Methods and apparatus for triggering cooperative positioning or learning in a wireless network

• US 9,482,734 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2011
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Jovicic, Aleksandar, Li, Junyi, Measson, Cyril, Richardson, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith, Jack W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chuong P
• Application Number:
  US13/073,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20120249372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,045 Days
• Field of Search: 342/451, 342/387, 342463-465, 342/450, 4554561-457
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/042 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02213 Receivers arranged in a network for determining the position of a transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0226 Transmitters
• 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: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

One or more bits are used in peer discovery signals to signal a device'"'"'s ability and/or willingness to participate in a cooperative manner with regard to one or more mobile device location determination related operations. In some embodiments, the one or more bits are located at predetermined locations within a header portion of a peer discovery signal. Different bits, in some embodiments, are associated with different specific cooperative location determination related operations. The peer discovery signal is transmitted, e.g., broadcast, periodically or on some predetermined basis by a mobile wireless communications device. In this manner, a device listening to the peer discovery signals can determine other devices'"'"' willingness to perform particular location discovery related operations with very little signaling overhead.

Claims

1. A method of operating a first mobile communications device to communicate device information, the method comprising:

transmitting, by the first mobile communications device, a peer discovery signal including a first predetermined bit, of a plurality of predetermined bits of a header of the peer discovery signal, designated for use in signaling a willingness to perform, by the first mobile communication device, a first device location determination related operation and a second predetermined bit, of the plurality of predetermined bits of the header of the peer discovery signal, designated for use in signaling a willingness to perform, by the first mobile communication device, a second device location determination related operation, said first predetermined bit being set to a first value when said first mobile communications device is willing to perform said first device location determination related operation and being set to a second value when said first mobile communications device is not willing to perform said first device location determination related operation;

monitoring, by the first mobile communications device, for a signal from a second mobile communications device, responsive to the peer discovery signal transmitted by the first mobile communication device and received by the second mobile communication device, corresponding to said first device location determination related operation;

during the monitoring for the signal from the second mobile communications device, receiving, by the first mobile communications device, the signal from the second mobile communications device corresponding to the first device location determination related operation;

in response to the received signal, performing, by the first mobile communications device, the first device location determination related operation; and

providing, by the first mobile communications device, information related to the performance of the first device location determination related operation to the second mobile communications device,

wherein said first device location determination related operation is a map parameter determination operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the first device location determination related operation comprises:

performing a signal measurement on the received signal; and

using said signal measurement to determine the presence or absence of a physical obstruction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said signal from the second mobile communications device is a signal transmitted by said second mobile communications device in response to receipt of said transmitted peer discovery signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the map parameter indicates one or more of a wall material, the presence of a crowd, and whether a door is open or closed.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing the first mobile communications device to operate as a temporary location anchor point, and transmitting the peer discovery signal with a value of one of the plurality of the predetermined bits of the header of the peer discovery signal indicating the first mobile communication device is operating as the temporary location anchor point.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining whether the first mobile communication device is to continue to operate as the temporary location anchor point based on one or more of;

a number of detected mobile communications devices, a level of peer to peer communications detected by the first mobile communications device, an amount of remaining battery power of the first mobile communications device, a number of other mobile communications devices that are operating as location anchor points, a change in a status of the first mobile communications device from motion to stationary, receipt of a request to continue operating as the temporary location anchor point, receipt of a command to continue operating as the temporary location anchor point, a change in a current location of the first mobile communication device, or time remaining in a time interval in which the first mobile communication device was to operate as the temporary anchor location point.

7. A method of operating a first mobile communications device to communicate device information, the method comprising:

transmitting, by the first mobile communications device, a peer discovery signal including a first predetermined bit, of a plurality of predetermined bits of a header of the peer discovery signal, designated for use in signaling a willingness to perform, by the first mobile communication device, a first device location determination related operation and a second predetermined bit, of the plurality of predetermined bits of the header of the peer discovery signal, designated for use in signaling a willingness to perform, by the first mobile communication device, a second device location determination related operation, said first predetermined bit being set to a first value when said first mobile communications device is willing to perform said first device location determination related operation and being set to a second value when said first mobile communications device is not willing to perform said first device location determination related operation;

monitoring, by the first mobile communications device, for a signal from a second mobile communications device corresponding to said first device location determination related operation;

during the monitoring for the signal from the second mobile communications device, receiving, by the first mobile communications device, the signal from the second mobile communications device, responsive to the peer discovery signal transmitted by the first mobile communication device and received by the second mobile communication device, corresponding to the first device location determination related operation;

in response to the received signal, performing, by the first mobile communications device, the first device location determination related operation; and

providing, by the first mobile communications device, information related to the performance of the first device location determination related operation to the second mobile communications device,

wherein said first device location determination related operation is a position ambiguity resolution operation.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising causing the first mobile communications device to operate as a temporary location anchor point, and transmitting the peer discovery signal with a value of one of the plurality of the predetermined bits of the header of the peer discovery signal indicating the first mobile communication device is operating as the temporary location anchor point.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining whether the first mobile communication device is to continue to operate as the temporary location anchor point based on one or more of;

a number of detected mobile communications devices, a level of peer to peer communications detected by the first mobile communications device, an amount of remaining battery power of the first mobile communications device, a number of other mobile communications devices that are operating as location anchor points, a change in a status of the first mobile communications device from motion to stationary, receipt of a request to continue operating as the temporary location anchor point, receipt of a command to continue operating as the temporary location anchor point, a change in a current location of the first mobile communication device, or time remaining in a time interval in which the first mobile communication device was to operate as the temporary anchor location point.

10. A first mobile communications device comprising:

means for transmitting, by the first mobile communications device, a peer discovery signal including a first predetermined bit, of a plurality of predetermined bits of a header of the peer discovery signal, designated for use in signaling a willingness to perform, by the first mobile communication device, a first device location determination related operation and a second predetermined bit, of the plurality of predetermined bits of the header of the peer discovery signal, designated for use in signaling a willingness to perform, by the first mobile communication device, a second device location determination related operation, said first predetermined bit being set to a first value when said first mobile communications device is willing to perform said first device location determination related operation and being set to a second value when said first mobile communications device is not willing to perform said first device location determination related operation;

means for monitoring, by the first mobile communications device, for a signal from a second mobile communications device, responsive to the peer discovery signal transmitted by the first mobile communication device and received by the second mobile communication device, corresponding to said first device location determination related operation;

means for receiving, by the first mobile communications device during the monitoring for the signal from the second mobile communications device, the signal from the second mobile communications device corresponding to the first device location determination related operation;

means for performing, by the first mobile communications device in response to the received signal, the first device location determination related operation; and

means for providing, by the first mobile communications device, information related to the performance of the first device location determination related operation to the second mobile communications device,

wherein said first device location determination related operation is a map parameter determination operation.

11. The first mobile communications device of claim 10, wherein the means for performing the first device location determination related operation comprises:

means for performing a signal measurement on the received signal; and

means for using said signal measurement in determining said map parameter.

12. The first mobile communications device of claim 10, wherein said signal from the second mobile communications device is a signal transmitted by said second mobile communications device in response to receipt of said transmitted peer discovery signal.

13. The first mobile communications device of claim 10, wherein the map parameter indicates one or more of a wall material, the presence of a crowd, and whether a door is open or closed.

14. The first mobile communications device of claim 10, further comprising means for causing the first mobile communications device to operate as a temporary location anchor point, and means for transmitting the peer discovery signal with a value of one of the plurality of the predetermined bits of the header of the peer discovery signal indicating the first mobile communication device is operating as the temporary location anchor point.

15. The first mobile communications device of claim 14, further comprising:

means for determining whether the first mobile communication device is to continue to operate as the temporary location anchor point based on one or more of;

a number of detected mobile communications devices, a level of peer to peer communications detected by the first mobile communications device, an amount of remaining battery power of the first mobile communications device, a number of other mobile communications devices that are operating as location anchor points, a change in a status of the first mobile communications device from motion to stationary, receipt of a request to continue operating as the temporary location anchor point, receipt of a command to continue operating as the temporary location anchor point, a change in a current location of the first mobile communication device, or time remaining in a time interval in which the first mobile communication device was to operate as the temporary anchor location point.

16. A computer program product for use in a first mobile communications device, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising;

code for causing the first mobile communications device to transmit a peer discovery signal including a first predetermined bit, of a plurality of predetermined bits of a header of the peer discovery signal, designated for use in signaling a willingness to perform, by the first mobile communication device, a first device location determination related operation and a second predetermined bit, of the plurality of predetermined bits of the header of the peer discovery signal, designated for use in signaling a willingness to perform, by the first mobile communication device, a second device location determination related operation, said first predetermined bit being set to a first value when said first mobile communications device is willing to perform said first device location determination related operation and being set to a second value when said first mobile communications device is not willing to perform said first device location determination related operation;

code for causing the first mobile communications device to monitor for a signal from a second mobile communications device, responsive to the peer discovery signal transmitted by the first mobile communication device and received by the second mobile communication device, corresponding to said first device location determination related operation;

code for causing the first mobile communications device to receive, during the monitoring for the signal from the second mobile communications device, the signal from the second mobile communications device corresponding to the first device location determination related operation;

code for causing the first mobile communications device to perform, in response to the received signal, the first device location determination related operation; and

code for causing the first mobile communications device to provide information related to the performance of the first device location determination related operation to the second mobile communications device,

wherein said first device location determination related operation is a map parameter determination operation.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the map parameter indicates one or more of a wall material, the presence of a crowd, and whether a door is open or closed.

19. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising code for causing the first mobile communications device to operate as a temporary location anchor point, and to transmit the peer discovery signal with a value of one of the plurality of the predetermined bits of the header of the peer discovery signal indicating the first mobile communication device is operating as the temporary location anchor point.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising:

code for determining whether the first mobile communication device is to continue to operate as the temporary location anchor point based on one or more of;

a number of detected mobile communications devices, a level of peer to peer communications detected by the first mobile communications device, an amount of remaining battery power of the first mobile communications device, a number of other mobile communications devices that are operating as location anchor points, a change in a status of the first mobile communications device from motion to stationary, receipt of a request to continue operating as the temporary location anchor point, receipt of a command to continue operating as the temporary location anchor point, a change in a current location of the first mobile communication device, or time remaining in a time interval in which the first mobile communication device was to operate as the temporary anchor location point.

18. A first mobile communications device comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

transmit, by the first mobile communications device, a peer discovery signal including a first predetermined bit, of a plurality of predetermined bits of a header of the peer discovery signal, designated for use in signaling a willingness to perform, by the first mobile communication device, a first device location determination related operation and a second predetermined bit, of the plurality of predetermined bits of the header of the peer discovery signal, designated for use in signaling a willingness to perform, by the first mobile communication device, a second device location determination related operation, said first predetermined bit being set to a first value when said first mobile communications device is willing to perform said first device location determination related operation and being set to a second value when said first mobile communications device is not willing to perform said first device location determination related operation;

monitor, by the first mobile communications device, for a signal from a second mobile communications device, responsive to the peer discovery signal transmitted by the first mobile communication device and received by the second mobile communication device, corresponding to said first device location determination related operation;

during the monitoring for the signal from the second mobile communications device, receive, by the first mobile communications device, the signal from the second mobile communications device corresponding to the first device location determination related operation;

in response to the received signal, perform, by the first mobile communications device, the first device location determination related operation; and

provide, by the first mobile communications device, information related to the performance of the first device location determination related operation to the second mobile communications device;

wherein said first device location determination related operation is a map parameter determination operation; and

memory coupled to said at least one processor.

21. The first mobile communications device of claim 18, wherein the map parameter indicates one or more of a wall material, the presence of a crowd, and whether a door is open or closed.

22. The first mobile communications device of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor configured to perform the first device location determination related operation comprises said at least one processor configured to:

perform a signal measurement on the received signal; and

use said signal measurement in determining said map parameter.

23. The first mobile communications device of claim 18, wherein said signal from the second mobile communications device is a signal transmitted by said second mobile communications device in response to receipt of said transmitted peer discovery signal.

24. The first mobile communications device of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause the first mobile communications device to operate as a location anchor point, and to transmit the peer discovery signal with a value of one of the plurality of the predetermined bits of the header of the peer discovery signal indicating the first mobile communication device is operating as the temporary location anchor point.

25. The first mobile communications device of claim 24, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine whether the first mobile communication device is to continue to operate as the temporary location anchor point based on one or more of;

a number of detected mobile communications devices, a level of peer to peer communications detected by the first mobile communications device, an amount of remaining battery power of the first mobile communications device, a number of other mobile communications devices that are operating as location anchor points, a change in a status of the first mobile communications device from motion to stationary, receipt of a request to continue operating as the temporary location anchor point, receipt of a command to continue operating as the temporary location anchor point, a change in a current location of the first mobile communication device, or time remaining in a time interval in which the first mobile communication device was to operate as the temporary anchor location point.