# US 10,455,538 B2 · Positioning method, positioning server, and terminal

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- Number: US 10,455,538 B2
- Document ID: US10455538B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/481,778
- Filed: 2017-04-07
- Published: 2017-07-27
- Granted: 2019-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2014-10-10
- Assignees: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Mingjie Dong
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10455538B2

## CPC

- H04W 64/006: {with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination}
- G01S 5/0027: {of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile}
- G01S 5/0244: {Accuracy or reliability of position solution or of measurements contributing thereto}
- H04B 17/27: for locating or positioning the transmitter
- H04W 4/023: {using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds}
- H04W 64/00: Locating users or terminals {or network equipment} for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
- G01S 5/0036: {of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station}
- G01S 5/14: Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- H04B: TRANSMISSION

## Abstract

A positioning method, which includes: receiving, by the positioning server, a positioning request message sent by a to-be-positioned terminal, where the positioning request message is used to trigger the positioning server to position the to-be-positioned terminal; obtaining position information and reliability verification information that are of a neighboring terminal of the to-be-positioned terminal; determining reliability of the position information of the neighboring terminal according to the reliability verification information, where the reliability indicates precision of the position information of the neighboring terminal; determining position information of the to-be-positioned terminal according to the position information of the neighboring terminal and the reliability; and sending the position information of the to-be-positioned terminal to the to-be-positioned terminal. A positioning server and a terminal are also included in the present invention.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A positioning method, comprising:
receiving, by a positioning server, a positioning request message sent by a to-be-positioned terminal, wherein the positioning request message is for triggering the positioning server to position the to-be-positioned terminal;
sending, by the positioning server, a positioning scanning request message to a neighboring terminal of the to-be-positioned terminal;
receiving, by the positioning server, a scanning report message sent by the neighboring terminal, wherein the scanning report message is generated after the neighboring terminal receives the positioning scanning request message, and the scanning report message carries a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value of a positioning message and position information and reliability verification information of the neighboring terminal, wherein the positioning message is sent from the to-be-positioned terminal to the neighboring terminal, and the positioning message carries an identity of the to-be-positioned terminal;
obtaining, by the positioning server, the RSSI value of the positioning message according to the scanning report message;
obtaining, by the positioning server according to the scanning report message, the position information and the reliability verification information of the neighboring terminal;
determining, by the positioning server, reliability of the position information of the neighboring terminal according to the reliability verification information, wherein the reliability indicates precision of the position information of the neighboring terminal;
determining, by the positioning server, position information of the to-be-positioned terminal according to the RSSI value of the positioning message, the position information of the neighboring terminal, and the reliability; and
sending, by the positioning server, the position information of the to-be-positioned terminal to the to-be-positioned terminal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
receiving, by the positioning server, feedback information sent by the to-be-positioned terminal, wherein the feedback information indicates whether the position information of the to-be-positioned terminal is precise; and
adjusting, by the positioning server, the reliability of the position information of the neighboring terminal according to the feedback information.

### Claim 3

A positioning method comprising:
receiving, by a positioning server, a positioning request message sent by a to-be-positioned terminal, wherein the positioning request message is used to trigger the positioning server to position the to-be-positioned terminal;
sending, by the positioning server, a positioning scanning request message to a neighboring terminal, wherein the positioning scanning request message is for instructing the neighboring terminal to send a broadcast message, and the broadcast message carries position information of the neighboring terminal and reliability verification information of the neighboring terminal;
receiving, by the positioning server, a reporting message sent by the to-be-positioned terminal, wherein the reporting message is generated by the to-be-positioned terminal according to the broadcast message and a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value of the broadcast message, and the reporting message carries the position information of the neighboring terminal, the reliability verification information of the neighboring terminal, and the RSSI value of the broadcast message;
obtaining, by the positioning server, the RSSI value of the broadcast message according to the reporting message;
obtaining, by the positioning server according to the reporting message, the position information and the reliability verification information of the neighboring terminal;
determining, by the positioning server, reliability of the position information of the neighboring terminal according to the reliability verification information, wherein the reliability indicates precision of the position information of the neighboring terminal;
determining, by the positioning server, position information of the to-be-positioned terminal according to the RSSI value of the broadcast message, the position information of the neighboring terminal, and the reliability; and
sending, by the positioning server, the position information of the to-be-positioned terminal to the to-be-positioned terminal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3, wherein determining, by the positioning server, reliability of the position information of the neighboring terminal according to the reliability verification information comprises:
determining, by the positioning server, a reliability level of the position information of the neighboring terminal according to an amount of the reliability verification information, wherein a larger amount of the reliability verification information corresponds to a higher level of reliability of the position information of the neighboring terminal, and a smaller amount of the reliability verification information corresponds to a lower level of reliability of the position information of the neighboring terminal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method according to claim 4, wherein determining, by the positioning server, the position information of the to-be-positioned terminal according to the position information of the neighboring terminal, the reliability, and the RSSI value of the broadcast message comprises:
determining, by the positioning server, a weight of the position information of the neighboring terminal according to the reliability level and the RSSI value of the broadcast message; and
determining, by the positioning server, the position information of the to-be-positioned terminal according to the weight and the position information of the neighboring terminal.

### Claim 6

A positioning method comprising:
receiving, by a positioning server, a positioning request message sent by a to-be-positioned terminal, wherein the positioning request message is for triggering the positioning server to position the to-be-positioned terminal, wherein the positioning request message comprises a reporting message, wherein the reporting message is generated by the to-be-positioned terminal according to a broadcast message that is sent by a neighboring terminal of the to-be-positioned terminal and that is received by the to-be-positioned terminal, and a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value of the broadcast message, and the broadcast message carries position information of the neighboring terminal and reliability verification information of the neighboring terminal;
obtaining, by the positioning server, the RSSI value of the broadcast message according to the positioning request message;
obtaining, by the positioning server, the position information and the reliability verification information of the neighboring terminal;
determining, by the positioning server according to the positioning request message, reliability of the position information of the neighboring terminal according to the reliability verification information, wherein the reliability indicates precision of the position information of the neighboring terminal;
determining, by the positioning server, position information of the to-be-positioned terminal according to the position information of the neighboring terminal, the reliability, and the RSSI value of the broadcast message; and
sending, by the positioning server, the position information of the to-be-positioned terminal to the to-be-positioned terminal.

### Claim 7

A positioning server, comprising:
a transceiver configured to:
receive a positioning request message sent by a to-be-positioned terminal, wherein the positioning request message is for triggering the positioning server to position the to-be-positioned terminal;
send a positioning scanning request message to a neighboring terminal of the to-be-positioned terminal; and
receive a scanning report message sent by the neighboring terminal, wherein the scanning report message is generated after the neighboring terminal receives the positioning scanning request message, and the scanning report message carries a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value of a positioning message and position information and reliability verification information of the neighboring terminal, wherein the positioning message is sent from the to-be-positioned terminal to the neighboring terminal, and the positioning message carries an identity of the to-be-positioned terminal; and
a processor configured to:
obtain the RSSI value of the positioning message according to the scanning report message;
obtain, according to the scanning report message, the position information and the reliability verification information of the neighboring terminal;
determine reliability of the position information of the neighboring terminal according to the reliability verification information, wherein the reliability indicates precision of the position information of the neighboring terminal;
determine position information of the to-be-positioned terminal according to the RSSI value of the positioning message, the position information of the neighboring terminal, and the reliability; and
wherein the transceiver is further configured to send the position information of the to-be-positioned terminal to the to-be-positioned terminal.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The positioning server according to claim 7, wherein:
the transceiver is further configured to receive feedback information sent by the to-be-positioned terminal, wherein the feedback information indicates whether the position information of the to-be-positioned terminal is precise; and
the processor is further configured to adjust the reliability of the position information of the neighboring terminal according to the feedback information.

### Claim 9

A positioning server comprising:
a transceiver configured to:
receive a positioning request message sent by a to-be-positioned terminal, wherein the positioning request message is used to trigger the positioning server to position the to-be-positioned terminal;
send a positioning scanning request message to a neighboring terminal, wherein the positioning scanning request message is for instructing the neighboring terminal to send a broadcast message, and the broadcast message carries position information of the neighboring terminal and reliability verification information of the neighboring terminal; and
receive a reporting message sent by the to-be-positioned terminal, wherein the reporting message is generated by the to-be-positioned terminal according to the broadcast message and received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value of the broadcast message, and the reporting message carries the position information of the neighboring terminal, the reliability verification information of the neighboring terminal, and the RSSI value of the broadcast message;
a processor configured to:
obtain the RSSI value of the broadcast message according to the reporting message;
obtain, according to the reporting message, the position information and the reliability verification information of the neighboring terminal;
determine reliability of the position information of the neighboring terminal according to the reliability verification information, wherein the reliability indicates precision of the position information of the neighboring terminal; and
determine position information of the to-be-positioned terminal according to the RSSI value of the broadcast message, the position information of the neighboring terminal, and the reliability; and
wherein the transceiver is further configured to send the position information of the to-be-positioned terminal to the to-be-positioned terminal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The positioning server according to claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a reliability level of the position information of the neighboring terminal according to an amount of the reliability verification information, wherein a larger amount of the reliability verification information corresponds to a higher level of reliability of the position information of the neighboring terminal, and a smaller amount of the reliability verification information corresponds to a lower level of reliability of the position information of the neighboring terminal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The positioning server according to claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine a weight of the position information of the neighboring terminal according to the reliability level and the RSSI value of the broadcast message; and
determine the position information of the to-be-positioned terminal according to the weight and the position information of the neighboring terminal.

### Claim 12

A positioning server comprising:
a transceiver configured to receive a positioning request message sent by a to-be-positioned terminal, wherein the positioning request message is for triggering the positioning server to position the to-be-positioned terminal, wherein the positioning request message comprises a reporting message, wherein the reporting message is generated by the to-be-positioned terminal according to a broadcast message, that is sent by a neighboring terminal of the to-be-positioned terminal and that is received by the to-be-positioned terminal, and a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value of the broadcast message, and the broadcast message carries position information of the neighboring terminal and reliability verification information of the neighboring terminal; and
a processor configured to:
obtain the RSSI value of the broadcast message according to the positioning request message;
obtain the position information and the reliability verification information of the neighboring terminal;
determine, according to the positioning request message, reliability of the position information of the neighboring terminal according to the reliability verification information, wherein the reliability indicates precision of the position information of the neighboring terminal; and
determine position information of the to-be-positioned terminal according to the position information of the neighboring terminal, the reliability, and the RSSI value of the broadcast message; and
wherein the transceiver is further configured to send the position information of the to-be-positioned terminal to the to-be-positioned terminal.

### Claim 13

A terminal, comprising:
a transceiver configured to:
send a positioning request message to a positioning server, to trigger the positioning server to determine position information of the terminal according to position information and reliability verification information that are of a neighboring terminal of the terminal, wherein the reliability verification information enables the positioning server to determine reliability of the position information of the neighboring terminal, and the reliability indicates precision of the position information of the neighboring terminal; and
receive a broadcast message sent by the neighboring terminal, wherein the broadcast message carries the position information of the neighboring terminal and the reliability verification information of the neighboring terminal;
a processor configured to:
determine a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value of the broadcast message; and
generate a reporting message according to the broadcast message and the RSSI value of the broadcast message, wherein the reporting message carries the position information of the neighboring terminal, the reliability verification information of the neighboring terminal, and the RSSI value of the broadcast message; and
wherein the transceiver is further configured to:
send the reporting message to the positioning server, to trigger the positioning server to determine the position information of the terminal according to the reporting message; and
receive the position information that is of the terminal and sent by the positioning server.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The terminal according to claim 13, wherein the transceiver is further configured to send a positioning message, the positioning message enabling the neighboring terminal to report the position information and the reliability verification information of the neighboring terminal to the positioning server according to the positioning message.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The terminal according to claim 13, wherein:
the processor is further configured to determine feedback information according to the position information of the terminal, wherein the feedback information indicates whether the position information of the terminal is precise; and
the transceiver is further configured to send the feedback information to the positioning server, the feedback information enabling the positioning server to adjust the reliability of the position information of the neighboring terminal according to the feedback information.

### Claim 16

A terminal comprising:
a transceiver configured to:
send a positioning request message to a positioning server, to trigger the positioning server to determine position information of the terminal according to position information and reliability verification information that are of a neighboring terminal of the terminal, wherein the reliability verification information enables the positioning server to determine reliability of the position information of the neighboring terminal, and the reliability indicates precision of the position information of the neighboring terminal; and
receive a broadcast message sent by the neighboring terminal before the terminal sends the positioning request message to the positioning server, wherein the broadcast message carries the position information of the neighboring terminal and the reliability verification information of the neighboring terminal;
a processor configured to:
determine a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value of the broadcast message; and
generate a reporting message according to the broadcast message and the RSSI value of the broadcast message, wherein the reporting message carries the position information of the neighboring terminal, the reliability verification information of the neighboring terminal, and the RSSI value of the broadcast message, and the positioning request message comprises the reporting message; and
wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive the position information that is of the terminal and sent by the positioning server.