Apparatus and methods for position computation based on broadcast initialization data

A method for acquisition of a positioning satellite from within the coverage area of a radio communication network broadcasting positioning data, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving the positioning data over the radio communication network on a broadcast control channel;
• and
• receiving a radio communication from the positioning satellite;
• and
• acquiring the positioning satellite based on the received positioning data.

A method for acquisition of a positioning satellite from within the coverage area of a base station of a cellular radio communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

• periodically broadcasting positioning data including a position of the base station from the base station on a broadcast control channel;
• and
• wherein the following steps are performed by a mobile position computation apparatus:
• receiving the positioning data from the base station on the broadcast control channel without registering with the base station;
• demodulating the radio communication;
• decoding the radio communication;
• obtaining the positioning data from the demodulated and decoded radio communication, the obtained positioning data including a position of the base station;
• and
• acquiring the positioning satellite based on the received positioning data including the position of the base station.

A method for acquisition of a positioning satellite from within the coverage area of a base station of a cellular radio communication network, the base station periodically broadcasting positioning data including a position of the base station from the base station on a broadcast control channel, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving the positioning data from the base station on the broadcast control channel without registering with the base station;
• demodulating the radio communication;
• decoding the radio communication;
• obtaining the positioning data from the demodulated and decoded radio communication, the obtained positioning data including the position of the base station;
• and
• acquiring the positioning satellite based on the received positioning data including the position of the base station.

A mobile position computation apparatus for use within a region serviced by a radio communication network comprising:

• a first receiver that receives a radio communication broadcast from a base station of the radio communication network on a broadcast control channel, the radio communication including positioning data including a position of the base station;
• a signal processing circuit that obtains the positioning data from the received radio communication;
• a second receiver for receiving positioning messages broadcast by a positioning satellite;
• and
• a position computation circuit coupled to the second receiver and the signal processing circuit that acquires the positioning satellite based on the positioning data including the position of the base station.