Methods and apparatuses for requesting/providing assistance data associated with various satellite positioning systems in wireless communication networks

• US 9,743,374 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2014
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Fischer, Sven, Lin, Ie-Hong, Burroughs, Kirk Allan, Marshall, Grant Alexander, Edge, Stephen William
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Dao
• Application Number:
  US14/308,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20140302871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 34235721, 34235742, 34235743, 34235764, 701468, 701470, 4554561
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/03 Cooperating elements; Interaction or communication between different cooperating elements or between cooperating elements and receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Systems and methods for requesting and providing assistance data for a satellite positioning system are described herein. A method as described herein includes receiving, at a base station over a wireless communication link, a first message from a mobile station, wherein the first message comprises a first field identifying requested assistance data associated with a first Satellite Positioning System (SPS) and a second field identifying a requested format of the requested assistance data, and wherein the requested assistance data are available in a plurality of formats that includes the requested format; and transmitting a second message from the base station to the mobile station over the wireless communication link, wherein the second message includes the requested assistance data in the requested format.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a base station over a wireless communication link, a first message from a mobile station, wherein the first message comprises a first field identifying a particular requested assistance data associated with a first Satellite Positioning System (SPS) and a second field identifying a particular requested format of the requested assistance data, and wherein the particular requested assistance data are available in a plurality of formats that includes the particular requested format, with each of the plurality of formats including one of;

a native format, or a non-native format; and

transmitting a second message from the base station to the mobile station over the wireless communication link, wherein the second message includes the particular requested assistance data in the particular requested format.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message is associated with only the first SPS.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message is configured to be selectively associable, based on a value in a third field of the first message, with one of a plurality of SPSs that includes the first SPS.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first SPS comprises at least one Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) selected from the group consisting of Galileo, GLONASS, Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS), Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), and Global Positioning System (GPS).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular requested assistance data comprise at least one of ephemeris data, almanac data, model data, timing data, or health data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular requested format of the requested assistance data comprises the native format or the non-native format.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving, at the base station from the first SPS, the particular requested assistance data in the native format.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a request message from the base station to the mobile station over the wireless communication link, wherein the request message comprises assistance data in a format distinct from the particular requested format; and

receiving, at the base station, the first message from the mobile station in response to the request message.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the request message is compliant with at least a Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) IS-801-B communications standard or a Third-Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) communications standard.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first message is a response message that is compliant with at least a Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) IS-801-B communications standard or a Third-Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) communications standard.

11. A wireless communications apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a first message from a mobile station over a wireless communication link, wherein the first message comprises a first field identifying a particular requested assistance data associated with a first Satellite Positioning System (SPS) and a second field identifying a particular requested format of the requested assistance data, and wherein the particular requested assistance data are available in a plurality of formats that includes the particular requested format, with each of the plurality of formats including one of;

a native format, or a non-native format; and

means for transmitting a second message to the mobile station over the wireless communication link, wherein the second message includes the particular requested assistance data in the particular requested format.

12. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first message is associated with only the first SPS.

13. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first message is configured to be selectively associable, based on a value in a third field of the first message, with one of a plurality of SPSs that includes the first SPS.

14. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first SPS comprises at least one Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) selected from the group consisting of Galileo, GLONASS, Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS), Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), and Global Positioning System (GPS).

15. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 11, wherein the particular requested assistance data comprise at least one of ephemeris data, almanac data, model data, timing data, or health data.

16. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 11, wherein the particular requested format of the requested assistance data comprises the native format or the non-native format.

17. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16, further comprising means for receiving the particular requested assistance data from the first SPS in the native format.

18. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

means for transmitting a request message to the mobile station over the wireless communication link, wherein the request message comprises assistance data in a format distinct from the particular requested format; and

means for receiving the first message from the mobile station in response to the request message.

19. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 18, wherein the request message is compliant with at least a Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) IS-801-B communications standard or a Third-Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) communications standard.

20. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first message is a response message that is compliant with at least a Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) IS-801-B communications standard or a Third-Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) communications standard.

21. An apparatus operable in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver configured to transmit and receive wireless signals;

a memory storing instructions; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory and configured to execute the instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to;

access a first message received by the transceiver from a mobile station over a wireless communication link, wherein the first message comprises a first field identifying a particular requested assistance data associated with a first Satellite Positioning System (SPS) and a second field identifying a particular requested format of the particular requested assistance data, and wherein the particular requested assistance data are available in a plurality of formats that includes the particular requested format, with each of the plurality of formats including one of;

a native format, or a non-native format; and

initiate transmission of a second message to the mobile station over the wireless communication link via the transceiver, wherein the second message includes the particular requested assistance data in the particular requested format.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first message is associated with only the first SPS.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first message is configured to be selectively associable, based on a value in a third field of the first message, with one of a plurality of SPSs that includes the first SPS.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first SPS comprises at least one Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) selected from the group consisting of Galileo, GLONASS, Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS), Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), and Global Positioning System (GPS).

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the particular requested assistance data comprise at least one of ephemeris data, almanac data, model data, timing data, or health data.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the particular requested format of the requested assistance data comprises the native format or the non-native format.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising an SPS receiver communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to receive SPS signals, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to access at least one SPS signal received by the SPS receiver from the first SPS, the at least one SPS signal comprising the particular requested assistance data in the native format.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein:

the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to initiate transmission of a request message to the mobile station over the wireless communication link via the transceiver;

the request message comprises assistance data in a format distinct from the particular requested format; and

the first message is transmitted from the mobile station in response to the request message.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the request message is compliant with at least a Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) IS-801-B communications standard or a Third-Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) communications standard.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the first message is a response message that is compliant with at least a Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) IS-801-B communications standard or a Third-Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) communications standard.

31. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

access a first message received over a wireless communication link from a mobile station, wherein the first message comprises a first field identifying a particular requested assistance data associated with a first Satellite Positioning System (SPS) and a second field identifying a particular requested format of the requested assistance data, and wherein the particular requested assistance data are available in a plurality of formats that includes the particular requested format, with each of the plurality of formats including one of;

a native format, or a non-native format;

generate a second message in response to the first message, wherein the second message comprises the particular requested assistance data in the particular requested format; and

initiate transmission of the second message over the wireless communication link to the mobile station.

32. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the first message is associated with only the first SPS.

33. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the first message is configured to be selectively associable, based on a value in a third field of the first message, with one of a plurality of SPSs that includes the first SPS.

34. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the first SPS comprises at least one Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) selected from the group consisting of Galileo, GLONASS, Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS), Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), and Global Positioning System (GPS).

35. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the particular requested assistance data comprise at least one of ephemeris data, almanac data, model data, timing data, or health data.

36. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the particular requested format of the requested assistance data comprises the native format or the non-native format.

37. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to access at least one SPS signal received from the first SPS, the at least one SPS signal comprising the particular requested assistance data in the native format.

38. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein:

the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to initiate transmission of a request message to the mobile station over the wireless communication link;

the request message comprises assistance data in a format distinct from the particular requested format; and

the first message is transmitted from the mobile station in response to the request message.

39. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 38, wherein the request message is compliant with at least a Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) IS-801-B communications standard or a Third-Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) communications standard.

40. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 38, wherein the first message is a response message that is compliant with at least a Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) IS-801-B communications standard or a Third-Generation Partnership Project 2(3GPP2) communications standard.

41. A method comprising:

receiving, at a base station over a wireless communication link, a first message from a mobile station, wherein the first message comprises a first field identifying requested assistance data associated with a first Satellite Positioning System (SPS) and a second field identifying a requested format of the requested assistance data, wherein the requested assistance data are available in a plurality of formats that includes the requested format, and wherein the first message is configured to be selectively associable, based on a value in a third field of the first message, with one of a plurality of SPSs that includes the first SPS; and

transmitting a second message from the base station to the mobile station over the wireless communication link, wherein the second message includes the requested assistance data in the requested format.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the first SPS comprises at least one Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) selected from the group consisting of Galileo, GLONASS, Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS), Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), and Global Positioning System (GPS).

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the requested assistance data comprise at least one of ephemeris data, almanac data, model data, timing data, or health data.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the requested format of the requested assistance data comprises a native format or a non-native format.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising receiving, at the base station from the first SPS, the requested assistance data in the native format.

46. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

transmitting a request message from the base station to the mobile station over the wireless communication link, wherein the request message comprises assistance data in a format distinct from the requested format; and

receiving, at the base station, the first message from the mobile station in response to the request message.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the request message is compliant with at least a Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) IS-801-B communications standard or a Third-Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) communications standard.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the first message is a response message that is compliant with at least a Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) IS-801-B communications standard or a Third-Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) communications standard.

49. A wireless communications apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a first message from a mobile station over a wireless communication link, wherein the first message comprises a first field identifying requested assistance data associated with a first Satellite Positioning System (SPS) and a second field identifying a requested format of the requested assistance data, wherein the requested assistance data are available in a plurality of formats that includes the requested format, and wherein the first message is configured to be selectively associable, based on a value in a third field of the first message, with one of a plurality of SPSs that includes the first SPS; and

means for transmitting a second message to the mobile station over the wireless communication link, wherein the second message includes the requested assistance data in the requested format.

50. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 49, wherein the first SPS comprises at least one Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) selected from the group consisting of Galileo, GLONASS, Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS), Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), and Global Positioning System (GPS).

51. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 49, wherein the requested format of the requested assistance data comprises a native format or a non-native format.

52. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 51, further comprising means for receiving the requested assistance data from the first SPS in the native format.

53. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 51, further comprising:

means for transmitting a request message to the mobile station over the wireless communication link, wherein the request message comprises assistance data in a format distinct from the requested format; and

means for receiving the first message from the mobile station in response to the request message.

54. An apparatus operable in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver configured to transmit and receive wireless signals;

a memory storing instructions; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory and configured to execute the instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to;

access a first message received by the transceiver from a mobile station over a wireless communication link, wherein the first message comprises a first field identifying requested assistance data associated with a first Satellite Positioning System (SPS) and a second field identifying a requested format of the requested assistance data, wherein the requested assistance data are available in a plurality of formats that includes the requested format, and wherein the first message is configured to be selectively associable, based on a value in a third field of the first message, with one of a plurality of SPSs that includes the first SPS; and

initiate transmission of a second message to the mobile station over the wireless communication link via the transceiver, wherein the second message includes the requested assistance data in the requested format.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the first SPS comprises at least one Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) selected from the group consisting of Galileo, GLONASS, Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS), Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), and Global Positioning System (GPS).

56. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the requested format of the requested assistance data comprises a native format or a non-native format.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, further comprising an SPS receiver communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to receive SPS signals, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to access at least one SPS signal received by the SPS receiver from the first SPS, the at least one SPS signal comprising the requested assistance data in the native format.

58. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein:

the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to initiate transmission of a request message to the mobile station over the wireless communication link via the transceiver;

the request message comprises assistance data in a format distinct from the requested format; and

the first message is transmitted from the mobile station in response to the request message.

59. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

access a first message received over a wireless communication link from a mobile station, wherein the first message comprises a first field identifying requested assistance data associated with a first Satellite Positioning System (SPS) and a second field identifying a requested format of the requested assistance data, wherein the requested assistance data are available in a plurality of formats that includes the requested format, and wherein the first message is configured to be selectively associable, based on a value in a third field of the first message, with one of a plurality of SPSs that includes the first SPS;

generate a second message in response to the first message, wherein the second message comprises the requested assistance data in the requested format; and

initiate transmission of the second message over the wireless communication link to the mobile station.

60. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 59, wherein the first SPS comprises at least one Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) selected from the group consisting of Galileo, GLONASS, Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS), Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), and Global Positioning System (GPS).

61. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 59, wherein the requested format of the requested assistance data comprises a native format or a non-native format.

62. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 61, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to access at least one SPS signal received from the first SPS, the at least one SPS signal comprising the requested assistance data in the native format.

63. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 59, wherein:

the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to initiate transmission of a request message to the mobile station over the wireless communication link;

the request message comprises assistance data in a format distinct from the requested format; and

the first message is transmitted from the mobile station in response to the request message.