Local area network assisted positioning
First Claim
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1. A method for assisting in locating a position of a mobile wireless device, the method comprising:
- obtaining an approximate location of the mobile wireless device, the approximate location comprising identifiers for a plurality of base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device, the plurality of base stations comprising at least one cooperative terrestrial base station that can communicate with the mobile wireless device in at least one mode and at least one uncooperative WiFi terrestrial base station capable of bi-directional communications and configured to prevent data and voice communications with the mobile wireless device;
generating an almanac of base stations, for use on the mobile wireless device, based at least in part on the identifiers for the plurality of base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device, the almanac of base stations comprising at least some of the identifiers for the plurality of base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device and locations of the plurality of base stations visible from the mobile wireless device that correspond to the at least some of the identifiers for the plurality of base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device, wherein generating the almanac of base stations includes selecting uncooperative terrestrial base stations that are configured to acknowledge a message received from the mobile wireless device; and
providing the almanac of base stations to the mobile wireless device, wherein the almanac of base stations further comprises identifiers for and locations of additional base stations that are within communication range of the mobile wireless device.
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Abstract
A system and method of locating a position of a wireless device in range of one or more base stations. Three signals are received that each contain a unique identifier for a base station. An estimate of the distance between the wireless device and each base station is performed. Previously determined locations for each base station are referenced. At least one of the three base stations is capable of communication to remote locations and unavailable to the wireless device for communication to remote locations.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for assisting in locating a position of a mobile wireless device, the method comprising:
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obtaining an approximate location of the mobile wireless device, the approximate location comprising identifiers for a plurality of base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device, the plurality of base stations comprising at least one cooperative terrestrial base station that can communicate with the mobile wireless device in at least one mode and at least one uncooperative WiFi terrestrial base station capable of bi-directional communications and configured to prevent data and voice communications with the mobile wireless device; generating an almanac of base stations, for use on the mobile wireless device, based at least in part on the identifiers for the plurality of base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device, the almanac of base stations comprising at least some of the identifiers for the plurality of base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device and locations of the plurality of base stations visible from the mobile wireless device that correspond to the at least some of the identifiers for the plurality of base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device, wherein generating the almanac of base stations includes selecting uncooperative terrestrial base stations that are configured to acknowledge a message received from the mobile wireless device; and providing the almanac of base stations to the mobile wireless device, wherein the almanac of base stations further comprises identifiers for and locations of additional base stations that are within communication range of the mobile wireless device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for assisting in locating a position of a mobile wireless device, the system comprising:
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means for obtaining an approximate location of the mobile wireless device, the indication of the approximate location comprising identifiers for a plurality of base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device, the plurality of base stations comprising at least one cooperative terrestrial base station that can communicate with the mobile wireless device in at least one mode and at least one uncooperative WiFi terrestrial base station capable of bi-directional communications and configured to prevent data and voice communications with the mobile wireless device; means for generating an almanac of base stations, for use on the mobile wireless device, based at least in part on the identifiers for the plurality of base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device, the almanac of base stations comprising at least some of the identifiers for the plurality of base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device and locations of the plurality of base stations visible from the mobile wireless device that correspond to the at least some of the identifiers for the plurality of base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device, wherein generating the almanac of base stations includes selecting uncooperative terrestrial base stations that are configured to acknowledge a message received from the mobile wireless device; and means for providing the almanac of base stations to the mobile wireless device, wherein the almanac of base stations further comprises identifiers for and locations of additional base stations that are within communication range of the mobile wireless device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer system comprising:
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a network interface; and a processor configured to; obtain an indication of an approximate location of a mobile wireless device, the approximate location comprising identifiers for a plurality of base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device, the plurality of base stations comprising at least one cooperative terrestrial base station that can communicate with the mobile wireless device in at least one mode and at least one uncooperative WiFi terrestrial base station capable of bi-directional communications and configured to prevent data and voice communications with the mobile wireless device; generate an almanac of base stations, for use on the mobile wireless device, based at least in part on the identifiers for the plurality of base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device, the almanac of base stations comprising at least some of the identifiers for the plurality of base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device and locations of the plurality of base stations visible from the mobile wireless device that correspond to the at least some of the identifiers for the plurality of base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device, wherein the processor configured to generate the almanac of base stations is further configured to select uncooperative terrestrial base stations that are configured to acknowledge a message received from the mobile wireless device; and provide the almanac of base stations to the mobile wireless device, wherein the almanac of base stations further comprises identifiers for and locations of additional base stations that are within communication range of the mobile wireless device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, having stored thereon computer-readable instructions for assisting in locating a position of a mobile wireless device, comprising instructions configured to cause a computer to:
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obtain an approximate location of the mobile wireless device, the approximate location comprising identifiers for a plurality of base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device, the plurality of base stations comprising at least one cooperative terrestrial base station that can communicate with the mobile wireless device in at least one mode and at least one uncooperative WiFi terrestrial base station capable of bi-directional communications and configured to prevent data and voice communications with the mobile wireless device, wherein the instructions configured to cause the computer to generate the almanac of base stations further comprise instructions configured to cause the computer to select uncooperative terrestrial base stations that are configured to acknowledge a message received from the mobile wireless device; generate an almanac of base stations, for use on the mobile wireless device, based at least in part on the identifiers for the plurality of base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device, the almanac of base stations comprising at least some of the identifiers for the plurality of base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device and locations of the plurality of base stations visible from the mobile wireless device that correspond to the at least some of the identifiers for the plurality of base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device; and provide the almanac of base stations to the mobile wireless device, wherein the almanac of base stations comprises identifiers for and locations of additional base stations that are within communication range of the mobile wireless device. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification