate position capability can be quickly provided using a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). When associated with a WLAN, a wireless device can quickly determine its relative and/or coordinate position based on information provided by an access point in the WLAN. Before a wireless device disassociates with the access point, the WLAN can periodically provide time, location, and decoded GPS data to the wireless device. In this manner, the wireless device can significantly reduce the time to acquire the necessary GPS satellite data (i.e. on the order of seconds instead of minutes) to determine its coordinate position.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a plurality of access points in a communications system;

determining a location of a wireless device in the communications system based at least in part on information from the plurality of access points, the information including received signal strength indicators; and

acquiring a satellite positioning system signal at the wireless device based at least in part on the location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the location includes using a server of the communications system to assist in at least part of said determining the location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the location is performed solely by the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1, further including using the satellite positioning system signal to generate a modified location of the wireless device.

5. The method of claim 1, further including storing the satellite positioning system signal for use by the wireless device.

6. The method of claim 1, further including periodically acquiring the satellite positioning system signal for use by the wireless device.

7. A wireless device for operating with a communications system, the wireless device to perform a location technique comprising:

determining a plurality of access points in the communications system;

determining a location of the wireless device based at least in part on information from the plurality of access points, the information including received signal strength indicators; and

acquiring a satellite positioning system signal at the wireless device based at least in part on the location.

8. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein said determining the location includes using a server of the communications system to assist in at least part of said determining the location.

9. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein said determining the location is performed solely by the wireless device.

10. The wireless device of claim 7, further including using the satellite positioning system signal to generate a modified location of the wireless device.

11. The wireless device of claim 7, further including storing the satellite positioning system signal for use by the wireless device.

12. The wireless device of claim 7, further including periodically acquiring the satellite positioning system signal for use by the wireless device.

13. A wireless device comprising:

means for determining a plurality of access points in a communications system;

means for determining a location of the wireless device based at least in part on information from the plurality of access points, the information including received signal strength indicators; and

means for acquiring a satellite positioning system signal at the wireless device based at least in part on the location.

14. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein said means for determining the location includes a server of the communications system to assist in at least part of determining the location.

15. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein said means for determining the location is included in the wireless device.

16. The wireless device of claim 13, further including means for using the satellite positioning system signal to generate a modified location of the wireless device.

17. The wireless device of claim 13, further including means for storing the satellite positioning system signal for use by the wireless device.

18. The wireless device of claim 13, further including means for periodically acquiring the satellite positioning system signal for use by the wireless device.

19. A communications system including a plurality of access points, a wireless device, and a server, the wireless device and the server to perform a technique comprising:

determining a plurality of access points using the wireless device;

determining a location of the wireless device using the server based on information from the plurality of access points, the information including received signal strength indicators of at least some of the plurality of access points; and

acquiring a satellite positioning system signal at the wireless device based at least in part on the location.

20. The communications system of claim 19, further including using the satellite positioning system signal to generate a modified location of the wireless device.

21. The communications system of claim 19, further including storing the satellite positioning system signal for use by the wireless device.

22. The communications system of claim 19, further including periodically acquiring the satellite positioning system signal for use by the wireless device.