Providing and using messages including time related information
View Patent ↗For enhancing the transmission of time related information, a message is received or assembled, which includes a reference time identifier. The received or assembled message is provided for transmission. At a receiving end, the reference time identifier and additional information are extracted from a received message, and the additional information is processed taking account of the reference time identifier. Alternatively or in addition, the message may include a reference time, which is indicated in units of seconds.
1. A method comprising:
an apparatus receiving or assembling a message including an absolute reference time and a reference time identifier identifying a type of said reference time, said reference time identifier being selected from a plurality of defined reference time identifiers including identifiers for at least two global navigation satellite systems; and
said apparatus providing said message for transmission.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said message further includes assistance data for a satellite based positioning, and wherein said reference time identifier identifies a type of a reference time used for said assistance data.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said messages further includes time relation information indicating the relation between a time of different systems, and wherein said reference time identifier identifies one of said systems.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said message further includes location information, which has been determined based on satellite signals, and wherein said reference time identifier identifies a type of a reference time used in determining said location information.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a reference time identifier is defined for at least one of:
a Galileo positioning system;
a global positioning system;
a global orbiting navigation satellite system;
a space based augmentation system;
a quasi-zenith satellite system; and
a coordinated universal time.
6. A computer program product in which a program code is stored in a computer readable medium, said program code realizing the method of claim 1 when executed by a processor.
7. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:
receive or assemble a message including an absolute reference time and a reference time identifier identifying a type of said reference time, said reference time identifier being selected from a plurality of defined reference time identifiers including identifiers for at least two global navigation satellite systems; and
provide a received or assembled message for transmission.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said message further includes assistance data for a satellite based positioning, and wherein said reference time identifier identifies a type of a reference time used for said assistance data.
9. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said messages further includes time relation information indicating the relation between a time of different systems, and wherein said reference time identifier identifies one of said systems.
10. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said message further includes location information, which has been determined based on satellite signals, and wherein said reference time identifier identifies a type of a reference time used in determining said location information.
11. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said processing component is configured to select said reference time identifier from a dedicated reference time identifier defined for at least one of:
a Galileo positioning system;
a global positioning system;
a global orbiting navigation satellite system;
a space based augmentation system;
a quasi-zenith satellite system; and
a coordinated universal time.
12. The apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising at least one of:
a global navigation satellite system receiver configured to receive said satellite signals;
a communication component configured to enable a communication with another device to which said message is to be transmitted; and
a communication component configured to enable a communication with device from which said message is to be received.
13. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said apparatus is one of a cellular terminal, a wireless local access network terminal, an accessory device, a network server, a gateway and a module for an electronic device.
14. An assembly comprising
an electronic device with a global navigation satellite system receiver configured to receive satellite signals; and
an electronic device configured to enable a transmission of a message to another device;
one of said electronic devices including an apparatus according to claim 7 .
15. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:
extract from a received message an absolute reference time, a reference time identifier identifying a type of said reference time and additional information, said reference time identifier being one of a plurality of defined reference time identifiers including identifiers for at least two global navigation satellite systems; and
process said additional information taking account of said reference time identifier.
16. The apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising:
an interface configured to enable a communication with another device for receiving said message.
17. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein said apparatus is one of a cellular terminal, a wireless local access network terminal, an accessory device, a network server, a gateway and a module for an electronic device.
18. A method comprising:
an apparatus extracting from a received message an absolute reference time, a reference time identifier identifying a type of said reference time and additional information, said reference time identifier being one of a plurality of defined reference time identifiers including identifiers for at least two global navigation satellite systems; and
said apparatus processing said additional information taking account of said reference time identifier.
19. A system comprising:
an apparatus according to claim 7 ; and
an apparatus comprising a processor and a memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:
extract from a received message an absolute reference time, a reference time identifier identifying a type of said reference time and additional information, said reference time identifier being one of a plurality of defined reference time identifiers including identifiers for at least two global navigation satellite systems: and
process said additional information taking account of said reference time identifier; and
further comprising:
an interface configured to enable a communication with another device for receiving said message.
20. An apparatus comprising:
means for receiving or assembling a message including an absolute reference time and a reference time identifier identifying a type of said reference time, said reference time identifier being selected from a plurality of defined reference time identifiers including identifiers for at least two global navigation satellite systems; and
means for providing said message for transmission.
21. A computer program product in which a program code is stored in a computer readable medium, said program code realizing the method of claim 18 when executed by a processor.
22. An apparatus comprising:
means for extracting from a received message an absolute reference time, a reference time identifier identifying a type of said reference time and additional information, said reference time identifier being one of a plurality of defined reference time identifiers including identifiers for at least two global navigation satellite systems; and
means for processing said additional information taking account of said reference time identifier.