Generic positioning protocol

• US 9,832,612 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2016
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Edge, Stephen W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Application Number:
  US15/172,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20160286357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561, 4554562, 4554563, 4554041, 4554042, 4554565, 4554566
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/03 Cooperating elements; Interaction or communication between different cooperating elements or between cooperating elements and receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0018 Transmission from mobile station to base station
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

In an aspect, a generic positioning protocol (GPP) may be used to support satellite-based positioning methods and terrestrial-based positioning methods for different access types. A terminal may exchange a first GPP message with first information for a positioning method and an access type supported by GPP. The terminal may exchange a second GPP message with second information for the positioning method and the access type. Each GPP message may include at least one position element, and each position element may be for a specific positioning method. The terminal may obtain a position estimate for itself based on the second information. In another aspect, positioning may be performed based on measurements for cells of different wireless access types. In yet another aspect, received transmission times may be transformed to converted times based on common timing, which may be applicable for multiple wireless access types.

Claims

1. A method of performing positioning by a first entity, comprising:

exchanging with a second entity a first generic positioning protocol (GPP) message comprising first information for a first positioning method and a first wireless access type supported by a GPP, wherein the GPP supports multiple positioning methods and at least three access types;

exchanging with the second entity a second GPP message comprising second information for the first positioning method and the first wireless access type, wherein the first GPP message is exchanged in a first direction between the first entity and the second entity, and the second GPP message is exchanged in a second direction that is opposite the first direction between the first entity and the second entity; and

determining a position estimate for a terminal based on the second information, wherein one of the first entity and the second entity comprises the terminal and the other of the first entity and the second entity comprises a location server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the exchanging with the second entity the first GPP message and the exchanging with the second entity the second GPP message are performed based on a Control Plane solution, the first wireless access type being for Long Term Evolution (LTE), and wherein the terminal comprises a User Equipment (UE) and the location server comprises an Evolved Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the exchanging with the second entity the first GPP message and the exchanging with the second entity the second GPP message are performed based on a User Plane solution and wherein the terminal comprises a Secure User Plan Location (SUPL) Enabled Terminal (SET) and the location server comprises a Secure User Plan Location (SUPL) Location Platform (SLP) or a Home SLP (H-SLP).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless access type comprises one of Long Term Evolution (LTE), IEEE 802.11, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), IEEE 802.16.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first positioning method comprises one of:

assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS), assisted Global Navigation Satellite System (A-GNSS), observed time difference (OTD), Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA), Advanced Forward Link Trilateration (A-FLT), Enhanced Observed Time Difference (E-OTD), Enhanced Cell Identity (E-CID).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein A-GNSS comprises at least one of modernized GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS), Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), and European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first positioning method supports at least one of a terminal-assisted, terminal-based, and standalone mode.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the position estimate for the terminal comprises determining one of an initial coarse location, a hybrid position, and an accurate location for the terminal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first GPP message comprises a first version field, the first version field indicating a first version of GPP, and the second GPP message comprises a second version field, the second version field indicating a second version of GPP.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first version of GPP comprises a highest version of GPP supported by the first entity, and the second version of GPP comprises a version of GPP that is lower than the first version and that is a highest version of GPP supported by the second entity.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information comprises a Request for Assistance Data for the first positioning method and the second information comprises Assistance Data for the first positioning method.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information comprises a Request for Capabilities for the first positioning method and the second information comprises Capabilities for the first positioning method.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information comprises a Request for Location Information for the first positioning method and the second information comprises Location Information for the first positioning method.

14. An apparatus for performing positioning by a first entity, comprising:

at least one processor configured to exchange with a second entity a first generic positioning protocol (GPP) message comprising first information for a first positioning method and a first wireless access type supported by a GPP, wherein the GPP supports multiple positioning methods and at least three access types;

to exchange with the second entity a second GPP message comprising second information for the first positioning method and the first wireless access type, wherein the first GPP message is exchanged in a first direction between the first entity and the second entity, and the second GPP message is exchanged in a second direction that is opposite the first direction between the first entity and the second entity; and

to determine a position estimate for a terminal based on the second information, wherein one of the first entity and the second entity comprises the terminal and the other of the first entity and the second entity comprises a location server.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is configured to exchange with the second entity the first GPP message and to exchange with the second entity the second GPP message based on a Control Plane solution, the first wireless access type being for Long Term Evolution (LTE), and wherein the terminal comprises a User Equipment (UE) and the location server comprises an Evolved Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC).

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is configured to exchange with the second entity the first GPP message and exchange with the second entity the second GPP message based on a User Plane solution and wherein the terminal comprises a Secure User Plan Location (SUPL) Enabled Terminal (SET) and the location server comprises a Secure User Plan Location (SUPL) Location Platform (SLP) or a Home SLP (H-SLP).

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first wireless access type comprises one of Long Term Evolution (LTE), IEEE 802.11, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), IEEE 802.16.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first positioning method comprises one of:

assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS), assisted Global Navigation Satellite System (A-GNSS), observed time difference (OTD), Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA), Advanced Forward Link Trilateration (A-FLT), Enhanced Observed Time Difference (E-OTD), Enhanced Cell Identity (E-CID).

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein A-GNSS comprises at least one of modernized GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS), Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), and European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS).

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first positioning method supports at least one of a terminal-assisted, terminal-based, and standalone mode.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the position estimate for the terminal by being configured to determine one of an initial coarse location, a hybrid position, and an accurate location for the terminal.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first GPP message comprises a first version field, the first version field indicating a first version of GPP, and the second GPP message comprises a second version field, the second version field indicating a second version of GPP.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first version of GPP comprises a highest version of GPP supported by the first entity, and the second version of GPP comprises a version of GPP that is lower than the first version and that is a highest version of GPP supported by the second entity.

24. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first information comprises a Request for Assistance Data for the first positioning method and the second information comprises Assistance Data for the first positioning method.

25. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first information comprises a Request for Capabilities for the first positioning method and the second information comprises Capabilities for the first positioning method.

26. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first information comprises a Request for Location Information for the first positioning method and the second information comprises Location Information for the first positioning method.

27. An apparatus for performing positioning by a first entity, comprising:

means for exchanging with a second entity a first generic positioning protocol (GPP) message comprising first information for a first positioning method and a first wireless access type supported by a GPP, wherein the GPP supports multiple positioning methods and at least three access types;

means for exchanging with the second entity a second GPP message comprising second information for the first positioning method and the first wireless access type, wherein the first GPP message is exchanged in a first direction between the first entity and the second entity, and the second GPP message is exchanged in a second direction that is opposite the first direction between the first entity and the second entity; and

means for determining a position estimate for a terminal based on the second information, wherein one of the first entity and the second entity comprises the terminal and the other of the first entity and the second entity comprises a location server.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for exchanging with the second entity the first GPP message and the means for exchanging with the second entity the second GPP message are based on a Control Plane solution, wherein the first wireless access type being for Long Term Evolution (LTE), and the terminal comprises a User Equipment (UE) and the location server comprises an Evolved Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC);

or based on a User Plane solution, wherein the terminal comprises a Secure User Plan Location (SUPL) Enabled Terminal (SET) and the location server comprises a Secure User Plan Location (SUPL) Location Platform (SLP) or a Home SLP (H-SLP).

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first wireless access type comprises one of Long Term Evolution (LTE), IEEE 802.11, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), IEEE 802.16.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first positioning method comprises one of:

assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS), assisted Global Navigation Satellite System (A-GNSS), observed time difference (OTD), Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA), Advanced Forward Link Trilateration (A-FLT), Enhanced Observed Time Difference (E-OTD), Enhanced Cell Identity (E-CID), and wherein A-GNSS comprises at least one of modernized GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS), Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), and European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS).

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first positioning method supports at least one of a terminal-assisted, terminal-based, and standalone mode.

32. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first GPP message comprises a first version field, the first version field indicating a first version of GPP, and the second GPP message comprises a second version field, the second version field indicating a second version of GPP, wherein the first version of GPP comprises a highest version of GPP supported by the first entity, and the second version of GPP comprises a version of GPP that is lower than the first version and that is a highest version of GPP supported by the second entity.

33. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first information comprises one of a Request for Assistance Data for the first positioning method, a Request for Capabilities for the first positioning method, and a Request for Location Information for the first positioning method, and the second information comprises one of Assistance Data for the first positioning method, Capabilities for the first positioning method, and Location Information for the first positioning method.

34. A non-transitory computer readable medium for performing positioning by a first entity, comprising:

code for exchanging with a second entity a first generic positioning protocol (GPP) message comprising first information for a first positioning method and a first wireless access type supported by a GPP, wherein the GPP supports multiple positioning methods and at least three access types;

code for exchanging with the second entity a second GPP message comprising second information for the first positioning method and the first wireless access type, wherein the first GPP message is exchanged in a first direction between the first entity and the second entity, and the second GPP message is exchanged in a second direction that is opposite the first direction between the first entity and the second entity; and

code for determining a position estimate for a terminal based on the second information, wherein one of the first entity and the second entity comprises the terminal and the other of the first entity and the second entity comprises a location server.

35. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 34, wherein the code for exchanging with the second entity the first GPP message and the code for exchanging with the second entity the second GPP message are based on a Control Plane solution, the first wireless access type being for Long Term Evolution (LTE), and wherein the terminal comprises a User Equipment (UE) and the location server comprises an Evolved Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC);

or are based on a User Plane solution, wherein the terminal comprises a Secure User Plan Location (SUPL) Enabled Terminal (SET) and the location server comprises a Secure User Plan Location (SUPL) Location Platform (SLP) or a Home SLP (H-SLP).

36. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 34, wherein the first wireless access type comprises one of Long Term Evolution (LTE), IEEE 802.11, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), IEEE 802.16.

37. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 34, wherein the first positioning method comprises one of:

assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS), assisted Global Navigation Satellite System (A-GNSS), observed time difference (OTD), Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA), Advanced Forward Link Trilateration (A-FLT), Enhanced Observed Time Difference (E-OTD), Enhanced Cell Identity (E-CID), and wherein A-GNSS comprises at least one of modernized GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS), Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), and European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS).

38. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 34, wherein the first positioning method supports at least one of a terminal-assisted, terminal-based, and standalone mode.

39. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 34, wherein the first GPP message comprises a first version field, the first version field indicating a first version of GPP, and the second GPP message comprises a second version field, the second version field indicating a second version of GPP, wherein the first version of GPP comprises a highest version of GPP supported by the first entity, and the second version of GPP comprises a version of GPP that is lower than the first version and that is a highest version of GPP supported by the second entity.

40. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 34, wherein the first information comprises one of a Request for Assistance Data for the first positioning method, a Request for Capabilities for the first positioning method, and a Request for Location Information for the first positioning method, and the second information comprises one of Assistance Data for the first positioning method, Capabilities for the first positioning method, and Location Information for the first positioning method.