Method and system for position updating using cached radio signal range

• US 9,712,976 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2015
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Jia, Zhike, Liu, BoChih, Yu, Jing, Chen, Jian
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Mong-Thuy
• Application Number:
  US14/709,991
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4565, 455443, 455 6711
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Systems and methods for position updating for a mobile device are disclosed. A mobile device receives a first position data at a first time and queries for network information associated with a serving cell of a cellular network. The network information contains a radio signal level associated with the serving cell of the cellular network. The mobile device compares the radio signal level against a previously stored radio signal range received from a network server and determines a position updating opportunity for the mobile device based on the comparison. The network server assists the position updating process by acquiring, positioning data from a plurality of mobile devices operating in the cellular network. The network server determines a QoP information based on the acquired positioning data and transmits the QoP information to the plurality of mobile devices to be stored for position update.

Claims

1. A method for position updating for a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving, with the mobile device, first position data corresponding to a location of the mobile device at a first time;

querying, using the mobile device, for network information associated with a serving cell, wherein the network information contains a radio signal level associated with the serving cell;

comparing the radio signal level against a previously stored radio signal range received from a network server;

determining whether the radio signal level is within the previously stored radio signal range; and

refraining from requesting position update using the mobile device in response to determining that the radio signal level is within the previously stored radio signal range.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the radio signal level is not within the previously stored radio signal range, requesting position update with the mobile device in order to receive second position data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first position data and the second position data are received in response to a request to the network server.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating a dwell time based on the first time and a timestamp of detecting the serving cell; and

in response to determining that the dwell time exceeds a predetermined timing threshold, receiving, with the mobile device, second position data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the previously stored radio signal range is calculated at the network server and temporarily stored on the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the querying for the network information further comprises scanning radio signal data broadcast from a cell tower located within the serving cell.

7. A method for assisting position update for mobile devices, the method comprising:

acquiring, with a network server, positioning data from a plurality of mobile devices operating in a cellular network, the positioning data corresponding to locations of the plurality of mobile devices;

determining a Quality-of-Position (QoP) information based on the acquired positioning data;

transmitting, from the network server, the QoP information to the plurality of mobile devices to be compared against a plurality of radio signal levels associated with the plurality of mobile devices; and

receiving, from the plurality of mobile devices, requests for position update based on the transmitted QoP information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the QoP information includes radio signal range data.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the acquired positioning data comprises position data received from a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and network information stored on the plurality of mobile devices, and wherein the QoP information is determined, at the network server, by statistically analyzing the acquired positioning data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the transmitting occurs in response to determining that the mobile device does not support GNSS functionality or that the mobile device'"'"'s GNSS functionality is inaccessible.

11. A mobile device capable of updating position, the mobile device comprising:

input/output circuitry configured to;

receive first position data corresponding to a location of the mobile device at a first time; and

query for network information associated with a serving cell, wherein the network information contains a radio signal level associated with the serving cell; and

control circuitry configured to;

compare the radio signal level against a previously stored radio signal range received from a network server;

determine whether the radio signal level is within the previously stored radio signal range; and

refrain from requesting position update using the mobile device in response to determining that the radio signal level is within the previously stored radio signal range.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

in response to determining that the radio signal level is not within the previously stored radio signal range, request position update with the mobile device in order to receive second position data.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the first position data and the second position data are received by the input/output circuitry in response to a request to the network server.

14. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

calculate a dwell time based on the first time and a timestamp of detecting the serving cell; and

receive second position data in response to determining that the dwell time exceeds a predetermined timing threshold.

15. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the previously stored radio signal range is calculated at the network server and temporarily stored on the mobile device.

16. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the input/output circuitry is further configured to query for the network information by scanning radio signal data broadcast from a cell tower located within the serving cell.

17. A system for assisting position update for mobile devices, the system comprising:

a position database to store positioning data corresponding to locations of a plurality of mobile devices operating in a cellular network;

a data engine server configured to acquire the positioning data from the plurality of mobile devices; and

a position engine server configured to;

determine a Quality-of-Position (QoP) information based on the acquired positioning data;

transmit the QoP information to the plurality of mobile devices to be compared against a plurality of radio signal levels associated with the plurality of mobile devices; and

receive, from the plurality of mobile devices, requests for position update based on the transmitted QoP information.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the QoP information includes radio signal range data.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the acquired data comprises positioning data received from a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and network information stored on the plurality of mobile devices, and wherein the QoP information is determined by statistically analyzing the acquired positioning data.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the position engine server is further configured to transmit the QoP information in response to determining that the mobile device does not support GNSS functionality or that the mobile device'"'"'s GNSS functionality is inaccessible.