Location Quality of Service Indicator

• US 20100222081A1
• Filed: 05/07/2010
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TruePosition Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TruePosition Incorporated
• Inventors: Beckley, Frederic, Ward, Matthew L.
• Application Number:
  US12/776,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20100222081A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.300
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/466 by Trilateration, i.e. two antennas or two sensors determine separately the distance to a target, whereby with the knowledge of the baseline length, i.e. the distance between the antennas or sensors, the position data of the target is determined
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/021 Calibration, monitoring or correction G01S5/0252 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0263 by combining or switching between positions derived from two or more separate positioning systems
• 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 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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 8/08 Mobility data transfer

Abstract

A mobile wireless device is configured to provide a location quality of service indicator (QoSI) indicative of the quality of a calculated location estimation for use by a location-based service. The QoSI may be calculated by the device itself or by a server, such as a location enabling server (LES). The QoSI may be used to represent the predicted location accuracy, availability, latency, precision, and/or yield.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless device, comprising:

a wireless communications subsystem;

a processor operatively coupled to said wireless communications subsystem;

a computer readable storage medium operatively coupled to said processor; and

a display operatively coupled to said processor;

wherein the mobile wireless device is configured to receive a location quality of service indicator (QoSI) from a server, wherein said QoSI is indicative of a predicted quality of a location estimation for use by a location-based service (LBS), and said device is configured to display said QoSI before the location-based service is invoked;

wherein the QoSI for a first location technique is predicted based on the performance of a second location technique; and

wherein one of a cell-ID, cell-ID and sector, and combination of cell-ID, sector and power-difference-of-arrival (PDOA) are used to localize the mobile wireless device and then one or more network capabilities, mobile wireless device capabilities, network topology, radio propagation maps, calibration data, time-of-day, and historical QoSI information are used to predict QoSI'"'"'s for one or more other location techniques.

2. A mobile wireless device as recited in claim 1, wherein said device is further configured to determine technology selections from at least one of onboard resources, radio network broadcast information, and information provided by a server, and then calculating a predicted QoSI by determining which technology or location technique with the highest potential accuracy is available.

3. A mobile wireless device as recited in claim 1, wherein said device is further configured to display a QoSI corresponding to a best predicted location accuracy associated with a pre-set default, favorite or highest priority LBS application.

4. A mobile wireless device as recited in claim 1, wherein said device is further configured to permit a user to select an option to be provided a street address of a point-of-interest rather than a map.

5. A mobile wireless device, comprising:

a wireless communications subsystem;

a processor operatively coupled to said wireless communications subsystem;

a computer readable storage medium operatively coupled to said processor; and

a display operatively coupled to said processor;

wherein the mobile wireless device is configured to receive a location quality of service indicator (QoSI) from a server;

wherein said QoSI is indicative of a predicted quality of a location estimation for use by a location-based service (LBS), and said device is configured to display said QoSI before the location-based service is invoked;

and wherein said device is further configured to permit a mobile LBS application to use the QoSI to decide to abort a location query, and to provide a compass display.

6. A mobile wireless device, comprising:

a wireless communications subsystem;

a processor operatively coupled to said wireless communications subsystem;

a computer readable storage medium operatively coupled to said processor; and

a display operatively coupled to said processor;

wherein the mobile wireless device is configured to receive a location quality of service indicator (QoSI) from a server;

wherein said QoSI is indicative of a predicted quality of a location estimation for use by a location-based service (LBS), and said device is configured to display said QoSI before the location-based service is invoked;

and wherein said device is further configured to permit a networked LBS application to determine an actual location quality of service level from a set of pre-negotiated levels, and, based on the quality of service level and subscriber preferences, to select map scaling to best display an area of interest.

7. A mobile wireless device as recited in claim 6, wherein said device is further configured to permit the setting of a QoSI threshold and to provide a notification when the QoSI drops or stays below the QoSI threshold.

8. A mobile wireless device, comprising:

a wireless communications subsystem;

a processor operatively coupled to said wireless communications subsystem;

a computer readable storage medium operatively coupled to said processor; and

a display operatively coupled to said processor;

wherein the mobile wireless device is configured to receive a location quality of service indicator (QoSI) from a server;

wherein said QoSI is indicative of a predicted quality of a location estimation for use by a location-based service (LBS), and said device is configured to display said QoSI before the location-based service is invoked;

and wherein the QoSI includes a time-of-day indication and the mobile device is configured to use the QoSI with the time-of-day indication to display a map scaled based on location accuracy and colored for better clarity based on the time-of-day.

9. A mobile wireless device, comprising:

a wireless communications subsystem;

a processor operatively coupled to said wireless communications subsystem;

a computer readable storage medium operatively coupled to said processor; and

a display operatively coupled to said processor;

wherein the mobile wireless device is configured to receive a location quality of service indicator (QoSI) from a server;

wherein said QoSI is indicative of a predicted quality of a location estimation for use by a location-based service (LBS), and said device is configured to display said QoSI before the location-based service is invoked;

and wherein said device is further configured to display the QoSI with a menu of services and both an accuracy and time-to-locate indicator, and to permit a user to opt to be delivered a street address of a point-of-interest rather than a map.

10. A mobile wireless device, comprising:

a wireless communications subsystem;

a processor operatively coupled to said wireless communications subsystem;

a computer readable storage medium operatively coupled to said processor; and

a display operatively coupled to said processor;

wherein the mobile wireless device is configured to receive a location quality of service indicator (QoSI) from a server;

wherein said QoSI is indicative of a predicted quality of a location estimation for use by a location-based service (LBS), and said device is configured to display said QoSI before the location-based service is invoked;

and wherein said device is further configured to use the QoSI to show a user both location accuracy information and information concerning the progress of the positioning and/or delivery of an LBS application.

11. A mobile wireless device, comprising:

a wireless communications subsystem;

a processor operatively coupled to said wireless communications subsystem;

a computer readable storage medium operatively coupled to said processor; and

a display operatively coupled to said processor;

wherein the mobile wireless device is configured to receive a location quality of service indicator (QoSI) from a server;

wherein said QoSI is indicative of a predicted quality of a location estimation for use by a location-based service (LBS), and said device is configured to display said QoSI before the location-based service is invoked;

and wherein said device is further configured to display multiple QoSI'"'"'s at the same time, said multiple QoSI'"'"'s being displayed individually for different LBS applications.

12. A mobile wireless device, comprising:

a wireless communications subsystem;

a processor operatively coupled to said wireless communications subsystem;

a computer readable storage medium operatively coupled to said processor; and

a display operatively coupled to said processor;

wherein the mobile wireless device is configured to receive a location quality of service indicator (QoSI) from a server;

wherein said QoSI is indicative of a predicted quality of a location estimation for use by a location-based service (LBS), and said device is configured to display said QoSI before the location-based service is invoked;

wherein said device is further configured to determine technology selections from at least one of onboard resources, radio network broadcast information, and information provided by a server, and then calculating a predicted QoSI by determining which technology or location technique with the highest potential accuracy is available; and

wherein one of a cell-ID, cell-ID and sector, and combination of cell-ID, sector and power-difference-of-arrival (PDOA) are used to localize the mobile wireless device and then one or more network capabilities, mobile wireless device capabilities, network topology, radio propagation maps, calibration data, time-of-day, and historical QoSI information are used to predict QoSI'"'"'s for one or more other location techniques.

13. A method for use by a mobile wireless device, comprising providing a predicted location quality of service indicator (QoSI), wherein said QoSI is indicative of the predicted quality of a calculated location estimation for use by a location-based service;

and permitting a mobile LBS application to use the QoSI to decide to abort a location query, and to provide a compass display.

14. A method for use by a mobile wireless device, comprising providing a predicted location quality of service indicator (QoSI), wherein said QoSI is indicative of the predicted quality of a calculated location estimation for use by a location-based service;

and permitting a networked LBS application to determine an actual location quality of service level from a set of pre-negotiated levels, and, based on the quality of service level and subscriber preferences, to select map scaling to best display an area of interest.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising permitting the setting of a QoSI threshold and to provide a notification when the QoSI drops or stays below the QoSI threshold.

16. A method for use by a mobile wireless device, comprising providing a predicted location quality of service indicator (QoSI), wherein said QoSI is indicative of the predicted quality of a calculated location estimation for use by a location-based service;

wherein the QoSI includes a time-of-day indication and the method further comprises using the QoSI with the time-of-day indication to display a map scaled based on location accuracy and colored for better clarity based on the time-of-day.

17. A method for use by a mobile wireless device, comprising providing a predicted location quality of service indicator (QoSI), wherein said QoSI is indicative of the predicted quality of a calculated location estimation for use by a location-based service;

and displaying the QoSI with a menu of services and both an accuracy and time-to-locate indicator, and permitting a user to opt to be delivered a street address of a point-of-interest rather than a map.

18. A method for use by a mobile wireless device, comprising providing a predicted location quality of service indicator (QoSI), wherein said QoSI is indicative of the predicted quality of a calculated location estimation for use by a location-based service;

and showing a user both location accuracy information and information concerning the progress of the positioning and/or delivery of an LBS application.

19. A method for use by a mobile wireless device, comprising providing a predicted location quality of service indicator (QoSI), wherein said QoSI is indicative of the predicted quality of a calculated location estimation for use by a location-based service;

and displaying multiple QoSI'"'"'s at the same time, said multiple QoSI'"'"'s being displayed individually for different LBS applications.

20. A method for use by a mobile wireless device, comprising providing a predicted location quality of service indicator (QoSI), wherein said QoSI is indicative of the predicted quality of a calculated location estimation for use by a location-based service;

and displaying the QoSI associated with a particular mobile device or group of mobile devices on an external monitor.

21. A computer readable medium (CRM) comprising executable instructions for causing a mobile wireless device to perform a method, said method comprising providing a predicted location quality of service indicator (QoSI), wherein said predicted QoSI is indicative of the predicted quality of a location estimation calculation for use by a location-based service;

and using one of a cell-ID, cell-ID and sector, and combination of cell-ID, sector and power-difference-of-arrival (PDOA) to localize the mobile wireless device and then using one or more network capabilities, mobile wireless device capabilities, network topology, radio propagation maps, calibration data, time-of-day, and historical QoSI information to predict QoSI'"'"'s for one or more other location techniques.

22. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 21, wherein the method further comprises determining technology selections from at least one of onboard resources, radio network broadcast information, and information provided by a server, and then calculating a predicted QoSI by determining which technology or location technique with the highest potential accuracy is available.

23. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 21, wherein the method further comprises displaying a QoSI corresponding to a best predicted location accuracy associated with a pre-set default, favorite or highest priority LBS application.

24. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 21, wherein the method further comprises permitting a user to select an option to be provided a street address of a point-of-interest rather than a map.

25. A computer readable medium (CRM) comprising executable instructions for causing a mobile wireless device to perform a method, said method comprising providing a predicted location quality of service indicator (QoSI), wherein said predicted QoSI is indicative of the predicted quality of a location estimation calculation for use by a location-based service;

and permitting a mobile LBS application to use the QoSI to decide to abort a location query, and to provide a compass display.

26. A computer readable medium (CRM) comprising executable instructions for causing a mobile wireless device to perform a method, said method comprising providing a predicted location quality of service indicator (QoSI), wherein said predicted QoSI is indicative of the predicted quality of a location estimation calculation for use by a location-based service;

and permitting a networked LBS application to determine an actual location quality of service level from a set of pre-negotiated levels, and, based on the quality of service level and subscriber preferences, to select map scaling to best display an area of interest.

27. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the method further comprises permitting the setting of a QoSI threshold and to provide a notification when the QoSI drops or stays below the QoSI threshold.

28. A computer readable medium (CRM) comprising executable instructions for causing a mobile wireless device to perform a method, said method comprising providing a predicted location quality of service indicator (QoSI), wherein said predicted QoSI is indicative of the predicted quality of a location estimation calculation for use by a location-based service, and wherein the QoSI includes a time-of-day indication and the method further comprises using the QoSI with the time-of-day indication to display a map scaled based on location accuracy and colored for better clarity based on the time-of-day.

29. A computer readable medium (CRM) comprising executable instructions for causing a mobile wireless device to perform a method, said method comprising providing a predicted location quality of service indicator (QoSI), wherein said predicted QoSI is indicative of the predicted quality of a location estimation calculation for use by a location-based service;

and displaying the QoSI with a menu of services and both an accuracy and time-to-locate indicator, and permitting a user to opt to be delivered a street address of a point-of-interest rather than a map.

30. A computer readable medium (CRM) comprising executable instructions for causing a mobile wireless device to perform a method, said method comprising providing a predicted location quality of service indicator (QoSI), wherein said predicted QoSI is indicative of the predicted quality of a location estimation calculation for use by a location-based service;

and showing a user both location accuracy information and information concerning the progress of the positioning and/or delivery of an LBS application.

31. A computer readable medium (CRM) comprising executable instructions for causing a mobile wireless device to perform a method, said method comprising providing a predicted location quality of service indicator (QoSI), wherein said predicted QoSI is indicative of the predicted quality of a location estimation calculation for use by a location-based service;

and displaying multiple QoSI'"'"'s at the same time, said multiple QoSI'"'"'s being displayed individually for different LBS applications.

32. A computer readable medium (CRM) comprising executable instructions for causing a mobile wireless device to perform a method, said method comprising providing a predicted location quality of service indicator (QoSI), wherein said predicted QoSI is indicative of the predicted quality of a location estimation calculation for use by a location-based service;

and displaying the QoSI associated with a particular mobile device or group of mobile devices on an external monitor.