Mobile device positioning responsive to externally generated regional candidate position fix mode selection

• US 9,247,518 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Venkatraman, Sai Pradeep, Gao, Weihua, Werner, Benjamin A., Zhang, Gengsheng
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TIMOTHY X
• Application Number:
  US13/797,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20140274108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 455/465.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/46 the supplementary measurement being of a radio-wave signal type
• 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: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Various methods, apparatuses and/or articles of manufacture are provided which may be implemented for use by a mobile device to affect at least one positioning function based, at least in part, on a recommended candidate position fix mode received from another electronic device for use in a particular region of an environment. For example, a mobile device may obtain assistance data indicative of a candidate position fix mode for a partial region of an environment navigable by the mobile device, and in response to a determination that the mobile device is estimated to be located within a threshold proximity of the partial region, affect a wireless signal-based positioning function based, at least in part, on the candidate position fix mode.

Claims

1. A method comprising, with a mobile device;

transmitting a request, said request comprising one or more indicators indicative of an initial estimated location of said mobile device or an initial estimated course of said mobile device, or any combination thereof;

obtaining assistance data from at least one other electronic device transmitted in response to said request, said assistance data being indicative of a candidate position fix mode for a partial region of an environment navigable by said mobile device, said candidate position fix mode being selected by said at least one other electronic device from a plurality of wireless signal-based positioning modes based, at least in part, on the one or more indicators;

affecting a wireless signal-based positioning function based, at least in part, on said candidate position fix mode, in response to a determination that said mobile device is estimated to be located within a threshold proximity of said partial region; and

subsequent to said affecting said wireless signal-based positioning function based, at least in part, on said candidate position fix mode, transmitting a report to said at least one other electronic device, said report being indicative as to whether, as affected, said wireless signal-based positioning function successfully determines;

a current estimated position fix of said mobile device or a current estimated course of said mobile device, or any combination thereof.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said assistance data is further indicative of at least one other candidate position fix mode for at least one other partial region of said environment navigable by said mobile device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said assistance data comprises:

an electronic map corresponding to at least a portion of said environment;

or

an annotation file corresponding to at least a portion of said electronic map;

or any combination thereof.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said candidate position fix mode corresponds to one or more positioning nodes identifiable within an electronic map corresponding to said environment.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said assistance data indicates said candidate position fix mode via an identifier assigned to one of said plurality of wireless signal-based positioning modes.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more indicators are further indicative of at least one wireless signal observation gathered by said mobile device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more indicators are further indicative of a mobile device capability related identifier corresponding to said mobile device.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of said partial region.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of a geo-fence boundary corresponding to at least a portion of said partial region.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of said partial region with regard to an electronic map corresponding to at least a portion of said environment.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of said partial region with regard to:

a structure feature related identifier, a node related identifier, an environment related identifier or a location context identifier (LCI), or any combination thereof.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of said partial region with regard to:

a first service related identifier corresponding to said terrestrial-based transmitting device, a second service related identifier corresponding to said satellite-based transmitting device or a mobile device capability related identifier corresponding to said mobile device, or any combination thereof.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of a conditional attribute corresponding to:

said candidate position fix mode, said partial region, said terrestrial-based transmitting device, said satellite-based transmitting device or said mobile device, or any combination thereof.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said partial region has been identified based, at least in part, on at least one of historical navigation observations, and/or wireless signal observations corresponding to a plurality of mobile devices with regard to said environment.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising, with said mobile device:

gathering;

historical navigation observations or wireless signal observations, or any combination thereof; and

,

transmitting said historical navigation observations or said wireless signal observations, or any combination thereof, to said at least one other electronic device.

16. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said assistance data is indicative of an initial estimated position fix of said mobile device or an initial estimated course of said mobile device, or any combination thereof.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said assistance data is indicative of said determination that said mobile device is estimated to be located within said threshold proximity of said partial region.

18. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said environment comprises a blended environment, and said blended environment comprises said partial region.

19. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said terrestrial-based transmitting device comprises an access point device of a wireless communication network;

and/or said satellite-based transmitting device is part of a space positioning system (SPS).

20. The method of claim 1, wherein, said plurality of wireless signal-based positioning modes comprises:

a first wireless signal-based positioning mode based on first wireless signals transmitted by a terrestrial-based transmitting device,

a second wireless signal-based positioning mode based on a second wireless signals transmitted by a satellite-based transmitting device, and

a third wireless signal-based positioning mode based on a combination of said first wireless signals and said second wireless signals.

21. A mobile device comprising:

a communications transceiver; and

a processing unit configured to;

initiate transmission of a request, said request comprising one or more indicators of an initial estimated location of said mobile device or an initial estimated course of said mobile device, or any combination thereof;

obtain, via said communications transceiver, assistance data from at least one other electronic device transmitted in response to said request, said assistance data being indicative of a candidate position fix mode for a partial region of an environment navigable by said mobile device;

in response to a determination that said mobile device is estimated to be located within a threshold proximity of said partial region, affect a positioning function based, at least in part, on said candidate position fix mode; and

initiate transmission of a report through said communications transceiver to said at least one other electronic device, said report being indicative as to whether, as affected, said wireless signal-based positioning function successfully determines;

a current estimated position fix of said mobile device or a current estimated course of said mobile device, or any combination thereof.

22. The mobile device as recited in claim 21, wherein said assistance data is further indicative of at least one other candidate position fix mode for at least one other partial region of said environment navigable by said mobile device.

23. The mobile device as recited in claim 21, wherein said assistance data comprises:

an electronic map corresponding to at least a portion of said environment;

or

an annotation file corresponding to at least a portion of said electronic map;

or any combination thereof.

24. The mobile device as recited in claim 21, wherein said candidate position fix mode corresponds to one or more positioning nodes identifiable within an electronic map corresponding to said environment.

25. The mobile device as recited in claim 21, wherein said assistance data indicates said candidate position fix mode via an identifier assigned to one of said plurality of wireless signal-based positioning modes.

26. The mobile device as recited in claim 21, wherein said one or more indicators are further indicative of at least one wireless signal observation gathered by said mobile device.

27. The mobile device as recited in claim 21, wherein said one or more indicators are further indicative of a mobile device capability related identifier corresponding to said mobile device.

28. The mobile device as recited in claim 21, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of said partial region.

29. The mobile device as recited in claim 28, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of a geo-fence boundary corresponding to at least a portion of said partial region.

30. The mobile device as recited in claim 28, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of said partial region with regard to an electronic map corresponding to at least a portion of said environment.

31. The mobile device as recited in claim 28, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of said partial region with regard to:

a structure feature related identifier, a node related identifier, an environment related identifier or a location context identifier (LCI), or any combination thereof.

32. The mobile device as recited in claim 28, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of said partial region with regard to:

a first service related identifier corresponding to said terrestrial-based transmitting device, a second service related identifier corresponding to said satellite-based transmitting device or a mobile device capability related identifier corresponding to said mobile device, or any combination thereof.

33. The mobile device as recited in claim 21, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of a conditional attribute corresponding to:

said candidate position fix mode, said partial region, said terrestrial-based transmitting device, said satellite-based transmitting device or said mobile device, or any combination thereof.

34. The mobile device as recited in claim 21, wherein said partial region has been identified based, at least in part, on at least one of historical navigation observations, and/or wireless signal observations corresponding to a plurality of mobile devices with regard to said environment.

35. The mobile device as recited in claim 21, wherein said processing unit is further configured to:

gather historical navigation observations or wireless signal observations, or any combination thereof; and

initiate transmission of said historical navigation observations or said wireless signal observations, or any combination thereof, to at least one other electronic device via said communications transceiver.

36. The mobile device as recited in claim 21, wherein said assistance data is indicative of:

an initial estimated position fix of said mobile device or an initial estimated course of said mobile device, or any combination thereof.

37. The mobile device as recited in claim 21, wherein said assistance data is indicative of said determination that said mobile device is estimated to be located within said threshold proximity of said partial region.

38. The mobile device as recited in claim 21, wherein at least a portion of said environment comprises a blended environment, and said blended environment comprises said partial region.

39. The mobile device as recited in claim 21, wherein said terrestrial-based transmitting device comprises an access point device of a wireless communication network;

and/or said satellite-based transmitting device is part of a space positioning system (SPS).

40. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein, said plurality of wireless signal-based positioning modes comprises:

a first wireless signal-based positioning mode based on first wireless signals transmitted by a terrestrial-based transmitting device,

a second wireless signal-based positioning mode based on a second wireless signals transmitted by a satellite-based transmitting device, and

a third wireless signal-based positioning mode based on a combination of said first wireless signals and said second wireless signals.

41. An apparatus for use in a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting a request, said request comprising one or more indicators indicative of an initial estimated location of said mobile device or an initial estimated course of said mobile device, or any combination thereof;

means for accessing assistance data transmitted from at least one other electronic device in response to said request, said assistance data being indicative of a candidate position fix mode for a partial region of an environment navigable by said mobile device;

means for affecting a wireless signal-based positioning function, based, at least in part, on said candidate position fix mode, in response to a determination that said mobile device is estimated to be located within a threshold proximity of said partial region; and

means for transmitting a report to at least one other electronic device subsequent to said wireless signal-based positioning function being affected based, at least in part, on said candidate position fix mode, wherein said report is indicative as to whether, as affected, said wireless signal-based positioning function successfully determines at;

a current estimated position fix of said mobile device or a current estimated course of said mobile device, or any combination thereof.

42. The apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said assistance data is further indicative of at least one other candidate position fix mode for at least one other partial region of said environment navigable by said mobile device.

43. The apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said assistance data comprises:

an electronic map corresponding to at least a portion of said environment;

or

an annotation file corresponding to at least a portion of said electronic map;

or any combination thereof.

44. The apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said candidate position fix mode corresponds to one or more positioning nodes identifiable within an electronic map corresponding to said environment.

45. The apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said assistance data indicates said candidate position fix mode via an identifier assigned to one of said plurality of wireless signal-based positioning modes.

46. The apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said one or more indicators are further indicative of at least one wireless signal observation gathered by said mobile device.

47. The apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said one or more indicators are further indicative of a mobile device capability related identifier corresponding to said mobile device.

48. The apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of said partial region.

49. The apparatus as recited in claim 48, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of a geo-fence boundary corresponding to at least a portion of said partial region.

50. The apparatus as recited in claim 48, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of said partial region with regard to an electronic map corresponding to at least a portion of said environment.

51. The apparatus as recited in claim 48, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of said partial region with regard:

a structure feature related identifier, a node related identifier, an environment related identifier or a location context identifier (LCI), or any combination thereof.

52. The apparatus as recited in claim 48, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of said partial region with regard to:

a first service related identifier corresponding to said terrestrial-based transmitting device, a second service related identifier corresponding to said satellite-based transmitting device or a mobile device capability related identifier corresponding to said mobile device, or any combination thereof.

53. The apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of a conditional attribute corresponding to:

said candidate position fix mode, said partial region, said terrestrial-based transmitting device, said satellite-based transmitting device or said mobile device, or any combination thereof.

54. The apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said partial region has been identified based, at least in part, on historical navigation observations or wireless signal observations corresponding to a plurality of mobile devices with regard to said environment, or any combination thereof.

55. The apparatus as recited in claim 41, and further comprising:

means for gathering historical navigation observations or wireless signal observations, or any combination thereof; and

,

means for transmitting said historical navigation observations or said wireless signal observations to at least one other electronic device, or any combination thereof.

56. The apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said assistance data is indicative of:

an initial estimated position fix of said mobile device or an initial estimated course of said mobile device, or any combination thereof.

57. The apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said assistance data is indicative of said determination that said mobile device is estimated to be located within said threshold proximity of said partial region.

58. The apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein at least a portion of said environment comprises a blended environment, and said blended environment comprises said partial region.

59. The apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said terrestrial-based transmitting device comprises an access point device of a wireless communication network;

and/or said satellite-based transmitting device is part of a space positioning system (SPS).

60. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein, said plurality of wireless signal-based positioning modes comprises:

a first wireless signal-based positioning mode based on first wireless signals transmitted by a terrestrial-based transmitting device,

a second wireless signal-based positioning mode based on a second wireless signals transmitted by a satellite-based transmitting device, and

a third wireless signal-based positioning mode based on a combination of said first wireless signals and said second wireless signals.

61. An article comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer implementable instructions executable by a processing unit of a mobile device to;

initiate transmission of a request, said request comprising one or more indicators indicative of an initial estimated location of said mobile device or an initial estimated course of said mobile device, or any combination thereof;

obtain assistance data from at least one other electronic device transmitted in response to said request, said assistance data being indicative of a candidate position fix mode for a partial region of an environment navigable by said mobile device, said candidate position fix mode being selected by the at least one other electronic device from a plurality of wireless signal-based positioning modes based, at least in part, on the one or more indicators;

in response to a determination that said mobile device is estimated to be located within a threshold proximity of said partial region, affect a wireless signal-based positioning function based, at least in part, on said candidate position fix mode; and

initiate transmission of a report to at least one other electronic device subsequent to said wireless signal-based positioning function being affected based, at least in part, on said candidate position fix mode, wherein said re ort is indicative as to whether, as affected, said wireless signal-based positioning function successfully determines at;

a current estimated position fix of said mobile device or a current estimated course of said mobile device, or any combination thereof.

62. The article as recited in claim 61, wherein said assistance data is further indicative of at least one other candidate position fix mode for at least one other partial region of said environment navigable by said mobile device.

63. The article as recited in claim 61, wherein said assistance data comprises:

an electronic map corresponding to at least a portion of said environment;

or

an annotation the corresponding to at least a portion of said electronic map;

or any combination thereof.

64. The article as recited in claim 61, wherein said candidate position fix mode corresponds to one or more positioning nodes identifiable within an electronic map corresponding to said environment.

65. The article as recited in claim 61, wherein said assistance data indicates said candidate position fix mode via an identifier assigned to one of said plurality of wireless signal-based positioning modes.

66. The article as recited in claim 61, wherein said request is indicative of at least one wireless signal observation gathered by said mobile device.

67. The article as recited in claim 61, wherein said request is indicative of a mobile device capability related identifier corresponding to said mobile device.

68. The article as recited in claim 61, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of said partial region.

69. The article as recited in claim 68, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of a geo-fence boundary corresponding to at least a portion of said partial region.

70. The article as recited in claim 68, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of said partial region with regard to an electronic map corresponding to at least a portion of said environment.

71. The article as recited in claim 68, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of said partial region with regard to:

a structure feature related identifier, a node related identifier, an environment related identifier or a location context identifier (LCI), or any combination thereof.

72. The article as recited in claim 68, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of said partial region with regard to:

a first service related identifier corresponding to said terrestrial-based transmitting device, a second service related identifier corresponding to said satellite-based transmitting device or a mobile device capability related identifier corresponding to said mobile device, or any combination thereof.

73. The article as recited in claim 61, wherein said candidate position fix mode is indicative of a conditional attribute corresponding to:

said candidate position fix mode, said partial region, said terrestrial-based transmitting device, said satellite-based transmitting device or said mobile device, or any combination thereof.

74. The article as recited in claim 61, wherein said partial region has been identified based, at least in part, on historical navigation observations or wireless signal observations corresponding to a plurality of mobile devices with regard to said environment, or any combination thereof.

75. The article as recited in claim 61, further comprising computer implementable instructions to:

gather historical navigation observations or wireless signal observations, or any combination thereof; and

,

initiate transmission of said historical navigation observations or said wireless signal observations to at least one other electronic device, or any combination thereof.

76. The article as recited in claim 61, wherein said assistance data is indicative of:

an initial estimated position fix of said mobile device or an initial estimated course of said mobile device, or any combination thereof.

77. The article as recited in claim 61, wherein said assistance data is indicative of said determination that said mobile device is estimated to be located within said threshold proximity of said partial region.

78. The article as recited in claim 61, wherein at least a portion of said environment comprises a blended environment, and said blended environment comprises said partial region.

79. The article as recited in claim 61, wherein said terrestrial-based transmitting device comprises an access point device of a wireless communication network;

and/or said satellite-based transmitting device is part of a space positioning system (SPS).

80. The article of claim 61, wherein, said plurality of wireless signal-based positioning modes comprises:

a first wireless signal-based positioning mode based on first wireless signals transmitted by a terrestrial-based transmitting device,

a second wireless signal-based positioning mode based on a second wireless signals transmitted by a satellite-based transmitting device, and

a third wireless signal-based positioning mode based on a combination of said first wireless signals and said second wireless signals.