GPS receiver utilizing a communication link

• US 6,208,290 B1
• Filed: 04/15/1997
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Krasner, Norman F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Application Number:
  US08/842,559
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.05, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 342/457, 701/213
• US Class Current: 342/357.43
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/06 employing an initial estimate of the location of the receiver as aiding data or in generating aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/071 DGPS corrections
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/09 providing processing capability normally carried out by the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/11 wherein the cooperating elements are pseudolites or satellite radio beacon positioning system signal repeaters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/235 Calibration of receiver components
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/252 Employing an initial estimate of location in generating assistance data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/254 relating to Doppler shift of satellite signals
• 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 19/41 Differential correction, e.g. DGPS [differential GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0045 Transmission from base station to mobile station G01S5/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0054 of actual mobile position, i.e. position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/009 Transmission of differential positioning data to mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 7/163 the local oscillations of at least two of the frequency changers being derived from a single oscillator
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0008 using a central processing unit, e.g. a microprocessor digital tuning in general H03J5/0245
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/11 : Cellular receiver, e.g. GSM, combined with a GPS receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 7/04 : where the frequency control is accomplished by varying the electrical characteristics of a non-mechanically adjustable element or where the nature of the frequency controlling element is not significant
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 7/047 : Automatic frequency control using an auxiliary signal, e.g. low frequency scanning of the locking range or superimposing a special signal on the input signal
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 7/06 : using counters or frequency dividers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/00 : Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0007 : wherein the AD/DA conversion occurs at radiofrequency or intermediate frequency stage
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/28 : the receiver comprising at least one semiconductor device having three or more electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 : with built-in auxiliary receivers

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for deriving an approximate Doppler for a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver from an approximate location which is obtained from a cellular communication system information source. In one embodiment, an approximate location of the SPS receiver is derived from the information source and this approximation location is used to determine approximate Dopplers to a plurality of SPS satellites at a given time. The approximate Dopplers are then used to reduce processing time in either determining pseudoranges to the SPS satellites or acquiring signals from the SPS satellites. In another aspect of the invention, a reference signal is used to provide a local oscillator signal which is used to acquire SPS signals in an SPS receiver. This reference signal is extracted from a data signal modulated on a carrier frequency. The data signal on the carrier frequency is transmitted from, in one example, a wireless cell site which is communicating with the SPS receiver which has a cellular based communication receiver.

Claims

1. A method for reducing processing time in a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver having a cell based communication receiver, said method comprising:

determining an approximate location of said SPS receiver from a cell based information source, said approximate location being determined by at least one of a location of a cellular service area which includes a cell site or a location of said cell site;

determining an approximate Doppler for at least one SPS satellite relative to said SPS receiver, said approximate Doppler being based on said approximate location;

using said approximate Doppler in said SPS receiver to reduce processing time in one of either determining at least one pseudorange to said at least one SPS satellite or acquiring signals from said at least one SPS satellite and wherein said at least one SPS satellite transmits ephemeris data for said at least one SPS satellite and wherein said SPS receiver and said cell based communication receiver do not use a common communication link.

2. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting said approximate Doppler from said cell site to said cell based communication receiver and wherein said cell site is capable of communicating with said cell based communication receiver.

3. A method as in claim 2 wherein said approximate location is determined by either a selected position in a general geographical region defined by said cellular service area or said location of said cell site which is located in a portion of said general geographical region.

4. A method as in claim 2 further comprising:

transmitting said at least one pseudorange from said SPS receiver to a remote processing station.

5. A method as in claim 4 wherein said transmitting step is through said cell site.

6. A method as in claim 5 wherein said remote processing station is located at said cell site.

7. A method as in claim 5 wherein said remote processing station is coupled to a cellular switching center.

8. A method as in claim 7 wherein said approximate Doppler is determined by said remote processing station.

9. A method as in claim 8 wherein said remote processing station receives said approximate location from said cell site and provides said approximate Doppler to said SPS receiver through said cell site.

10. A method as in claim 8 wherein said remote processing station receives a cell site identifier from said cell site and determines said approximate location from said cell site identifier and provides said approximate Doppler to said SPS receiver through said cell site.

11. A method as in claim 10 wherein said remote processing station comprises a storage device having a table which relates said cell site identifier to said approximate location and wherein said remote processing station has access to information specifying a plurality of approximate Dopplers at a given time for said approximate location.

12. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting said at least one pseudorange from said SPS receiver to a remote processing station through said cell site, and wherein said cell based communication receiver is integrated in one enclosure with said SPS receiver.

13. A method as in claim 12 wherein said remote processing station is coupled to a cellular switching center which is coupled to a plurality of cell sites, including said cell site.

14. A method as in claim 1 wherein said cell based communication receiver determines said approximate location from a cellular transmission from at least said cell site and wherein said cell based communication receiver transmits said approximate location to a remote processing station which determines said approximate Doppler and causes said approximate Doppler to be transmitted from said cell site to said cell based communication receiver.

15. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting said approximate Doppler from said cell site to said cell based communication receiver, wherein said approximate Doppler is determined by a remote processing station which is coupled to said cell site and which receives an identifier of at least one of said cellular service area or said cell site from said cell based communication receiver.

16. A method as in claim 15 wherein said remote processing station determines said approximate Doppler from said identifier which is transmitted by said cell based communication receiver to said remote processing station.

17. A method as in claim 16 wherein said identifier is provided by said cell site to said cell based communication receiver, and said cell based communication receiver transmits said identifier through said cell site to said remote processing station.

18. A method as in claim 16 wherein said cell based communication receiver derives said identifier from a signal transmitted by said cell site to said cell based communication receiver.

19. A method as in claim 18 wherein said signal is a pseudorandom (PN) code which corresponds to said cell site.

20. A method as in claim 19 wherein said signal is transmitted in a CDMA system.

21. A method as in claim 1 wherein said approximate Doppler is determined at a remote processing station which causes said approximate Doppler to be transmitted from said cell site to said cell based communication receiver, and wherein said cell based communication receiver causes said at least one pseudorange to be transmitted to said remote processing station which determines a position information for said SPS receiver using said at least one pseudorange, and wherein said SPS receiver uses said approximate Doppler without extracting satellite position data from SPS signals from SPS satellites.

22. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

determining a reference signal from a communication signal transmitted from said cell site to said cell based communication receiver;

using said reference signal to provide a local oscillator signal which is used to acquire SPS signals in said SPS receiver.

23. A method as in claim 22 wherein said reference signal is determined from a data signal modulated on a carrier frequency of said communication signal.

24. A method as in claim 22 wherein said reference signal is determined from a carrier frequency of said communication signal.

29. A method as in claim 15 wherein said data processing station is coupled to a plurality of wireless cell sites.

25. A method of using a data processing station which is coupled to at least one wireless cell site, said method comprising:

receiving a site information which determines an approximate location, said approximate location being determined by at least one of a location of a cellular service area which includes said wireless cell site or a location of said wireless cell site;

determining an approximate Doppler for at least one satellite positioning system (SPS) satellite, said approximate Doppler being based on said approximate location;

transmitting said approximate Doppler to said wireless cell site and wherein said at least one SPS satellite transmits ephemeris data for said at least one SPS satellite and wherein said at least one SPS satellite transmits signals to an SPS receiver which is coupled to a cell based communication receiver and wherein said SPS receiver and said cell based communication receiver do not use a common communication link.

26. A method as in claim 25 further comprising:

receiving at least one pseudorange from said wireless cell site, said pseudorange being provided by a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver having a cell based communication receiver for communicating with said wireless cell site.

27. A method as in claim 26 further comprising:

transmitting a request for a position information from said SPS receiver, said request being transmitted to said wireless cell site.

28. A method as in claim 27 wherein said step of transmitting a request occurs after said step of transmitting said approximate Doppler.

30. A method as in claim 26 wherein said site information identifies said wireless cell site and wherein said data processing station determines said approximate location from said site information.

31. A method as in claim 26 wherein said site information provides said approximate location.

32. A method as in claim 26 wherein said data processing station accesses a storage device which contains information specifying a plurality of approximate Dopplers at a given time.

33. A method as in claim 26 wherein said approximate location and said at least one pseudorange are used to calculate a position information for said SPS receiver.

34. A method as in claim 26 further comprising:

transmitting a signal having a carrier frequency and a data signal modulated on said carrier frequency, said SPS receiver using one of said carrier frequency and said data signal to provide a local oscillator signal which is used to acquire SPS signals.

35. A data processing station comprising:

a processor;

a storage device coupled to said processor;

a transceiver coupled to said processor, said transceiver for coupling said data processing station to a wireless cell site, said storage device containing information specifying at least one approximate Doppler at a given time for an approximate location determined by at least one of a location of a cellular service area which includes said wireless cell site or a location of said wireless cell site, said transceiver receiving a site information which determines said approximate location, said processor determining an approximate Doppler for at least one satellite positioning system (SPS) satellite, said approximate Doppler being based on said approximate location, and said transceiver sending said approximate Doppler to said wireless cell site and wherein said at least one SPS satellite transmits ephemeris data for said at least one SPS satellite and wherein said at least one SPS satellite transmits signals to an SPS receiver which is coupled to a cell based communication receiver and wherein said SPS receiver and said cell based communication receiver do not use a common communication link.

36. A data processing station as in claim 35 further comprising:

a source of SPS signals coupled to said processor, and wherein said transceiver receives at least one pseudorange from said wireless cell site and wherein said processor uses said SPS signals and said at least one pseudorange to determine a position information for a satellite position system (SPS) receiver which communicates with said wireless cell site.

37. A data processing system as in claim 36 wherein said data processing system is coupled to another data processing system which issues a request to provide said position information to said another data processing system.

38. A data processing system as in claim 37 wherein said data processing system and said another data processing system are coupled through the Internet.

39. A data processing system as in claim 36 wherein said source of SPS signals comprises one or more SPS receivers.

40. A computer readable medium containing executable computer program instructions which, when executed by a data processing system, cause said data processing system to perform steps comprising:

receiving a site information which determines an approximate location, said approximate location being determined by at least one of a location of a cellular service area which includes a wireless cell site which is coupled to said data processing system or a location of said wireless cell site;

determining an approximate Doppler for at least one satellite positioning system (SPS) satellite, said approximate Doppler being based on said approximate location;

transmitting said approximate Doppler to said wireless cell site and wherein said at least one SPS satellite transmits ephemeris data for said at least one SPS satellite and wherein said at least one SPS satellite transmits signals to an SPS receiver which is coupled to a cell based communication receiver and wherein said SPS receiver and said cell based communication receiver do not use a common communication link.

41. A computer readable medium as in claim 40 wherein said steps further comprise:

receiving a source of SPS signals;

receiving at least one pseudorange from said wireless cell site;

processing said at least one pseudorange and said SPS signals to determine a position information for an SPS receiver which provided said at least one pseudorange.

42. A computer readable medium as in claim 41 wherein said approximate location and said SPS signals and said at least one pseudorange are processed to determine said position information.

43. A method for determining a position of a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver having a wireless cell based transmitter, said method comprising:

determining an approximate location of said SPS receiver from a cell based information source, said approximate location being determined by at least one of a location of a cellular service area which includes a wireless cell site which communicates with said wireless cell based transmitter or a location of said wireless cell site;

receiving data from a source of SPS signals which includes ephemeris data for at least one SPS satellite;

receiving a plurality of pseudorange data from said wireless cell based transmitter, said plurality of pseudorange data being determined by said SPS receiver;

computing a position information of said SPS receiver by using SPS signals, said plurality of pseudoranges and said approximate location and wherein said SPS receiver and said wireless cell based transmitter do not use a common communication link.

44. A method as in claim 43 further comprising:

transmitting a signal having a carrier frequency and a data signal modulated on said carrier frequency, said SPS receiver using one of said carrier frequency and said data signal to provide a local oscillator signal which is used to acquire SPS signals.

45. A method as in claim 43 further comprising:

determining an approximate Doppler for at least one SPS satellite relative to said SPS receiver, said approximate Doppler being based on said approximate location;

transmitting said approximate Doppler to said SPS receiver through said wireless cell site.

46. A method as in claim 45 further comprising:

transmitting a signal having a carrier frequency and a data signal modulated on said carrier frequency, said SPS receiver using one of said carrier frequency and said data signal to provide a local oscillator signal which is used to acquire SPS signals.

47. A method for providing Doppler information to a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver which is coupled to a cell based communication receiver, said method comprising:

determining a plurality of approximate Doppler data from an approximate location based upon at least one of a location of a wireless cell site or a location of a cellular service area which includes said wireless cell site, said plurality of approximate Doppler data for a corresponding plurality of SPS satellites;

broadcasting said plurality of approximate Doppler data from a wireless cellular transmitter of said wireless cell site to a plurality of SPS receivers in a cell serviced by said wireless cell site and wherein each of said plurality of SPS satellites transmits ephemeris data for said each of said plurality of SPS satellites and wherein said SPS receiver and said cell based communication receiver do not use a common communication link.

48. A method as in claim 47 further comprising:

receiving at least one pseudorange from said wireless cell site, said pseudorange being provided by an SPS receiver having a cell based wireless transmitter which communicates with said wireless cell site.

49. A method as in claim 48 further comprising:

computing a position information of said SPS receiver by using SPS signals from a source of SPS signals and using said pseudorange and said approximate location.

50. A method as in claim 48 further comprising:

transmitting a signal having a carrier frequency and a data signal modulated on said carrier frequency, said SPS receiver using one of said carrier frequency and said data signal to provide a local oscillator signal which is used to acquire SPS signals.

51. A method for determining a position information of a mobile satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver having a cell based communication receiver, said method comprising:

receiving a plurality of differential SPS correction data for a plurality of different locations;

selecting a first differential SPS correction data for a first location from said plurality of differential SPS correction data, said first differential SPS correction data being selected based upon an approximate location which is determined from a cell based information source by at least one of a location of a cellular service area which includes a cell site or a location of said cell site;

receiving a plurality of pseudorange data from said SPS receiver, said plurality of pseudorange data and said first differential SPS correction data being used to determine said position wherein said plurality of pseudorange data is derived from SPS signals transmitted from at least one SPS satellite and wherein said at least one SPS satellite transmits ephemeris data for said at least one SPS satellite and wherein said SPS receiver and said cell based communication receiver do not use a common communication link.

52. A method as in claim 51 further comprising:

receiving satellite ephemeris data which is used to determine said position.

53. A method as in claim 52 wherein said position is determined at a data processing station which is capable of communicating with said cell based communication receiver through a cell based communication system which includes said cell site.

54. A method as in claim 53 wherein said SPS receiver provides a site information to said data processing station which uses said site information to determine said approximate location.

55. A method as in claim 54 further comprising:

determining an approximate Doppler for at least one SPS satellite relative to said SPS receiver, said approximate Doppler being based on said approximate location;

transmitting said approximate Doppler to said SPS receiver;

using said approximate Doppler in said SPS receiver.

56. A method as in claim 53 further comprising:

determining an approximate Doppler for at least one SPS satellite relative to said SPS receiver, said approximate Doppler being based on said approximate location;

transmitting said approximate Doppler to said SPS receiver;

using said approximate Doppler in said SPS receiver.

57. A method for determining Doppler information in a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver having a cell based communication receiver, said method comprising:

receiving, at said SPS receiver, satellite almanac information for a plurality of SPS satellites in view of said SPS receiver;

determining an approximate location of said SPS receiver, said approximate location being determined by at least one of a location of a cellular service area which includes a cell site or a location of said cell site;

using said satellite almanac information and said approximate location to determine an approximate Doppler for at least one of said SPS satellites and wherein each of said plurality of SPS satellites transmits ephemeris data for said each of said plurality of SPS satellites and wherein said SPS receiver and said cell based communication receiver do not use a common communication link.

58. A method as in claim 57 wherein said SPS receiver is a mobile SPS receiver and wherein said mobile SPS receiver receives said approximate location through a cellular signal which is received by said cell based communication receiver which is coupled to said mobile SPS receiver.

59. A method as in claim 57 wherein said SPS receiver is a mobile SPS receiver which determines its position using said approximate Doppler.

60. A method as in claim 57 wherein said SPS receiver determines at least one pseudorange to satellites in view using said approximate Doppler.

61. A method for assisting in a position determination function in a mobile satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver which is coupled to a mobile cell based communication system, said method comprising:

determining an approximate location of said mobile SPS receiver, said approximate location being determined by at least one of a location of a cellular service area which includes a cell site which communicates with said mobile cell based communication system or a location of said cell site;

transmitting said approximate location to said mobile cell based communication system for use in said mobile SPS receiver, wherein said mobile SPS receiver determines at least one pseudorange to at least one SPS satellite which transmits ephemeris data for said at least one SPS satellite and wherein said mobile SPS receiver and said mobile cell based communication system do not use a common communication link.

62. A method as in claim 61 wherein said mobile SPS receiver determines its position and transmits said position through said mobile cell based communication system.

63. A method for assisting in a position determination function in a mobile satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver which is coupled to a mobile cell based communication system, said method comprising:

identifying a site information which determines an approximate location of said mobile SPS receiver, said approximate location being determined by at least one of a location of a cellular service area which includes a cell site which communicates with said mobile cell based communication system or a location of said cell site;

determining an SPS assistance data based upon said approximate location for at least one SPS satellite which transmits ephemeris data for said at least one SPS satellite;

transmitting said SPS assistance data to said mobile cell based communication system and wherein said mobile SPS receiver receives SPS signals which include pseudorandom signal data from SPS satellites and wherein said mobile SPS receiver and said mobile cell based communication system do not use a common communication link.

64. A method as in claim 63 wherein said SPS assistance data comprises at least one of:

(a) an approximate Doppler relative to an SPS satellite;

(b) differential SPS correction data relative to said SPS satellite;

(c) ephemeris data for said SPS satellite;

or (d) a specification of SPS satellites in view of said mobile SPS receiver.

65. A method for determining a position information of a mobile satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver which is coupled to a mobile cell based communication system, said method comprising:

determining an approximate location of said mobile SPS receiver, said approximate location being determined by at least one of a location of a cellular service area which includes a cell site which communicates with said mobile cell based communication system or a location of said cell site;

determining a differential SPS correction data based on said approximate location and wherein said mobile SPS receiver and said mobile cell based communication system do not use a common communication link.

66. A method as in claim 65 further comprising:

transmitting said differential SPS correction data to said mobile cell based communication system.

67. A method as in claim 66 wherein said mobile SPS receiver receives SPS signals from SPS satellites and determines pseudorange data from said SPS signals, said mobile SPS receiver using said pseudorange data and said differential SPS correction data to determine a position of said mobile SPS receiver.

68. A method for determining a position information of a mobile satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver which is coupled to a mobile cell based communication system, said method comprising:

receiving at said mobile cell based communication system an approximate location of said mobile SPS receiver, said approximate location being determined by at least one of a location of a cellular service area which includes a cell site which communicates with said mobile cell based communication system or a location of said cell site;

determining an approximate Doppler for at least one SPS satellite relative to said mobile SPS receiver, said approximate Doppler being based on said approximate location;

determining at least one pseudorange to at least one SPS satellite which transmits ephemeris data and wherein said mobile SPS receiver and said mobile cell based communication system do not use a common communication link.

69. A method as in claim 68 wherein said mobile SPS receiver determines said at least one pseudorange to said at least one SPS satellite which transmits ephemeris data for said at least one SPS satellite.

70. A method as in claim 69 wherein said mobile SPS receiver determines its position and transmits said position through said mobile cell based communication system.

71. A method as in claim 68 wherein said mobile cell based communication system receives first ephemeris data about said at least one SPS satellite and wherein said approximate Doppler is based on said approximate location and said first ephemeris data.