Method, location service apparatus and system for acquiring a cell position and locating a cell

• US 8,412,233 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2009
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZTE Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZTE Corporation
• Inventors: Yang, Kui
• Primary Examiner(s): CAI, WAYNE HUU
• Application Number:
  US13/257,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20120077487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/414.2, 4554321-4322, 455/433, 455/435.1, 4554561-4566, 455/457, 701/1, 701/400, 701/408, 701/409
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• 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: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

The present invention provides a method, location service apparatus and system for acquiring a cell position, relating to the field of mobile communications. The method comprises the following steps that: a location service apparatus receives, from a first terminal, a locating request including an identifier of the cell where the first terminal resides, determines whether the cell position information corresponding to the identifier of the cell is stored in a base station database of the location service apparatus and generates a result of determining and, in the case where the result of determining is that the cell position information corresponding to the identifier of the cell is stored in the base station database of the location service apparatus, sends a first locating request to the first terminal, receives first position information from the first terminal, wherein the first position information is the position information returned after the first terminal carries out a location according to the first locating request, and stores the first position information as the cell position information corresponding to the identifier of the cell. The present invention can be applied to locate a cell where a roaming terminal resides.

Claims

1. A method for acquiring a cell position, comprising:

a location service apparatus receiving, from a first terminal, a locating request including an identifier of the cell where the first terminal resides;

the location service apparatus determining whether cell position information corresponding to the identifier of the cell is stored in a base station database of the location service apparatus and generating a result of determining;

in the case where the cell position information corresponding to the identifier of the cell is not stored in the base station database of the location service apparatus, the location service apparatus sending a first locating request to the first terminal;

the location service apparatus receiving first position information from the first terminal, wherein the first position information is the position information returned after the first terminal carries out a location according to the first locating request; and

the location service apparatus storing the first position information as the cell position information corresponding to the identifier of the cell, so as to acquire the position information of the cell where a roaming terminal resides.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the step that the location service apparatus sends a first locating request to the first terminal comprises:

the location service apparatus sends the first terminal a first locating request including a GPS satellite almanac; and

the step that the first terminal carries out a location according to the first locating request comprises;

the first terminal carries out a GPS location according to the GPS satellite almanac.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

the location service apparatus sending a second locating request to a second terminal residing in the same cell with the first terminal;

the location service apparatus receiving second position information from the second terminal, wherein the second position information is the position information returned after the second terminal carries out a location according to the second locating request;

the location service apparatus generating third position information according to the first position information and the second position information; and

the location service apparatus updating the cell position information corresponding to the identifier of the cell with the third position information.

4. The method according to claim 3, the method further comprising:

the location service apparatus calculating GPS assistance information according to the first position information before the location service apparatus sends the second locating request to the second terminal;

wherein the step that the location service apparatus sends a second locating request to the second terminal is as follows;

the location service apparatus sends the second terminal a second locating request including the GPS assistance information; and

the second position information refers to the position information generated after the second terminal carries out a GPS location according to the GPS assistance information.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

the location service apparatus receiving a locating request including an identifier of a first cell to be searched from a first cell position information requesting apparatus;

the location service apparatus comparing the identifier of the first cell to be searched with that of the cell where the first terminal resides; and

in the case where the identifiers of the first cell to be searched and the cell where the first terminal resides are the same, the location service apparatus sending the cell position information to the first cell position information requesting apparatus, so as to acquire the position information of the cell to be searched.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein

the first position information and the second position information are latitude and longitude coordinates;

and

the step that the location service apparatus generates third position information according to the first position information and the second position information is as follows;

the location service apparatus generates the third position information by calculating the average value of the first position information and the second position information;

or

the location service apparatus generates the third position information according to the occurrence probability of the first position information and the second position information.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

the location service apparatus receiving a locating request including an identifier of a first cell to be searched from a first cell position information requesting apparatus;

the location service apparatus comparing the identifier of the first cell to be searched with that of the cell where the first terminal resides; and

in the case where the identifiers of the first cell to be searched and the cell where the first terminal resides are the same, the location service apparatus sending the cell position information to the first cell position information requesting apparatus, so as to acquire the position information of the cell to be searched.

8. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

the location service apparatus receiving a locating request including an identifier of a first cell to be searched from a first cell position information requesting apparatus;

the location service apparatus comparing the identifier of the first cell to be searched with that of the cell where the first terminal resides; and

in the case where the identifiers of the first cell to be searched and the cell where the first terminal resides are the same, the location service apparatus sending the cell position information to the first cell position information requesting apparatus, so as to acquire the position information of the cell to be searched.

9. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

the location service apparatus receiving a locating request including an identifier of a first cell to be searched from a first cell position information requesting apparatus;

the location service apparatus comparing the identifier of the first cell to be searched with that of the cell where the first terminal resides; and

in the case where the identifiers of the first cell to be searched and the cell where the first terminal resides are the same, the location service apparatus sending the cell position information to the first cell position information requesting apparatus, so as to acquire the position information of the cell to be searched.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

the location service apparatus sending a second locating request to a second terminal residing in the same cell with the first terminal;

the location service apparatus receiving second position information from the second terminal, wherein the second position information is the position information returned after the second terminal carries out a location according to the second locating request;

the location service apparatus generating third position information according to the first position information and the second position information; and

the location service apparatus updating the cell position information corresponding to the identifier of the cell with the third position information.

11. The method according to claim 10, the method further comprising:

the location service apparatus calculating GPS assistance information according to the first position information before the location service apparatus sends the second locating request to the second terminal;

wherein the step that the location service apparatus sends a second locating request to the second terminal is as follows;

the location service apparatus sends the second terminal a second locating request including the GPS assistance information; and

the second position information refers to the position information generated after the second terminal carries out a GPS location according to the GPS assistance information.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

the location service apparatus receiving a locating request including an identifier of a first cell to be searched from a first cell position information requesting apparatus;

the location service apparatus comparing the identifier of the first cell to be searched with that of the cell where the first terminal resides; and

in the case where the identifiers of the first cell to be searched and the cell where the first terminal resides are the same, the location service apparatus sending the cell position information to the first cell position information requesting apparatus, so as to acquire the position information of the cell to be searched.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein

the first position information and the second position information are latitude and longitude coordinates;

and

the step that the location service apparatus generates third position information according to the first position information and the second position information is as follows;

the location service apparatus generates the third position information by calculating the average value of the first position information and the second position information;

or

the location service apparatus generates the third position information according to the occurrence probability of the first position information and the second position information.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

the location service apparatus receiving a locating request including an identifier of a first cell to be searched from a first cell position information requesting apparatus;

the location service apparatus comparing the identifier of the first cell to be searched with that of the cell where the first terminal resides; and

in the case where the identifiers of the first cell to be searched and the cell where the first terminal resides are the same, the location service apparatus sending the cell position information to the first cell position information requesting apparatus, so as to acquire the position information of the cell to be searched.

15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

the location service apparatus receiving a locating request including an identifier of a first cell to be searched from a first cell position information requesting apparatus;

the location service apparatus comparing the identifier of the first cell to be searched with that of the cell where the first terminal resides; and

in the case where the identifiers of the first cell to be searched and the cell where the first terminal resides are the same, the location service apparatus sending the cell position information to the first cell position information requesting apparatus, so as to acquire the position information of the cell to be searched.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

the location service apparatus receiving a locating request including an identifier of a first cell to be searched from a first cell position information requesting apparatus;

the location service apparatus comparing the identifier of the first cell to be searched with that of the cell where the first terminal resides; and

in the case where the identifiers of the first cell to be searched and the cell where the first terminal resides are the same, the location service apparatus sending the cell position information to the first cell position information requesting apparatus, so as to acquire the position information of the cell to be searched.

17. A location service apparatus, comprising:

a first receiving unit configured to receive, from a first terminal, a locating request including an identifier of the cell where the first terminal resides;

a determining unit configured to determine whether cell position information corresponding to the identifier of the cell is stored in a base station database of the location service apparatus and generate a result of determining;

a first sending unit configured to send a first locating request to the first terminal in the case where the cell position information corresponding to the identifier of the cell is not stored in the base station database of the location service apparatus;

a second receiving unit configured to receive first position information from the first terminal, wherein the first position information is the position information returned after the first terminal carries out a location according to the first locating request; and

a storage unit configured to store the first position information as the cell position information corresponding to the identifier of the cell, so as to acquire the position information of the cell where a roaming terminal resides.

18. The location service apparatus according to claim 17, wherein

the first sending unit is further configured to send a second locating request to a second terminal residing in the same cell with the first terminal;

the second receiving unit is further configured to receive second position information from the second terminal, wherein the second position information is the position information returned after the second terminal carries out a location according to the second locating request;

the location service apparatus further comprising;

a position information generation unit configured to generate third position information according to the first position information and the second position information; and

an update unit configured to update the cell position information with the third position information.

19. The location service apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising:

a third receiving unit configured to receive a locating request including an identifier of a cell to be searched from a cell position information requesting apparatus;

a comparison unit configured to compare the identifier of the cell to be searched with that of the cell where the first terminal resides and generate a result of comparing; and

a second sending unit configured to send the cell position information to the first cell position information requesting apparatus when the identifiers of the cell to be searched and the cell where the first terminal resides are the same.

20. The location service apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:

a third receiving unit configured to receive a locating request including an identifier of a cell to be searched from a cell position information requesting apparatus;

a comparison unit configured to compare the identifier of the cell to be searched with that of the cell where the first terminal resides and generate a result of comparing; and

a second sending unit configured to send the cell position information to the first cell position information requesting apparatus when the identifiers of the cell to be searched and the cell where the first terminal resides are the same.

21. A system for acquiring cell position information, comprising:

a location service apparatus and a first terminal, wherein

the first terminal is configured to send the location service apparatus a locating request including an identifier of the cell where the first terminal resides; and

the location service apparatus is configured to receive, from the first terminal, the locating request including the identifier of the cell where the first terminal resides, determine whether cell position information corresponding to the identifier of the cell is stored in a base station database of the location service apparatus and generate a result of determining and, in the case where the result of determining is that the cell position information corresponding to the identifier of the cell is not stored in the base station database of the location service apparatus, send a first locating request to the first terminal, receive, from the first terminal, first position information which is the position information returned after the first terminal carries out a location according to the first locating request, and store the first position information as the cell position information corresponding to the identifier of the cell, so as to acquire the position information of the cell where a roaming terminal resides.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein

the first locating request includes a GPS satellite almanac;

and

the first position information refers to the position information returned after the first terminal carries out a GPS location according to the GPS satellite almanac.

23. The system according to claim 22, further comprising:

a second terminal, which is configured in the cell where the first terminal resides and configured to receive a second locating request sent by the location service apparatus, carry out a location according to the second locating request, and send the generated second position information to the location service apparatus; and

the location service apparatus is further configured to generate third position information according to the first position information and the second position information, and update the position information of the cell with the third position information.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein

the location service apparatus is further configured to calculate, after receiving the first position information from the first terminal, GPS assistance information according to the first position information and include the calculated GPS assistance information in the second locating request to be sent to the second terminal;

and

the second terminal is further configured to carry out a GPS location according to the GPS assistance information.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein

the first position information and the second position information are latitude and longitude coordinates;

and

the location service apparatus is further configured to generate third position information by calculating the average value of the first position information and the second position information or generate third position information according to the occurrence probability of the first position information and the second position information.

26. The system according to claim 25, further comprising a first cell position information requesting apparatus, wherein

the first cell position information requesting apparatus is configured to send the location service apparatus a locating request including an identifier of a first cell to be searched;

and

the location service apparatus is further configured to compare the identifier of the first cell to be searched with that of the cell where the first terminal resides, and send the cell position information to the first cell position information requesting apparatus when the result of the comparing shows that the identifiers of the first cell to be searched and the cell where the first terminal resides are the same, so as to acquire the position information of the cell to be searched.

27. The system according to claim 24, further comprising a first cell position information requesting apparatus, wherein

the first cell position information requesting apparatus is configured to send the location service apparatus a locating request including an identifier of a first cell to be searched;

and

the location service apparatus is further configured to compare the identifier of the first cell to be searched with that of the cell where the first terminal resides, and send the cell position information to the first cell position information requesting apparatus when the result of the comparing shows that the identifiers of the first cell to be searched and the cell where the first terminal resides are the same, so as to acquire the position information of the cell to be searched.

28. The system according to claim 23, further comprising a first cell position information requesting apparatus, wherein

the first cell position information requesting apparatus is configured to send the location service apparatus a locating request including an identifier of a first cell to be searched;

and

the location service apparatus is further configured to compare the identifier of the first cell to be searched with that of the cell where the first terminal resides, and send the cell position information to the first cell position information requesting apparatus when the result of the comparing shows that the identifiers of the first cell to be searched and the cell where the first terminal resides are the same, so as to acquire the position information of the cell to be searched.

29. The system according to claim 22, further comprising a first cell position information requesting apparatus, wherein

the first cell position information requesting apparatus is configured to send the location service apparatus a locating request including an identifier of a first cell to be searched;

and

the location service apparatus is further configured to compare the identifier of the first cell to be searched with that of the cell where the first terminal resides, and send the cell position information to the first cell position information requesting apparatus when the result of the comparing shows that the identifiers of the first cell to be searched and the cell where the first terminal resides are the same, so as to acquire the position information of the cell to be searched.

30. The system according to claim 21, further comprising:

a second terminal, which is configured in the cell where the first terminal resides and configured to receive a second locating request sent by the location service apparatus, carry out a location according to the second locating request, and send the generated second position information to the location service apparatus; and

the location service apparatus is further configured to generate third position information according to the first position information and the second position information, and update the position information of the cell with the third position information.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein

the location service apparatus is further configured to calculate, after receiving the first position information from the first terminal, GPS assistance information according to the first position information and include the calculated GPS assistance information in the second locating request to be sent to the second terminal;

and

the second terminal is further configured to carry out a GPS location according to the GPS assistance information.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein

the first position information and the second position information are latitude and longitude coordinates;

and

the location service apparatus is further configured to generate third position information by calculating the average value of the first position information and the second position information or generate third position information according to the occurrence probability of the first position information and the second position information.

33. The system according to claim 32, further comprising a first cell position information requesting apparatus, wherein

the first cell position information requesting apparatus is configured to send the location service apparatus a locating request including an identifier of a first cell to be searched;

and

the location service apparatus is further configured to compare the identifier of the first cell to be searched with that of the cell where the first terminal resides, and send the cell position information to the first cell position information requesting apparatus when the result of the comparing shows that the identifiers of the first cell to be searched and the cell where the first terminal resides are the same, so as to acquire the position information of the cell to be searched.

34. The system according to claim 31, further comprising a first cell position information requesting apparatus, wherein

the first cell position information requesting apparatus is configured to send the location service apparatus a locating request including an identifier of a first cell to be searched;

and

the location service apparatus is further configured to compare the identifier of the first cell to be searched with that of the cell where the first terminal resides, and send the cell position information to the first cell position information requesting apparatus when the result of the comparing shows that the identifiers of the first cell to be searched and the cell where the first terminal resides are the same, so as to acquire the position information of the cell to be searched.

35. The system according to claim 30, further comprising a first cell position information requesting apparatus, wherein

the first cell position information requesting apparatus is configured to send the location service apparatus a locating request including an identifier of a first cell to be searched;

and

the location service apparatus is further configured to compare the identifier of the first cell to be searched with that of the cell where the first terminal resides, and send the cell position information to the first cell position information requesting apparatus when the result of the comparing shows that the identifiers of the first cell to be searched and the cell where the first terminal resides are the same, so as to acquire the position information of the cell to be searched.

36. The system according to claim 21, further comprising a first cell position information requesting apparatus, wherein

the first cell position information requesting apparatus is configured to send the location service apparatus a locating request including an identifier of a first cell to be searched;

and

the location service apparatus is further configured to compare the identifier of the first cell to be searched with that of the cell where the first terminal resides, and send the cell position information to the first cell position information requesting apparatus when the result of the comparing shows that the identifiers of the first cell to be searched and the cell where the first terminal resides are the same, so as to acquire the position information of the cell to be searched.