Controlling geographic location information of devices operating in wireless communication systems

• US 20040002814A1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Gogic, Aleksander M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,751,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/214
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/021 Calibration, monitoring or correction G01S5/0252 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are presented herein for controlling the degree of precision with which geographic information is reported to a requesting entity. A precise geographic location is used to determine an adjusted geographic location, which is then transmitted to the requesting entity rather than the precise geographic location.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling geographic location information of a target, comprising:

a memory element; and

a processing element configured to execute a set of instructions stored in the memory element, the set of instructions for;

determining a precise location of the target;

using the precise location to determine an adjusted location of the target; and

transmitting the adjusted location of the target to a requesting entity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of instructions are further for:

converting a measured latitude arc value of the precise location into a linear distance;

rounding the linear distance with a predetermined linear precision to an adjusted linear distance value; and

converting the adjusted linear distance value into an adjusted latitude arc value, wherein the adjusted latitude arc value is transmitted to the requesting entity.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the set of instructions are further for:

determining a measured longitude linear distance corresponding to the adjusted latitude arc value;

rounding the measured longitude linear distance within a second predetermined linear precision to an adjusted measured longitude linear distance; and

converting the adjusted measured longitude linear distance to an adjusted longitude arc value, wherein the adjusted longitude arc value is transmitted to the requesting entity.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the set of instructions are further for:

determining whether the precise location lies within a problematic territory; and

if the precise location lies within a problematic territory, then refraining from transmitting the adjusted location of the target to the requesting entity.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of instructions are further for using a lookup table to determine the adjusted location of the target corresponding to the precise location.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjusted location of the target is identified by a descriptive tag, wherein the descriptive tag is for transmission to the target or the requesting entity.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of instructions are further for timing the transmission of the adjusted location to the requesting entity according to a time interval.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of instructions are further for timing the transmission of the adjusted location to the requesting entity according to a distance interval from a previous precise location.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of instructions are further for timing the transmission of the adjusted location to the requesting entity to occur at a predetermined distance from a waypoint.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of instructions are further for timing the transmission of the adjusted location to occur at a violation of a speed threshold.

11. A method for controlling geographic location information of a target, comprising:

determining a precise location of the target;

using the precise location to determine an adjusted location of the target; and

transmitting the adjusted location of the target to a requesting entity.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

converting a measured latitude arc value of the precise location into a linear distance;

rounding the linear distance with a predetermined linear precision to an adjusted linear distance value; and

converting the adjusted linear distance value into an adjusted latitude arc value, wherein the adjusted latitude arc value is transmitted to the requesting entity.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining a measured longitude linear distance corresponding to the adjusted latitude arc value;

rounding the measured longitude linear distance within a second predetermined linear precision to an adjusted measured longitude linear distance; and

converting the adjusted measured longitude linear distance to an adjusted longitude arc value, wherein the adjusted longitude arc value is transmitted to the requesting entity.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining whether the precise location lies within a problematic territory; and

if the precise location lies within a problematic territory, then refraining from transmitting the adjusted location of the target to the requesting entity.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising using a lookup table to determine the adjusted location of the target corresponding to the precise location.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising identifying the adjusted location of the target by a descriptive tag, wherein the descriptive tag is for transmission to the target or the requesting entity.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising timing the transmission of the adjusted location to the requesting entity according to a time interval.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising timing the transmission of the adjusted location to the requesting entity according to a distance interval from a previous precise location.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising timing the transmission of the adjusted location to the requesting entity to occur at a predetermined distance from a waypoint.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising timing the transmission of the adjusted location to occur at a violation of a speed threshold.

21. A method for diluting precise location information of a target device, comprising:

converting a measured latitude arc value of the precise location into a linear distance;

rounding the linear distance with a predetermined linear precision to an adjusted linear distance value;

converting the adjusted linear distance value into an adjusted latitude arc value;

determining a measured longitude linear distance corresponding to the adjusted latitude arc value;

rounding the measured longitude linear distance within a second predetermined linear precision to an adjusted measured longitude linear distance;

converting the adjusted measured longitude linear distance to an adjusted longitude arc value; and

transmitting the adjusted latitude arc value and the adjusted longitude arc value to a requesting entity.

22. An apparatus for controlling location information of a target device, comprising:

means for ascertaining a precise location of the target device;

means for using the precise location to determine an adjusted location of the target; and

means for transmitting the adjusted location of the target to a requesting entity.

23. A method for selectively transmitting a target location to a requesting entity, comprising:

determining the target location;

determining a distance value associated with the target location; and

if the target location is a location that is greater than or equal to the distance value away from a previous location, then transmitting the target location to the requesting entity.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

if the target location is a location that is less than the distance value away from a previous location, then

determining a second distance value associated with the target location; and

if the target location is a location that is greater than or equal to the second distance value away from a waypoint, then transmitting the target location to the requesting entity.

25. A method for selectively transmitting a target location to a requesting entity, comprising:

determining the target location;

determining a distance value associated with the target location; and

if the target location is a location that is greater than or equal to the distance value away from a waypoint, then transmitting the target location to the requesting entity.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

if the target location is a location that is less than the distance value away from a waypoint, then

determining a second distance value associated with the target location; and

if the target location is a location that is greater than or equal to the second distance value away from a previous location, then transmitting the target location to the requesting entity

27. A method for selectively transmitting a target location to a requesting entity, comprising:

determining the target location;

determining a speed of the target;

determining a predetermined speed limit of the target in accordance with the target location; and

if the speed of the target exceeds the predetermined speed limit of the target, then transmitting the target location to the requesting entity.

28. A method for selectively transmitting a target location to a requesting entity, comprising:

determining the target location;

determining whether the target location is located in an area with peak capacity loads or in an area with off-peak capacity loads;

if the target location is located in an area with peak capacity loads, then transmitting the target location at a reduced rate; and

if the target location is located in an area with off-peak capacity loads, then transmitting the target location at a normal or an increased rate.

29. A method for determining when to transmit a target location to a requesting entity, comprising:

determining whether a first threshold value associated with a distance-based reporting scheme has been crossed;

determining whether a second threshold value associated with a waypoint-based reporting scheme has been crossed; and

if the first threshold value or the second threshold value has been crossed, then transmitting the target location to the requesting entity.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

determining whether a third threshold value associated with a proximity-based reporting scheme has been crossed; and

if the third threshold value is crossed, then transmitting the target location to the requesting entity.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

determining whether a fourth threshold value associated with a speed-based reporting scheme has been crossed; and

if the fourth threshold value is crossed, then transmitting the target location to the requesting entity.

32. An apparatus for determining when to transmit a target location to a requesting entity, comprising:

means for determining whether a first threshold value associated with a distance-based reporting scheme has been crossed;

means for determining whether a second threshold value associated with a waypoint-based reporting scheme has been crossed;

means for determining whether a third threshold value associated with a proximity-based reporting scheme has been crossed;

means for determining whether a fourth threshold value associated with a speed-based reporting scheme has been crossed; and

means for transmitting the target location to the requesting entity if the first threshold value, the second threshold value, the third threshold value, or the fourth threshold value has been crossed.