Database update method and apparatus for locating a pCell

• US 9,348,032 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SK Planet Co., Ltd. (SK Telecom Co., Ltd.), SK Telecom Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: SK Planet Co., Ltd. (SK Telecom Co., Ltd.), SK Telecom Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Cho, Chae Hwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aga, Sori
• Application Number:
  US13/638,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20130028248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,881 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/725 Marker, boundary, call-sign or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0249 Determining position using measurements made by a non-stationary device other than the device whose position is being determined
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a database update method and apparatus for locating a pCell. An embodiment of the present invention provides a database update apparatus for locating a pCell, comprising: a database storing grid cells that are sorted by pCell ID; a DB collection unit collecting log data for a WLAN signal from a mobile communication terminal which performs communication using the WLAN signal; an information extraction unit extracting a WLAN parameter from the log data of the WLAN signal; and a DB update unit updating the grid cells by matching and storing the information based on the extracted WLAN parameter in the corresponding grid cell. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the data-based information for AP locations and its application to the determination of a location can enhance the location performance.

Claims

1. A database update apparatus for pCell location determination, the apparatus comprising:

a database configured to store a plurality of pCell parameters extracted from signal of base stations associated with grid cells of mobile communication network that are classified by pCell ID;

a DB collection unit configured to collect log data of WLAN signals from a mobile communication terminal having a WLAN module, wherein the WLAN module performs a communication with an AP (Access Point) using the WLAN signals;

an information extraction unit configured to extract WLAN parameters from the log data; and

a DB update unit configured to update the database by storing the extracted WLAN parameters with pCell ID as the pCell parameters on a corresponding grid cell in the database,

wherein the pCell ID is identified based on PSC (Primary Scrambling Code) and a base station sector number (Ref_PN) for a base station located in an area, and

wherein the pCell parameters includes at least one of system ID, network ID, base station ID, the base station sector number (Ref_PN), pilot phase and signal strength of in the base station sector number (Ref_PN), a neighboring base station sector number (measurement PN), and pilot phase in the measurement PN.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the DB collection unit is further configured to collect log data of the WLAN signals and GPS signals at a time when a positioning of the mobile communication terminal is determined by a GPS module in the mobile communication terminal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the DB collection unit is further configured to collect the log data of the WLAN signals and GPS signals at a time when the positioning of the mobile communication terminal is determined by at least a predetermined number of satellites.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the DB collection unit is further configured to collect the log data from the mobile communication terminal through SUPL (Secure User Plane Location) protocol.

5. The apparatus of claim 2,

wherein the mobile communication terminal further comprises at least one short-range communication module for performing Zigbee, UWB, Bluetooth or RFID communication, and

wherein the DB collection unit is further configured to collect the log data including a corresponding short-range communication signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the WLAN parameters include identification information, MAC address information, received signal strength information, frequency information, latitude information, longitude information, and altitude information about AP which sends and receives the WLAN signals to and from the mobile communication terminal.

7. An update method of a database for pCell location determination, the database storing a plurality of pCell parameters extracted from signal base stations associated with grid cells of mobile communication network that are classified by pCell ID, the method comprising:

collecting, by a database update apparatus, log data of WLAN signals from a mobile communication terminal having a WLAN module, wherein the WLAN module performs a communication with an AP (Access Point) using the WLAN signals;

extracting, by the database update apparatus, WLAN parameters from the log data; and

updating, by the database update apparatus, the database by storing the extracted WLAN parameters with pCell ID as the pCell parameters on a corresponding grid cell in the database,

wherein the pCell ID is identified based on PSC (Primary Scrambling Code) and a base station sector number (Ref_PN) for a base station located in an area, and

wherein the pCell parameters includes at least one of system ID, network ID, base station ID, the base station sector number (Ref_PN), pilot phase and signal strength of in the base station sector number Ref_PN, a neighboring base station sector number (measurement PN), and pilot phase in the measurement PN.