Method and apparatus for wireless network hybrid positioning

Priority claim

This application relates to and claims the benefit of a US provisional patent application with serial number 60 / 483,094 filed June 27, 2003.

Field of invention

The present invention relates to a position determination system, and more particularly to hybrid positioning using a wireless communication signal.

background

To perform position location in a wireless mobile phone network (eg, mobile phone network), several approaches are sent between each of several base stations and a mobile device, such as a mobile phone. Perform three-sided survey based on the use of timing information. Advanced Observed Time Difference (EOTD) in CDMA or Enhanced Observed Time Difference (EOTD) in GSM® or Observed in WCDMA® Time Difference of One approach, called Arrival) (OTDOA), measures the relative time of arrival of a signal transmitted from each of several base stations with a mobile device. These times are transmitted to a location server (eg, a Positioning Entity (PDE) in CDMA), which uses these times of reception to calculate the position of the mobile device. The transmission time at these base stations is adjusted so that the times-of-day associated with a large number of base stations is within a predetermined error limit range at a specific time. The exact position and reception time of the base station is used to determine the position of the mobile device.

FIG. 1 shows an example of an AFLT system, in which signal reception times (TR1, TR2, and TR3) from mobile phone base stations 101, 103, and 105 are measured by mobile phone 111. This timing data may then be used to calculate the position of the mobile device. Such calculations are performed on the mobile device itself, or on the location server if the timing information so obtained by the mobile device is transmitted to the location server via a communication link. Typically, the reception time is transmitted to the location server 115 via one of the mobile phone base stations (eg, base station 101, or 103, or 105). The location server 115 is coupled to receive data from the base station via the mobile exchange 113. The location server may include a base station Armanac (BSA) server that provides the location of the base station and / or the service area of the base station. Alternatively, the location server and the BSA server may be separate from each other, and the location server communicates with the base station to acquire the base station Armanac for position determination. The mobile exchange 113 is on the ground so that the signal can be transmitted to or from the mobile phone to another phone (eg, a landline or other mobile phone on the Public Exchange Telephone Network (PSTN)). Communications Lines Provides signals (eg, voice communications) to or from the Public Exchange Telephone Network (PSTN). In some cases, the location server can also communicate with the mobile exchange via the mobile phone link. The location server can also monitor emissions from these base stations to determine the relative timing of emissions from some base stations.

Another approach, called arrival uplink time (UTOA), measures the reception time of a signal from a mobile device at some base stations (eg, measurements taken at base stations 101, 103, and 105). If the arrows on TR1, TR2, and TR3 are reversed, Figure 1 applies to this case. This timing data may then be transmitted to the location server to calculate the position of the mobile device.

In addition, a third way to do position location is in the United States Global Positioning, inside a mobile device. Circuits for satellite (GPS) systems, or for other satellite positioning systems (SPS), such as the Russian GLONASS system or the proposed European Galileo system, or for the combination of satellites and pseudolites. Accompanied by use. A sudrite is a terrestrial transmitter that broadcasts a PN code (similar to a GSP signal) modulated with an L-band carrier signal and is generally synchronized to SPS time. Each transmitter may be assigned a unique PN code to allow identification by the mobile device. Pseudolites are useful in situations where SPS signals from orbiting satellites may not be received, such as tunnels, mines, buildings, or other enclosed areas. The term "satellite", as used herein, is intended to include sudrite or equivalents of sudrite, and as used herein, the term "GPS signal". "(" GPS signal ") is a GPS-like signal from a sudlight or an equivalent of a sudlight. signals) are intended to be included. The method of using the SPS receiver to determine the position of the mobile station may be completely autonomous (in this way, the SPS receiver determines the position of the mobile station without any assistance). Alternatively, the wireless network may be used to provide support data or to share in position calculations. Examples of such methods are described in US Pat. Nos. 6,208,290, 5,841,396, 5,874,914, 5,945,944, and 5,812,087. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,944 describes, among other things, how to obtain accurate time information from a cell phone transmission signal that is used in combination with an SPS signal to determine the position of a receiver; U.S.A. Patent No. 5,874,914, among other things, in view satellites (in view) to determine the position of mobile devices. satellites) Doppler frequency shift describes how to transmit to a receiver on a mobile device over a communication link; US Pat. No. 5,874,914, among other things, to help the receiver locate it. Describes how satellite Armanac data (or satellite orbital data) is transmitted to the receiver via a communication link; US Pat. No. 5,874,914 also, among other things, a reference signal to the receiver for SPS signal acquisition. Describes how to fix to the exact carrier frequency signal of a mobile phone system to supply; US Pat. No. 6,208,290, among other things, an approximate Doppler to reduce SPS signal processing time. Explains how to use the approximate location of the receiver to determine; also US Pat. No. 5,812,087, among other things, one of the records received by the receiver to determine the position of the receiver. Time to be (a Describes how to compare different records of received satellite data messages to determine time). In a practical low cost implementation, both the mobile mobile communication receiver and the SPS receiver can be integrated in the same enclosure and, in fact, share a common electronic circuit.

In yet another variation of the above method, a round trip delay (RTD) is found for the signal transmitted from the base station to the mobile device and then returned. A similar, but otherwise, round-trip delay is found for the signal transmitted from the mobile device to the base station and then returned. Each of these round-trip delays is divided by 2 to determine an estimate of the one-way propagation delay. Base station location, plus knowledge of one-way delays, limits the location of mobile devices to one circle on the ground. Such two measurements from separate base stations result in the intersection of two circles, which in turn limit their location to two points on the ground. The third measurement (arrival angle, or even cell sector identification) resolves the ambiguity.

The combination of either AFLT or U-TDOA with an SPS system may be referred to as a "hybrid" system. For example, US Pat. No. 5,999,124 describes, among other things, a hybrid system, in which the position of a cell based transceiver is at least i) between the cell-based receiver and the communication system. It is determined from a combination of a time measurement, which indicates the time that a message travels in a cell-based communication signal between them, and ii) a time measurement, which indicates the time that an SPS signal travels.

Altitude aiding has been used in a variety of ways to determine the position of mobile devices. Altitude support is generally based on simulated altitude measurements. A high degree of knowledge of the location of mobile devices limits the possible positions of mobile devices to the surface of a centered sphere (or ellipsoid) located in the center of the earth. This knowledge can be used to reduce the number of independent measurements required to determine the position of a mobile device. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6.061,018 describes, among other things, how the estimated altitude is determined from the information in a cell object, which is the cell communicating with the mobile device. It may be a cell site with a site transmitter.

Methods and devices for hybrid position determination and / or other types of communication signal operations are described herein. Some examples of the present invention are summarized in this section.

In one aspect of the invention, the mobile station is from multiple different radio networks for position determination (eg, for data communication, for time and / or frequency information acquisition, for positioning measurements, for sector or altitude estimation). Use wireless signals (eg, with different air interfaces, core technologies, and / or operated by different service providers). In some other aspects of the invention, statistical data about wireless access points (eg, from said wireless access points, such as mobile phone base stations, wireless local area network access points, personal area communication transmitters, for positioning signals. In order to collect the location of the mobile station that received the signal from a repeater or radio sign, or other radio communication transmitter, etc., and location information (eg, the location and / or service area of the radio transmitter, etc.) A mobile station to retrieve wireless transmitter identification information (eg, SID / NID / BASE-ID, MSC-ID, IP address, MAC address, logical name, etc.) from the collected statistical data for the wireless network. Is used. It should be noted that in the present application, the radio transmitter is usually a ground-based transmitter, unlike a satellite that orbits the transmitter.

In one aspect of the invention, an exemplary method of operating a mobile station is a first radio transmission, which is an access point of a first radio network accessible to the mobile station. The identification information of the machine is determined by the mobile station; during the position determination of the mobile station, the identification information is transmitted from the mobile station to the remote server via the second radio transmitter of the second radio network. Including that. The first wireless network is different from the second wireless network in the method of this example. The first and second radio access points use different communication protocols and / or air interfaces and / or structures. For example, the first wireless access point is for accessing the local area network (LAN) of the first wireless network, and the access technology, for example, a) UWB (ultra-wideband) or b) Wi. -Using one of Fi (Wireless Fidelity); said second wireless access point is a wide area network (WAN) wireless telephone system, eg a) TDMA (Time Split Multiple Connections (Time)). Division Multiple Access)), b) GSM (Global System for Mobile communications), c) CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), d) W-CDMA (Broadband Code Division) Wideband Code Division Multiple Access, e) TD-SCDMA (Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access), f) cdma2000 1X EV-DO (Evolution Data Only) )) Or cdma2000 1X EV-DV (Evolution Data and Voice), g) Other networks such as ANSI-41, GSM-MAP, IS-136, iDEN (Integrated Digital) Enhanced Network)), GERAN, UTRAN, CDMA DS-MAP, CDMA MC-41, CDMA DS-41, CDMA MC-MAP, etc., mobile phone base stations for systems that use one of them. The first service provider can operate the first wireless network, and the second service provider can operate the second wireless network. The first wireless access point can support two-way communication. In one example of this method, the mobile station determines positioning information indicating the distance between the mobile station and the first radio access point; the mobile station via the second radio access point. , The positioning information is transmitted to the server to determine the position of the mobile station. The positioning information may include, for example, signal level indications for signals transmitted from the first radio access point and received by the mobile station. SPS (Satellite Positioning System) System)) Measurement of the pseudorange to the satellite is determined by the SPS receiver of the mobile station and determines the position of the mobile station via the second radio access point. Therefore, it may be transmitted from the mobile station to the server. In one example, the position of the first radio access point from the server is received after the identification information of the first radio access point has been transmitted to the server.

In another aspect of the invention, the method of operating a mobile station receives a first signal transmitted from a first radio access point of a first radio network that supports two-way communication at the mobile station; The first signal is used to determine a range measurement (eg, a range measurement that indicates the distance between the mobile station and the first radio access point); the mobile station. And a second radio access point of a second radio network different from the first radio network, and a second signal is transmitted and received; in order to determine the position of the mobile station, the second radio network It includes communicating between the mobile station and the server via the second wireless access point. In one example that follows this aspect, the mobile station's local oscillator (local) The oscillator) can be tuned using the first signal (eg, the local oscillator is the carrier frequency of the first signal transmitted from the first radio access point of the first radio network). Fixed to the signal). Also, accurate time information (eg, timing marker or system time) can be obtained from the first signal. The second wireless access point may communicate with the mobile station according to the standard of the wireless local area network, or it may communicate with the mobile station according to the standard of the wireless wide area network. In one example, the first wireless access point is a base station of a wireless mobile phone communication system (eg, a mobile phone "tower").

The present invention includes methods and devices for performing these methods, a data processing system that implements these methods, and a computer-readable medium that allows the system to perform these methods when performed on the data processing system. computer readable media) is included. Furthermore, the invention described herein can be implemented at different nodes in the system, such nodes being mobile stations, base stations (eg wireless access points, etc.), or location servers. Alternatively, it includes other nodes of the network or wireless network.

Other features of the invention will become apparent from the accompanying drawings and the detailed description below.

<figref num="1">FIG. 1 shows an example of a prior art mobile phone network that determines the position of a mobile mobile phone device.</figref><figref num="2">FIG. 2 shows an example of a server that can be used with the present invention.</figref><figref num="3">FIG. 3 shows a block diagram display of a mobile station according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="4">FIG. 4 shows an example of a hybrid positioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="5">FIG. 5 shows another example of a hybrid positioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="6">FIG. 6 illustrates a method of determining the position of a wireless access point according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="7">FIG. 7 illustrates another method of determining the position information of a wireless access point according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="8">FIG. 8 shows a method of hybrid position determination using a plurality of wireless networks according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="9">FIG. 9 shows a method of hybrid position determination using two wireless networks for communication with a server according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="10">FIG. 10 shows a method of generating location information about a wireless access point according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="11">FIG. 11 shows a hybrid position determination method using one radio network for communication and another radio network for measuring positioning parameters according to an embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="12">FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="13">FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="14">FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the present invention.</figref>

Detailed explanation

The present invention is illustrated in the illustrations of the accompanying drawings in which similar references indicate similar elements, by way of example, but not as a limitation.

The following description and drawings are for illustration purposes and should not be construed as limiting the invention. A number of specific details will be provided so that the present invention can be fully understood. However, in some cases, well-known or conventional details are not provided to avoid obscuring the description of the invention. References to one or one embodiment in the present disclosure do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, and such reference means at least one.

Recent developments in wireless communication technology have led to the development of a wide variety of different wireless networks with virtually overlapping service areas in some areas. In the present application, a wireless network refers to a series of wireless access points (eg, base stations) that have the same air interface and are operated by one service provider (eg, Verizon Wireless or Sprint). When in the service area of the network, the mobile unit can access the mobile unit network via one of a series of wireless access points; also the sum of the service areas of the wireless access points of the wireless network ( union) is the service area of the network. In addition, data communication (data) communication) refers to data transmission in two-way communication, but in some embodiments the data communication may be one-way communication or a signal broadcast regardless of whether the receiver requires it. May include extracting information embedded in. A radio access point can be considered as a cell tower, or a base station, or other radio transmitter or receiver coupled to the network of another node (eg, a radio access point). , Connected to other nodes wirelessly or by wire).

In some areas, especially in urban metropolitan areas, different wireless networks have virtually overlapping service areas. For example, different service providers may offer the same type of wireless service (eg, mobile communication) in the same area. In addition, different types of wireless services, such as wireless telephone services (eg, data, voice or both mobile phone services) and wireless digital communication services (eg, Wi-Fi networks, bluetooth®, ultra-wideband, etc. Wireless local area network) etc. may overlap in the service area. For example, a wireless LAN (local area network) access point (eg, for IEEE802.11 based wireless networks) is a wireless long-distance communication network (eg, Communications Industry Association (TIA) / American Electronics Industry Association (EIA) standard, For example, IS-95, IS-856 or IS-2000 compliant), such as TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access), GSM (Pan-European Digital Mobile Phone System), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), W-CDMA ( Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), UMTS (United Mobile Communication System (United) Mobile Telecommunication System), TD-SCDMA (Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access), iDEN (Integrated Digital Extended Network), HDR (High Data Rate), etc. It may be located within the service area of a similar mobile network.

In at least one embodiment of the invention, measurements are determined and support information (eg, access point position and service area, Doppler frequency deviation for in-view SPS satellites, SPS) to form a flexible and ubiquitous navigation solution. We are exploring a comprehensive system that supports positioning using sources of these heterogeneous radio signals to obtain (satellite orbital data). In this integrated system, when information about an access point (eg, base station Armanac, eg, base station location and service area, etc.) is available, it is used and enhanced. If this is not the case, the system will automatically collect and enhance such information for future positioning attempts.

At least one embodiment of the present invention combines information such as SPS observation results, radio network observation results, terrain elevation information, and others to obtain a position solution for a mobile station. Uses the wireless signal transmitted from the access point of the wireless network of. In one embodiment of the invention, the mobile station of the hybrid position system has two or more radios to assist in the acquisition of SPS signals at the mobile station, time stamping for measurements, and other operations. Transfer information at access points on the network (in two-way communication). In one embodiment of the invention, the mobile station of the hybrid position system measures using signals from access points of different wireless networks while communicating with a remote server using one or more wireless networks. I do.

Generally, information describing the sector identification, location, and service area of a wireless network is stored in the base station Armanac and has been used in hybrid positioning systems that use a single wireless network. However, when different radio networks (eg, different service providers, or different types of networks) have overlapping service areas, even if the radio signals transmitted from the access points of the different radio networks are in the air, for the mobile station. Even if available, typical mobile stations cannot access and obtain such information for access points on different wireless networks. This is because mobile stations are usually authorized or authorized to access one wireless network, but not for another. One simple example of this is that access to the first wireless network (eg, a mobile phone network operated by a service provider like Verizon Wireless) is authorized, but the second wireless network (eg, a second wireless network). Sprint's Access to a cell phone network) or to a third network (eg, Wi-Fi Hotspot) is not authorized.

In one embodiment of the invention, a small, localized transmitter, eg, an IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN, if available. Access points, etc. are built into wireless navigation solutions. In many cases, location information for these transmitters is not well known. In some cases, "Almanac" information that describes the physical characteristics of the wireless network (eg, access point ID, location, and service area) is not available to users who may want to use it. Some network providers may choose not to share such information, while others still do not make such information available. In one embodiment of the invention, information for extracting the physical characteristics of the network is collected from a mobile station that uses another wireless network for communication. In one embodiment of the invention, the radio signals available in the air from different radio networks and the ability of the mobile station to determine the position (eg, with a GPS receiver or some function of the GPS receiver). With a mobile phone), the mobile station collects information about access points of different wireless networks, which may generally not be under the control of the operator of the wireless network with which the mobile station typically communicates data. .. The information collected is used to derive location information (eg, location, service area) about the access point that can be used to assist in hybrid position determination for future position determination.

In one embodiment of the invention, the signal used to provide time and / or frequency information to the mobile station is not the same as the signal on which the data communication process is performed.

Multiple wireless communication interfaces (eg IEEE 802.11 [and other IEEE 802.11s such as 802.11, 802.11, and 802.11]], bluetooth, UWB [ultra-wideband], TDMA, GSM, CDMA, W-CDMA , UMTS, TD-SCDMA, IDEN, HDR, or other similar networks) are used in one embodiment of the invention that uses multiple wireless networks. Such mobile stations may have, for example, several different parts in the communication section that support the transmission and / or reception of data for these different communication interfaces. Therefore, some are Wi-Fi signals (eg IEEE). It may handle 802.11 or 802.16) transmission and / or reception, and another part of the communications section may support mobile phone interfaces such as CDMA interfaces. It also gives the user an alternative communication path to choose when deciding to communicate. For example, availability, range, cost, data speed, and ease of use are taken into account when choosing which communication path to use.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first radio network is used for communication and positioning, while the second radio network is used for positioning and optional communication. For example, each of these wireless networks has a completely different air interface (eg, different TIA / EIA standards), eg, an air interface for a typical wireless cell phone (eg, TDMA, GSM, CDMA, W-CDMA). , UMTS, TD-SCDMA, IDEN, HDR, or other similar mobile phone networks), or use some other wireless air interface, such as a wireless air interface that complies with IEEE802.11, bluetooth, or UWB. Maybe. Many of these wireless networks are used for positioning purposes, even when only one wireless network may be used for communication. According to at least some embodiments of the present invention, the advantages of the hybrid approach are improved redundancy and higher positioning availability for more fail-sail resolutions. (availability), better accuracy, and faster fix time (time to fix).

FIG. 4 shows a hybrid positioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention. An example of system) is shown. In FIG. 4, the mobile station 407 uses air signals transmitted from both the wireless access point 403 of the wireless network A and the wireless access point 405 of the wireless network B for position determination. In one embodiment of the invention, the mobile station includes a receiver that receives SPS signals from SPS satellites (eg, GPS satellites, not shown in FIG. 4). Timing measurements (eg, pseudo-range, round-trip time, signal arrival time, signal arrival time difference) based on wireless signals (and SPS signals) from either or both of wireless networks A and B determine the position of the mobile station. May be used for. In general, it is understood that each of the wireless networks A and B includes a large number of access points (eg, mobile phone base stations such as wireless access points 403 and 405). Wireless networks A and B may use the same type of air interface operated by different service providers, or they may operate with the same communication protocol but at different frequencies. However, wireless networks A and B also have different types of air interfaces operated by the same or different service providers (eg, TDMA, GSM, CDMA, W-CDMA, UMTS, TD-SCDMA, IDEN, HDR, You can also use bluetooth, UWB, IEEE802.11, or similar networks).

In one embodiment of the invention, the position determination is performed on the location server 411 shown in the example depicted in FIG. Mobile station 407 includes information extracted from observed SPS signals (eg, SPS pseudo-range measurements, recording of SPS messages for comparison to determine the time of signal reception) and observed radio signals (eg, SPS messages). , Access point identification, round-trip or one-way time measurement between mobile station 407 and at least one of the wireless access points, received signal level), and information extracted from one of the wireless networks, eg, wireless network. It transmits to the location server via A (for example, when the mobile station is a subscriber of wireless network A but not a subscriber of wireless network B). Servers 413 and 415 hold almanac data for wireless networks A and B. This almanac data is simply a database that, in one embodiment, lists the latitude and longitude of each radio access point identified by identification information (eg, MAC address or cell tower identifier, etc.). Good. The location server 411 uses the information transmitted from the mobile station and the data in the Armanac servers 413 and 415 to determine the position of the mobile station. The location server 411 can determine the location of the mobile station in many different ways. It takes, for example, the locations of wireless access points 403 and 405 from servers 413 and 415 and measures the distance between these locations and the mobile station 407 and points 403 and 405, and SPS pseudo-range measurements. SPS satellite orbit information may be used to calculate the position of mobile station 407. U.S. Pat. No. 5,999, Issue 124 describes how range measurements from a single wireless network and SPS pseudo-measurements can be combined to calculate the position of a mobile station. Alternatively, the location server 411 can perform terrestrial range measurements up to multiple radio access points in multiple radio networks to calculate positions if many (eg, more than 3) such range measurements can be made. Only (terrestrial range measurement) (or other types of measurements, such as a single intensity measurement) may be used; in this case, it is not necessary to obtain SPS pseudoranges or SPS satellite orbit information. If pseudo-range measurements up to the SPS satellite are available, these pseudo-ranges are either by mobile stations or described in US Pat. No. 6,185,427 to provide further information in position calculations. It can be combined with SPS satellite orbit information obtained either by collection of GPS reference receivers, as is done.

Network 401 may include a local area network, one or more intranets, and the Internet for exchanging information between various various entities. Servers 411, 413, and 415 are built as a single server program or as different data programs in a single data processing system or in a distributed data processing system (eg, maintained and operated by different service providers). It is understood that it can be done.

In one embodiment of the invention, different service providers operate wireless networks A and B used by mobile stations to determine their position. A typical mobile station is a subscriber to only one of them, so the mobile station is authorized to use (and access) only one wireless network. However, it is often possible to at least receive signals from unsubscribed wireless networks, thus making range measurements or signal strength measurements in relation to wireless access points in unsubscribed wireless networks. That is still possible. One particular example of this situation is the ability to receive PCS frequency band signals (eg, from a wireless network operated by the first service provider, Sprint), and other CDMAs at other frequencies. Signals (eg, second service provider, Verizon (Such as from wireless networks operated by Wireless) will also be relevant to users of 3-mode CDMA mobile phones that can also be received. If the user subscribes only to Sprint's wireless network, then the user's phone (in the form of a mobile station) is authorized to operate on Sprint's wireless network, but Verizon's Not given in wireless networks. In an environment where only one Sprint wireless access point (eg, Sprint mobile phone base station) can wirelessly communicate with the user's phone, the user can use the phone, but under this environment, within the wireless communication range of the user's phone. There are many Verizon wireless access points in. Under these circumstances, it is not possible for the phone to obtain SPS support data (if necessary) from the location server via Sprint's wireless network and transmit the SPS pseudo-range obtained by phone to the location server. It is even possible. However, it is not possible to obtain two or more range measurements to the wireless access point without obtaining range measurements to the Verizon wireless access point. In the case of the embodiments of the present invention, the phone can be used in a position calculation performed to determine the position of the phone by obtaining a range measurement to an available Verizon wireless access point. It provides at least a few range measurements (eg, the distance between the phone and two Verizon mobile base stations).

The service provider keeps the Lumanac information about servers 413 and 415 separately. Although mobile station 407 has communication access to only one of the wireless networks, location server 411 can have access to both servers 413 and 415 for base station almanac data. After determining the identification of the base stations of both radio networks A and B (eg, radio access points 403 and 405), the mobile station 407 transmits the base station identification information to the location server 411. The location server 411 uses the servers 413 and 415 to retrieve the corresponding position of the base station, which can be used in determining the position of the mobile station.

Other selectable methods do not require cooperation between service providers sharing almanac data. For example, the operator of location server 411 can still use both almanac servers 413 and 415 (eg, through a research process to obtain almanac data, or through a data collection process using a mobile station, which are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and Maintain (explained in detail with 10).

In one embodiment of the invention, mobile station 407 uses both radio networks A and B for communication with the location server (instead of using only one of the radio networks for communication purposes). ). As is known in the art, various types of information are exchanged between mobile stations and location servers for position determination. For example, location server 411 can provide mobile station 407 with Doppler frequency deviation information for the mobile station's in-view satellite (eg, via wireless network A): the mobile station is also for SPS signals. Pseudo-range measurements, base station identification information, and related range measurements (eg, round-trip time measurements) can be provided to the location server for mobile station position calculations (eg, via wireless network B). In one embodiment of the invention, the mobile station can communicate to the location server through two or more wireless networks when in the service area of the wireless network. However, the trade-off between cost and performance requires communication with the server using one of the wireless networks, while timing the other wireless networks (or receiving signal levels). Obtaining time information from wireless transmission from an access point only for (such as other measurements) or for assistance in the measurement, eg, for time stamping measurement (eg, for ambiguity resolution). It may be necessary to use it only for such things as, or fixing it to the exact carrier frequency of the wireless mobile phone base station to tune the local oscillator of the mobile station.

In one embodiment of the invention, the location of a mobile station is determined by using information transmitted from the mobile station and then transmitted back to the mobile station. Alternatively, the position calculation uses support information from the local server (eg, Doppler frequency deviation for inview satellites, access point position and service area, differential GPS data, altitude support information) for mobile stations. Can be executed in.

FIG. 5 shows another example of a hybrid positioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention. One wireless network access point (eg, mobile phone base station 503) is used for communication between mobile station 507 and location server 511. The method of determining the position of mobile station 507 can use SPS signals (eg, from satellite 521), wireless signals from wireless network access points used for data communication (eg, mobile phone base station 503). And, of course, wireless signals from access points of other wireless networks, eg, access points that can be base stations of different wireless mobile phone networks (eg, operated by different service providers or using different air interfaces). Radio signals from B (505) and from access point A, which can be a wireless LAN access point (eg, bluetooth access point or Wi-Fi wireless access point), can be used.

Typically, wireless LAN access points (or other similar low power transmitters) have a small service area. When available, the narrow service area of such access points provides a very good estimate of the location of the mobile station. In addition, wireless LAN access points are typically installed near or in a building where other types of signals (eg, SPS or radiotelephone signals) are probably low. Thus, when wireless transmission is used with other types of signals, the performance of the positioning system can be greatly improved.

In one embodiment of the invention, radio signals from different radio networks are used for positioning. For example, radio signals from different wireless networks can be used to determine the identity of the corresponding access point, which are then used to determine the location and service area of the corresponding access point. When highly accurate range information (eg, round-trip time between access point and mobile station or signal propagation time) is available, range information and access point location can be used to obtain a hybrid positioning solution. The location of the access point can be used to estimate the position of the mobile station when approximate range information (eg, received signal level, which can be highly correlated with the estimated range) is available. In addition, the mobile station has a precision carrier frequency (eg, from access point 505 or 509) from one of the wireless networks that is not used for data communication purposes, the mobile station's local oscillator. Can be used to adjust. More details can be found in US Pat. No. 5,874,014 regarding fixing to the precision carrier frequency of the radio signal to supply the reference signal to the signal acquisition SPS receiver. In addition, mobile stations use accurate time information in radio signals (eg, from access points 505 or 509) from one of the radio networks that are not used for data communication purposes. it can. More details can be found in US Pat. No. 5,945,944 regarding the use of accurate time information for time stamping (eg, timing markers, or system time).

One embodiment of the invention is from a mobile station, as some access points in different wireless networks do not have well-known almanac data (eg, wireless access point location, wireless access point service area). Extract Armanac information from the collected information. FIG. 6 illustrates a method of determining the position of a wireless access point according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the location server does not know the position of the access point antenna 601. To calculate the position of an access point, the location server determines the position of the mobile station while determining the position of one or more mobile stations obtained from the mobile station and the range to their corresponding access points. Relate to each other. For example, position L₁Mobile station 611 at is range R up to access point antenna 601₁To decide. The mobile station acquires measurements based on the SPS signal (eg, measuring the SPS pseudorange and extracting SPS satellite orbit information from the SPS signal) and wireless transmission (eg, range measurement). The mobile station calculates its position using the measurement and transmits the calculated position to the location server along with i) the range to the access point antenna and ii) the identification signal of the access point antenna. Alternatively, the mobile station transmits i) measurement, ii) range to the access point antenna, and iii) access point antenna identification information to the location server, which uses the measurement to determine the position of the mobile station. Calculate and also range measurement (eg R₁, R₂And R₃, And the corresponding position (eg L₁, L₂, And L₃)) Save. When a large number of data points are available, each data point correlates the position of the mobile station with the range from the mobile station to the access point antenna, and the location server determines the position of the access point antenna. From Figure 6, only 3 range measurements (R)₁, R₂And R₃) And their corresponding positions (L₁, L₂, And L₃) Sufficiently identifies the specific location of the identified access point (shown at the intersection of the three circles identified by the three ranges). Various methods that have been used in the art to calculate the position of mobile stations based on range information can be used to calculate the position of access points. It should be noted that the data points can be from a single mobile station or from multiple mobile stations.

In addition, the accumulated data points of the mobile station location indicate the service area of the access point (eg, in a scatter plot of the mobile station). When the access point position is unknown, the collected data points can be used to estimate the access point position and service area. When an initial estimate of the access point's position is obtained, the collected data points can be used to improve this estimate. The process of collection and enhancement can be a process that continues during the service period of the location server. Collecting and enhancing operations can also be performed on different servers other than the location server. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, the collection and enhancement operations are performed on the Armanac server 513, which communicates with the location server 511 in executing the hybrid position determination of the mobile station.

However, high-precision information in the range up to some access points may not be available to the location server's mobile station. FIG. 7 illustrates another method of determining the position information of a wireless access point according to an embodiment of the present invention. Numerous data points (eg, 711, 713, 715, 721, 723, 725) at mobile station locations that can receive signals from the access point (eg, 703) have access point service areas (eg, 705). Clarified (eg, the smallest circle surrounding the data points through a scatter plot of the location). From the service area, the location server can calculate the estimated position of the access point (eg, the geometric center of the service area). In addition, range information (eg, received signal level indicators, round trip time) may be used to define weights for determining the weighted average of the service area (eg, the closer to the access point, the more weight is). Greater than), the weighted average determines the estimated position of the access point. Further, in one embodiment, if certain range information is clarified, the location server determines the probability that the mobile station is in a specific location from the statistical data of the mobile station. Other information, such as signal levels of radio transmissions from other transmitters, can then be used to narrow the potential location of the mobile station.

For example, the wireless LAN access point is located in building 701. SPS signals (eg signals from SPS satellite 741-745) and wireless cell phone signals (eg signals from cell phone base station 751) may be weak in building 701, but mobile station positions are in the building. It can be easily determined at certain locations in the vicinity (eg, locations just outside the building or inside the building, such as locations 711-725, such as spots near windows) (eg signals from access point 703). Without using). In one embodiment of the invention, the identification of the access point is determined and information that identifies the location of the mobile station (or the location of the mobile station) for determining the service area (and / or its position) of the access point 703. , For example, a pseudo range to the in-view satellite) and is sent to the server. Access point location information (eg, service area, position) can be retained on that server (or a different server). If the mobile station is inside the building (or in a position near the building) and some of the SPS and cell phone signals fail, local information about the access point will help determine the position of the mobile station. Can be used for.

Some access points may be moved from one location to another. In one embodiment of the invention, the server tracks collected position information for one or more mobile stations that receive transmissions from one access point to determine if the access point has been relocated. For example, to determine if an access point has been relocated, the server may compare the old service area with the new service area (eg, by comparing the center and radius of the service area). Alternatively, the server may periodically take into account the newly collected information and dispose of the old information. In addition, the server weights the collected information so that the newly collected data has more weight when determining the service area and / or location of the access point, and the previously collected data. The effects of can eventually diminish over time. In addition, the server can determine if the access point moves frequently; and if the access point moves frequently, the access pointer is ineligible as a reference point for positioning. May be determined to be. Further, in one embodiment, if an access point is not observed for a period of time, the access point is removed from the database; similarly, if a new access point is observed, it is added to the database. .. In this way, the server can keep the information about the access point up-to-date.

In at least one embodiment of the invention, the mobile station can determine its position without a communication link. The mobile station stores at least some of the information about the location of the mobile station and its corresponding received signal level, or range measurements of multiple access points (eg, for mobile phone access or wifi access). Has memory to do. The mobile station transmits the data to the server when a communication link (eg, a wired connection via the mobile station's communication port or a wireless connection via the mobile station's transceiver) is available. Alternatively, the mobile station may directly use the accumulated information to derive position information about the access point when determining its own position when needed.

FIG. 8 shows a general method of hybrid position determination using a plurality of wireless networks according to an embodiment of the present invention. In operation 801, the mobile station is a plurality of different radio networks (eg, radio networks with different air interfaces, radio networks from different service providers, radio networks operating at different frequencies, radio networks using different communication protocols, etc.). Receives wireless signals transmitted from wireless access points. In operation 803, the mobile station utilizes radio signals from each of the access points of different radio networks when determining the position of the mobile station (eg, the local oscillator of the mobile station to determine the identification information of the access points. Communicate with the server to determine the signal transmission delay between the mobile station and one of the access points, to obtain a timing indicator from the radio signal, to fix it to the precision carrier frequency of the radio signal. To do). In general, mobile stations can use radio signals from access points on several different wireless networks to perform a number of similar operations, but different mobile stations to perform different operations. Radio signals from wireless network access points may be used. In operation 805, the mobile station communicates with the server to determine the position of the mobile station using at least one of the different wireless networks. Typically, the mobile station uses only one of the different wireless networks to communicate with the server; however, the mobile station can communicate with the server using two or more wireless networks (transmitted from the mobile station). To transmit reception time at the access point for incoming signals, to transmit round-trip time, or to transmit other information to or from a location server).

FIG. 9 shows a method of hybrid position determination using two wireless networks to communicate with a server according to an embodiment of the present invention. Operation 821 is a mobile station that receives SPS signals transmitted from one or more SPS satellites and radio signals transmitted from multiple wireless access points in two or more wireless networks. The mobile station to assist in the acquisition of the SPS signal (eg, to time-stamp the measurement to adjust the mobile station's local oscillator to extract the Doppler frequency deviation for the mobile station's in-view satellite). Received radio signals from one or more radio networks can be used (to obtain a time indicator). The mobile station uses the SPS signal to determine the pseudo-range to the in-view satellite, and the mobile station identifies the access point and determines the range measurement to the radio access point for position determination. Uses a wireless signal from a wireless access point. These received signals are typically broadcasts from satellite transmitters and wireless access points, and are available to any mobile station that chooses to use them. Operation 823 transmits and receives primary information (eg, recording of SPS messages) between the mobile station and the server using the access point of the first wireless network (eg, wireless local area network). Operation 825 is the second information (eg, Doppler frequency deviation for the Inview SPS satellite, satellite orbit data) between the mobile station and the server using the access point of the second wireless network (eg, wireless mobile phone network). ) Is transmitted and received. Operation 827 determines the position of the mobile station from the transmission and reception of the first information and the second information. Typically, availability, service area, cost, data speed, and ease of use are considered when choosing the communication path to use. In addition, mobile stations may use different communication paths at different locations. For example, if the mobile station is within the service area of a wireless LAN (eg home network) The mobile station then uses a wireless LAN (eg, via the Internet) to communicate with the server information that does not need to go through the base station of the wireless mobile phone system (eg, Doppler frequency shift); The base station of the wireless mobile phone system may be used to transmit information related to the station (eg, round-trip time measurement to the base station of the wireless mobile phone system). In a further example, the mobile station can choose whether to use a wireless mobile phone system or a wireless LAN to communicate depending on communication cost and availability. In one embodiment of the invention, the mobile station automatically determines the communication path according to a set of rules (eg, availability, cost, priority, and others), which rule is determined by the mobile station user. It can be specified, or it can be set as the default setting by one of the wireless networks.

FIG. 10 shows a method of generating location information about a wireless access point according to an embodiment of the present invention. Operation 841 is a mobile station from a wireless access point (eg, a wireless access point that complies with the IEEE 802.11 standard for wireless local area networks, or another type of terrestrial radio transmitter that transmits signals with identification information). Detects the transmitted radio signal. It should be noted that in the present application, the wireless access point does not include a satellite transmitter. Operation 843 determines from the radio signal identification information (eg, the MAC address of the radio access point, or the identifier of the mobile phone base station), which may be a unique identifier of the radio access point. Operation 845 determines the position of the mobile station (eg, at the mobile station or at the location server). For example, mobile stations can calculate positions based on pseudo-range measurements and other range information; Alternatively, the mobile station may transmit pseudo-range measurements and range information to the location server that calculates the position of the mobile station (and the location server can send the calculated position back to the mobile station). .. Operation 847 relates the position of the mobile station to the identification information of the wireless access point. This correlation can be transmitted to the location server so that future positioning operations of the mobile station can use the position and identification information to determine the position of the identified radio access point. Operation 849 generates location information about the wireless access point (eg, access point almanac, wireless access point service area statistical data). Typically, the correlation data is sent to a server (eg, a location server, or an access point almanac server), which is a plurality of mobile stations that report receipt of the signal transmitted from the access point. Generate location information about the access point based on the position. Location information about the wireless access point is retrieved from the weighted averaging method (or using other methods, eg, range information as shown in FIG. 6) as described above. However, mobile stations can also track correlations and retrieve location information about wireless access points (eg, from data points collected at different times). Location information about the wireless access point can then be used to determine the position.

FIG. 11 shows a hybrid position determination method using one wireless network for communication and another wireless network for measuring positioning parameters according to an embodiment of the present invention. Operation 861 is a mobile station and is an IEEE for a wireless access point (eg, wireless local area network, or mobile phone communication system) of the first wireless network (eg, wireless local area network, or mobile phone communication system). Detects wireless signals transmitted from wireless access points (or mobile phone communication base stations) that comply with 802.11 standards. Operation 863 determines the radio access point identification information (eg, MAC address, or base station ID) from the radio signal. Operation 865 uses the identification information to retrieve location information about the wireless access point (eg, access point almanac). For example, a mobile station can transmit the identification information of a wireless access point to a location server, and the location server retrieves the location information about the wireless access point using the identification information (eg, from a database or access). Point from another server, such as the Armanac server). In another example, the mobile station holds location information about the wireless access point in memory; therefore, the location information is easily retrieved from the mobile station's memory. Operation 867 determines the position of the mobile station using the location information and the communication link between the mobile station and the wireless access point of the second wireless network (eg, mobile phone network). For example, satellite support data for SPS signal acquisition (eg, Doppler frequency deviation), or timing measurements (eg, pseudorange or SPS signal arrival time) to determine the position of the mobile station can be used on the second radio network. It is transmitted via.

FIG. 12 shows another typical method of the present invention. In this method, the mobile station receives the first signal transmitted from the first radio access point of the first radio network in operation 901. The first wireless network can support bidirectional communication between various nodes within the first wireless network as well as between nodes outside the network. In operation 903, at least one range measurement is determined using the first signal. If additional signals are available from other radio access points on the primary radio network, then further range measurements (and their identification information) to these other radio access points are available. In another implementation of operation 903, another measurement (eg, signal strength measurement of the first signal) can be taken by the mobile station without attempting to make a range measurement using the first signal. In one typical practice, the propagation time of the first signal from the first radio access point to the mobile station is measured, and the identification information of the first radio access point is received from the first radio access point. In operation 905, the second signal is transmitted and received between the mobile station and the second radio access point of the second radio network different from the first radio network. The mobile station can receive a second signal (which may include SPS assisted data, etc.) from the second radio access point in this operation. In operation 907, the mobile station and the server communicate to determine the position of the mobile station, and this communication can be performed via the second radio access point. For example, in operation 907, the mobile station transmits the range measurement and identification information executed in operation 903 and the SPS pseudo range acquired by the mobile station to the server via the second radio access point. Identification information is used to obtain the location of the radio access point from which range measurements (or other measurements) have been taken, and the server has at least some available measurements (eg, SPS pseudo to SPS satellite). Range and up to various terrestrial wireless access points The position of the mobile station can then be determined using a range measurement (or other measurement). Alternatively, the mobile station may use range measurements and SPS pseudo-measurements, and may use the information provided by the server (eg, the location of the identified wireless access point in one or both of the wireless networks, etc.). You may decide on that position (rather than the server doing so).

The first wireless network in FIG. 12 may be a wireless local area network, and in this case, the first wireless access point may be a wireless router operating according to the Wi-Fi standard. Alternatively, the first wireless network may be a wireless mobile phone network operated by the first service provider, and the second wireless network may be another (different) radio operated by the second service provider. It may be a mobile phone network, or the mobile station may be a mobile phone with a built-in GPS receiver, empowering it to operate only with the second wireless network, not with the first wireless network. Has been done. A variety of other alternatives described herein are also applicable to this example in FIG.

FIG. 13 is another example of the method of the present invention. In this example, in operation 931 the mobile station acquires identification information of the first radio access point of the first radio network accessible to the mobile station (eg, within the range of wireless communication). This identification information may be a MAC address (eg, Ethernet® for local area network) or a mobile phone base station (eg, cell tower) identifier. In operation 933, the mobile station transmits the identification information to a server (eg, location server) during the position determination operation via the second radio access point of the second radio network. In this example, the second radio network is different from the first radio network (eg, different air interfaces, different service providers, etc.). Then, in operation 935, the server uses the identification information of the first radio access point to determine the location of the first radio access point (this is, for example, as described in FIG. 14). Was / may have been collected through). The server also uses other data (eg, the SPS pseudo-range determined by the GPS receiver built into the mobile station and then transmitted to the server) to determine the position of the mobile station in operation 935. You may use it. The server may combine the SPS pseudorange with the measurement of the signal from the radio access point, for example, to determine the position of the mobile station. Alternatively, the SPS pseudorange may be combined with a known location of the wireless access point (especially in the case of a wireless LAN with a shorter signal range). In another alternative to operation 935, the server takes support data (eg, the location of the first radio access point, and possibly other data, such as SPS satellite Doppler data considering the mobile station, etc.). May be provided to the mobile station, but the server does not calculate the position of the mobile station;

FIG. 14 shows another typical method of the present invention. This method ultimately determines the position of the wireless access point, so future positioning operations for mobile stations may be performed using multiple radio networks, as described here. You can. In operation 971, data is collected. This data identifies multiple locations on the mobile station, where the radio signal transmitted from at least the first radio access point on the first radio network is received during the determination of the multiple locations. Will be done. The mobile station can receive a signal from the first radio access point in operation 973 and also has at least one second radio access to the mobile station and the second radio network (which is different from the first radio network). Signals can be transmitted and received between points. This communication with the second wireless network may be for the purpose of providing information used to collect data used to determine the location of the wireless access point of the first wireless network. .. In operation 975, at least the location of the first wireless access point is determined from the service area defined by the multiple locations (eg, as shown in Figure 6).

FIG. 2 shows an example of a data processing system that can be used as a server in various embodiments of the present invention. For example, as described in US Pat. No. 5,841,396, server 201 can provide GPS receivers in mobile stations with assistive data, such as Doppler or other satellite assisted data. Alternatively, or otherwise, the same or different servers than the mobile station could perform the final position calculation (pseudo-range, or other data for which the pseudo-range can be determined) received from the mobile station. Later), the positioning result may then be sent to the base station or some other system. A data processing system as a server (eg, a local server, Armanac data) typically includes a communication device 212, such as a modem or network interface. The location server can be coupled to many different networks via a communication device (eg, a modem or network interface). Such networks include one or more intranets, networks, cell phone exchanges or the cellular. switching center or multiple cellular switching centers) 225, the land based phone system switches 223, mobile phone base station (not shown in Figure 2), GPS receiver 227, or other processor or location server. 221, including.

Multiple cell phone base stations are typically arranged to cover a geographic area by radio coverage, and these different base stations are well known in the prior art (eg, see Figure 1). As you can see, it is bound to at least one mobile exchange. Thus, multiple base stations are geographically dispersed, but will be combined together by mobile exchanges. Network 220 can be connected to the network of reference GPS receivers, which provide differential GPS information and also provide GPS trajectory data used to calculate the position of the mobile system. it can. The network is coupled to processor 203 via a modem or other communication interface. The network 220 can be connected to other computers or network components. Network 220 is also the Public Safety Answering, a computer system operated by an emergency operator, eg, answering a 911 phone call. Points) etc. can be connected to. Various examples of methods for using location servers have been described in numerous US patents, including US Pat. Nos. 5,841,396, 5,874,914, 5,812,087, and 6,512,442.

The server 201, which is a data processing system type, includes a bus 202 coupled to a microprocessor 203, a ROM 207, a volatile RAM 205, and a non-volatile memory 206. Processor 203 is coupled to cache memory 204, as shown in the example of FIG. Bus 202 interconnects these various components together. Although FIG. 2 shows that the non-volatile memory is a local device that is directly coupled to other components of the data processing system, the present invention presents the non-volatile memory away from the system, such as a modem or It will be appreciated that network storage devices, which are coupled to the data processing system via a network interface such as Ethernet, may be utilized. Bus 202 may include one or more buses connected to each other via various bridges, controllers, and / or adapters, as is well known in the art. In many situations, the location server can perform operations automatically without human assistance. In some designs that require human intervention, the I / O controller 209 may communicate with displays, keyboards, and other I / O devices.

Although FIG. 2 illustrates the various components of a data processing system, it is not intended to represent any special configuration or mode in which the components are interconnected, and such details are relevant to the present invention. It should be noted that it does not. Network computers and other data processing systems with fewer or possibly more components can also be used in the present invention and act as location servers or PDEs (position determination entities). It will also be understood that it can be done.

In some embodiments, the methods of the invention may be performed simultaneously on a computer system used for other functions such as mobile phone exchange, message service, and the like. In these cases, some or all of the hardware in Figure 2 is shared for some features.

From this description, it will be clear that the aspects of the invention can be implemented in software, at least in part. That is, the technique is a computer system or other data processing system that responds to a processor performing an instruction sequence contained in a memory, such as a ROM 207, a volatile RAM 205, a non-volatile memory 206, a cache 204, or a remote storage device. Can be executed in. In various embodiments, hard-wired circuits may be used in combination with software instructions to carry out the present invention. As such, the technology is not limited to any particular combination of hardware circuits and software, nor is it limited to any special source for instructions performed in a data processing system. Further, throughout this description, various functions and operations are described as being performed or generated by software code to simplify the description. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that such representation means that functionality results from the execution of code by a processor, such as processor 203.

Machine-readable media can be used to store software and data that implement the various methods of the invention when performed by a data processing system. This executable software and data may be stored in a variety of locations, including, for example, ROM 207, volatile RAM 205, non-volatile memory 206, and / or cache 204, as shown in FIG. You can. This software and / or portion of the data may be stored in any one of these storage devices.

In this way, a machine-readable medium supplies information in a form accessible by a machine (eg, a computer, network device, personal digital aid, manufacturing tool, any device with one or more processors in a set, etc.). Includes any mechanism to (eg, store and / or transmit). For example, a machine-readable medium is a recordable / non-recordable medium (eg, a carrier, an infrared signal, a digital signal, etc.) as well as an electrical, optical, acoustic, or other form of propagating signal (eg, carrier, infrared signal, digital signal, etc.). Examples include read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media, optical media, flash memory devices, etc.).

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram display of a mobile station according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mobile station includes a portable receiver, which combines a communication transceiver with a GPS receiver for use in one embodiment of the present invention. The combined mobile unit 310 is a circuit that performs the functions required to process GPS signals as well as the functions required to process communication signals received over a communication link. including. A communication link, such as a communication link 350 or 360, is typically a radio frequency communication link to another component, such as a base station 352 with a communication antenna 351 or a wireless LAN access point 362 with an antenna 361. FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment in which the communication antenna 311 is used to receive signals from different types of wireless access points (eg, from wireless LAN access points 362 and from mobile phone service base station 352). As shown, the composite receiver may use separate antennas to receive signals from different air interfaces. In addition, the composite receiver may use separate and separate components for processing at least a portion of the received radio signal, and also share some components in the processing of radio signals for different air interfaces. It may or may not be shared. For example, the composite receiver may have separate circuits for RF signal processing or may share the same data processor resources. From this description, various combinations and variants of the composite receiver. An example will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The portable receiver 310 is an example of a composite GPS receiver, a communication receiver, and a transmitter. Communication receivers and transmitters can be implemented as multiplex receivers and transmitters for different wireless networks. For example, the communication transceiver 305 may include a transceiver portion for receiving and / or transmitting a mobile phone signal, and may include another transceiver portion for receiving and / or transmitting a Wi-Fi signal. You can. The receiver 310 includes a GPS receiving stage that includes an acquisition and tracking circuit 321 and a communication transceiver section 305. The acquisition and tracking circuit 321 is coupled to GPS antenna 301 and the communication transceiver 305 is coupled to communication antenna 311. GPS signals (eg, signals 370 transmitted from satellite 303) are received via GPS antenna 301 and into an acquisition and tracking circuit 321 that acquires PN (pseudo signal) codes for various received satellites. Entered. The data generated by circuit 321 (eg, correlation indicator) is processed by processor 333 for transmission (eg, SPS pseudo-range) by transceiver 305. The communication transceiver 305 includes a communication antenna 311 and a transmission / receive switch 331 that transfers communication signals (typically RF) to and from the transceiver 305. In some systems, a band divider filter, or "transmission / reception switch (" duplexer ")," is used in place of the T / R switch. The received communication signal is input to the communication receiver 332 and transmitted to the processor 333 for processing. The communication signal to be transmitted from the processor 333 is propagated to the modulator 334 and the frequency converter 335. The power amplifier 336 increases the signal gain to an appropriate level for transmission to base station 352 (or to wireless LAN access point 362).

In one embodiment of the invention, the communication transceiver section 305 has many different air interfaces for communication (eg, via communication links 350 and 360) (eg, IEEE802.11, bluetooth, UWB, TD-SCDMA). , IDEN, HDR, TDMA, GSM, CDMA, W-CDMA, UMTS, or similar networks). In one embodiment of the invention, the communication transceiver section 305 can be used with one air interface for communication and with another air interface for receiving signals. is there. In one embodiment of the invention, the communication transceiver section 305 can be used with one air interface for communication, while also to retrieve timing indicators (eg, timing frames or system time). Alternatively, it can be used in conjunction with another air interface signal to tune the mobile station's local oscillator (not shown in Figure 3). More details can be found in US Pat. Nos. 5,874,914 and 5,945,944 about mobile stations for extracting timing indicators or adjusting local oscillators.

In one embodiment of the combined GPS / communication system of receiver 310, the data generated by the acquisition tracking response 321 is the server at communication link 350 to base station 352 or communication link 360 to wireless LAN access point. Is transmitted to. The server then determines the location of receiver 310 based on data from the remote receiver, the time the data was measured, and satellite orbit data received from its own GPS receiver or other source. The location data can then be transmitted back to the receiver 310 or to another remote location. More details about mobile receivers that utilize communication links can be found in US Pat. No. 5,874,914.

In one embodiment of the invention, the composite GPS receiver includes (or is coupled to) a data processing system (eg, personal data assistance, or mobile computer). The data processing system includes a microprocessor and a bus coupled to memory (eg, ROM, volatile RAM, non-volatile memory). Buses interconnect a wide variety of components together and connect these components to display controllers and display devices, as well as peripheral devices well known in the art, such as input / output (I / O). ) Interconnect to devices, etc. Buses may include one or more buses that are connected to each other via bridges, controllers, and / or adapters, and are known in the art. In one embodiment, the data processing system includes a communication port (eg, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port, an IEEE-1394 bus connection port). In one embodiment of the invention, the mobile station uses the memory and software program instructions stored in the memory to retrieve and enhance location information about the wireless access point (eg,) of the wireless access point. Store location and identification information (eg MAC address) (according to the type of wireless access point). In one embodiment, the mobile station identifies the location and wireless access popin of the mobile station for transmission to the server (eg, via a communication port or wireless communication link) when a communication connection is established. Only save information.

Although the methods and devices of the present invention have been described in the context of GPS satellites, what has been described is similarly applicable to sudrite or positioning systems utilizing satellite and sudrite combinations. Sudrite is a terrestrial transmitter that broadcasts a PN code (similar to a GPS signal), typically modulated on an L-band carrier and generally synchronized with GPS time. Each transmitter can be assigned a unique PN code to allow identification by the remote receiver. Pseudolites are useful in situations where GPS signals from orbiting satellites are not available, for example in tunnels, mines, buildings, and other enclosed areas. As used herein, the term "satellite" is intended to include sudrite or sudrite equivalents, and as used herein, the term GPS signal refers to sudrite or sudrite. It is intended to include GPS-like signals from equilibrium.

In the above description, the present invention has been described in connection with applications relating to the United States Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system. However, these methods are equally applicable to similar satellite positioning systems, especially the Russian GLONASS system and the proposed European Galileo system. The GLONASS system differs primarily from GPS systems in that radiation from different satellites is distinguished from each other by using slightly different carrier frequencies rather than by using different pseudo-random codes. Under this circumstance, virtually all of the previously described circuits and algorithms are applicable. The term "GPS" used herein includes other satellite positioning systems, including the Russian GLONASS system and the proposed European Galileo system.

Although the behavior in the above examples is illustrated by specific sequences, it is understood from this description that a wide variety of different behavioral sequences and variants can be used without being limited to the above illustrated examples. Will.

The above examples are illustrated without explaining some of the details known in the art, but as pointed out in the above description, these details are in publications such as US Pat. No. 5,812,087. , 5,841,396, 5,874,914, 5,945,944, 5,999,124, 6,061,018, 6,208,290, and 6,215,442, all of which are incorporated by reference here. ..

In the above specification, the present invention is described with respect to specific embodiments of the invention. It will be clear that various modifications can be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope described in the claims. The specification and drawings should therefore be viewed as descriptive rather than restrictive.<u style="single">The inventions described below [in the scope of the original claims] of the invention of the present application are added below.</u> [1]<u style="single">It s a way to operate a mobile station.</u><u style="single">The mobile station receives the first signal transmitted from the first radio access point, which supports two-way communication of the first radio network, and receives it.</u><u style="single">The first signal was used to determine the range measurement and</u><u style="single">A second signal is transmitted and received between the mobile station and a second radio access point of a second radio network different from the first radio network.</u><u style="single">Communicating between the mobile station and the server to determine the position of the mobile station via the second radio access point of the second radio network.</u><u style="single">How to include that.</u><u style="single">[2]</u><u style="single">At least one of the first signal and the second signal is used to adjust the local oscillator of the mobile station.</u><u style="single">The method according to the above [1], further comprising the above.</u><u style="single">[3]</u><u style="single">At least one of the first signal and the second signal is fixed to the carrier frequency signal.</u><u style="single">The method according to the above [2], further comprising the above.</u><u style="single">[4]</u><u style="single">The offset between the carrier frequency signal in at least one of the first signal and the second signal and the frequency of the local oscillator of the mobile station is determined.</u><u style="single">The method according to the above [2], further comprising the above.</u><u style="single">[5]</u><u style="single">Obtaining accurate time information from at least one of the first signal and the second signal.</u><u style="single">The method according to the above [1], further comprising the above.</u><u style="single">[6]</u><u style="single">Determines the timing marker contained in at least one of the first signal and the second signal.</u><u style="single">The method according to the above [5], further comprising the above.</u><u style="single">[7]</u><u style="single">The system time is determined from at least one of the first signal and the second signal.</u><u style="single">The method according to the above [5], further comprising the above.</u><u style="single">[8]</u><u style="single">The method according to the above [1], wherein the second wireless access point communicates with the mobile station in accordance with a standard of a wireless local area network.</u><u style="single">[9]</u><u style="single">The method according to [8] above, wherein the first wireless access point includes a base station of a wireless mobile phone communication system.</u><u style="single">[10]</u><u style="single">Determine one or more pseudo-range measurements from signals from one or more satellite positioning system (SPS) satellites</u><u style="single">The position of the mobile station is determined from the range measurement using the first signal and from the one or more pseudo range measurements from the signals from the one or more SPS satellites.</u><u style="single">The method according to the above [1], further comprising the above.</u><u style="single">[11]</u><u style="single">The method according to [10] above, wherein the server receives the one or more pseudo-range measurements and the range measurements and determines the position of the mobile station.</u><u style="single">[12]</u><u style="single">The method according to [10] above, wherein the server supplies location support data to the mobile station via the second wireless access point.</u><u style="single">[13]</u><u style="single">The mobile station determines the position of the mobile station, and the location support data is (a) the estimated Doppler effect for the SPS satellite, or (b) the SPS satellite list considering the estimated position of the mobile station, or The method according to [12] above, comprising (c) satellite Almanac information, or (d) the estimated position of the mobile station, or (e) the position of the first radio access point.</u><u style="single">[14]</u><u style="single">The mobile station is not authorized by the operator of the first wireless network to communicate with the first wireless access point, and is authorized to communicate with the second wireless network. The method according to [1] above, which is provided by the operator of.</u><u style="single">[15]</u><u style="single">The method according to the above [14], wherein the first wireless access point is a first mobile phone base station, and the second wireless access point is a second mobile phone base station.</u><u style="single">[16]</u><u style="single">The method according to [1] above, wherein the range measurement is used to determine the position of the mobile station.</u><u style="single">[17]</u><u style="single">The method according to [1] above, wherein both the first radio access point and the second radio access point can support two-way communication with an authorized mobile station.</u><u style="single">[18]</u><u style="single">Each of the first radio access point and the second radio access point</u><u style="single">a) TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access),</u><u style="single">b) GSM (Pan-European Digital Mobile Phone System),</u><u style="single">c) CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access),</u><u style="single">d) W-CDMA (Broadband Code Division Multiple Access),</u><u style="single">e) UMTS (Unified Mobile Network Operator),</u><u style="single">f) TD-SCDMA (Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access),</u><u style="single">g) iDEN (Integrated Digital Expansion Network),</u><u style="single">h) HDR (high data rate)</u><u style="single">The method according to [1] above, which uses one of the above.</u><u style="single">[19]</u><u style="single">The second wireless access point includes a base station of a wireless mobile phone communication system, and the first wireless access point is</u><u style="single">a) One of the IEEE 802.11, 802.11, 802.11, and 802.11 standards for wireless network access</u><u style="single">b) bluetooth® standard,</u><u style="single">c) UWB (Ultra Wideband) Standard</u><u style="single">The method according to one of the above [1].</u><u style="single">[20]</u><u style="single">It s a way to operate a mobile station.</u><u style="single">The mobile station receives the first signal transmitted from the first radio access point, which supports two-way communication of the first radio network, and receives it.</u><u style="single">The first signal is used to determine the first measurement</u><u style="single">A second signal is transmitted and received between the mobile station and a second radio access point of a second radio network different from the first radio network.</u><u style="single">The second signal is used to determine the second measurement</u><u style="single">The pseudo range from the satellite positioning system (SPS) signal received by the mobile station to the satellite positioning system (SPS) satellite is determined.</u><u style="single">The position of the mobile station is determined through the first and second measurements and the use of the pseudo range.</u><u style="single">How to include that.</u><u style="single">[21]</u><u style="single">At least one of the first signal and the second signal is used to adjust the local oscillator of the mobile station.</u><u style="single">The method according to the above [20], further comprising the above.</u><u style="single">[22]</u><u style="single">At least one of the first signal and the second signal is fixed to the carrier frequency signal.</u><u style="single">The method according to the above [21], further comprising the above.</u><u style="single">[23]</u><u style="single">The offset between the carrier frequency signal in at least one of the first signal and the second signal and the frequency of the local oscillator of the mobile station is determined.</u><u style="single">The method according to the above [21], further comprising the above.</u><u style="single">[24]</u><u style="single">Obtaining accurate time information from at least one of the first signal and the second signal.</u><u style="single">The method according to the above [20], further comprising the above.</u><u style="single">[25]</u><u style="single">Determines the timing marker contained in at least one of the first signal and the second signal.</u><u style="single">The method according to the above [24], further comprising the above.</u><u style="single">[26]</u><u style="single">The system time is determined from at least one of the first signal and the second signal.</u><u style="single">The method according to the above [24], further comprising the above.</u><u style="single">[27]</u><u style="single">The method according to [20] above, wherein the second wireless access point communicates with the mobile station in accordance with a standard of a wireless local area network.</u><u style="single">[28]</u><u style="single">The method according to [27] above, wherein the first wireless access point includes a base station of a wireless mobile phone communication system.</u><u style="single">[29]</u><u style="single">The method according to [20] above, wherein the mobile station performs the first and second measurements to determine the pseudo range and the position.</u><u style="single">[30]</u><u style="single">At least one of the first radio access point and the second radio access point supplies location assistance data to the mobile station, which may be (a) the estimated Doppler effect for the SPS satellite, or ( b) A list of SPS satellites taking into account the estimated position of the mobile station, or (c) satellite Armanac information, or (d) the estimated position of the mobile station, or (e) the position of the first radio access point, Or (f) the method according to [20] above, comprising at least one of the positions of the second radio access point.</u><u style="single">[31]</u><u style="single">The mobile station is not authorized by the operator of the first wireless network to communicate with the first wireless access point, and is authorized to communicate with the second wireless network. The method according to [20] above, as provided by the operator of.</u><u style="single">[32]</u><u style="single">The method according to [31] above, wherein the first wireless access point is a first mobile phone base station, and the second wireless access point is a second mobile phone base station.</u><u style="single">[33]</u><u style="single">The method according to [20] above, wherein both the first radio access point and the second radio access point can support two-way communication with an authorized mobile station.</u><u style="single">[34]</u><u style="single">The first measurement is (a) a range measurement indicating the distance between the mobile station and the first radio access point based on communication between the mobile station and the first radio access point, or (b) signal strength. The method according to [20] above, which is at least one of the signal parameters associated with the above.</u><u style="single">[35]</u><u style="single">The method according to [20] above, wherein the second signal is transmitted from the second radio access point to the mobile station.</u><u style="single">[36]</u><u style="single">The method according to [20] above, wherein the second signal is transmitted from the mobile station to the second radio access point.</u><u style="single">[37]</u><u style="single">It s a way to operate a mobile station.</u><u style="single">The mobile station determines the identification information of the first radio access point of the first radio network accessible to the mobile station.</u><u style="single">The identification information is transmitted from the mobile station to the remote server during the position determination of the mobile station via the second wireless access point of the second wireless network different from the first wireless network.</u><u style="single">How to include that.</u><u style="single">[38]</u><u style="single">The first and second radio access points use different air interfaces, the first radio access point is communicatively coupled to a first group node of the first radio network, and the second radio access point is said. The method according to [37] above, which is communicatively coupled to a second group node of the second wireless network.</u><u style="single">[39]</u><u style="single">The first radio access point is for accessing a local area network of the first radio network, and the second radio access point includes a mobile phone base station for a radiotelephone system. [38] The method described.</u><u style="single">[40]</u><u style="single">The first wireless access point is for accessing the local area network of the first wireless network, and the second wireless access point is for accessing the wide area network of the second wireless network. , The method according to the above [38].</u><u style="single">[41]</u><u style="single">The second wireless access point is</u><u style="single">a) TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access),</u><u style="single">b) GSM (Pan-European Digital Mobile Phone System),</u><u style="single">c) CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access),</u><u style="single">d) W-CDMA (Broadband Code Division Multiple Access),</u><u style="single">e) UMTS (Unified Mobile Network Operator),</u><u style="single">f) TD-SCDMA (Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access),</u><u style="single">g) iDEN (Integrated Digital Expansion Network),</u><u style="single">h) HDR (high data rate)</u><u style="single">The method according to [39] above, which uses one of the above.</u><u style="single">[42]</u><u style="single">The first wireless access point is</u><u style="single">a) One of the IEEE 802.11, 802.11, 802.11, and 802.11 standards for wireless network access</u><u style="single">b) bluetooth standard,</u><u style="single">c) UWB (Ultra Wideband) Standard</u><u style="single">The method according to one of [39] above.</u><u style="single">[43]</u><u style="single">The method according to [37] above, wherein the first wireless network is operated by a first service provider and the second wireless network is operated by a second service provider.</u><u style="single">[44]</u><u style="single">The method according to [37] above, wherein the first wireless access point supports two-way communication.</u><u style="single">[45]</u><u style="single">Positioning information indicating the distance between the mobile station and the first radio access point is determined.</u><u style="single">In order to determine the position of the mobile station, the positioning information is transmitted from the mobile station to the server via the second radio access point.</u><u style="single">The method according to the above [37], further comprising the above.</u><u style="single">[46]</u><u style="single">The method according to [45] above, wherein the positioning information includes signal level indication for a signal transmitted from the first radio access point and received by the mobile station.</u><u style="single">[47]</u><u style="single">Determined the measurement of the pseudo range to the SPS (Satellite Positioning System) satellite,</u><u style="single">In order to determine the position of the mobile station, the measurement of the pseudo range is transmitted from the mobile station to the server via the second radio access point.</u><u style="single">Including that</u><u style="single">The identification information is used to determine the location of the first radio access point.</u><u style="single">The method according to the above [45].</u><u style="single">[48]</u><u style="single">The position of the mobile station is determined using at least one of the signal level indication for the signal transmitted from the first radio access point and the measurement of the pseudo range to the SPS (Satellite Positioning System) satellite. To do,</u><u style="single">The method according to the above [47], further comprising the above.</u><u style="single">[49]</u><u style="single">The position of the first wireless access point is received from the server.</u><u style="single">The method according to the above [37], further comprising the above.</u><u style="single">[50]</u><u style="single">It is a mobile station of the position determination system.</u><u style="single">A radio communication section that receives radio signals transmitted from the first radio access point of the first radio network accessible to the mobile station.</u><u style="single">With a processor coupled to the radio communication section to determine the identification information of the first radio access point of the first radio network.</u><u style="single">With</u><u style="single">The radio communication section transmits the identification information from the mobile station to a remote server during position determination of the mobile station via a second radio access point of a second radio network different from the first radio network. ,</u><u style="single">Mobile station.</u><u style="single">[51]</u><u style="single">The first and second radio access points use different air interfaces, the first radio access point is communicatively coupled to a node in the first group of the first radio network, and the second radio access point is The mobile station according to the above [50], which is communicatively coupled to a node of the second group of the second wireless network.</u><u style="single">[52]</u><u style="single">The first radio access point is for accessing a local area network of the first radio network, and the second radio access point includes a mobile phone base station for a radiotelephone system. [51] The listed mobile station.</u><u style="single">[53]</u><u style="single">The second wireless access point is</u><u style="single">a) TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access),</u><u style="single">b) GSM (Pan-European Digital Mobile Phone System),</u><u style="single">c) CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access),</u><u style="single">d) W-CDMA (Broadband Code Division Multiple Access),</u><u style="single">e) UMTS (Unified Mobile Network Operator),</u><u style="single">f) TD-SCDMA (Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access),</u><u style="single">g) iDEN (Integrated Digital Expansion Network),</u><u style="single">h) HDR (high data rate)</u><u style="single">The mobile station according to [52] above, which uses one of the above.</u><u style="single">[54]</u><u style="single">The first wireless access point is</u><u style="single">a) wireless local area networks over click IEEE802 standards for access,</u><u style="single">b) bluetooth standard,</u><u style="single">c) UWB (Ultra Wideband) Standard</u><u style="single">The mobile station according to one of [52] above.</u><u style="single">[55]</u><u style="single">The mobile station according to the above [50], wherein the first wireless network is operated by a first service provider, and the second wireless network is operated by a second service provider.</u><u style="single">[56]</u><u style="single">The mobile station according to [50] above, wherein the first wireless access point supports two-way communication.</u><u style="single">[57]</u><u style="single">The processor further determines positioning information indicating the distance between the mobile station and the first radio access point, and the radio communication section determines the position of the mobile station in order to determine the second radio. The positioning information is transmitted from the mobile station to the server via an access point.</u><u style="single">The mobile station according to the above [50].</u><u style="single">[58]</u><u style="single">The mobile station according to [57], wherein the positioning information includes signal level indication for a signal transmitted from the first radio access point and received by the mobile station.</u><u style="single">[59]</u><u style="single">SPS (Satellite Positioning System) Further equipped with an SPS (Satellite Positioning System) signal receiver coupled to the processor to determine pseudorange measurements up to the satellite.</u><u style="single">The radio communication section transmits the measurement in a pseudo range from the mobile station to the server via the second radio access point to determine the position of the mobile station.</u><u style="single">The identification information is used to determine the location of the first radio access point.</u><u style="single">The mobile station according to the above [57].</u><u style="single">[60]</u><u style="single">The processor receives the position of the first radio access point from the server via the communication section.</u><u style="single">The mobile station according to the above [50].</u><u style="single">[61]</u><u style="single">It s a mobile station,</u><u style="single">A first signal transmitted from the first wireless access point of the first wireless network that supports two-way communication is received, and the first signal transmitted from the second wireless access point of the second wireless network different from the first wireless network is transmitted. The radio communication section, which receives the two signals and the mobile station uses the first signal to determine the range measurement.</u><u style="single">SPS (Satellite Positioning System) With an SPS (Satellite Positioning System) signal receiver coupled to the radio communication section to determine measurements of the pseudorange to the satellite.</u><u style="single">With</u><u style="single">The radio communication section communicates with a server to determine the position of the mobile station via the second radio access point of the second radio network.</u><u style="single">Mobile station.</u><u style="single">[62]</u><u style="single">Further equipped with a local oscillator coupled to the radio communication section and the SPS signal receiver.</u><u style="single">The local oscillator is tuned by the radio communication section using at least one of the first signal and the second signal.</u><u style="single">The mobile station according to the above [61].</u><u style="single">[63]</u><u style="single">The mobile station according to the above [62], wherein the local oscillator is fixed to a carrier frequency signal in at least one of the first signal and the second signal.</u><u style="single">[64]</u><u style="single">The mobile station according to [61], wherein the wireless communication section acquires accurate time information from at least one of the first signal and the second signal.</u><u style="single">[65]</u><u style="single">The mobile station according to [64], wherein the accurate time information is acquired from at least one timing marker of the first signal and the second signal.</u><u style="single">[66]</u><u style="single">The mobile station according to [64], wherein the accurate time information includes system time from at least one of the first signal and the second signal.</u><u style="single">[67]</u><u style="single">The mobile station according to [61], wherein the wireless communication section communicates with the second wireless access point in accordance with a standard of a wireless local area network.</u><u style="single">[68]</u><u style="single">The mobile station according to the above [67], wherein the first wireless access point includes a base station of a wireless mobile phone communication system.</u><u style="single">[69]</u><u style="single">The mobile station according to [61], wherein the server supplies location support data to the mobile station via the second wireless access point.</u><u style="single">[70]</u><u style="single">The mobile station determines the position of the mobile station, and the location support data is (a) the estimated Doppler effect for the SPS satellite, or (b) the SPS satellite list considering the estimated position of the mobile station, or (c). The mobile station according to [69] above, comprising at least one of () satellite Almanac information, or (d) the estimated position of the mobile station, or (e) the position of the first radio access point.</u><u style="single">[71]</u><u style="single">The mobile station is not authorized by the operator of the first wireless network to communicate with the first wireless access point, and is authorized to communicate with the second wireless network. The mobile station according to [61] above, which is given by the operator of.</u><u style="single">[72]</u><u style="single">The mobile station according to the above [71], wherein the first wireless access point is a first mobile phone base station, and the second wireless access point is a second mobile phone base station.</u><u style="single">[73]</u><u style="single">The method according to [61], wherein the range measurement is used in determining the position of the mobile station.</u><u style="single">[74]</u><u style="single">The method according to [61] above, wherein both the first radio access point and the second radio access point can support two-way communication with an authorized mobile station.</u>