Methods and apparatus for maintaining and using geolocation data in a wireless system
A user device includes and maintains a geolocation list (GLL) including sets of information corresponding to Citizens Broadband radio Services Devices (CBSDs). The GLL stored in the user device contains entries corresponding to the areas most recently visited by the UE, each entry including location information of a CBSD. User devices typically frequent a limited set of the same areas repetitively. Thus this maintained relatively small list provides the UE with a highly relevant set of information which can be quickly accessed without additional wireless signaling and the additional power loss associated with a typical search. When the UE desires to find and connect to a CBSD, the UE first searches its GLL for a CBSD providing coverage in its currently located area. However, if GLL search does not identify a CBSD, then the UE sends a request to a geolocation server for active CBSDs.
1. A method of operating a user equipment (UE) device, the method comprising:
storing, in memory included in the UE device, a coverage area search radius to be used in searching for a base station which can be used by said UE device to obtain wireless connectivity to a network;
sending a request for base station information to a server;
receiving a response message in response to the request for base station information, said response message including a code value indicating at least whether or not there is at least one Citizens Broadband radio Services Device (CBSD) providing coverage to the current location of the UE device;
determining a coverage area corresponding to a first base station to which the UE device is connected based on a location of the first base station indicated in a geographic location list (GLL) and a coverage area of the first base station indicated in the GLL;
determining an exit time at which the UE device will exit the determined coverage area of the first base station to which it is connected based on i) the current location of the UE device and ii) a determined speed and direction of the UE device;
determining that the exit time has been reached; and
following determining that the exit time has been reached:
i) determining, if the UE device is currently located in a coverage area of a base station included in the GLL;
ii) identifying a second base station in response to determining that the UE device is currently located in a coverage area of a base station included in the GLL; and
iii) establishing a connection with the second base station.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said code value includes a value indicating whether or not there is at least one active base station providing coverage at the current UE device location.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein if said code value includes a null value, said code value indicates that there are no base stations that provide coverage at the current location of the UE device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said response message further includes base station information for each of N closest base stations, where N is a positive integer.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said base station information for each of the N closest base stations includes, for each of the N base stations, at least: i) a base station ID and ii) location information.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said base station information for each of the N closest base stations further includes: base station coverage radius and at least one of: i) CBSD Effective or Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) or ii) CBSD owner information.
7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
prior to determining a coverage area corresponding to a first base station,
storing at least some of the received base station information in said geographic location list (GLL) of base station information in said memory.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
prior to determining a coverage area corresponding to a first base station,
identifying a base station in the GLL providing coverage at the current location of the UE device; and
establishing a connection with the identified base station, wherein said first base station is said identified base station.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, prior to determining said exit time, a current speed and direction of the UE device.
10. A method of operating a user equipment (UE) device, the method comprising:
storing, in memory included in the UE device, a coverage area search radius to be used in searching for a base station which can be used by said UE device to obtain wireless connectivity to a network;
sending a request for base station information to a server;
receiving a response message in response to the request for base station information, said response message including a code value indicating at least whether or not there is at least one Citizens Broadband radio Services Device (CBSD) providing coverage to the current location of the UE device;
determining a coverage area corresponding to a first base station to which the first UE device is connected based on a location of the first base station indicated in a geographic location list (GLL) and a coverage area of the first base station indicated in the GLL;
determining an exit time at which the UE device will exit the determined coverage area of the first base station to which it is connected based on i) the current location of the UE device and ii) a determined speed and direction of the UE device;
determining that the exit time has been reached;
and
determining, following determining that the exit time has been reached, that the UE device is not currently located in a coverage area of a base station included in the GLL; and
sending another request to the server in response to determining that the UE device is not currently located in a coverage area of a base station included in the GLL.
11. A user equipment (UE) device comprising:
memory storing a coverage area search radius to be used in searching for a base station which can be used by said UE device to obtain wireless connectivity to a network;
a transmitter;
a processor configured to:
control the transmitter to send a request for base station information to a server; and
a receiver for receiving a response message in response to the request for base station information, said response message including a code value indicating at least whether or not there is at least one Citizens Broadband radio Services Device (CBSD) providing coverage to the current location of the UE device; and
wherein said processor is further configured to:
determine a coverage area corresponding to a first base station to which the UE device is connected based on a location of the first base station indicated in a geographic location list (GLL) and a coverage area of the first base station indicated in the GLL;
determine an exit time at which the UE device will exit the determined coverage area of the first base station to which it is connected based on i) the current location of the UE device and ii) a determined speed and direction of the UE device;
determine that the exit time has been reached; and
following determining that the exit time has been reached:
i) determine, if the UE device is currently located in a coverage area of a base station included in the GLL;
ii) identify a second base station in response to determining that the UE device is currently located in a coverage area of a base station included in the GLL; and
iii) establish a connection with the second base station.
12. The UE device of claim 11 , wherein said code value includes a value indicating whether or not there is at least one active base station providing coverage at the current UE device location.
13. The UE device of claim 11 , wherein if said code value includes a null value, said code value indicates that there are no base stations that provide coverage at the current location of the UE device.
14. The UE device of claim 11 , wherein said response message further includes base station information for each of N closest base stations, where N is a positive integer.
15. The UE device of claim 14 , wherein said base station information for each of the N closest base stations includes, for each of the N base stations, at least i) a base station ID and ii) location information.
16. The UE device of claim 15 , wherein said base station information for each of the N closest base stations further includes: base station coverage radius and at least one of: i) CBSD Effective or Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) or iii) CBSD owner information.
17. The UE device of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to control the UE device to:
store, in memory, at least some of the received base station information in said geographic location list (GLL) of base station information in said memory.
18. A non-transitory computer readable medium including computer executable instructions which when executed by a processor control a user equipment (UE) device to perform the steps of:
storing, in memory included in the UE device, a coverage area search radius to be used in searching for a base station which can be used by said UE device to obtain wireless connectivity to a network;
sending a request for base station information to a server; and
receiving a response message in response to the request for base station information, said response message including a code value indicating at least whether or not there is at least one Citizens Broadband radio Services Device (CBSD) providing coverage to the current location of the UE device;
determining a coverage area corresponding to a first base station to which the first UE device is connected based on a location of the first base station indicated in a geographic location list (GLL) and a coverage area of the first base station indicated in the GLL;
determining an exit time at which the UE device will exit the determined coverage area of the first base station to which it is connected based on i) the current location of the UE device and ii) a determined speed and direction of the UE device;
determining that the exit time has been reached; and
following determining that the exit time has been reached:
i) determining, if the UE device is currently located in a coverage area of a base station included in the GLL;
ii) identifying a second base station in response to determining that the UE device is currently located in a coverage area of a base station included in the GLL; and
iii) establishing a connection with the second base station.