Timed-based ephemeris identity in assistance data and assistance data request messages

• US 9,465,114 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Syrjrinne, Jari, Halivaara, Ismo
• Primary Examiner(s): McGue, Frank J
• Application Number:
  US11/978,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,273 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.44
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/258 relating to the satellite constellation, e.g. almanac, ephemeris data, lists of satellites in view

Abstract

A module (software or ASIC) for use in a serving mobile Location Center (SMLC) or a mobile station having a GPS receiver (or an A-GPS receiver) for determining an ITOW for a CNAV-1 signal. Also provided is a module for a mobile with GPS (or A-GPS receiver) so that the mobile can use the ITOW (either the ITOW provided with the CNAV-2, or that calculated for the CNAV-1) to uniquely identify ephemeris information in a request for assistance message. Also provided is a module for a SMLC by which the SMLC can use the IOD fields in the assistance data messages in a way that uniquely identifies the associated ephemeris information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating a time indication value for a first navigation signal, wherein the first navigation signal is an ephemeris type message;

generating a time indication value for a second navigation signal, wherein the second navigation signal is the ephemeris type message, and wherein the time indication values of the first and second navigation signals are provided in a same message structure for comparison, wherein the ephemeris type message is a CNAV-1 ephemeris type message which does not include a time indication value or a CNAV-2 ephemeris type message which includes a time indication value;

wherein the generating of a time indication value for one or both of the first and second navigation signals includes deriving a value based on a value for a time of receipt of the respective navigation signal and a value for a time of a beginning of a week when the navigation signal is a CNAV-1 ephemeris type message, and obtaining the time indication value from a received navigation signal when the navigation signal is a CNAV-2 ephemeris type message;

providing, to an assistance server;

a) the time indication value for the first navigation signal included as a first identifier of first ephemeris information included in the first navigation signal based on a first time interval between the first ephemeris information and an end of a week previous to the first ephemeris information, and b) the time indication value for the second navigation signal as a second identifier of second ephemeris information included in the second navigation signal based on a second time interval between the second ephemeris information and an end of a week previous to the second ephemeris information;

in an instance in which the time indication value for the first navigation signal is less than the time indication value for the second navigation signal, determining the second ephemeris information is more current than the first ephemeris information and updating a current ephemeris information as the second ephemeris information on the assistance server; and

in an instance in which the time indication value for the first navigation signal is greater than the time indication value for the second navigation signal, determining the first ephemeris information is more current than the second ephemeris information and leaving the current ephemeris information on the assistance server unchanged.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the method is for use by a mobile station, and the method further comprises providing a navigation assistance request message including the time of week value as an indication of the ephemeris information obtained from the first navigation signal.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the method is for use by a navigation assistance server, and the method further comprises determining whether to provide current ephemeris information in response to a navigation assistance request from a mobile station, based on comparing the time indication value and a time indication value included in the navigation assistance request.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the time indication value is a time of week broadcast value and is provided as an 8-bit information element.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the time indication value is a time of week broadcast value, and when the time of week broadcast value is included in a navigation assistance request, the time of week broadcast value is provided as the eight least significant bits of an issue of data information element ordinarily included in the navigation assistance message.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the first navigation signal is a differential global navigation satellite system (DGNSS) message, and the method further comprises pairing the DGNSS message with a correct ephemeris data based on the generated first time indication value.

7. An application specific integrated circuit configured for operation according to claim 1.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in an instance in which an identifier of a first ephemeris information is a time indication value less than an identifier of a second ephemeris information, updating a current ephemeris information as the second ephemeris information; and

in an instance in which an identifier of a first ephemeris information is a time indication value greater than an identifier of a second ephemeris information, leaving the current ephemeris information unchanged.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the time indication and time indication value are compared without accessing content of the first ephemeris information and second ephemeris information.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting contents of the second ephemeris information to the assistance server in response to identification of the second ephemeris information as being more current than the first ephemeris information.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the message structure is compatible across multiple global navigation satellite system signal types.

12. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

generate a time indication value for a first navigation signal, wherein the first navigation signal is an ephemeris type message;

generate a time indication value for a second navigation signal, wherein the second navigation signal is the ephemeris type message, and wherein the time indication values of the first and second navigation signals are provided in a same message structure for comparison, wherein the ephemeris type message is a CNAV-1 ephemeris type message which does not include a time indication value or a CNAV-2 ephemeris type message which includes a time indication value;

wherein the apparatus is caused to generate a time indication value for one or both of the first and second navigation signals by deriving a value based on a value for a time of receipt of the respective navigation signal and a value for a time of a beginning of a week when the navigation signal is a CNAV-1 ephemeris type message, and obtaining the time indication value from a received navigation signal when the navigation signal is a CNAV-2 ephemeris type message;

provide, to an assistance server;

a) the time indication value for the first navigation signal as a first identifier of first ephemeris information included in the first navigation signal based on a first time interval between the first ephemeris information and an end of a week previous to the first ephemeris information, and b) the time indication value for the second navigation signal as a second identifier of second ephemeris information included in the second navigation signal based on a second time interval between the second ephemeris information and an end of a week previous to the second ephemeris information;

in an instance in which the time indication value for the first navigation signal is less than the time indication value for the second navigation signal, determine the second ephemeris information is more current than the first ephemeris information and update a current ephemeris information as the second ephemeris information on the assistance server; and

in an instance in which the time indication value for the first navigation signal is greater than the time indication value for the second navigation signal, determine the first ephemeris information is more current than the second ephemeris information and leave the current ephemeris information on the assistance server unchanged.

13. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the first navigation signal does not include a time indication value, and wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least derive the value for the time indication based on a value for the time of receipt of the first navigation signal and a value for the time of the beginning of the week.

14. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the apparatus is for use by a mobile station, and the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least provide a navigation assistance request message including the time indication value as an indication of the ephemeris information obtained from the first navigation signal.

15. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the apparatus is for use by a navigation assistance server, and the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least provide current ephemeris information in response to a navigation assistance request from a mobile station, based on comparing the time indication value and a time indication value included in the navigation assistance request.

16. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the time indication is a time of week broadcast value, and the time of week broadcast value is provided as an 8-bit information element.

17. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the time indication value is a time of week broadcast value, and when the time of week broadcast value is included in a navigation assistance request, the time of week broadcast value is provided as the eight least significant bits of an issue of data information element ordinarily included in the navigation assistance message.

18. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the first navigation signal is a differential global navigation satellite system (DGNSS) message, and the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to pair the DGNSS message with a correct ephemeris data based on the generated first time indication value.

19. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

in an instance in which an identifier of a first ephemeris information is a time indication value less than an identifier of a second ephemeris information, update a current ephemeris information as the second ephemeris information; and

in an instance in which an identifier of a first ephemeris information is a time indication value greater than an identifier of a second ephemeris information, leave the current ephemeris information unchanged.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the message structure is compatible across multiple global navigation satellite system signal types.

21. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage structure embodying computer program code thereon for execution by a computer processor, wherein said computer program code comprises instructions for:

generating a time indication value for a first navigation signal, wherein the first navigation signal is an ephemeris type message;

generating a time indication value for a second navigation signal, wherein the second navigation signal is the ephemeris type message, and wherein time indication values of the first and second navigation signals are provided in a same message structure for comparison, wherein the ephemeris type message is a CNAV-1 ephemeris type message which does not include a time indication value or a CNAV-2 ephemeris type message which includes a time indication value;

wherein the generating of a time indication value for one or both of the first and second navigation signals includes deriving a value based on a value for a time of receipt of the respective navigation signal and a value for a time of a beginning of a week when the navigation signal is a CNAV-1 ephemeris type message, and obtaining the time indication value from a received navigation signal when the navigation signal is a CNAV-2 ephemeris type message;

providing, to an assistance server;

a) the time indication value for the first navigation signal as a first identifier of first ephemeris information included in the first navigation signal based on a first time interval between the first ephemeris information and an end of a week previous to the first ephemeris information, and b) the time indication value for a second navigation signal as the second identifier of second ephemeris information included in the second navigation signal based on a second time interval between the second ephemeris information and an end of a week previous to the second ephemeris information;

in an instance in which the time indication value for the first navigation signal is less than the time indication value for the second navigation signal, determining the second ephemeris information is more current than the first ephemeris information and updating a current ephemeris information as the second ephemeris information on the assistance server; and

in an instance in which the time indication value for the first navigation signal is greater than the time indication value for the second navigation signal, determining the first ephemeris information is more current than the second ephemeris information and leaving the current ephemeris information on the assistance server unchanged.

22. A computer program product according to claim 21, wherein computer program code further comprises instructions for:

in an instance in which an identifier of a first ephemeris information is a time indication value less than an identifier of a second ephemeris information, updating a current ephemeris information as the second ephemeris information; and

in an instance in which an identifier of a first ephemeris information is a time indication value greater than an identifier of a second ephemeris information, leaving the current ephemeris information unchanged.