Method and apparatus for locating position of a mobile device in an assisted satellite positioning system
Method and apparatus for locating position of a mobile device in an assisted satellite positioning system is described. In one example, satellite measurement data is obtained from a plurality of satellites at a mobile device. Position of the mobile device is computed using the satellite measurement data. The position is sent to a cellular device via a wireless ad hoc network. In one example, the wireless ad hoc network comprises a BLUETOOTH communication link. In one example, the mobile device is configured to receive assistance data from a position server through the wireless ad hoc network. For example, the mobile device may comprise a housing configured to plug into a cigarette lighter connector of an automobile and the cellular device may comprise a cellular telephone without location-determination capabilities (i.e., the cellular telephone does not include an integrated GPS receiver).
1. A method for locating position, comprising:
obtaining satellite measurement data from a plurality of satellites at a mobile device;
obtaining assistance data at said mobile device from a server via a mobile-cellular device, wherein said assistance data passes from (i) said server to said mobile-cellular device via a cellular network; and (ii) said mobile-cellular device to said mobile device via a wireless ad hoc network;
computing, responsive to said assistance data, position of said mobile device using said satellite measurement data; and
sending said position to said mobile cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network; and
wherein obtaining assistance data further comprises:
transmitting, from said mobile device to said mobile-cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network, a request for assistance data;
receiving assistance data at said mobile device from said mobile-cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network;
transmitting, from said mobile-cellular device to said server via—said cellular network, said request for assistance data; and
receiving said assistance data at said mobile-cellular device from said server via said cellular network.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said wireless ad hoc network comprises a BLUETOOTH communication link.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a request for said position at said mobile device from said mobile-cellular device.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
receiving said request at said mobile-cellular device from a position server via said cellular network.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said request is transmitted between said position server and said mobile-cellular device using a short message service (SMS) protocol.
6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
sending, in response to said request, said position to said position server via said cellular network.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
sending said position from said position server to a user terminal via a packet switched network.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said assistance data comprises satellite trajectory data.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said assistance data is transmitted between said position server and said mobile-cellular device using a short message service (SMS) protocol.
10. A method for locating position, comprising:
obtaining assistance data at a mobile device from a server via a mobile-cellular device, wherein said assistance data passes from (i) said server to said mobile-cellular device via a cellular network and (ii) said mobile-cellular device to said mobile device via a wireless ad hoc network;
obtaining, responsive to said assistance data, satellite measurement data from a plurality of satellites at said mobile device;
sending said satellite measurement data from said mobile device to said mobile-cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network;
sending said satellite measurement data from said mobile-cellular device to a position server via—said cellular network; and
computing position of said mobile device at said position server in response to said satellite measurement data; and
wherein obtaining assistance data further comprises:
transmitting, from said mobile device to said mobile-cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network, a request for assistance data;
receiving assistance data at said mobile device from said mobile-cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network;
transmitting, from said mobile-cellular device to said server via—said cellular network, said request for assistance data; and
receiving said assistance data at said mobile-cellular device from said server via said cellular network.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said wireless ad hoc network comprises a BLUETOOTH communication link.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein said satellite measurement data is transmitted from said mobile-cellular device to said position server using a short message service (SMS) protocol.
13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving a request for said satellite measurements at said mobile device from said mobile-cellular device.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
receiving said request at said mobile-cellular device from said position server via said cellular network.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said request is transmitted between said position server and said mobile-cellular device using a short message service (SMS) protocol.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein said acquisition assistance data comprises expected pseudorange data.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein said assistance data is
transmitted between said position server and said mobile-cellular device using a short message service (SMS) protocol.
18. A mobile position system, comprising a mobile global positioning system (GPS) device and a mobile-cellular device without location-enabling capabilities, wherein:
said mobile GPS device comprises:
a first wireless transceiver, said first wireless receiver being configured to obtain assistance data from said server via said mobile:
cellular device; and
a GPS receiver, said GPS receiver being configured to receive,
responsive to said assistance data, satellite measurement data; and
said mobile-cellular device comprises:
a second wireless transceiver, said second wireless receiver configured to receive from said first wireless transceiver, via said wireless ad hoc network, location information output from said GPS receiver; and
said assistance data passes from (i) said server to said mobile-cellular device via a cellular network and (ii) said mobile-cellular device to said mobile device via the wireless ad hoc network; and
wherein obtaining assistance data further comprises:
transmitting, from said mobile device to said mobile-cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network, a request for assistance data;
receiving assistance data at said mobile device from said mobile-cellular device via said wireless ad hoc network;
transmitting, from said mobile-cellular device to said server via—said cellular network, said request for assistance data; and
receiving said assistance data at said mobile-cellular device from said server via said cellular network.
19. The mobile position system of claim 18 , wherein the mobile GPS device comprises an adaptor for receiving power from an automotive vehicle.
20. The mobile position system of claim 18 , wherein the mobile GPS device comprises an adaptor for receiving power from a cigarette lighter of an automotive vehicle.
21. The mobile position system of claim 18 , wherein the mobile cellular device is a mobile cellular telephone.
22. The mobile position system of claim 18 , wherein each of said first wireless transceiver and said second wireless transceiver comprises a Bluetooth transceiver.