Method and apparatus for locating position of a mobile device in an assisted satellite positioning system

• US 7,688,260 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Global Locate Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Abraham, Charles, Pomerantz, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper; Vincent P
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAM, DUNG LE
• Application Number:
  US10/926,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20060046749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,042 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 4554561-4566, 455/41.2, 455/457, 342/357.1, 342/357.06, 342/357.09, 342/351.14, 701/213, 701/214
• US Class Current: 342/357.75
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Method and apparatus for locating position of a mobile device in an assisted satellite positioning system is described. In one example, satellite measurement data is obtained from a plurality of satellites at a mobile device. Position of the mobile device is computed using the satellite measurement data. The position is sent to a cellular device via a wireless ad hoc network. In one example, the wireless ad hoc network comprises a BLUETOOTH communication link. In one example, the mobile device is configured to receive assistance data from a position server through the wireless ad hoc network. For example, the mobile device may comprise a housing configured to plug into a cigarette lighter connector of an automobile and the cellular device may comprise a cellular telephone without location-determination capabilities (i.e., the cellular telephone does not include an integrated GPS receiver).

Claims

1. A method for locating position, comprising:

obtaining satellite measurement data from a plurality of satellites at a mobile device;

obtaining assistance data at said mobile device from a server via a mobile-cellular device, wherein said assistance data passes from (i) said server to said mobile-cellular device via a cellular network; and

(ii) said mobile-cellular device to said mobile device via a wireless ad hoc network;

computing, responsive to said assistance data, position of said mobile device using said satellite measurement data; and

sending said position to said mobile cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network; and

wherein obtaining assistance data further comprises;

transmitting, from said mobile device to said mobile-cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network, a request for assistance data;

receiving assistance data at said mobile device from said mobile-cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network;

transmitting, from said mobile-cellular device to said server via—

said cellular network, said request for assistance data; and

receiving said assistance data at said mobile-cellular device from said server via said cellular network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless ad hoc network comprises a BLUETOOTH communication link.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for said position at said mobile device from said mobile-cellular device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving said request at said mobile-cellular device from a position server via said cellular network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said request is transmitted between said position server and said mobile-cellular device using a short message service (SMS) protocol.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

sending, in response to said request, said position to said position server via said cellular network.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

sending said position from said position server to a user terminal via a packet switched network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said assistance data comprises satellite trajectory data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said assistance data is transmitted between said position server and said mobile-cellular device using a short message service (SMS) protocol.

10. A method for locating position, comprising:

obtaining assistance data at a mobile device from a server via a mobile-cellular device, wherein said assistance data passes from (i) said server to said mobile-cellular device via a cellular network and (ii) said mobile-cellular device to said mobile device via a wireless ad hoc network;

obtaining, responsive to said assistance data, satellite measurement data from a plurality of satellites at said mobile device;

sending said satellite measurement data from said mobile device to said mobile-cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network;

sending said satellite measurement data from said mobile-cellular device to a position server via—

said cellular network; and

computing position of said mobile device at said position server in response to said satellite measurement data; and

wherein obtaining assistance data further comprises;

transmitting, from said mobile device to said mobile-cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network, a request for assistance data;

receiving assistance data at said mobile device from said mobile-cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network;

transmitting, from said mobile-cellular device to said server via—

said cellular network, said request for assistance data; and

receiving said assistance data at said mobile-cellular device from said server via said cellular network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said wireless ad hoc network comprises a BLUETOOTH communication link.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said satellite measurement data is transmitted from said mobile-cellular device to said position server using a short message service (SMS) protocol.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a request for said satellite measurements at said mobile device from said mobile-cellular device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving said request at said mobile-cellular device from said position server via said cellular network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said request is transmitted between said position server and said mobile-cellular device using a short message service (SMS) protocol.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said acquisition assistance data comprises expected pseudorange data.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein said assistance data is

transmitted between said position server and said mobile-cellular device using a short message service (SMS) protocol.

18. A mobile position system, comprising a mobile global positioning system (GPS) device and a mobile-cellular device without location-enabling capabilities, wherein:

said mobile GPS device comprises;

a first wireless transceiver, said first wireless receiver being configured to obtain assistance data from said server via said mobile;

cellular device; and

a GPS receiver, said GPS receiver being configured to receive,

responsive to said assistance data, satellite measurement data; and

said mobile-cellular device comprises;

a second wireless transceiver, said second wireless receiver configured to receive from said first wireless transceiver, via said wireless ad hoc network, location information output from said GPS receiver; and

said assistance data passes from (i) said server to said mobile-cellular device via a cellular network and (ii) said mobile-cellular device to said mobile device via the wireless ad hoc network; and

wherein obtaining assistance data further comprises;

transmitting, from said mobile device to said mobile-cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network, a request for assistance data;

receiving assistance data at said mobile device from said mobile-cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network;

transmitting, from said mobile-cellular device to said server via—

said cellular network, said request for assistance data; and

receiving said assistance data at said mobile-cellular device from said server via said cellular network.

19. The mobile position system of claim 18, wherein the mobile GPS device comprises an adaptor for receiving power from an automotive vehicle.

20. The mobile position system of claim 18, wherein the mobile GPS device comprises an adaptor for receiving power from a cigarette lighter of an automotive vehicle.

21. The mobile position system of claim 18, wherein the mobile cellular device is a mobile cellular telephone.

22. The mobile position system of claim 18, wherein each of said first wireless transceiver and said second wireless transceiver comprises a Bluetooth transceiver.