US 10,895,648 B2 · Method and apparatus for wireless network hybrid positioning

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for position determination and other operations. In one embodiment of the present invention, a mobile station uses wireless signals from a plurality of wireless networks (e.g., with different air interfaces and/or operated by different service providers) for position determination (e.g., for data communication, for obtaining time and/or frequency information, for range measurement, for sector or altitude estimation). In one embodiment of the present invention, mobile stations are used to harvest statistical data about wireless access points (e.g., the locations of mobile stations that have received signals from the wireless access points, such as from cellular base stations, wireless local area network access points, repeaters for positioning signals, or other wireless communication transmitters) and to derive location information (e.g., position and coverage area of the wireless access points) for the wireless networks from the collected statistical data.

Claims48

Dependent claims

A method for determining a position of a mobile station, the method comprising:

receiving, at the mobile station, first signals transmitted from a first wireless access point of a wireless local area network;
determining, at the mobile station, identification information for the first wireless access point from the first signals received from the first wireless access point;
determining, by the mobile station, positioning information using the first signals, wherein the positioning information comprises at least a timing measurement, a signal strength measurement, or both;
transmitting, from the mobile station to a server the identification information for the first wireless access point;
receiving, at the mobile station from the server, a location of the first wireless access point based on the identification information, wherein the location of the first wireless access point comprises a position estimated by the server, or a second server, based on data points provided to the server, or the second server, from one or more additional mobile stations, wherein the data points include positions of the one or more additional mobile stations that are determined by the one or more additional mobile stations;
and
determining, by the mobile station, the position of the mobile station based on the location of the first wireless access point and the positioning information.

4 more elements

A mobile station comprising:

a wireless communication section configured to receive first wireless signals transmitted from a first wireless access point of a wireless local area network;
and
a processor coupled to the wireless communication section, the processor configured to:
determine identification information for the first wireless access point from the first signals received from the first wireless access point;
determine positioning information using the first wireless signals, wherein the positioning information comprises at least a timing measurement, a signal strength measurement, or both;
transmit, from the mobile station to a server, the identification information for the first wireless access point;
receive, from the server, a location of the first wireless access point based on identification information, wherein the location of the first wireless access point comprises a position estimated by the server, or a second server, based on data points provided to the server, or the second server, from one or more additional mobile stations, wherein the data points include positions of the one or more additional mobile stations that are determined by the one or more additional mobile stations;
and
determine the position of the mobile station based on the location of the first wireless access point and the positioning information.

6 more elements

An apparatus in a mobile station, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving first signals transmitted from a first wireless access point of a wireless local area network;
means for determining identification information for the first wireless access point from the first signals received from the first wireless access point;
means for determining positioning information using the first signals, wherein the positioning information comprises at least a timing measurement, a signal strength measurement, or both;
means for transmitting, to a server, the identification information for the first wireless access point;
means for receiving, from the server, a location of the first wireless access point based on the identification information, wherein the location of the first wireless access point comprises a position estimated by the server, or a second server, based on data points provided to the server, or the second server, from one or more additional mobile stations, wherein the data points include positions of the one or more additional mobile stations that are determined by the one or more additional mobile stations;
and
means for determining the position of the mobile station based on the location of the first wireless access point and the positioning information.

4 more elements

A computer program product residing on a nontransitory processor-readable medium for operating a mobile station, the computer program product comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

receive first signals transmitted from a first wireless access point of a wireless local area network;
and
determine identification information for the first wireless access point from the first signals received from the first wireless access point;
determine a positioning information using the first signals, wherein the positioning information comprises at least a timing measurement, a signal strength measurement, or both;
transmit, from a mobile station to a server, the identification information for the first wireless access point;
receive, from the server, a location of the first wireless access point based on the identification information, wherein the location of the first wireless access point comprises a position estimated by the server, or a second server, based on data points provided to the server, or the second server, from one or more additional mobile stations, wherein the data points include positions of the one or more additional mobile stations that are determined by the one or more additional mobile stations;
and
determine the position of the mobile station based on the location of the first wireless access point and the positioning information.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for wireless network hybrid positioning

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for wireless network hybrid positioning

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims48