METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR PROVIDING PEER-TO-PEER POSITIONING IN WIRELESS NETWORKS

• US 20100260150A1
• Filed: 04/08/2009
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Kong, Seung-Hyun, Xiong, Wenhui, Aryan, Babak
• Granted Patent: US 8,699,409 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/336
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for use in wireless networks to provide and/or otherwise support peer-to-peer positioning operations.

Claims

1. A method for use in supporting peer-to-peer trilateration (PPT), the method comprising:

with a first peer device;

receiving a PPT request message from another device over a wireless communication link, wherein said PPT request message is associated with a peer-to-peer positioning operation;

transmitting at least a first PPT beacon signal to at least a second peer device during at least a first portion of a first assigned time slot, in response to said PPT request message; and

selectively transmitting at least a second PPT beacon signal to at least said second peer device during at least a second portion of said first assigned time slot or at least a portion of a second assigned time slot.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said another device comprises at least one of a base station, a target mobile station, a peer device, and/or a network resource.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said PPT request message identifies at least one of said first assigned time slot and/or said second assigned time slot.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein selectively transmitting at least said second PPT beacon signal comprises waiting for a period of time before transmitting said second PPT beacon signal.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said period of time comprises a substantially random period of time.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein transmitting at least said first PPT beacon signal comprises transmitting said first PPT beacon signal at a first transmission power level, and selectively transmitting at least said second PPT beacon signal comprises transmitting said second PPT beacon signal at a second transmission power level that is selectively different than said first transmission power level.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein selectively transmitting at least said second PPT beacon signal comprises transmitting at least said second PPT beacon signal if an acknowledgment message from said another device ending a peer-to-peer positioning operation has not been received.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving location information from said another device, said location information identifying a location of a target mobile station as determined, at least in part, by a peer-to-peer positioning operation.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said location information is received encrypted from said another device.

10. An apparatus for use in a first device enabled to support peer-to-peer trilateration (PPT), the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a PPT request message from another device over a wireless communication link, wherein said PPT request message is associated with a peer-to-peer positioning operation;

means for initiating transmission of at least a first PPT beacon signal to at least a second peer device during at least a first portion of a first assigned time slot, in response to said PPT request message; and

means for selectively initiating transmission of at least a second PPT beacon signal to at least said second peer device during at least a second portion of said first assigned time slot or at least a portion of a second assigned time slot.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said another device comprises at least one of a base station, a target mobile station, a peer device, and/or a network resource.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said PPT request message identifies at least one of said first assigned time slot and/or said second assigned time slot.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

means for waiting for a period of time before transmitting said second PPT beacon signal.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said period of time comprises a substantially random period of time.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein:

said means for initiating transmission of at least said first PPT beacon signal further comprises means for initiating transmission of said first PPT beacon signal at a first transmission power level; and

said means for selectively initiating transmission of at least said second PPT beacon signal comprises means for initiating transmission of said second PPT beacon signal at a second transmission power level that is selectively different than said first transmission power level.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said means for selectively initiating transmission of at least said second PPT beacon signal comprises means for initiating transmission of at least said second PPT beacon signal if an acknowledgment message from said another device ending a peer-to-peer positioning operation has not been received.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

means for receiving location information from said another device, said location information identifying a location of a target mobile station as determined, at least in part, by a peer-to-peer positioning operation.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein said location information is received encrypted from said another device.

19. An apparatus comprising:

memory operatively enabled to store information received in a peer-to-peer trilateration (PPT) request message from another device over a wireless communication link; and

a processing unit coupled to said memory and operatively enabled to access said store information and based, at least in part thereon, initiate transmission of at least a first PPT beacon signal during at least a first portion of a first assigned time slot, in response to said PPT request message, and selectively initiate transmission of at least a second PPT beacon signal during at least a second portion of said first assigned time slot or at least a portion of a second assigned time slot.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said PPT request message is associated with a peer-to-peer positioning operation.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said another device comprises at least one of a base station, a target mobile station, a peer device, and/or a network resource.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said PPT request message identifies at least one of said first assigned time slot and/or said second assigned time slot.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, where in said processing unit is operatively enabled to wait for a period of time before initiating transmission of said second PPT beacon signal.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein said period of time comprises a substantially random period of time.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said first PPT beacon signal is transmitted at a first transmission power level, and if transmitted said second PPT beacon signal is transmitted at a second transmission power level that is selectively different than said first transmission power level.

26. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said processing unit is operatively enabled to selectively initiate transmission of at least said second PPT beacon signal if an acknowledgment message from said another device ending a peer-to-peer positioning operation has not been received.

27. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said processing unit is operatively enabled to access location information from said memory, said location information identifying a location of a target mobile station as determined, at least in part, by a peer-to-peer positioning operation.

28. The apparatus as recited in claim 27, wherein said location information has been encrypted by said another device.

29. An article comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer implementable instructions stored thereon which if implemented by one or more processing units operatively enables the one or more processing units to;

access information associated with a peer-to-peer trilateration (PPT) request message received from another device over a wireless communication link; and

based, at least in part thereon;

initiate transmission of at least a first PPT beacon signal during at least a first portion of a first assigned time slot, and

selectively initiate transmission of at least a second PPT beacon signal during at least a second portion of said first assigned time slot or at least a portion of a second assigned time slot.

30. The article as recited in claim 29, wherein said PPT request message is associated with a peer-to-peer positioning operation.

31. The article as recited in claim 29, wherein said another device comprises at least one of a base station, a target mobile station, a peer device, and/or a network resource.

32. The article as recited in claim 29, wherein said PPT request message identifies at least one of said first assigned time slot and/or said second assigned time slot.

33. The article as recited in claim 29, further comprising computer implementable instructions which if implemented by the one or more processing units operatively enables the one or more processing units to:

wait for a period of time before initiating transmission of said second PPT beacon signal.

34. The article as recited in claim 33, wherein said period of time comprises a substantially random period of time.

35. The article as recited in claim 29, wherein said first PPT beacon signal is transmitted at a first transmission power level, and if transmitted said second PPT beacon signal is transmitted at a second transmission power level that is selectively different than said first transmission power level.

36. The article as recited in claim 29, further comprising computer implementable instructions which if implemented by the one or more processing units operatively enables the one or more processing units to:

selectively initiate transmission of at least said second PPT beacon signal if an acknowledgment message from said another device ending a peer-to-peer positioning operation has not been received.

37. The article as recited in claim 29, further comprising computer implementable instructions which if implemented by the one or more processing units operatively enables the one or more processing units to:

access location information identifying a location of a target mobile station as determined, at least in part, by a peer-to-peer positioning operation.

38. The article as recited in claim 37, wherein said location information has been encrypted by said another device.

39. A method comprising:

receiving a peer-to-peer trilateration (PPT) request message from another device over a wireless communication link;

determining a current position fix;

receiving either a first PPT beacon signal from a target mobile station during a first assigned time slot or a second PPT beacon signal from said target mobile station during either said first assigned time slot or another assigned time slot;

determining at least one of a pseudorange and/or a path loss associated with said received first or second PPT beacon signal, in response to said PPT request message; and

transmitting at least one report message to said another device, said at least one report message comprising information associated with said current position fix and at least one of a pseudorange and/or a path loss.

40. The method as recited in claim 39, wherein said PPT request message is associated with a peer-to-peer positioning operation.

41. The method as recited in claim 39, wherein said another device comprises at least one of a base station, said target mobile station, and/or a network resource.

42. The method as recited in claim 39, wherein said PPT request message identifies at least one of said first assigned time slot and/or said another assigned time slot.

43. The method as recited in claim 39, further comprising:

receiving an acknowledgment message from said another device ending a peer-to-peer positioning operation.

44. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a PPT request message from another device;

means for determining a current position fix;

means for receiving either a first PPT beacon signal from a target mobile station during a first assigned time slot or a second PPT beacon signal from said target mobile station during either said first assigned time slot or another assigned time slot;

means for determining at least one of a pseudorange and/or a path loss associated with said received first or second PPT beacon signal, in response to said PPT request message; and

means for transmitting at least one report message to said another device, said at least one report message comprising information associated with said current position fix and at least one of a pseudorange and/or a path loss.

45. The method as recited in claim 44, wherein said PPT request message is associated with a peer-to-peer positioning operation.

46. The method as recited in claim 44, wherein said another device comprises at least one of a base station, said target mobile station, and/or a network resource.

47. The method as recited in claim 44, wherein said PPT request message identifies at least one of said first assigned time slot and/or said another assigned time slot.

48. The method as recited in claim 44, further comprising:

means for receiving an acknowledgment message from said another device ending a peer-to-peer positioning operation.

49. An apparatus comprising:

memory operatively enabled to store information received in a peer-to-peer trilateration (PPT) request message from another device over a wireless communication link; and

a processing unit coupled to said memory and operatively enabled to;

access a current position fix;

determine at least one of a pseudorange and/or a path loss associated with either a first PPT beacon signal from a target mobile station during a first assigned time slot or a second PPT beacon signal from said target mobile station during either said first assigned time slot or another assigned time slot; and

initiate transmission of at least one report message to said another device, said at least one report message comprising information associated with said current position fix and at least one of a pseudorange and/or a path loss and wherein said at least one report message is provided in response to said PPT request message.

50. The method as recited in claim 49, wherein said PPT request message is associated with a peer-to-peer positioning operation.

51. The method as recited in claim 49, wherein said another device comprises at least one of a base station, said target mobile station, and/or a network resource.

52. The method as recited in claim 49, wherein said PPT request message identifies at least one of said first assigned time slot and/or said another assigned time slot.

53. The method as recited in claim 49, wherein said processing unit is operatively enabled to end a peer-to-peer positioning operation in response to an acknowledgment message from said another device.

54. An article comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer implementable instructions stored thereon which if implemented by one or more processing units operatively enables the one or more processing units to;

access information associated with a peer-to-peer trilateration (PPT) request message from another device;

access a current position fix;

determine at least one of a pseudorange and/or a path loss associated with either a first PPT beacon signal from a target mobile station during a first assigned time slot or a second PPT beacon signal from said target mobile station during either said first assigned time slot or another assigned time slot; and

initiate transmission of at least one report message to said another device, said at least one report message comprising information associated with said current position fix and at least one of a pseudorange and/or a path loss and wherein said at least one report message comprises a response to said PPT request message.

55. The article as recited in claim 54, wherein said PPT request message is associated with a peer-to-peer positioning operation.

56. The article as recited in claim 54, wherein said another device comprises at least one of a base station, said target mobile station, and/or a network resource.

57. The article as recited in claim 54, wherein said PPT request message identifies at least one of said first assigned time slot and/or said another assigned time slot.

58. The article as recited in claim 54, further comprising computer implementable instructions which if implemented by the one or more processing units operatively enables the one or more processing units to:

end a peer-to-peer positioning operation in response to an acknowledgment message from said another device.

59. A method comprising:

receiving request for a peer-to-peer positioning operation;

establishing at least one assigned time slot for said peer-to-peer positioning operation, in response to said request for said peer-to-peer positioning operation;

selectively receiving a plurality of reporting messages from a plurality of peer devices, each said reporting message identifying at least one of a pseudorange and/or a path loss associated with at least one peer-to-peer trilateration (PPT) beacon signal as received by a corresponding peer device from a target mobile station;

calculating a location of said target mobile station based, at least in part, on at least a portion of said reporting messages; and

transmitting an acknowledgement message ending said peer-to-peer positioning operation.

60. The method as recited in claim 59, further comprising:

transmitting information associated with said calculated location of said target mobile station to at least one device.

61. The method as recited in claim 59, further comprising:

identifying a plurality of peer devices to support said peer-to-peer positioning operation based, at least in part, on at least one of a coarse location estimate for said target mobile station, at least one sector or cell associated with a vicinity of said target mobile station, and/or at least one neighbor sector or cell associated with said vicinity of said target mobile station.

62. The method as recited in claim 59, wherein selectively receiving said plurality of reporting messages from said plurality of peer devices further comprises:

determining if enough reporting messages have been received to calculate said location of said target mobile station and if enough reporting messages have been received, transmitting said acknowledgement message ending said peer-to-peer positioning operation.

63. The method as recited in claim 59, wherein selectively receiving said plurality of reporting messages from said plurality of peer devices further comprises:

determining if enough reporting messages have been received during a first assigned time slot to calculate said location of said target mobile station and if enough reporting messages have not been received during said first assigned time slot, establishing at least a second assigned time slot for said peer-to-peer positioning operation.

64. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving request for a peer-to-peer positioning operation;

means for establishing at least one assigned time slot for said peer-to-peer positioning operation, in response to said request for said peer-to-peer positioning operation;

means for selectively receiving a plurality of reporting messages from a plurality of peer devices, each said reporting message identifying at least one of a pseudorange and/or a path loss associated with at least one peer-to-peer trilateration (PPT) beacon signal as received by a corresponding peer device from a target mobile station;

means for calculating a location of said target mobile station based, at least in part, on at least a portion of said reporting messages; and

means for transmitting an acknowledgement message ending said peer-to-peer positioning operation.

65. The apparatus as recited in claim 64, further comprising:

means for transmitting information associated with said calculated location of said target mobile station to at least one device.

66. The apparatus as recited in claim 64, further comprising:

means for identifying a plurality of peer devices to support said peer-to-peer positioning operation based, at least in part, on at least one of a coarse location estimate for said target mobile station, at least one sector or cell associated with a vicinity of said target mobile station, and/or at least one neighbor sector or cell associated with said vicinity of said target mobile station.

67. The apparatus as recited in claim 64, further comprising:

means for determining if enough reporting messages have been received to calculate said location of said target mobile station and if enough reporting messages have been received, transmitting said acknowledgement message ending said peer-to-peer positioning operation.

68. The apparatus as recited in claim 64, further comprising:

means for determining if enough reporting messages have been received during a first assigned time slot to calculate said location of said target mobile station; and

means for establishing at least a second assigned time slot for said peer-to-peer positioning operation if enough reporting messages have not been received during said first assigned time slot.

69. An apparatus comprising:

memory operatively enabled to store information received in a request for a peer-to-peer positioning operation from a target mobile station and a plurality of reporting messages from a plurality of peer devices, each said reporting message identifying at least one of a pseudorange and/or a path loss associated with at least one peer-to-peer trilateration (PPT) beacon signal as received by a corresponding peer device from a target mobile station; and

a processing unit coupled to said memory and operatively enabled to;

access said memory;

establish at least one assigned time slot for said peer-to-peer positioning operation;

calculate a location of said target mobile station based, at least in part, on at least a portion of said information in reporting messages; and

initiate transmission of an acknowledgement message ending said peer-to-peer positioning operation.

70. The apparatus as recited in claim 69, wherein said processing unit is operatively enabled to:

initiate transmission of information associated with said calculated location of said target mobile station to at least one device.

71. The apparatus as recited in claim 69, wherein said processing unit is operatively enabled to:

identify a plurality of peer devices to support said peer-to-peer positioning operation based, at least in part, on at least one of a coarse location estimate for said target mobile station, at least one sector or cell associated with a vicinity of said target mobile station, and/or at least one neighbor sector or cell associated with said vicinity of said target mobile station.

72. The apparatus as recited in claim 69, wherein said processing unit is operatively enabled to:

determine if enough reporting messages have been received to calculate said location of said target mobile station and if enough reporting messages have been received, transmitting said acknowledgement message ending said peer-to-peer positioning operation.

73. The apparatus as recited in claim 69, wherein said processing unit is operatively enabled to:

determine if enough reporting messages have been received during a first assigned time slot to calculate said location of said target mobile station and if enough reporting messages have not been received during said first assigned time slot, said processing unit is operatively enabled to establish at least a second assigned time slot for said peer-to-peer positioning operation.

74. An article comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer implementable instructions stored thereon which if implemented by one or more processing units operatively enables the one or more processing units to;

access memory operatively enabled to store information received in a request for a peer-to-peer positioning operation from a target mobile station and a plurality of reporting messages from a plurality of peer devices, each said reporting message identifying at least one of a pseudorange and/or a path loss associated with at least one peer-to-peer trilateration (PPT) beacon signal as received by a corresponding peer device from a target mobile station;

establish at least one assigned time slot for said peer-to-peer positioning operation;

calculate a location of said target mobile station based, at least in part, on at least a portion of said information in reporting messages; and

initiate transmission of an acknowledgement message ending said peer-to-peer positioning operation.

75. The article as recited in claim 74, further comprising computer implementable instructions which if implemented by the one or more processing units operatively enables the one or more processing units to:

initiate transmission of information associated with said calculated location of said target mobile station to at least one device.

76. The article as recited in claim 74, further comprising computer implementable instructions which if implemented by the one or more processing units operatively enables the one or more processing units to:

identify a plurality of peer devices to support said peer-to-peer positioning operation based, at least in part, on at least one of a coarse location estimate for said target mobile station, at least one sector or cell associated with a vicinity of said target mobile station, and/or at least one neighbor sector or cell associated with said vicinity of said target mobile station.

77. The article as recited in claim 74, further comprising computer implementable instructions which if implemented by the one or more processing units operatively enables the one or more processing units to:

determine if enough reporting messages have been received to calculate said location of said target mobile station and if enough reporting messages have been received, transmitting said acknowledgement message ending said peer-to-peer positioning operation.

78. The article as recited in claim 74, further comprising computer implementable instructions which if implemented by the one or more processing units operatively enables the one or more processing units to:

determine if enough reporting messages have been received during a first assigned time slot to calculate said location of said target mobile station and if enough reporting messages have not been received during said first assigned time slot, said processing unit is operatively enabled to establish at least a second assigned time slot for said peer-to-peer positioning operation.