Method, and apparatus for determining the position using radio signals
A method, comprising: detecting, at an apparatus, one or more radio signals from a first location; using the one or more detected radio signals to estimate a bearing from the first location; and using the bearing estimate to determine whether further detection of one or more radio signals is required before positioning the apparatus; and positioning of the apparatus using a bearing and constraint information.
1. A method, comprising:
detecting, at an apparatus, one or more radio signals from a first location;
using the one or more detected radio signals to estimate a bearing from the first location;
using the bearing estimate to determine whether further detection of one or more radio signals is required before positioning the apparatus; and
positioning of the apparatus using a bearing and constraint information that includes information that defines a transfer function of an antenna array of the first location, wherein constraint information use in positioning of the apparatus is based on a quality of the bearing estimate.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising obtaining the constraint information by receiving further radio signals.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the constraint information comprises at least one of a bearing and a range.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bearing estimate is used to determine whether ranging the first location by further detection of one or more radio signals is required before positioning the apparatus, wherein the range is at least part of the constraint information.
5. A method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein ranging the first location comprises two-way radio communication originated by the apparatus and terminated by the further detection of one or more radio signals.
6. A method as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising determining whether the bearing estimate is of sufficient quality, and ranging the first location when the bearing estimate is of sufficient quality.
7. A method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the bearing estimate is used to determine whether estimating a second bearing to a second location by further detection of one or more radio signals is required before positioning the apparatus.
8. A method as claimed in claim 4 , determining whether the bearing estimate is of sufficient quality, and estimating the second bearing to the second location when the bearing estimate is of insufficient quality.
9. A method as claimed in claim 4 , comprising:
detecting, at the apparatus, one or more radio signals from a second location;
using the one or more detected radio signals to estimate a second bearing from the second location;
using the bearing estimate and the second bearing estimate to determine whether ranging the first location and/or second location by further detection of one or more radio signals is required before positioning the apparatus.
10. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transfer function of the antenna array is defined by information that is transmitted to multiple apparatuses via a one-way broadcast communication.
11. A method as claimed in claim 1 , using the bearing estimate to determine whether the origination of two-way radio signalling is required before positioning the apparatus.
12. A method as claimed in claim 1 , detecting, at the apparatus, the one or more radio signals from the first location at spatially diverse antennas.
13. A method, comprising:
detecting, at an apparatus, one or more radio signals from a first location;
using the one or more detected radio signals to estimate a bearing from the first location;
using the bearing estimate to determine whether further detection of one or more radio signals is required before positioning the apparatus; and
positioning of the apparatus using a bearing and constraint information including information that defines a transfer function of an antenna array of the first location,
wherein each of the foregoing steps are performed solely at a hand portable apparatus.
14. An apparatus, comprising:
a receiver configured to detect one or more radio signals from a first location;
processing circuitry configured to use the one or more detected radio signals to estimate a bearing of the apparatus from the first location; and configured to use the bearing estimate to determine whether further detection of one or more radio signals is required before positioning the apparatus; and configured to position the apparatus using a bearing and constraint information that includes information that defines a transfer function of an antenna array of the first location, wherein constraint information use in positioning of the apparatus is based on a quality of the bearing estimate.
15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the receiver is configured to obtain the constraint information by receiving further radio signals.
16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the constraint information comprises at least one of a bearing and a range.
17. An apparatus, comprising:
means for detecting, at an apparatus, one or more radio signals from a first location;
means for using the one or more detected radio signals to estimate a bearing from the first location;
means for using the bearing estimate to determine whether further detection of one or more radio signals is required before positioning the apparatus; and
means for positioning of the apparatus using a bearing and constraint information that includes information that defines a transfer function of an antenna array of the first location, wherein constraint information use in positioning of the apparatus is based on a quality of the bearing estimate.
18. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a processor causes an apparatus to:
use of one or more detected radio signals to estimate a bearing;
use of the bearing estimate to determine whether further detection of one or more radio signals is required before determining a position; and
use a bearing and constraint information including information that defines a transfer function of an antenna array to determine a position, wherein constraint information use in positioning of the apparatus is based on a quality of the bearing estimate.