Methods and apparatuses for providing peer-to-peer positioning in wireless networks

• US 8,699,409 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2009
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Aryan, Babak, Kong, Seung-Hyun, Xiong, Wenhui
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu, Kibrom T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duffy, James P
• Application Number:
  US12/420,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20100260150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,833 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.4, 455/456.5, 455/456.6
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for use in wireless networks to provide and/or otherwise support peer-to-peer positioning operations.

Claims

1. A method for use in supporting peer-to-peer trilateration (PPT), the method comprising:

with a first peer device;

receiving a PPT request message broadcast from another device over a wireless communication link to at least said first peer device and at least a second peer device as part of a peer-to-peer positioning operation in which said first peer device participates by transmitting one or more PPT beacon signals to at least said second peer device, and wherein said PPT request message is indicative to at least said second peer device to participate in said peer-to-peer positioning operation by preparing to receive said at least one PPT beacon signal from said first peer device;

in response to said PPT request message, transmitting at least a first PPT beacon signal to at least said second peer device during at least a first portion of a first assigned time slot; and

in response to a determination that said peer-to-peer positioning operation has not ended, transmitting at least a second PPT beacon signal to at least said second peer device during at least a second portion of said first assigned time slot or at least a portion of a second assigned time slot, and wherein said first peer device comprises a target mobile station having a currently unknown location and said second peer device comprises a nomadic mobile station.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said another device comprises at least one of a base station, a dedicated peer device, and/or a network resource.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said PPT request message identifies at least one of said first assigned time slot and/or said second assigned time slot.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein transmitting at least said second PPT beacon signal comprises waiting for a period of time before transmitting said second PPT beacon signal.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said period of time comprises a random period of time.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein transmitting at least said first PPT beacon signal comprises transmitting said first PPT beacon signal at a first transmission power level, and transmitting at least said second PPT beacon signal comprises transmitting said second PPT beacon signal at a second transmission power level that is different than said first transmission power level.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein transmitting at least said second PPT beacon signal comprises transmitting at least said second PPT beacon signal if an acknowledgment message from said another device ending said peer-to-peer positioning operation has not been received.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving location information from said another device, said location information identifying a location of said first peer device as determined, at least in part, by a peer-to-peer positioning operation.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said location information is received encrypted.

10. An apparatus for use in a first peer device enabled to support peer-to-peer trilateration (PPT), the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a PPT request message broadcast from another device over a wireless communication link to at least said first peer device and at least a second peer device as part of a peer-to-peer positioning operation in which said first peer device participates by transmitting one or more PPT beacon signals to at least said second peer device, and wherein said PPT request message is indicative to at least said second peer device to participate in said peer-to-peer positioning operation by preparing to receive said at least one PPT beacon signal from said first peer device;

means for initiating transmission of at least a first PPT beacon signal to at least said second peer device during at least a first portion of a first assigned time slot, in response to said PPT request message; and

means for initiating transmission of at least a second PPT beacon signal to at least said second peer device during at least a second portion of said first assigned time slot or at least a portion of a second assigned time slot, in response to a determination that said peer-to-peer positioning operation has not ended, and wherein said first peer device comprises a target mobile station having a currently unknown location and said second peer device comprises a nomadic mobile station.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said another device comprises at least one of a base station, a dedicated peer device, or a network resource.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said PPT request message identifies at least one of said first assigned time slot and/or said second assigned time slot.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

means for waiting for a period of time before transmitting said second PPT beacon signal.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said period of time comprises a random period of time.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein:

said means for initiating transmission of at least said first PPT beacon signal further comprises means for initiating transmission of said first PPT beacon signal at a first transmission power level; and

said means for initiating transmission of at least said second PPT beacon signal comprises means for initiating transmission of said second PPT beacon signal at a second transmission power level that is different than said first transmission power level.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said means for initiating transmission of at least said second PPT beacon signal comprises means for initiating transmission of at least said second PPT beacon signal if an acknowledgment message from said another device ending said peer-to-peer positioning operation has not been received.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

means for receiving location information from said another device, said location information identifying a location of said first peer device as determined, at least in part, by a peer-to-peer positioning operation.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein said location information is received encrypted.

19. A first peer device comprising:

a communication interface to receive a peer-to-peer trilateration (PPT) request message broadcast from another device over a wireless communication link to at least said first peer device and at least a second peer device as part of a peer-to-peer positioning operation in which said first peer device participates by transmitting one or more PPT beacon signals to at least said second peer device, and wherein said PPT request message is indicative to at least said second peer device to participate in said peer-to-peer positioning operation by preparing to receive said at least one PPT beacon signal from said first peer device; and

a processing unit coupled to said communication interface to;

initiate transmission of at least a first PPT beacon signal to at least said second peer device during at least a first portion of a first assigned time slot, in response to said PPT request message, and

in response to a determination that said peer-to-peer positioning operation has not ended, initiate transmission of at least a second PPT beacon signal to said second peer device during at least a second portion of said first assigned time slot or at least a portion of a second assigned time slot, and wherein said first peer device comprises a target mobile station having a currently unknown location and said second peer device comprises a nomadic mobile station.

20. The first peer device as recited in claim 19, wherein said another device comprises at least one of a base station, a dedicated peer device, or a network resource.

21. The first peer device as recited in claim 19, wherein said PPT request message identifies at least one of said first assigned time slot and/or said second assigned time slot.

22. The first peer device as recited in claim 19, said processing unit to wait for a period of time before initiating transmission of said second PPT beacon signal.

23. The first peer device as recited in claim 22, wherein said period of time comprises a random period of time.

24. The first peer device as recited in claim 19, wherein said first PPT beacon signal is transmitted at a first transmission power level, and if transmitted said second PPT beacon signal is transmitted at a second transmission power level that is different than said first transmission power level.

25. The first peer device as recited in claim 19, said processing unit to initiate transmission of at least said second PPT beacon signal if an acknowledgment message from said another device ending said peer-to-peer positioning operation has not been received.

26. The first peer device as recited in claim 19, said communication interface to receive location information from said another device, said location information identifying a location of said first peer device as determined, at least in part, by said peer-to-peer positioning operation.

27. The first peer device as recited in claim 26, wherein said location information has been encrypted.

28. An article comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer implementable instructions stored thereon which are executable by one or more processing units in a first peer device to;

access information received via a peer-to-peer trilateration (PPT) request message broadcast from another device over a wireless communication link to at least said first peer device and at least a second peer device as part of a peer-to-peer positioning operation in which said first peer device participates by transmitting one or more PPT beacon signals to at least said second peer device, and wherein said PPT request message is indicative to at least said second peer device to participate in said peer-to-peer positioning operation by preparing to receive said at least one PPT beacon signal from said first peer device; and

based, at least in part thereon;

initiate transmission of at least a first PPT beacon signal to at least said second peer device during at least a first portion of a first assigned time slot, and

in response to a determination that said peer-to-peer positioning operation has not ended, initiate transmission of at least a second PPT beacon signal to at least said second peer device during at least a second portion of said first assigned time slot or at least a portion of a second assigned time slot, and wherein said first peer device comprises a target mobile station having a currently unknown location and said second peer device comprises a nomadic mobile station.

29. The article as recited in claim 28, wherein said another device comprises at least one of a base station, a dedicated peer device, or a network resource.

30. The article as recited in claim 28, wherein said PPT request message identifies at least one of said first assigned time slot and/or said second assigned time slot.

31. The article as recited in claim 28, said computer implementable instructions being further executable to:

wait for a period of time before initiating transmission of said second PPT beacon signal.

32. The article as recited in claim 31, wherein said period of time comprises a random period of time.

33. The article as recited in claim 28, wherein said first PPT beacon signal is transmitted at a first transmission power level, and if transmitted said second PPT beacon signal is transmitted at a second transmission power level that is different than said first transmission power level.

34. The article as recited in claim 28, said computer implementable instructions being further executable to:

initiate transmission of at least said second PPT beacon signal if an acknowledgment message from said another device ending said peer-to-peer positioning operation has not been received.

35. The article as recited in claim 28, said computer implementable instructions being further executable to:

obtain location information identifying a location of said first peer device as determined, at least in part, by said peer-to-peer positioning operation.

36. The article as recited in claim 35, wherein said location information has been encrypted.