Broadcast-based positioning for device-to-device proximity services

• US 9,638,783 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2013
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Hampel, Georg Karl, Park, Vincent D., Wang, Jin-Der, Li, Junyi
• Primary Examiner(s): Liu, Harry
• Application Number:
  US14/105,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20150168532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 342450
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/02 using radio waves G01S19/00 takes precedence
• 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 76/14 Direct-mode setup

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are described for peer-to-peer or device-to-device location services. Mobile devices with a known location (referred to as landmarks) may broadcast their location information and/or a reference signal for other mobile devices (referred to as targets). Landmarks may determine their location through GPS or other location determining means. Targets may have limited or no connection to location determining services, and they may use broadcast information from landmarks, without a request, to determine the targets'"'"' location. The targets may determine absolute and/or relative locations. Once a target device determines its location it may assume a role of a landmark to provide broadcast location information to other devices.

Claims

1. A method of communicating within a wireless communications network, the method comprising:

receiving, at a user equipment (UE), a broadcast comprising a reference signal from each of a plurality of mobile landmark devices;

identifying location information from each of the plurality of mobile landmark devices; and

determining a location of the UE based at least in part on the plurality of received reference signals and the plurality of location information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring times of arrival for at least two of the plurality of received reference signals.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the location of the UE comprises:

calculating a time difference of arrival based on the at least two measured times of arrival; and

determining the location of the UE based at least in part on the calculated time difference of arrival and the plurality of location information.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the location of the UE comprises performing multilateration based at least in part on the at least two measured times of arrival and the identified location information for each of the plurality of mobile landmark devices.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

broadcasting an outbound reference signal and information relating to location based at least in part on the determined location of the UE.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the broadcasting occurs over an air interface.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

synchronizing an internal clock based at least in part on the received plurality of reference signals or the plurality of identified location information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of mobile landmark devices is in an operation mode.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of mobile landmark devices comprises a battery to supply power for operation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of mobile landmark devices is attached to an air interface.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined location of the UE is an absolute location.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of received reference signals comprises a time of transmission.

13. A system for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving, at a user equipment (UE), a broadcast comprising a reference signal from each of a plurality of mobile landmark devices;

means for identifying location information from each of the plurality of mobile landmark devices; and

means for determining a location of the UE based at least in part on the plurality of received reference signals and the plurality of location information.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

means for measuring times of arrival for at least two of the plurality of received reference signals.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for determining the location of the UE comprises:

means for calculating a time difference of arrival based on the at least two measured times of arrival; and

means for determining the location of the UE based at least in part on the calculated time difference of arrival and the plurality of location information.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for determining the location of the UE comprises means for performing multilateration based at least in part on the at least two measured times of arrival and the identified location information for each of the plurality of mobile landmark devices.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

means for broadcasting an outbound reference signal and information relating to location based at least in part on the determined location of the UE.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

means for synchronizing an internal clock based at least in part on the received plurality of reference signals or the plurality of identified location information.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of mobile landmark devices is in an operation mode.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the determined location of the UE is an absolute location.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of received reference signals comprises a time of transmission.

22. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a processor;

a memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

receive, at a user equipment (UE), a broadcast comprising a reference signal from each of a plurality of mobile landmark devices;

identify location information from each of the plurality of mobile landmark devices; and

determine a location of the UE based at least in part on the plurality of received reference signals and the plurality of location information.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

measure times of arrival for at least two of the plurality of received reference signals.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the instructions to determine the location of the UE are executable by the processor to:

calculate a time difference of arrival based on the at least two measured times of arrival; and

determine the location of the UE based at least in part on the calculated time difference of arrival and the plurality of location information.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

broadcast an outbound reference signal and information relating to location based at least in part on the determined location of the UE.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

synchronize an internal clock based at least in part on the received plurality of reference signals or the plurality of identified location information.

27. A computer program product for wireless communication, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer readable medium storing instructions thereon, the instructions being executable by a processor to:

receive, at a user equipment (UE), a broadcast comprising a reference signal from each of a plurality of mobile landmark devices;

identify location information from each of the plurality of mobile landmark devices; and

determine a location of the UE based at least in part on the plurality of received reference signals and the plurality of location information.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the instructions to determine the location of the UE are executable by the processor to:

measure times of arrival for at least two of the plurality of received reference signals;

calculate a time difference of arrival based on the at least two measured times of arrival; and

determine the location of the UE based at least in part on the calculated time difference of arrival and the plurality of location information.

29. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

broadcast an outbound reference signal and information relating to location based at least in part on the determined location of the UE.

30. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

synchronize an internal clock based at least in part on the received plurality of reference signals or the plurality of identified location information.