Satellite based position of a cellular terminal

• US 20110187592A1
• Filed: 01/11/2011
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Käppi, Jani
• Original Assignee: Käppi, Jani
• Inventors: Käppi, Jani
• Granted Patent: US 8,462,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.42
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/072 Ionosphere corrections

Abstract

At least one set of values of parameters is determined, each set of values defining a respective troposphere model. The at least one determined set of parameter values is then assembled for transmission via a wireless communication network to a wireless terminal as assistance data for an assisted satellite based positioning of the wireless terminal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining at least one set of values of parameters, each set of values of parameters defining a respective troposphere model, wherein the parameters comprise parameters for defining an area in which a troposphere model is valid; and

assembling the at least one determined set of values of parameters for transmission via a wireless communication network to at least one wireless terminal as assistance data for an assisted satellite based positioning of at least a part of a wireless terminal arrangement comprising the at least one wireless terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the parameters for defining an area in which a troposphere model is valid include at least one of:

parameters for defining a size of an area in which the troposphere model is valid; and

at least one parameter defining a size of a rectangle in which the troposphere model is valid.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the parameters, for which at least one set of values is determined, further comprise parameters for defining a time interval during which a troposphere model is valid, including a parameter for defining a baseline time and a parameter for defining an interval length.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the parameters, for which at least one set of values is determined, further include at least one of:

at least one zenith delay parameter for defining a tropospheric delay that would be experienced by a signal transmitted by a satellite and received by the wireless terminal, when the satellite was located at a zenith of the wireless terminal;

at least one parameter for adapting a value of at least one zenith delay parameter to a current altitude of the wireless terminal;

at least one parameter for adapting a value of a zenith delay parameter Z_wo to a current altitude h of the wireless terminal according to the equation Z_w(h)=Z_w0*exp(−

e_w*h), where e_w is a stored parameter;

parameters for at least one mapping function, which mapping function maps a value of the zenith delay parameter to a tropospheric delay that is experienced by a signal transmitted by a satellite and received by the wireless terminal, when the satellite is located at a current elevation angle to the wireless terminal; and

at least two gradient parameters for defining an azimuthally asymmetric effect of a tropospheric delay.

5. An apparatus comprising a memory storing software program code and a processor,

the memory and the software program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine at least one set of values of parameters, each set of values of parameters defining a respective troposphere model, wherein the parameters comprise parameters for defining an area in which a troposphere model is valid;

and

the memory and the software program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to assemble the at least one determined set of values of parameters for transmission via a wireless communication network to at least one wireless terminal as assistance data for an assisted satellite based positioning of at least a part of a wireless terminal arrangement comprising the at least one wireless terminal.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the parameters for defining an area in which a troposphere model is valid include at least one of:

parameters for defining a size of an area in which the troposphere model is valid; and

at least one parameter defining a size of a rectangle in which the troposphere model is valid.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the parameters, for which the memory and the software program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine at least one set of values, further comprise parameters for defining a time interval during which a troposphere model is valid, including a parameter for defining a baseline time and a parameter for defining an interval length.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the parameters, for which the memory and the software program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine at least one set of values, further include at least one of:

at least one zenith delay parameter for defining a tropospheric delay that would be experienced by a signal transmitted by a satellite and received by the wireless terminal, when the satellite was located at a zenith of the wireless terminal;

at least one parameter for adapting a value of at least one zenith delay parameter to a current altitude of the wireless terminal;

at least one parameter for adapting a value of a zenith delay parameter Z_wo to a current altitude h of the wireless terminal according to the equation Z_w(h)=Z_w0*exp(−

e_w*h), where e_w is a stored parameter;

parameters for at least one mapping function, which mapping function maps a value of the zenith delay parameter to a tropospheric delay that is experienced by a signal transmitted by a satellite and received by the wireless terminal, when the satellite is located at a current elevation angle to the wireless terminal; and

at least two gradient parameters for defining an azimuthally asymmetric effect of a tropospheric delay.

9. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the apparatus is at least one of an assistance server, a component for a network element of a wireless communication network, and a network element of a wireless communication network, the network element further comprising a transmitting component configured to transmit at least one set of values of parameters determined and assembled by the apparatus to at least one wireless terminal.

10. A software program product in which a software program code is stored in a non-transitory readable medium, the software program code, when executed by a processor, causing an apparatus to perform the following:

determining at least one set of values of parameters, each set of values of parameters defining a respective troposphere model, wherein the parameters comprise parameters for defining an area in which a troposphere model is valid; and

assembling the at least one determined set of values of parameters for transmission via a wireless communication network to at least one wireless terminal as assistance data for an assisted satellite based positioning of at least a part of a wireless terminal arrangement comprising the at least one wireless terminal.

11. A method comprising:

receiving at a wireless terminal via a wireless communication network at least one set of values of parameters, each set of values of parameters defining a respective troposphere model, wherein the parameters comprise parameters for defining an area in which a troposphere model is valid; and

using an available set of values of parameters as assistance data for an assisted satellite based positioning of at least a part of a wireless terminal arrangement comprising the wireless terminal.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the parameters for defining an area in which a troposphere model is valid include at least one of:

parameters for defining a size of an area in which the troposphere model is valid; and

at least one parameter defining a size of a rectangle in which the troposphere model is valid.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the parameters, for which at least one set of values is received, further comprise parameters for defining a time interval during which a troposphere model is valid, including a parameter for defining a baseline time and a parameter for defining an interval length.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the parameters, for which at least one set of values is received, further include at least one of:

at least one zenith delay parameter for defining a tropospheric delay that would be experienced by a signal transmitted by a satellite and received by the wireless terminal, when the satellite was located at a zenith of the wireless terminal;

at least one parameter for adapting a value of at least one zenith delay parameter to a current altitude of the wireless terminal;

at least one parameter for adapting a value of a zenith delay parameter Z_wo to a current altitude h of the wireless terminal according to the equation Z_w(h)=Z_w0*exp(−

e_w*h), where e_w is a stored parameter;

parameters for at least one mapping function, which mapping function maps a value of the zenith delay parameter to a tropospheric delay that is experienced by a signal transmitted by a satellite and received by the wireless terminal, when the satellite is located at a current elevation angle to the wireless terminal; and

at least two gradient parameters for defining an azimuthally asymmetric effect of a tropospheric delay.

15. An apparatus comprising a memory storing software program code, and a processor,

the memory and the software program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive at least one set of values of parameters that has been provided to a wireless terminal via a wireless communication network, each set of values of parameters defining a respective troposphere model, wherein the parameters comprise parameters for defining an area in which a troposphere model is valid;

and

the memory and the software program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to use an available set of values of parameters as assistance data for an assisted satellite based positioning of at least a part of a wireless terminal arrangement comprising the wireless terminal.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the parameters for defining an area in which a troposphere model is valid include at least one of:

parameters for defining a size of an area in which the troposphere model is valid; and

at least one parameter defining a size of a rectangle in which the troposphere model is valid.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the parameters, for which the memory and the software program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive at least one set of values, further comprise parameters for defining a time interval during which a troposphere model is valid, including a parameter for defining a baseline time and a parameter for defining an interval length.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the parameters, for which the memory and the software program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive at least one set of values, further include at least one of:

at least one zenith delay parameter for defining a tropospheric delay that would be experienced by a signal transmitted by a satellite and received by the wireless terminal, when the satellite was located at a zenith of the wireless terminal;

at least one parameter for adapting a value of at least one zenith delay parameter to a current altitude of the wireless terminal;

at least one parameter for adapting a value of a zenith delay parameter Z_wo to a current altitude h of the wireless terminal according to the equation Z_w(h)=Z_w0*exp(−

e_w*h), where e_w is a stored parameter;

parameters for at least one mapping function, which mapping function maps a value of the zenith delay parameter to a tropospheric delay that is experienced by a signal transmitted by a satellite and received by the wireless terminal, when the satellite is located at a current elevation angle to the wireless terminal; and

at least two gradient parameters for defining an azimuthally asymmetric effect of a tropospheric delay.

19. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the apparatus is one of a wireless terminal and a global navigation satellite system component for a wireless terminal.

20. A software program product in which a software program code is stored in a non-transitory readable medium, the software program code, when executed by a processor, causing an apparatus to perform the following:

receiving at least one set of values of parameters that has been provided to a wireless terminal via a wireless communication network, each set of values of parameters defining a respective troposphere model, wherein the parameters comprise parameters for defining an area in which a troposphere model is valid; and

using an available set of values of parameters as assistance data for an assisted satellite based positioning of at least a part of a wireless terminal arrangement comprising the wireless terminal.