Positioning for WLANs and other wireless networks

• US 20080123608A1
• Filed: 11/04/2007
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Edge, Stephen W., Wachter, Andreas K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,226,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Techniques to support positioning for access points and terminals in WLANs and other wireless networks are described. In one aspect, WLAN positioning is supported with Secure User Plane Location (SUPL). A terminal obtains measurements for an access point in a WLAN and/or receives measurements made by the access point for the terminal. The terminal determines WLAN AP information for the access point and/or the terminal based on the measurements and sends the WLAN AP information to a SUPL Location Platform (SLP). The SLP determines a location estimate for the terminal based on the WLAN AP information. In another aspect, the terminal receives supported network information from the SLP. The terminal obtains network measurement information (e.g., measurements) for a radio access network and determines which particular network measurement information to send based on the supported network information. The terminal sends network measurement information permitted by the supported network information to the SLP.

Claims

1. An apparatus supporting Secure User Plane Location (SUPL), comprising:

a processor to determine WLAN AP information for an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a SUPL Enabled Terminal (SET) or both the access point and the SET, and to send the WLAN AP information to a SUPL Location Platform (SLP); and

a memory coupled to the processor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor obtains measurements for signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), or round trip delay (RTD) for the access point, and determines the WLAN AP information based on the measurements.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor receives measurements for signal strength or signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) made by the access point for the SET, and determines the WLAN AP information based on the measurements.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor receives a SUPL INIT message from the SLP, and sends a SUPL POS INIT message comprising the WLAN AP information to the SLP.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor sends a SUPL START message or a SUPL POS INIT message comprising the WLAN AP information to the SLP.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor receives location information from the SLP, the location information being determined by the SLP based on the WLAN AP information.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the WLAN AP information comprises at least one of AP Medium Access Control (MAC) address, AP transmit power, AP antenna gain, AP signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), AP signal strength, AP channel or frequency, AP reported location, and device type for the access point in the WLAN.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the WLAN AP information comprises round trip delay (RTD) between the SET and the access point in the WLAN.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the WLAN AP information comprises at least one of SET transmit power, SET antenna gain, SET signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), and SET signal strength for the SET.

10. A method of supporting Secure User Plane Location (SUPL), comprising:

determining WLAN AP information for an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a SUPL Enabled Terminal (SET) or both the access point and the SET; and

sending the WLAN AP information to a SUPL Location Platform (SLP).

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the determining the WLAN AP information comprises

obtaining measurements for signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), or round trip delay (RTD) for the access point, and

determining the WLAN AP information based on the measurements.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the determining the WLAN AP information comprises

receiving measurements for signal strength or signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) made by the access point for the SET, and

determining the WLAN AP information based on the measurements.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the sending the WLAN AP information comprises sending the WLAN AP information in a SUPL START message, a SUPL POS INIT message, or a SUPL TRIGGERED START message to the SLP.

14. An apparatus supporting Secure User Plane Location (SUPL), comprising:

means for determining WLAN AP information for an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a SUPL Enabled Terminal (SET) or both the access point and the SET; and

means for sending the WLAN AP information to a SUPL Location Platform (SLP).

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for determining the WLAN AP information comprises

means for obtaining measurements for signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), or round trip delay (RTD) for the access point, and

means for determining the WLAN AP information based on the measurements.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for determining the WLAN AP information comprises

means for receiving measurements for signal strength or signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) made by the access point for the SET, and

means for determining the WLAN AP information based on the measurements.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for sending the WLAN AP information comprises means for sending the WLAN AP information in a SUPL START message, a SUPL POS INIT message, or a SUPL TRIGGERED START message to the SLP.

18. An apparatus supporting Secure User Plane Location (SUPL), comprising:

a processor to receive WLAN AP information from a SUPL Enabled Terminal (SET) at a SUPL Location Platform (SLP), and to determine location information for the SET based on the WLAN AP information; and

a memory coupled to the processor.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor sends a SUPL INIT message to the SET, and receives a SUPL POS INIT message comprising the WLAN AP information from the SET.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor receives a SUPL START message or a SUPL POS INIT message comprising the WLAN AP information from the SET.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the WLAN AP information comprises at least one of AP Medium Access Control (MAC) address, AP transmit power, AP antenna gain, AP signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), AP signal strength, AP channel or frequency, AP reported location, and device type for the access point in the WLAN.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the WLAN AP information comprises round trip delay (RTD) between the SET and the access point in the WLAN.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the WLAN AP information comprises at least one of SET transmit power, SET antenna gain, SET signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), and SET signal strength for the SET.

24. A method of supporting Secure User Plane Location (SUPL), comprising:

receiving WLAN AP information from a SUPL Enabled Terminal (SET) at a SUPL Location Platform (SLP); and

determining location information for the SET based on the WLAN AP information.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the receiving the WLAN AP information comprises receiving the WLAN AP information in a SUPL START message, a SUPL POS INIT message, or a SUPL TRIGGERED START message from the SET.