Updating position assist data on a mobile computing device

• US 8,233,915 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2011
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Paulson, Janell, Ge Mahe, Isabel, Hamilton, Craig C., Kansal, Sachin S., Ramaswamy, Gurunath
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US13/251,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20120021767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 302 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456, 455/100, 455/404, 455/414, 455/433, 455/450, 455/456.1, 607/61, 414/921, 251/121, 297/85
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/25 involving aiding data received from a cooperating element, e.g. assisted GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 414/134 Handicapped person handling

Abstract

A mobile computing device comprises a memory, a processor and a transceiver. The memory is configured to store at least one type of position assist data. The processor is configured to provide a position fix based on the position assist data. The transceiver is configured for wireless communication. The memory is configured to store updated position assist data for the type of position assist data. The processor is operable in a first operating mode in which the type of position assist data is not updated and operable in a second operating mode in which the type of position assist data is updated in response to at least one triggering event.

Claims

1. A mobile computing device, comprising:

a memory to store at least one type of position assist data, the memory to store updated position assist data for the type of position assist data;

a transceiver for wireless communication; and

a location based services application stored on the memory to operate in a first operating mode in which the type of position assist data is not updated and operate in a second operating mode in which the type of position assist data is updated in response to at least one triggering event received by the transceiver, the location based services application to receive a request for a position fix, and switch from the first operating mode to the second operating mode in response to the request for a position fix.

2. The mobile computing device of claim 1, the location based services application to periodically update the type of position assist data when in the second operating mode.

3. The mobile computing device of claim 1, the location based services application to update the type of position data using a data call established by the transceiver when in the second operating mode.

4. The mobile computing device of claim 1, the type of position data comprising almanac data.

5. A mobile computing device, comprising:

a transceiver to establish a wireless communication call;

a processor communicatively coupled with the transceiver; and

a memory communicatively coupled with the processor, the memory to store (i) at least one type of position assist data, (ii) updated position assist data for the type of position assist data, and (iii) a location based services application,

the location based services application to (i) operate in a first operating mode in which the type of position assist data is not updated and operate in a second operating mode in which the type of position assist data is updated in response to at least one triggering event received by the transceiver, (ii) receive a request for updated position assist data for a type of position assist data during the wireless communication call, and switch from the first operating mode to the second operating mode in response to the request for updated position assist data,

the processor to communicate the request for updated position assist data based on a time period since the position assist data was last updated.

6. The mobile computing device of claim 5, the location based services application to communicate the request for updated position assist data during a data call.

7. The mobile computing device of claim 5, the location based services application to communicate the request for updated position assist data on a periodic basis.

8. The mobile computing device of claim 5, the type of position assist data comprising almanac data.

9. The mobile computing device of claim 5, the type of position assist data comprising ephemeris data.

10. The mobile computing device of claim 5, the type of position assist data comprising mobile station-assist data.

11. A mobile computing device, comprising:

a memory to store at least one type of position assist data and updated position assist data for the type of position assist data; and

a processor communicatively coupled with the memory, the processor to receive a request for a position fix from a requester and to provide the position fix based on the position assist data in response to the request, and generate updated position assist data a predetermined time period after the position fix is provided,

wherein in a first operating mode, the position assist data is not updated and in a second operating mode, the position assist data is updated in response to at least one triggering event received by the processor, and switching from the first operating mode to the second operating mode in response to the request for a position fix.

12. The mobile computing device of claim 11, the processor to periodically generate updated position assist data.

13. The mobile computing device of claim 11, the updated position assist data comprising almanac data.

14. The mobile computing device of claim 11, the position assist data comprising coarse data and the processor to generate the updated coarse data by generating an updated position fix.

15. The mobile computing device of claim 11, comprising a transceiver communicatively coupled with the processor, the transceiver to communicate the request for a position fix during a data call.

16. The mobile computing device of claim 11, the position assist data comprising ephemeris data and the processor to generate the updated position assist data by receiving the ephemeris data via a transceiver.