METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR POSITION LOCATION IN A WIRELESS NETWORK

• US 20090117917A1
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Mukkavilli, Krishna Kiran, Walker, Gordon Kent, Ling, Fuyun, Chari, Murali Ramaswamy
• Granted Patent: US 8,489,124 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0205 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for position location in a wireless network. In an aspect, a method is provided that includes determining whether a symbol to be transmitted is an active symbol, wherein the symbol comprises a plurality of subcarriers, and encoding identification information on a first portion of subcarriers if it is determined that the symbol is the active symbol. The method also includes encoding idle information on a second portion of subcarriers if it is determined that the symbol in not the active symbol. In an aspect, an apparatus includes detector logic configured to decode a plurality of symbols to determine identification information that identifies a plurality of transmitters, and to determine a plurality of channel estimate associated with the plurality of transmitters. The apparatus also includes position determination logic configured to calculate a device position based on the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of channel estimates.

Claims

1. A method for determining a position of a device in a network, the method comprising:

decoding a symbol to determine identification information that identifies a transmitter;

determining a channel estimate associated with the transmitter;

repeating said decoding and said determining for a plurality of symbols so that a plurality of transmitters associated with a plurality of channel estimates, respectively, are determined; and

calculating a device position based on the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of channel estimates.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said decoding comprises receiving the symbol over a pilot positioning channel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said decoding comprises partitioning subcarriers of the symbol into a plurality of interlaces.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said decoding comprises decoding a selected interlace to determine a WID value.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said decoding comprises decoding the plurality of interlaces to determine a WID value and a LID value.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining comprises determining the channel estimate by determining a transmission time delay associated with the transmitter.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said calculating comprises calculating a device position based on the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of channel estimates using triangulation.

8. An apparatus for determining a position of a device in a network, the apparatus comprising:

detector logic configured to decode a plurality of symbols to determine identification information that identifies a plurality of transmitters, and to determine a plurality of channel estimate associated with the plurality of transmitters; and

position determination logic configured to calculate a device position based on the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of channel estimates.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a receiver configured to receive the plurality of symbols over a pilot positioning channel.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said detector logic is configured to partition subcarriers associated with each of the plurality of symbols into a plurality interlaces.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said detector logic is configured to decode a selected interlace to determine a WID value.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said detector logic is configured to decode the plurality of interlaces to determine a WID value and a LID value.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said detector logic is configured to determine the plurality of channel estimates by determining a plurality of transmission time delays associated with the plurality of transmitters.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said position determination logic is configured to calculate a device position based on the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of channel estimates using triangulation.

15. An apparatus for determining a position of a device in a network, the apparatus comprising:

means for decoding a symbol to determine identification information that identifies a transmitter;

means for determining a channel estimate associated with the transmitter;

means for repeating said decoding and said determining for a plurality of symbols so that a plurality of transmitters associated with a plurality of channel estimates, respectively, are determined; and

means for calculating a device position based on the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of channel estimates.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for decoding comprises means for receiving the symbol over a pilot positioning channel.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for decoding comprises means for partitioning subcarriers of the symbol into a plurality interlaces.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said means for decoding comprises means for decoding a selected interlace to determine a WID value.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said means for decoding comprises means for decoding the plurality of interlaces to determine a WID value and a LID value.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for determining comprises means for determining the channel estimate by determining a transmission time delay associated with the transmitter.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for calculating comprises means for calculating a device position based on the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of channel estimates using triangulation.

22. A computer-readable medium having a computer program, which when executed by at least one processor, operates to determine a position of a device in a network, the computer program comprising:

instructions for decoding a symbol to determine identification information that identifies a transmitter;

instructions for determining a channel estimate associated with the transmitter;

instructions for repeating said decoding and said determining for a plurality of symbols so that a plurality of transmitters associated with a plurality of channel estimates, respectively, are determined; and

instructions for calculating a device position based on the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of channel estimates.

23. The computer program of claim 22, wherein said instructions for decoding comprise instructions for receiving the symbol over a pilot positioning channel.

24. The computer program of claim 22, wherein said instructions for decoding comprise instructions for partitioning subcarriers of the symbol into a plurality interlaces.

25. The computer program of claim 24, wherein said instructions for decoding comprise instructions for decoding a selected interlace to determine a WID value.

26. The computer program of claim 24, wherein said instructions for decoding comprise instructions for decoding the plurality of interlaces to determine a WID value and a LID value.

27. The computer program of claim 22, wherein said instructions for determining comprise instructions for determining the channel estimate by determining a transmission time delay associated with the transmitter.

28. The computer program of claim 22, wherein said instructions for calculating comprise instructions for calculating a device position based on the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of channel estimates using triangulation.

29. At least one processor configured to perform a method for determining a position of a device in a network, the method comprising:

decoding a symbol to determine identification information that identifies a transmitter;

determining a channel estimate associated with the transmitter;

repeating said decoding and said determining for a plurality of symbols so that a plurality of transmitters associated with a plurality of channel estimates, respectively, are determined; and

calculating a device position based on the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of channel estimates.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said decoding comprises receiving the symbol over a pilot positioning channel.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein said decoding comprises partitioning subcarriers of the symbol into a plurality interlaces.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said decoding comprises decoding a selected interlace to determine a WID value.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said decoding comprises decoding the plurality of interlaces to determine a WID value and a LID value.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein said determining comprises determining the channel estimate by determining a transmission time delay associated with the transmitter.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein said calculating comprises calculating a device position based on the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of channel estimates using triangulation.