GPS Application Server Network Assistance for Indoor Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
GPS signals are weak in indoor environments, making precise positioning challenging, and existing mobile networks do not support Assisted GPS (AGPS) in all areas, hindering accurate location determination.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a user end, a mobile terminal, a positioning server, a GPS application server, and a base station network, where the GPS application server with a known geographic position provides assistant information to compensate for GPS errors, enabling precise location determination of mobile terminals indoors and outdoors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If GPS signals are received in indoor environments, then positioning capability is provided, but positioning precision deteriorates due to weak GPS signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a GPS application server as an intermediary that receives GPS signals in outdoor environments where they are strong, calculates assistant information (ephemeris, almanac, clock corrections), and transmits this pre-processed information to indoor mobile terminals. This mediator enables indoor terminals to acquire positioning data without directly receiving weak GPS signals, thereby maintaining positioning precision in indoor environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The GPS application server performs preliminary processing of GPS signals by calculating ephemeris, almanac, and clock correction data before transmission to mobile terminals. This preliminary action allows indoor terminals to quickly acquire positioning information without needing to process raw GPS signals, overcoming the limitation of weak indoor signals and reducing time-to-first-fix.
2Measurement precision
If AGPS information is transmitted for precise indoor positioning, then positioning precision is improved, but network support availability deteriorates in areas where mobile networks do not support AGPS
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the GPS application server to provide multiple functions: it processes GPS signals to generate assistant information, transmits this information through the mobile network to terminals, and also provides positioning services to user ends. This multi-functional architecture ensures broad compatibility and support across different network environments and device types, making the system universally applicable regardless of specific network AGPS support.
3Measurement precision
If GPS enabled devices include higher sensitivity receivers for indoor positioning, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex signal processing functions (ephemeris calculation, almanac generation, clock correction computation) from the mobile terminal and relocates them to the GPS application server. The terminal only needs to receive and process the pre-calculated assistant information, which dramatically reduces receiver complexity and power consumption while maintaining positioning precision through the use of high-quality assistant data.
Data Source
AI summary
A Global Positioning System (GPS) system includes multiple GPS application servers. The multiple GPS application servers provide GPS assistant information for locating a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal receives GPS information from multiple GPS satellites. The GPS assistant information is determined based on a GPS position and a geographic position of a GPS application server of the multiple GPS application servers. The GPS application server is nearest of the multiple GPS application servers to the mobile terminal, and the geographic position of the GPS application server is known.