IP Library Granted Patent US 12,650,523
Granted Patent B2
US 12,650,523 · App. 18/531,468 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Enhanced motion state detection for location services

Inventor: Qutubuddin Mohammed (Santa Clara, CA)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
G01S19/428G01S19/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,650,523
App. No.
18/531,468
Granted
Jun 9, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed are systems and techniques for wireless positioning. For example, a computing device can determine a duration between a prior session and a current session for positioning the device is less than a duration threshold value. The computing device can determine measurement errors of measurements of non-line of sight (NLOS) signals from one or more NLOS SVs of the NLOS SVs are greater than the previous horizontal uncertainty for the device. remove the one or more NLOS SVs from an SV list comprising the plurality of SVs to generate an updated SV list. The computing device can determine the one or more positions for the device based on measurements from signals transmitted from the SVs in the updated SV list and the updated horizontal uncertainty for the device.

Claims (40)

1 . An apparatus for determining one or more positions of a device, the apparatus comprising:

at least one memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory and configured to:

determine a duration between a prior session for positioning the device and a current session for positioning the device is less than a duration threshold value;

determine a motion state of the device in the prior session for positioning the device is static;

determine a horizontal speed of the device is equal to approximately zero based on measurements of signals from a plurality of satellite vehicles (SVs);

determine a number of non-line of sight (NLOS) SVs, of the plurality of SVs, transmitting a plurality of NLOS signals;

scale a previous horizontal uncertainty for the device based on the number of the NLOS SVs to generate an updated horizontal uncertainty for the device;

determine measurement errors of measurements of NLOS signals from one or more NLOS SVs of the NLOS SVs are greater than the previous horizontal uncertainty for the device;

remove the one or more NLOS SVs from an SV list comprising the plurality of SVs to generate an updated SV list; and

determine the one or more positions for the device based on measurements from signals transmitted from the SVs in the updated SV list and the updated horizontal uncertainty for the device.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to preserve the motion state of the device in the current session for positioning the device as static.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the duration threshold value is a tunable duration.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein, to determine the number of NLOS SVs, the at least one processor is configured to transmit a request to a management entity (ME) to determine the plurality of NLOS signals based on signal strengths from signals transmitted from the plurality of SVs.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the previous horizontal uncertainty for the device is associated with the prior session for positioning the device.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, to scale the previous horizontal uncertainty for the device based on the number of the NLOS SVs, the at least one processor is configured to multiply the previous horizontal uncertainty for the device by the number of the NLOS SVs.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each SV of the plurality of SVs is a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellite.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to output the one or more positions for the device for emergency location services.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

determine a number of SVs in the updated SV list comprises at least a threshold number of SVs; and

determine the one or more positions for the device based on determining the number of SVs in the updated SV list comprises at least the threshold number of SVs.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the threshold number of SVs is four SVs.

11 . A method for determining one or more positions of a device, the method comprising:

determining, by one or more processors, a duration between a prior session for positioning the device and a current session for positioning the device is less than a duration threshold value;

determining, by the one or more processors, a motion state of the device in the prior session for positioning the device is static;

determining, by the one or more processors, a horizontal speed of the device is equal to approximately zero based on measurements of signals from a plurality of satellite vehicles (SVs);

determining, by the one or more processors, a number of non-line of sight (NLOS) SVs, of the plurality of SVs, transmitting a plurality of NLOS signals;

scaling, by the one or more processors, a previous horizontal uncertainty for the device based on the number of the NLOS SVs to generate an updated horizontal uncertainty for the device;

determining, by the one or more processors, measurement errors of measurements of NLOS signals from one or more NLOS SVs of the NLOS SVs are greater than the previous horizontal uncertainty for the device;

removing, by the one or more processors, the one or more NLOS SVs from an SV list comprising the plurality of SVs to generate an updated SV list; and

determining, by the one or more processors, the one or more positions for the device based on measurements from signals transmitted from the SVs in the updated SV list and the updated horizontal uncertainty for the device.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising preserving, by the one or more processors, the motion state of the device in the current session for positioning the device as static.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the duration threshold value is a tunable duration.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein determining, by the one or more processors, the number of NLOS SVs comprises transmitting a request to a management entity (ME) to determine the plurality of NLOS signals based on signal strengths from signals transmitted from the plurality of SVs.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the previous horizontal uncertainty for the device is associated with the prior session for positioning the device.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein scaling the previous horizontal uncertainty for the device based on the number of the NLOS SVs comprises multiplying, by the one or more processors, the previous horizontal uncertainty for the device by the number of the NLOS SVs.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein each SV of the plurality of SVs is a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellite.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more positions of the device is used for emergency location services.

19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining, by the one or more processors, a number of SVs in the updated SV list comprises at least a threshold number of SVs, wherein the one or more positions for the device are determined based on determining the number of SVs in the updated SV list comprises at least the threshold number of SVs.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the threshold number of SVs is four SVs.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2024
From: MOHAMMED, QUTUBUDDIN
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 066235/0018 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250189681A1 · Jun 12, 2025
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