Transmitting positioning packets

• US 9,918,237 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2011
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Provenance Asset Group LLC
• Inventors: Ruutu, Jussi, Oksanen, Markku Anttoni, Ranki, Ville Valtteri, Kainulainen, Antti Paavo Tapani, Belloni, Fabio
• Primary Examiner(s): Hanidu, Ganiyu A
• Application Number:
  US14/240,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20140206411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,381 Days
• Field of Search: 455522, 455126, 4551861, 455101, 455 677, 4554561
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/021 Calibration, monitoring or correction G01S5/0252 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/27 for locating or positioning the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 Power depending on the position of the mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/286 during data packet transmission, e.g. high speed packet access [HSPA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Apparatus comprises means for monitoring at least one criterion for an adjustment of a transmit power of a positioning packet by a mobile apparatus, the positioning packet enabling a determination of a position of the mobile apparatus to be made; and means for, when it is detected that the at least one criterion is met, causing an adjustment of the transmit power of positioning packets at the mobile apparatus.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

monitoring at least one criterion for an adjustment of a transmit power of a positioning packet transmitted by a location tag at a mobile apparatus, wherein the positioning packet is for use by a positioning service to calculate a position of the mobile apparatus; and

when it is detected that the at least one criterion is met, causing an adjustment of the transmit power specifically of positioning packets transmitted by the location tag at the mobile apparatus.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring is performed at least by the mobile apparatus in predetermined time intervals.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one criterion relates to receipt, by the mobile apparatus, of a re-configuration message from a stationary apparatus.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined time intervals are predetermined periods following each positioning packet transmission.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring is performed at least at a stationary apparatus, and wherein causing an adjustment of the transmit power comprises causing, by the stationary apparatus, a transmission of a configuration message to the mobile apparatus.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the mobile apparatus starting a timer in response to receiving a reconfiguration message and increasing a transmit power upon expiry of the timer.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the criterion is monitored by a stationary apparatus and relates to at least one of:

a position of the mobile apparatus;

a dynamic status of the mobile apparatus;

a current time of day;

information received, at the stationary apparatus, from the mobile apparatus;

a current battery status of the mobile apparatus;

or

a quality of transmissions received from the mobile apparatus.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the criterion monitored by the stationary apparatus relates to at least one of:

time of day;

a load placed on processing resources of the stationary apparatus;

utilization of data transmission resources;

or

a number of mobile apparatuses from which positioning packets are received.

9. The method according to claim 3 wherein the re-configuration message indicates at least one of:

a transmit power for the location tag at the mobile apparatus;

a range of transmit powers for the location tag at the mobile apparatus;

a change in a transmit power currently used by the location tag at the mobile apparatus;

or

rules or policies for adjusting the transmit power by the location tag at the mobile apparatus.

10. The method according to claim 3 further comprising transmitting, by the mobile apparatus, one or more of:

a confirmation of adjustment of transmit power;

a report of failure of an adjustment of transmit power;

an indication of an adjusted transmit power;

an energy status of a battery of the mobile apparatus;

supported transmit power levels;

an indication of a dynamic state of the mobile apparatus;

or

an indication of a mode of operation of the mobile apparatus.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a control circuit implemented in hardware or at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code

to monitor at least one criterion for an adjustment of a transmit power of a positioning packet transmitted by a location tag at a mobile apparatus, wherein the positioning packet is for use by a positioning service to calculate a position of the mobile apparatus; and

a circuit implemented in hardware or at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code for, when it is detected that the at least one criterion is met, causing an adjustment of the transmit power specifically of positioning packets transmitted by the location tag at the mobile apparatus.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the monitoring is provided at least by the mobile apparatus.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least one criterion relates to receipt, by the mobile apparatus, of a re-configuration message from a stationary apparatus.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the mobile apparatus comprises a circuit implemented in hardware or at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code for monitoring the at least one criterion in predetermined time intervals.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined time intervals are predetermined periods following each positioning packet transmission.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control circuit implemented in hardware or the at least one processor and the at least one memory including computer program code to monitor the at least one criterion is provided at least at a stationary apparatus, and wherein the circuit implemented in hardware or the at least one processor and the at least one memory including computer program code for causing an adjustment of the transmit power comprises circuitry implemented in hardware or at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code to cause, by the stationary apparatus, a transmission of a re-configuration message to the mobile apparatus.

17. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the mobile apparatus comprises a circuit implemented in hardware or at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code to start a timer in response to a received re-configuration message, and further comprises a circuit implemented in hardware or at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code to change a transmit power upon expiry of the timer.

18. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the criterion is monitored by a stationary apparatus and relates to at least one of:

a position of the mobile apparatus;

a dynamic status of the mobile apparatus;

a current time of day;

information received, at the stationary apparatus, from the mobile apparatus;

a current battery status of the mobile apparatus;

or

a quality of transmissions received from the mobile apparatus.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the criterion monitored by the stationary apparatus relates to at least one of:

time of day;

a load placed on processing resources of the stationary apparatus;

utilization of data transmission resources;

or

a number of mobile apparatuses from which positioning packets are received.

20. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the re-configuration message indicates at least one of:

a transmit power for the location tag at the mobile apparatus;

a range of transmit powers for the location tag at the mobile apparatus;

a change in a transmit power currently used by the location tag at the mobile apparatus;

or

rules or policies for adjusting the transmit power by the location tag at the mobile apparatus.

21. The apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a circuit implemented in hardware or at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code to transmit, by the mobile apparatus, one or more of:

a confirmation of adjustment of transmit power;

a report of failure of an adjustment of transmit power;

an indication of an adjusted transmit power;

an energy status of a battery of the mobile apparatus;

supported transmit power levels;

an indication of a dynamic state of the mobile apparatus;

or

an indication of a mode of operation of the mobile apparatus.

22. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer program code that when executed by a processor causes an apparatus to perform at least the following:

monitoring at least one criterion for an adjustment of a transmit power of a positioning packet transmitted by a location tag at a mobile apparatus, wherein the positioning packet is for use by a positioning service to calculate a position of the mobile apparatus; and

when it is detected that the at least one criterion is met, causing an adjustment of the transmit power specifically of positioning packets transmitted by the location tag at the mobile apparatus.