Mobile-based positioning with non-conforming use of assistance data
Apparatus and methods for performing mobile-based positioning in a wireless communications system are presented. A position estimate is computed based on assistance data intended for a first position method. The mobile device ignores if a second positioning method is not specifically supported by a network and computes a position estimate using the second position method and a subset of assistance data intended for the first positioning method, which is supported by the network and is different from the second positioning method.
1. A method for performing mobile-based positioning in a wireless communications system, the method performed within a mobile device, comprising:
receiving, with a wireless receiver in the mobile device, assistance data for a first positioning method from a network supporting the first positioning method;
receiving wireless signals from a plurality of transmitters; and
computing a position estimate with a second positioning method using the wireless signals and the assistance data for the first positioning method;
wherein the first positioning method and the second positioning method are different positioning methods.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the different positioning methods comprise one of an OTDOA (observed time difference of arrival) positioning method and an E-CID (enhanced cell identification) positioning method.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the different positioning methods further comprise a different one of the OTDOA positioning method and enhanced cell ID positioning method.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising requesting, by the mobile device, the assistance data.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the assistance data comprise a location for each of a plurality of base stations.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device does not support the first positioning method.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network does not support the second positioning method.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second positioning method uses only a subset of the assistance data.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second positioning method is non-standardized.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second positioning method is less computationally complex than the first positioning method.
11. A mobile device for performing mobile-based positioning in a wireless communications system, the device comprising:
a receiver assembly comprising at least one wireless receiver:
to receive assistance data for a first positioning method from a network supporting the first positioning method; and
to receive wireless signals from a plurality of transmitters; and
a processor, coupled to the receiver assembly, configured to compute a position estimate with a second positioning method using the wireless signal and the assistance data for the first positioning method;
wherein the first positioning method and the second positioning method are different positioning methods.
12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the receiver assembly comprises:
a first receiver to receive the assistance data for the first positioning method from the network supporting the first positioning method; and
a second receiver to receive the wireless signals from the plurality of transmitters.
13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the first receiver comprises a mobile radio transceiver.
14. The device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of transmitters comprises signals from satellites.
15. The device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of transmitters comprises signals from base stations.
16. The device of claim 11 , wherein the mobile device does not support the first positioning method.
17. The device of claim 11 , wherein the network does not support the second positioning method.
18. The device of claim 11 , wherein the second positioning method is non-standardized.
19. The device of claim 11 , wherein the second positioning method is less computationally complex than the first positioning method.
20. A mobile device for performing mobile-based positioning in a wireless communications system, the device comprising:
means for receiving, in the mobile device, assistance data for a first positioning method from a network supporting the first positioning method;
means for receiving wireless signals from a plurality of transmitters; and
means for computing a position estimate with a second positioning method using the wireless signal and the assistance data for the first positioning method;
wherein the first positioning method and the second positioning method are different positioning methods.
21. A mobile device for performing mobile-based positioning in a wireless communications system, the device comprising a processor and memory wherein the memory includes software instructions to:
receive, with a wireless receiver in the mobile device, assistance data for a first positioning method from a network supporting the first positioning method;
receive wireless signals from a plurality of transmitters; and
compute a position estimate with a second positioning method using the wireless signal and the assistance data for the first positioning method;
wherein the first positioning method and the second positioning method are different positioning methods.
22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code stored thereon for a mobile device for performing mobile-based positioning in a wireless communications system, the program code including code to:
receive, with a wireless receiver in the mobile device, assistance data for a first positioning method from a network supporting the first positioning method;
receive wireless signals from a plurality of transmitters; and
compute a position estimate with a second positioning method using the wireless signal and the assistance data for the first positioning method;
wherein the first positioning method and the second positioning method are different positioning methods.