Multi-mode global positioning system for use with wireless networks

• US 7,577,448 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: SiRF Technology Holdings Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Garin, Lionel Jacques, Pande, Ashutosh, Chadha, Kanwar, Turetzky, Gregory Bret
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah; Charles N
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONTEE, JOY KIMBERLY
• Application Number:
  US10/194,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20020183076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,594 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/521, 455/404, 455/457, 455/456.4, 455/456.6, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/450, 342/457, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 701/207, 701/213, 701/209, 701/211
• US Class Current: 455/456.6
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/09 providing processing capability normally carried out by the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/235 Calibration of receiver components
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/25 involving aiding data received from a cooperating element, e.g. assisted GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

The present invention discloses a GPS system that can operate in different modes depending on the network facilities and bandwidth available, the GPS information that can be acquired, or user or system requirements. The modes comprise standalone mode, where a mobile communications device computes the position of the device, an autonomous mode, where the mobile communications device transmits the computed position to a server, application, or PSAP in a communications network, a network aided mode, where the network aides the mobile communications device in determining the position of the device, a network based mode, and other modes.

Claims

1. A receiver for determining geolocation, comprising:

a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver section, wherein the GPS receiver section is selectively switchable between a standalone mode and at least one other mode for determining a geolocation of the receiver, wherein the at least one other mode is selected from a group consisting of an autonomous mode, an augmented autonomous mode, a network aided mode, a network centric mode, a network based mode, and a reverse aiding mode, and wherein the selective switching occurs substantially simultaneously with the determination of the geolocation of the receiver.

2. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the selective switching of the GPS receiver section is performed automatically.

3. The receiver of claim 2, wherein the automatic switching of the GPS receiver section occurs when a predetermined event occurs.

4. The receiver of claim 3, wherein the predetermined event is an event selected from a group consisting of availability of assistance from a network, unavailability of GPS satellite signals, initial acquisition of at least one GPS satellite, and obtaining a first position calculation of the GPS receiver section.

5. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the selective switching of the GPS receiver is performed manually.