System and method for fast cold start of a GPS receiver in a telecommunications environment

An arrangement for expediting startup procedures of a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver associated with a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal connected to a wireless telecommunications system having a Base Transceiver Station (BTS), the BTS having operational control of the GPS-equipped mobile terminal, the arrangement comprising:

• a number of reference GPS receivers positioned throughout the wireless telecommunications system, each reference GPS receiver capable of providing assistance GPS data, which includes identified visible GPS satellites and associated orbital parameters, clock corrections and differential corrections;
• means for initiating a request from the GPS-equipped mobile terminal to the BTS for approximate navigational data;
• means utilizing the BTS location as an initial position estimate for the GPS-equipped mobile terminal as a criterion for selecting one of the number of reference GPS receivers nearest the GPS-equipped mobile terminal;
• means for utilizing a timing reference between a GPS clock signal and a frame number, wherein the timing reference comprises a correlation between the frame number and the GPS clock signal at the selected reference GPS receiver and broadcasting the correlation to the GPS-equipped mobile terminal;
• retrieval means for retrieving the relevant assistance data from the selected reference GPS receiver;
• means associated with the BTS for sending navigational data, comprising the relevant assistance GPS data, to the GPS-equipped mobile terminal for estimating the current position of the GPS-equipped mobile terminal;
• and
• means for utilizing the navigational data to acquire the GPS signals from optimally situated GPS satellites.

A method of expediting startup procedures of a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver associated with a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal connected to a wireless telecommunications system having a Base Transceiver Station (BTS), the BTS having operational control of the GPS-equipped mobile terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a number of reference GPS receivers throughout the wireless telecommunications system, each reference GPS receiver capable of providing relevant assistance GPS data, which includes identified visible GPS satellites and orbital parameters, clock corrections and differential corrections associated with the visible GPS satellites;
• sending a request from the GPS-equipped mobile terminal to the BTS for approximate navigational data;
• utilizing the BTS location as an initial position estimate for the GPS-equipped mobile terminal as a criterion for selecting one of the number of reference GPS receivers nearest the GPS-equipped mobile terminal;
• utilizing a timing reference between a GPS clock signal and a frame number, wherein the timing reference comprises a correlation between the frame number and the GPS clock signal at the selected reference GPS receiver and broadcasting the correlation to the GPS-equipped mobile terminal;
• retrieving relevant assistance data from the selected reference GPS receiver;
• the BTS sending navigational data, comprising the relevant assistance GPS data, to the GPS-equipped mobile terminal for estimating the current position of the GPS-equipped mobile terminal;
• periodically transmitting a Timing Advance parameter from the Base Transceiver Station to the GPS-equipped mobile terminal to dynamically compensate for varying distances between the GPS-equipped mobile terminal and the Base Transceiver Station;
• refining the approximate location of the GPS-equipped mobile terminal using the Timing Advance parameter;
• and
• utilizing the navigational data to acquire the GPS signals from optimally situated GPS satellites.

A method of expediting startup procedures of a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver associated with a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal connected to a wireless telecommunications system having a Base Transceiver Station (BTS), the BTS having operational control of the GPS-equipped mobile terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a number of reference GPS receivers throughout the wireless telecommunications system, each reference GPS receiver capable of providing assistance GPS data, which includes identified visible GPS satellites and orbital parameters, clock corrections and differential corrections associated with the visible GPS satellites;
• determining whether the GPS signal strength at the GPS-equipped mobile terminal is adequate to permit initialization of the reference GPS receiver associated with the GPS-equipped mobile terminal within a desired response time;
• if not, sending a request from the GPS-equipped mobile terminal to the BTS for approximate navigational data;
• utilizing the BTS location as an initial position estimate for the GPS-equipped mobile terminal and as a criterion for selecting one of the number of reference GPS receivers nearest the GPS-equipped mobile terminal;
• utilizing a timing reference between a GPS clock signal and a frame number, wherein the timing reference comprises a correlation between the frame number and the GPS clock signal at the selected reference GPS receiver and broadcasting the correlation to the GPS-equipped mobile terminal;
• retrieving relevant assistance data from the selected reference GPS receiver;
• the BTS sending navigational data, comprising the relevant assistance GPS data, to the GPS-equipped mobile terminal for estimating the current position of the GPS-equipped mobile terminal;
• and
• utilizing the navigational data to acquire the GPS signals from optimally situated GPS satellites.