METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR ASSISTED NAVIGATION SYSTEMS

• US 20090228209A1
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Alanen, Kimmo, Wirola, Lauri, Syrjarinne, Jari
• Granted Patent: US 8,620,580 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/214
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/256 relating to timing, e.g. time of week, code phase, timing offset
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/258 relating to the satellite constellation, e.g. almanac, ephemeris data, lists of satellites in view
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/33 Multimode operation in different systems which transmit time stamped messages, e.g. GPS/GLONASS

Abstract

The invention relates to a navigation systems and elements. A network element (M) includes a receiver (M.2.2) for forming assistance data relating to at least one navigation system. The network element (M) inserts indication of the navigation system and a selected mode into the assistance data and constructs the assistance data according to the selected mode. The network element (M) has a transmitting element (M.3.1) for transmitting the assistance data via a communications network (P) to a device (R). The device (R) includes a positioning receiver (R.3) for performing positioning on the basis of one or more signals of the at least one satellite navigation system; a receiver (R.2.2) for receiving the assistance data from the network element (M); and an examining element (R.1.1) adapted to examine the received assistance data. The assistance data is adapted to be used by the positioning receiver for performing positioning of the device (R).

Claims

1. A device comprising

a positioning receiver for performing positioning on the basis of one or more signals of at least one satellite navigation system;

a receiver for receiving assistance data relating to at least one navigation system; and

an examining element adapted to examine the received assistance data; and

a determining element adapted to determine the mode of the assistance data in said assistance data, wherein said assistance data is adapted to be used by the positioning receiver for performing positioning of the device.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning receiver is adapted to receive signals from at least two different navigation systems.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the receiver for receiving assistance data is configured to receive assistance data from a communications network.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the communications network is a cellular network.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a mobile communication device.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the assistance data comprises indication on the navigation system the assistance data relates to, wherein the determining element is adapted to examine said indication on the navigation system.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the said indication on the navigation system also comprises an indication on the satellite the assistance data relates to, wherein the determining element is also adapted to examine said indication on the satellite.

15. A network element according to claim 1, wherein said mode is indicative of an orbit model.

16. A network element according to claim 1, wherein said mode is indicative of a clock model.

8. A network element comprising

a controlling element for forming assistance data relating to at least one navigation system;

and

a transmitting element for transmitting the assistance data to a communications network;

wherein the controlling element is adapted to select a mode for the transmission of the assistance data;

insert indication of the navigation system into the assistance data; and

construct the assistance data according to the selected mode.

9. A network element according to claim 8, wherein the network element further comprises

a memory for storing navigation data of at least one satellite navigation system;

and

an examining element adapted to examine the navigation data to determine the navigation system the navigation data relates to.

10. A network element according to claim 9, wherein the controlling element is adapted to form said assistance data on the basis of the navigation data.

11. A network element according to claim 9, wherein the network element also comprises a receiver for receiving navigation data of at least one satellite navigation system.

12. A network element according to claim 9, wherein said navigation data also comprises an indication on the satellite the navigation data relates to, wherein the determining element is also adapted to insert indication on the satellite into the assistance data.

13. A network element according to claim 8, wherein said assistance data comprises one or more assistance data records.

14. A network element according to claim 8, wherein the assistance data record has at least one of the following modes:

Mode 1;

Mode 2;

or

Mode 3.

17. A network element according to claim 8, wherein the communications network is a cellular network.

18. A network element according to claim 17, wherein the network element is a mobile switching centre of a GSM system.

19. A network element according to claim 8, wherein said assistance data relates to at least one of the following:

the Global Positioning System;

the GLONASS;

the Galileo;

the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System;

a Space Based Augmentation System;

or

a Local Area Augmentation System.

20. A network element according to claim 8, wherein the controlling element is adapted to select the mode on the basis of the navigation system the assistance data relates to, wherein said indication of the navigation data also indicates the selected mode.

21. A system comprising:

network element which comprises

a controlling element for forming assistance data relating to at least one navigation system; and

a transmitting element for transmitting the assistance data to a communications network;

a device which comprises

a positioning receiver for performing positioning on the basis of one or more signals of said at least one satellite navigation system;

a receiver for receiving assistance data from the network element; and

an examining element adapted to examine the received assistance data;

wherein

the controlling element is adapted to

select a mode for the transmission of the assistance data;

insert indication of the navigation system and the selected mode into the assistance data; and

construct the assistance data according to the selected mode;

and that the device further comprises

a determining element adapted to determine the mode of the assistance data in said assistance data, wherein said assistance data is adapted to be used by the positioning receiver for performing positioning of the device.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the network element also comprises a receiver for receiving navigation data of at least one satellite navigation system.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein the network element further comprises

a memory for storing the received navigation data;

and

an examining element adapted to examine the navigation data to determine the navigation system the navigation data relates to.

24. A system according to claim 22, wherein the controlling element is adapted to form said assistance data on the basis of the navigation data.

25. A system according to claim 22, wherein said navigation data also comprises an indication on the satellite the navigation data relates to, wherein the determining element is also adapted to insert an indication on the satellite into the assistance data.

26. A system according to claim 22, wherein said assistance data comprises one or more assistance data records.

27. A system according to claim 22, wherein it is a network element of one of the following:

a GSM communications network;

an UMTS communications network;

a CDMA communications network;

a W-CDMA communications network;

a WLAN communications network;

a WiMax communications network.

28. A system according to claim 22, wherein said navigation system is at least one of the following:

the Global Positioning System;

the GLONASS;

the Galileo;

the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System;

a Space Based Augmentation System;

or

a Local Area Augmentation System.

29. A system according to claim 22, wherein the controlling element is adapted to select the mode on the basis of the navigation system the assistance data relates to, wherein said indication of the navigation data also indicates the selected mode.

30. A module for a device comprising a positioning receiver for performing positioning on the basis of one or more signals of at least one satellite navigation system, said module comprising

a receiving element for receiving assistance data relating to at least one navigation system;

and

an examining element adapted to examine the received assistance data;

a determining element adapted to determine the mode of the assistance data in said assistance data; and

an output to transfer indication on the mode of the assistance data to the positioning receiver,

wherein said assistance data is adapted to be used by the positioning receiver for performing positioning of the device.

31. A method for transmitting assistance data to a device, the method comprising:

forming assistance data relating to at least one navigation system;

transferring the assistance data to the device;

determining the navigation system the assistance data relates to;

selecting a mode for transmitting the assistance data;

inserting an indication of the navigation system and the selected mode into the assistance data; and

constructing the assistance data according to the selected mode.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the method further comprises obtaining assistance data from an external service.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein said obtaining comprises receiving from a reference station navigation data of at least one satellite navigation system.

34. A method according to claim 31, wherein the method further comprises inserting an indication on a satellite into the assistance data.

35. A method according to claim 31, wherein said transferring comprises transmitting the assistance data to a communications network.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein said communications network is a cellular network.

37. A method according to claim 31, wherein said constructing the assistance data comprises selecting for the assistance data at least one of the following modes:

Mode 1;

Mode 2;

or

Mode 3.

38. A method according to claim 31, wherein said mode is indicative of an orbit model.

39. A method according to claim 31, wherein said mode is indicative of a clock model.

40. A method according to claim 31, wherein the mode is selected on the basis of the navigation system the assistance data relates to, wherein said indication of the navigation data is also used to indicate the selected mode.

41. A computer program product for storing computer program having computer executable instructions for forming assistance data relating to at least one navigation system;

transmitting assistance data to a device;

determining the navigation system the assistance data relates to;

selecting a mode for transmitting the assistance data;

inserting an indication of the navigation system and the selected mode into the assistance data; and

constructing the assistance data according to the selected mode.

42. A computer program product according to claim 41, wherein the computer program further comprises computer executable instructions for obtaining assistance data from an external service.

43. A computer program product according to claim 42, wherein said obtaining comprises receiving from a reference station navigation data of at least one satellite navigation system.

44. A computer program product according to claim 41, wherein the computer program further comprises computer executable instructions for inserting an indication on a satellite into the assistance data.

45. A computer program product according to claim 41, wherein the computer program further comprises computer executable instructions for forming assistance data records on the basis of the navigation system the assistance data relates to.

46. A computer program product according to claim 41, wherein the computer executable instructions for selecting a mode for transmitting the assistance data comprise instructions for selecting the mode on the basis of the navigation system the assistance data relates to, and using said indication of the navigation data as the indication of the selected mode.

47. A signal for delivering assistance data to a device, the signal comprising

assistance data relating to at least one navigation system;

an indication of the navigation system the assistance data relates to and a mode selected for transmitting the assistance data; and

wherein said assistance data has been constructed according to the selected mode.

48. A carrier having a signal recorded thereon for delivering assistance data to a device, the signal comprising assistance data relating to at least one navigation system;

an indication of the system the assistance data relates to and a mode selected for transmitting the assistance data;

wherein said assistance data has been constructed according to the selected mode.

49. An assistance data server comprising

a controlling element for forming assistance data relating to at least one navigation system;

and

a transmitting element for transmitting the assistance data to a communications network;

wherein the controlling element is adapted to select a mode for the transmission of the assistance data;

insert indication of the navigation system and the selected mode into the assistance data; and

construct the assistance data according to the navigation system.

50. An assistance data server according to claim 49, wherein it also comprises a receiver for receiving navigation data of at least one satellite navigation system.

51. A method for transmitting assistance data to a device, the method comprising:

forming assistance data relating to a navigation system;

inserting an indication that the assistance data is not based on any broadcasted ephemeris but is provided from a source external to said navigation system; and

inserting an indication of the navigation system into the assistance data.

52. A method according to claim 51, wherein the assistance data is based on long-term fit.

53. A device comprising:

an element for forming assistance data relating to a navigation system;

said element being adapted to

insert an indication that the assistance data is not based on any broadcasted ephemeris but is provided from a source external to said navigation system; and

insert an indication of the navigation system into the assistance data;

a transmitter for transmitting the assistance data to another device.