Mobile Station Location Data Stream Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cellular wireless devices face challenges in maintaining location tracking accuracy when they lose satellite communication, leading to network burden and errors in location data transmission, especially indoors or in areas with poor sky visibility.
Innovation Solution
The device transitions to output a constant location sequence when satellite communication is lost, using cellular network-based location determination to provide location data points until satellite signals are regained, thereby minimizing network burden and maintaining location tracking accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the device continuously queries the network for location data when satellite communication is lost, then location tracking can be maintained, but network burden increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The device obtains and stores location data from the cellular network in advance, before satellite communication is lost. This preliminary action allows the device to continue outputting location data without continuous network queries, thereby maintaining location tracking reliability while significantly reducing network burden during satellite outages.
2Measurement precision
If the device outputs location data at high frequency, then location accuracy is improved, but network load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary location determination through the cellular network and stores multiple location data points in advance. This allows the device to output location data at high frequency without continuous network communication, thereby maintaining measurement precision while reducing network load.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the device uses cellular network-based location determination, then location data can be provided without satellite signals, but network dependency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cellular network serves as an intermediary to provide location data when satellite communication is unavailable. The device leverages the existing cellular infrastructure and E-911 location determination capabilities to obtain location information, thereby maintaining adaptability without significantly increasing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows continuous location data transmission, even in areas with poor satellite visibility, by using cellular network-based location determination, reducing network load and ensuring accurate location tracking without significant disruptions.
Implementation Method 1
By receiving and analyzing satellite signals, such devices can quickly compute their location using well known positioning algorithms
Implementation Method 2
The mobile station may otherwise obtain a read on its varying location from its serving cellular radio access network
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for providing a sequence of location data points to a mapping device. A cellular mobile station uses GPS satellite signals to compute its varying location over time and outputs the location as data points in a sequence to the mapping device. If the mobile station loses satellite communication, it transitions the output sequence to a static state in which the location data points are a substantial repetition of the last location that the mobile station determined from satellite signals. Further, when the mobile station detects that it has entered into a new cellular coverage area, it obtains satellite assistance data from its cellular carrier network and uses the data to renew satellite communication. The mobile station may then transition the sequence back to a dynamic state, with location data points determined over time based on received satellite signals.