System of utilizing cell information to locate a wireless device

• US 20040180670A1
• Filed: 03/09/2004
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CSR Technology Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SIRF Technology Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Garin, Lionel Jacques, Pande, Ashutosh
• Granted Patent: US 7,672,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/06 employing an initial estimate of the location of the receiver as aiding data or in generating aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/252 Employing an initial estimate of location in generating assistance data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/256 relating to timing, e.g. time of week, code phase, timing offset
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02521 using a radio-map
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A system is described that utilizes the measured characteristics of a cell site or a plurality of cell sites (100, 102, 104) and the cellular identification to selectively provide a wireless device (118) with location aiding from a cellular network server (120). The system may include a basestation (106, 108, 110) located within the cell site, a cellular measurement unit located in the wireless device (118), and a database (214) containing positional assistance information corresponding to the characteristic information. The system may also include a processing unit in signal communication with the basestation and the database (214) and a positional determination unit in the wireless device (118).

Claims

1. A method for determining the approximate position of a wireless device, located within a cell of a cellular telephone network, utilizing a satellite position system, the method comprising:

transmitting to the wireless device a cellular identification of the cell;

receiving characteristic information of the cell from the wireless device;

obtaining positional assistance information from a database, the positional assistance information corresponding to the received characteristic information; and

transmitting the positional assistance information to the wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

receiving assisted positional information from the wireless device; and

updating the positional assistance information of the database corresponding to the received assisted positional information of the wireless device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the characteristic information includes information relating to a cellular identification of the cell.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the characteristic information includes the bit error rate.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the characteristic information includes the signal levels.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the characteristic information includes the propagation delay.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the characteristic information includes the multi-path correction information.

8. A method for determining the approximate position of a second wireless device, located within a cell of a cellular telephone network, utilizing a satellite position system, the method comprising:

transmitting to the wireless device a cellular identification of the cell;

receiving positional information of a first wireless device and first characteristic information of the cell from the first wireless device;

creating a database of the positional information of the first wireless device and first characteristic information of the cell;

receiving second characteristic information of the cell from the second wireless device;

obtaining positional assistance information from the database, the positional assistance information corresponding to the received second characteristic information based on the first characteristic information; and

transmitting the positional assistance information to the second wireless device.

9. The method of claim 8, further including:

receiving assisted positional information from the second wireless device; and

updating the positional assistance information of the database corresponding to the received assisted positional information from the second wireless device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the characteristic information includes information relating to a cellular identification of the cell.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the characteristic information includes the bit error rate.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the characteristic information includes the signal levels.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the characteristic information includes the propagation delay.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the characteristic information includes the multi-path correction information.

15. A method for determining the approximate position of a wireless device, located within a cell of a cellular telephone network, utilizing a satellite position system, the method comprising:

receiving a broadcast signal from a basestation, the broadcast signal including cellular identification of the cell;

transmitting to the basestation characteristic information of the cell;

receiving from the basestation positional assistance information;

determining assisted positional information utilizing the satellite position system and the positional assistance information; and

transmitting the assisted positional information to the basestation.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the positional assistance information is obtained from a database.

17. The method of claim 16, further including updating the positional assistance information of the database corresponding to the transmitted assisted positional information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the characteristic information includes information relating to the cellular identification of the cell.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the characteristic information includes the bit error rate.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the characteristic information includes the signal levels.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the characteristic information includes the propagation delay.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the characteristic information includes the multi-path correction information.

23. A method for determining the approximate position of a wireless device, located within a cell of a cellular telephone network, utilizing a satellite position system, the method comprising:

transmitting a broadcast signal from a basestation to the wireless device, the broadcast signal including cellular identification of the cell;

receiving characteristic information of the cell from the wireless device;

obtaining positional assistance information from a database, the positional assistance information corresponding to the received characteristic information;

transmitting the positional assistance information to the wireless device;

determining at the wireless device assisted positional information utilizing the satellite position system and the positional assistance information; and

transmitting the assisted positional information to the basestation.

24. The method of claim 23, further including:

receiving the assisted positional information from the wireless device at the basestation; and

updating the positional assistance information of the database corresponding to the received assisted positional information of the wireless device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the characteristic information includes information relating to a cellular identification of the cell.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the characteristic information includes the bit error rate.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the characteristic information includes the signal levels.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the characteristic information includes the propagation delay.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the characteristic information includes the multi-path correction information.

30. A system for determining the approximate position of a wireless device, located within a cell of a cellular telephone network, utilizing a satellite position system, the system comprising:

a basestation located within the cell, the basestation transmitting a broadcast signal to the wireless device;

a cellular measurement unit located in the wireless device, the cellular measurement unit capable of measuring characteristic information of the cell;

a database containing positional assistance information corresponding to the characteristic information;

a processing unit in signal communication with the basestation and the database, the processing unit capable obtaining position assistance information from the database in response to the basestation receiving the characteristic information from the wireless device; and

a positional determination unit in the wireless device, the positional determination unit capable of determining the position of the wireless device based on the utilization of the satellite position system and the positional assistance information.

31. A system for determining the approximate position of a wireless device, located within a cell of a cellular telephone network, utilizing a satellite position system, the system comprising:

means for transmitting a broadcast signal from a basestation to the wireless device, the broadcast signal including cellular identification of the cell;

means for receiving characteristic information of the cell from the wireless device;

means for obtaining positional assistance information from a database, the positional assistance information corresponding to the received characteristic information;

means for transmitting the positional assistance information to the wireless device;

means for determining at the wireless device assisted positional information utilizing the satellite position system and the positional assistance information; and

means for transmitting the assisted positional information to the bases

32. A signal-bearing medium having software for determining the approximate position of a wireless device, located within a cell of a cellular telephone network, utilizing a satellite position system, the signal-bearing medium comprising:

logic configured for transmitting to the wireless device a cellular identification of the cell;

logic configured for receiving characteristic information of the cell from the wireless device;

logic configured for obtaining positional assistance information from a database, the positional assistance information corresponding to the received characteristic information; and

logic configured for transmitting the positional assistance information to the wireless device.

33. The signal-bearing medium of claim 32, further including:

logic configured for receiving assisted positional information from the wireless device; and

logic configured for updating the positional assistance information of the database corresponding to the received assisted positional information of the wireless device.

34. The signal-bearing medium of claim 33, wherein the characteristic information includes information relating to a cellular identification of the cell.

35. The signal-bearing medium of claim 33, wherein the characteristic information includes the bit error rate.

36. The signal-bearing medium of claim 33, wherein the characteristic information includes the signal levels.

37. The signal-bearing medium of claim 33, wherein the characteristic information includes the propagation delay.

38. The signal-bearing medium of claim 33, wherein the characteristic information includes the multi-path correction information.