U.S. patent application number 14/268875 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-08 for method and apparatus for positioning of devices in a wireless network.
This patent application is currently assigned to QUALCOMM Incorporated. The applicant listed for this patent is QUALCOMM Incorporated. Invention is credited to Parag Arun Agashe, Ravi Palanki, Nathan Edward Tenny.
Application Number | 20160261978 14/268875 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43797873 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160261978 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
Palanki; Ravi ; et
al. |
September 8, 2016 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING OF DEVICES IN A WIRELESS
NETWORK
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses are provided that facilitate allowing
position determination of devices in wireless networks with home
evolved Node Bs (HeNB). An HeNB can determine its location based at
least in part on positioning measurements from one or more devices.
The HeNB can additionally or alternatively register its location or
other location parameters with a positioning server for subsequent
provisioning as assistance information for determining a device
position. Moreover, a device can request assistance information
related to a different base station where the HeNB is not
registered with the positioning server.
Inventors: |
Palanki; Ravi; (San Diego,
CA) ; Tenny; Nathan Edward; (Poway, CA) ;
Agashe; Parag Arun; (San Diego, CA) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
QUALCOMM Incorporated |
San Diego |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
QUALCOMM Incorporated
San Diego
CA
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20140243018 A1 |
August 28, 2014 |
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|
Family ID: |
43797873 |
Appl. No.: |
14/268875 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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|
12985523 |
Jan 6, 2011 |
8750870 |
|
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14268875 |
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61293595 |
Jan 8, 2010 |
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61294050 |
Jan 11, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 64/003 20130101;
H04W 64/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 4/02 20060101
H04W004/02 |
Claims
1. A method of wireless communication, comprising: determining a
different base station from a serving home evolved Node B (HeNB)
for utilizing assistance information in determining a position; and
receiving assistance information related to the different base
station from the serving HeNB or a positioning server.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting the
different base station at least in part by detecting a signal from
the different base station.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the
different base station is a previously visited base station.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an
indication of the different base station from the HeNB.
5. An apparatus for requesting assistance information in
determining positioning, comprising: at least one processor
configured to: determine a different base station from a serving
home evolved Node B (HeNB) for utilizing assistance information in
determining a position; and obtain assistance information related
to the different base station from the serving HeNB or a
positioning server; and a memory coupled to the at least one
processor.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is
further configured to receive a signal of the different base
station.
7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is
further configured to determine the different base station is a
previously visited base station.
8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is
further configured to receive an indication of the different base
station from the HeNB.
9. An apparatus for requesting assistance information for
determining positioning, comprising: means for determining a
different base station from a serving home evolved Node B (HeNB)
for utilizing assistance information in determining a position; and
means for receiving assistance information related to the different
base station from the serving HeNB or a positioning server.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for determining
detects the different base station based at least in part on one or
more signals received from the different base station.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for determining
determines the different base station as a previously visited base
station.
12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for determining
further receives an indication of the different base station from
the HeNB.
13. A computer program product for requesting assistance
information for determining a position, comprising: a
computer-readable medium, comprising: code for causing at least one
computer to determine a different base station from a serving home
evolved Node B (HeNB) for utilizing assistance information in
determining a position; and code for causing the at least one
computer to obtain assistance information related to the different
base station from the serving HeNB or a positioning server.
14. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the
computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at
least one computer to receive a signal of the different base
station.
15. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the
computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at
least one computer to determine the different base station is a
previously visited base station.
16. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the
computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at
least one computer to receive an indication of the different base
station from the HeNB.
17. An apparatus for requesting assistance information for
determining positioning, comprising: a neighboring cell information
receiving component for determining a different base station from a
serving home evolved Node B (HeNB) for utilizing assistance
information in determining a position; and an assistance
information receiving component for receiving assistance
information related to the different base station from the serving
HeNB or a positioning server.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the neighboring cell
information receiving component detects the different base station
based at least in part on one or more signals received from the
different base station.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the neighboring cell
information receiving component determines the different base
station as a previously visited base station.
20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the neighboring cell
information receiving component obtains an indication of the
different base station from the HeNB.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119
[0001] The present application for patent is a Divisional
application of application Ser. No. 12/985,523 entitled "METHOD AND
APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING OF DEVICES IN A WIRELESS NETWORK" filed
Jan. 6, 2011, which claims priority to Provisional Application No.
61/293,595 entitled "POSITIONING OF USER EQUIPMENT CONNECTED TO
HOME EVOLVED NODE Bs AND SELF-POSITIONING OF HOME EVOLVED NODE Bs"
filed Jan. 8, 2010, and assigned to the assignee hereof and hereby
expressly incorporated by reference herein, and Provisional
Application No. 61/294,050 entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS TO ENABLE
POSITIONING OF HOME EVOLVED NodeBs (HeNBs) AND CORRESPONDING USER
EQUIPMENT" filed Jan. 11, 2010, and assigned to the assignee hereof
and hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The following description relates generally to wireless
network communications, and more particularly to positioning of
home evolved Node Bs.
[0004] 2. Background
[0005] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to
provide various types of communication content such as, for
example, voice, data, and so on. Typical wireless communication
systems may be multiple-access systems capable of supporting
communication with multiple users by sharing available system
resources (e.g., bandwidth, transmit power, . . . ). Examples of
such multiple-access systems may include code division multiple
access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA)
systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems,
orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, and
the like. Additionally, the systems can conform to specifications
such as third generation partnership project (3GPP), 3GPP long term
evolution (LTE), ultra mobile broadband (UMB), evolution data
optimized (EV-DO), etc.
[0006] Generally, wireless multiple-access communication systems
may simultaneously support communication for multiple mobile
devices. Each mobile device may communicate with one or more base
stations via transmissions on forward and reverse links. The
forward link (or downlink) refers to the communication link from
base stations to mobile devices, and the reverse link (or uplink)
refers to the communication link from mobile devices to base
stations. Further, communications between mobile devices and base
stations may be established via single-input single-output (SISO)
systems, multiple-input single-output (MISO) systems,
multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, and so forth. In
addition, mobile devices can communicate with other mobile devices
(and/or base stations with other base stations) in peer-to-peer
wireless network configurations.
[0007] In addition, devices can determine positioning at least in
part by utilizing assisted global positioning system (GPS),
observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) or other triangulation
techniques involving one or more base stations, enhanced cell
identifier (E-CID), and/or the like. For example, a positioning
server, such as a serving mobile location center (SMLC), evolved
SMLC (eSMLC), etc., can provide assistance information to the
device to facilitate performing such measurements for computing a
position of the device. In one example, the assistance information
can relate to a location of one or more base stations (e.g.,
latitude/longitude location, geographic area, neighboring cells and
related information, and/or the like). A wireless network can
include one or more home evolved Node Bs (HeNB), however, which can
be deployed, without planning, in substantially any location.
Moreover, for example, the positioning server may not be aware of
positioning information for the HeNBs. This can inhibit positioning
determination at one or more devices.
SUMMARY
[0008] The following presents a simplified summary of one or more
aspects in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects.
This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated
aspects, and is intended to neither identify key or critical
elements of all aspects nor delineate the scope of any or all
aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or
more aspects in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed
description that is presented later.
[0009] In accordance with one or more embodiments and corresponding
disclosure thereof, various aspects are described in connection
with facilitating positioning determination at devices in a
wireless network that includes home evolved Node Bs (HeNB). In one
example, the HeNB can determine its location based at least in part
on positioning measurements from one or more devices, whether the
devices include those served by the HeNB, a network listening
module at the HeNB, and/or the like. Moreover, in this or another
example, the HeNB can provide its determined location, or one or
more other parameters regarding location, however coarse, to a
positioning server for subsequent utilization by a device in
determining a position. In another example, where the HeNB is not
registered with the positioning server, the device can request the
positioning server to provide assistance information of a different
neighboring cell. In an example, the device can determine the
different neighboring cell based at least in part on detecting
signals therefrom, determining a previously visited cell, receiving
parameters regarding the cell from the HeNB, and/or the like.
[0010] According to an example, a method for determining a location
for a HeNB is provided that includes receiving one or more
positioning measurements measured by one or more devices in a
wireless network and determining a location based at least in part
on the one or more positioning measurements.
[0011] In another aspect, an apparatus for determining a HeNB
location is provided that includes at least one processor
configured to initialize an autonomous gap for receive one or more
positioning measurements measured by one or more devices in a
wireless network in which a HeNB communicates and determine a
location of the HeNB based at least in part on the one or more
positioning measurements. In addition, the apparatus includes a
memory coupled to the at least one processor.
[0012] In yet another aspect, an apparatus for determining a
location for a HeNB is provided that includes means for receiving
one or more positioning measurements measured by one or more
devices in a wireless network in which a HeNB communicates. The
apparatus further includes means for determining a location of the
HeNB based at least in part on the one or more positioning
measurements.
[0013] Still, in another aspect, a computer-program product is
provided for determining a location for a HeNB including a
computer-readable medium having code for causing at least one
computer to receive one or more positioning measurements measured
by one or more devices in a wireless network in which a HeNB
communicates. The computer-readable medium further includes code
for causing the at least one computer to determine a location of
the HeNB based at least in part on the one or more positioning
measurements.
[0014] Moreover, in an aspect, an apparatus for determining a
location for a HeNB is provided that includes a positioning
measurement receiving component for obtaining one or more
positioning measurements measured by one or more devices in a
wireless network in which a HeNB communicates. The apparatus
further includes a location determining component for computing a
location of the HeNB based at least in part on the one or more
positioning measurements.
[0015] According to another example, a method of wireless
communication is provided that includes determining a different
base station from a serving HeNB for utilizing assistance
information in determining a position and receiving assistance
information related to the different base station from the serving
HeNB or a positioning server.
[0016] In another aspect, an apparatus for requesting assistance
information in determining positioning is provided that includes at
least one processor configured to determine a different base
station from a serving HeNB for utilizing assistance information in
determining a position and obtain assistance information related to
the different base station from the serving HeNB or a positioning
server. In addition, the apparatus includes a memory coupled to the
at least one processor.
[0017] In yet another aspect, an apparatus for requesting
assistance information for determining positioning is provided that
includes means for determining a different base station from a
serving HeNB for utilizing assistance information in determining a
position. The apparatus further includes means for receiving
assistance information related to the different base station from
the serving HeNB or a positioning server.
[0018] Still, in another aspect, a computer-program product is
provided for requesting assistance information for determining a
position including a computer-readable medium having code for
causing at least one computer to determine a different base station
from a serving HeNB for utilizing assistance information in
determining a position. The computer-readable medium further
includes code for causing the at least one computer to obtain
assistance information related to the different base station from
the serving HeNB or a positioning server.
[0019] Moreover, in an aspect, an apparatus for requesting
assistance information for determining positioning is provided that
includes a neighboring cell information receiving component for
determining a different base station from a serving HeNB for
utilizing assistance information in determining a position. The
apparatus further includes an assistance information receiving
component for receiving assistance information related to the
different base station from the serving HeNB or a positioning
server.
[0020] According to yet another example, a method of wireless
communication is provided that includes receiving one or more
parameters related to a location and registering a global cell
identifier and the one or more parameters with a positioning server
over a backhaul link.
[0021] In another aspect, an apparatus for registering with a
positioning server is provided that includes at least one processor
configured to determine one or more parameters related to a
location and register a global cell identifier and the one or more
parameters with a positioning server over a backhaul link. In
addition, the apparatus includes a memory coupled to the at least
one processor.
[0022] In yet another aspect, an apparatus for registering with a
positioning server is provided that includes means for receiving
one or more parameters related to a location. The apparatus further
includes means for registering a global cell identifier and the one
or more parameters with a positioning server over a backhaul
link.
[0023] Still, in another aspect, a computer-program product is
provided for registering with a positioning server including a
computer-readable medium having code for causing at least one
computer to determine one or more parameters related to a location.
The computer-readable medium further includes code for causing the
at least one computer to register a global cell identifier and the
one or more parameters with a positioning server over a backhaul
link.
[0024] Moreover, in an aspect, an apparatus for registering with a
positioning server is provided that includes a location determining
component for receiving one or more parameters related to a
location. The apparatus further includes a location registering
component for registering a global cell identifier and the one or
more parameters with a positioning server over a backhaul link.
[0025] To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the
one or more aspects comprise the features hereinafter fully
described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following
description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain
illustrative features of the one or more aspects. These features
are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which
the principles of various aspects may be employed, and this
description is intended to include all such aspects and their
equivalents.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The disclosed aspects will hereinafter be described in
conjunction with the appended drawings, provided to illustrate and
not to limit the disclosed aspects, wherein like designations
denote like elements, and in which:
[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates an example system for providing device
positioning determination with home evolved Node Bs (HeNB).
[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates an example system for determining a
location of an HeNB.
[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates an example system for registering a
location of an HeNB with a positioning server.
[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates an example system that facilitates
receiving assistance information for determining a device
position.
[0031] FIG. 5 illustrates an example methodology that determines a
location based on received positioning measurements.
[0032] FIG. 6 illustrates an example methodology that requests
assistance information for a base station different from a serving
HeNB.
[0033] FIG. 7 illustrates an example methodology for registering
location parameters with a positioning server.
[0034] FIG. 8 illustrates an example mobile device that requests
assistance information for determining a position.
[0035] FIG. 9 illustrates an example system that facilitates
determining location parameters.
[0036] FIG. 10 illustrates an example system for determining a
location based on received positioning measurements.
[0037] FIG. 11 illustrates an example system that requests
assistance information for a base station different from a serving
HeNB.
[0038] FIG. 12 illustrates an example system that registers
location parameters with a positioning server.
[0039] FIG. 13 illustrates an example wireless communication system
in accordance with various aspects set forth herein.
[0040] FIG. 14 illustrates an example wireless network environment
that can be employed in conjunction with the various systems and
methods described herein.
[0041] FIG. 15 illustrates a wireless communication system,
configured to support a number of devices, in which the aspects
herein can be implemented.
[0042] FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary communication system to
enable deployment of femtocells within a network environment.
[0043] FIG. 17 illustrates an example of a coverage map having
several defined tracking areas.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0044] Various aspects are now described with reference to the
drawings. In the following description, for purposes of
explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of one or more aspects. It may be
evident, however, that such aspect(s) may be practiced without
these specific details.
[0045] As described further herein, positioning is provided for
wireless networks that employ one or more home evolved Node Bs
(HeNB). In one example, an HeNB can determine a location based at
least in part on positioning related measurements from one or more
devices. In this example, or where HeNB otherwise possesses one or
more parameters regarding location, however coarse, HeNB can
communicate the location or one or more parameters to a positioning
server, such that one or more devices can utilize the location or
one or more parameters in subsequently determining a position of
the device. Moreover, in an example, a device served by a HeNB that
is not registered with the positioning server can request the
positioning server to provide assistance information of one or more
neighboring cells (e.g., a cell hearable at the device and/or a
previously visited cell). In addition, for example, the HeNB can
provision at least a portion of neighboring cell information to the
device for determining positioning or otherwise requesting
assistance information. Thus, devices can perform positioning
determination in networks with HeNBs.
[0046] As used in this application, the terms "component,"
"module," "system" and the like are intended to include a
computer-related entity, such as but not limited to hardware,
firmware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or
software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not
limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an
object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a
computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a
computing device and the computing device can be a component. One
or more components can reside within a process and/or thread of
execution and a component may be localized on one computer and/or
distributed between two or more computers. In addition, these
components can execute from various computer readable media having
various data structures stored thereon. The components may
communicate by way of local and/or remote processes such as in
accordance with a signal having one or more data packets, such as
data from one component interacting with another component in a
local system, distributed system, and/or across a network such as
the Internet with other systems by way of the signal.
[0047] Furthermore, various aspects are described herein in
connection with a terminal, which can be a wired terminal or a
wireless terminal A terminal can also be called a system, device,
subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile, mobile
device, remote station, remote terminal, access terminal, user
terminal, terminal, communication device, user agent, user device,
or user equipment (UE). A wireless terminal may be a cellular
telephone, a satellite phone, a cordless telephone, a Session
Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL)
station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device
having wireless connection capability, a computing device, or other
processing devices connected to a wireless modem. Moreover, various
aspects are described herein in connection with a base station. A
base station may be utilized for communicating with wireless
terminal(s) and may also be referred to as an access point, a Node
B, evolved Node B (eNB), or some other terminology.
[0048] Moreover, the term "or" is intended to mean an inclusive
"or" rather than an exclusive "or." That is, unless specified
otherwise, or clear from the context, the phrase "X employs A or B"
is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That
is, the phrase "X employs A or B" is satisfied by any of the
following instances: X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A
and B. In addition, the articles "a" and "an" as used in this
application and the appended claims should generally be construed
to mean "one or more" unless specified otherwise or clear from the
context to be directed to a singular form.
[0049] The techniques described herein may be used for various
wireless communication systems such as CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA,
SC-FDMA and other systems. The terms "system" and "network" are
often used interchangeably. A CDMA system may implement a radio
technology such as Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA),
cdma2000, etc. UTRA includes Wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA) and other
variants of CDMA. Further, cdma2000 covers IS-2000, IS-95 and
IS-856 standards. A TDMA system may implement a radio technology
such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). An OFDMA
system may implement a radio technology such as Evolved UTRA
(E-UTRA), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE
802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDM.RTM., etc. UTRA and E-UTRA
are part of Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). 3GPP
Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a release of UMTS that uses E-UTRA,
which employs OFDMA on the downlink and SC-FDMA on the uplink.
UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE and GSM are described in documents from an
organization named "3rd Generation Partnership Project" (3GPP).
Additionally, cdma2000 and UMB are described in documents from an
organization named "3rd Generation Partnership Project 2" (3GPP2).
Further, such wireless communication systems may additionally
include peer-to-peer (e.g., mobile-to-mobile) ad hoc network
systems often using unpaired unlicensed spectrums, 802.xx wireless
LAN, BLUETOOTH and any other short- or long-range, wireless
communication techniques.
[0050] Various aspects or features will be presented in terms of
systems that may include a number of devices, components, modules,
and the like. It is to be understood and appreciated that the
various systems may include additional devices, components,
modules, etc. and/or may not include all of the devices,
components, modules etc. discussed in connection with the figures.
A combination of these approaches may also be used.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 1, illustrated is a wireless communication
system 100 that facilitates positioning determination in a network
that employs HeNBs. System 100 includes a HeNB 102 that can provide
network access to one or more devices, such as device 104. HeNB 102
can additionally communicate with a positioning server 106 at least
in part to provide positioning assistance information to device
104. In addition, system 100 includes a base station 108 that
neighbors HeNB 102 and/or device 104; in one example, HeNB 102 can
provide network access within a cell of base station 108. HeNB 102
can be a femtocell, picocell, or similar base station of smaller
scale than a macrocell base station that is deployable in
substantially any location (e.g., a home or business), a portion
thereof, etc. For example, HeNB 102 can utilize a broadband
Internet backhaul to communicate with a core wireless network (not
shown), which can include positioning server 106, while providing
wireless access to device 104 and/or one or more additional
devices. Device 104 can be a UE, modem (or other tethered device),
a portion thereof, and/or substantially any device that can
communicate with HeNB 102 to receive wireless network access. Base
station 108 can be a macrocell base station, a HeNB, a relay node,
mobile base station, device communicating in peer-to-peer mode, a
portion thereof, etc.
[0052] According to an example, device 104 can measure its position
(e.g., using assisted global positioning system (A-GPS) or other
global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), observed time
difference of arrival (OTDOA) or other triangulation/trilateration
techniques, enhanced cell identifier (E-CID), and/or the like). For
example, the above techniques can be performed based at least in
part on measuring or otherwise receiving signals from one or more
base stations, such as base station 108. As described, device 104
can receive assistance information from positioning server 106
(such as a location of the one or more base stations) for
performing such measurements (e.g., through HeNB 102 where device
104 communicates therewith). In one example, device 104 can also
receive assistance information for HeNB 102 from positioning server
106 and can accordingly also measure HeNB 102 signals for
determining positioning.
[0053] In this example, HeNB 102 can register with the positioning
server 106 providing its geographic location and/or other
parameters related to a location along with a global cell
identifier and/or similar parameters. For example, the geographic
location can be substantially any location data or related
parameters, such as a location determined by HeNB 102, as described
herein, an identifier of a neighboring macrocell, a
point-of-interest in a GPS system (e.g., an address, zip code,
city, county, state, province, country, store name/address, etc.),
and/or the like. In one example, HeNB 102 can acquire the
geographic location from a HeNB management system (HeMS), or
another node to which it communicates that has planned deployment
and/or a geographic association. In another example, the location
or parameters of HeNB 102 can be a location of one or more
neighboring cells or related base stations. In yet another example,
the one or more parameters related to a location may not be a
location, but can include an identifier of a neighboring cell or
related base station, a positioning error of HeNB 102, a
transmission power of HeNB 102, a cell size of HeNB 102, and/or the
like.
[0054] In an example, HeNB 102 can compute its geographic location
based at least in part on receiving positioning measurements (e.g.,
in a measurement report, or based on requesting the measurements)
or a computed position from one or more devices. In one example,
device 104 can provide positioning measurements or a computed
position, as described above, to HeNB 102, and HeNB 102 can
determine its approximate location based at least in part on the
positioning measurements or computed position (e.g., using similar
positioning techniques as the device, as described herein). In
another example, HeNB 102 can comprise a network listening module
(NLM) or similar UE-type device co-located at HeNB 102 that can
perform positioning measurements similarly to device 104, as
described above.
[0055] Moreover, in yet another example, HeNB 102 may not be
registered with positioning server 106. Where device 104 is
connected to HeNB 102, for example, device 104 can be provided
assistance information from positioning server 106 regarding a
neighboring cell or related base station, such as base station 108.
For example, device 104 can determine to request base station 108
assistance information based at least in part on detecting one or
more signals from base station 108, determining that base station
108 is a previously visited base station, and/or the like. In
another example, positioning server 106 can provide assistance
information regarding the neighboring cell or related base station
based at least in part on identifying the serving base station 102
of device 104. In one example, HeNB 102 can provision information
regarding neighboring cells or related base stations, such as base
station 108, to device 104 (e.g., at least one of parameters for
determining the assistance information, such as a macrocell
identifier of base station 108, assistance information, such as a
location of base station 108, and/or the like).
[0056] Turning to FIG. 2, an example wireless communication system
200 is illustrated that facilitates determining a location of an
HeNB. System 200 includes HeNB 202, which as described, can provide
one or more devices, such as device 204, with access to a core
wireless network. In addition, HeNB 202 can communicate with
positioning server 206 to obtain assistance information for
allowing device 204 to determine a position. As described, HeNB 202
can be a femtocell, picocell, or similar base station, device 204
can be a UE, modem, etc., and positioning server 206 can be an
eSMLC or other core network component, and/or the like.
[0057] HeNB 202 can comprise an optional NLM component 208 for
receiving downlink signals from one or more base stations (not
shown) in a wireless network, and a positioning measurement
receiving component 210 for obtaining one or more positioning
measurements from one or more devices. HeNB 202 also comprises a
location determining component 212 for retrieving or otherwise
computing a location of HeNB 202 (e.g., based at least in part on
the one or more positioning measurements), and a location
registering component 214 for communicating the location of the
HeNB 202 to positioning server 206.
[0058] According to an example, HeNB 202 can determine its location
based at least in part on one or more positioning measurements by
one or more devices within a coverage area of HeNB 202. In one
example, device 204 can perform positioning measurements based at
least in part on one or more neighboring base stations (not shown).
For example, device 204 can utilize A-GPS, A-GNSS, OTDOA, E-CID, or
similar positioning determination techniques to compute the
positioning measurements in a wireless network, as described. In
addition, the positioning measurements can relate to a position
determined according to one or more positioning determination
techniques, parameters for determining a position (e.g., signal
strength of the one or more neighboring base stations, location of
the one or more neighboring base stations, and/or the like), etc.
In yet another example, the one or more positioning measurements
can be a GPS location determined by a GPS receiver on device 204.
Device 204, in this example, can provide the positioning
measurements to HeNB 202, and positioning measurement receiving
component 210 can obtain the positioning measurements. In this
example, location determining component 212 can compute a location
of HeNB 202 based at least in part on the received positioning
measurements. Moreover, for example, it is to be appreciated that
HeNB can be serving device 204 or not.
[0059] In one example, where the positioning measurements relate to
signal strengths and locations of neighboring base stations, for
example, location determining component 212 can collect the
positioning measurements of the one or more devices, such as device
204, and determine the location of HeNB 202 based at least in part
on the positioning measurements. In this regard, for example,
positioning measurement receiving component 210 can function
similarly to a location service (LCS) client (e.g., as defined in
UMTS) to receive the positioning measurements from device 204. In
another example, location determining component 212 can determine
the position of each device, such as device 204, based on the
positioning measurements, and can utilize the positions for
determining location of HeNB 202 (e.g., using
triangulation/trilateration based additionally on pathloss, signals
strength, etc. of the devices, such as device 204). In yet another
example, the positioning measurements can relate to positions
computed by the one or more devices, such as device 204, and the
location determining component 212 can determine the location based
on the positions, as described.
[0060] In an additional or alternative example, NLM component 208
can similarly perform A-GPS, A-GNSS, OTDOA, E-CID, or similar
position determining techniques based at least in part on signals
received from one or more neighboring cells or related base
stations. In one example, it is to be appreciated that location
determining component 212 can obtain assistance information for the
one or more neighboring cells from positioning server 206 over a
backhaul link with a core network (not shown), e.g., since NLM
component 208 can receive only downlink signals. In either case,
location determining component 212 can utilize the positioning
measurements from NLM component 208 (e.g., alone or in conjunction
with measurements from device 204 or one or more other devices) in
computing location of HeNB 202. Moreover, in an example, location
registering component 214 can transmit the location of HeNB 202 or
related information to positioning server 206. In one example,
location registering component 214 can communicate the positioning
measurements to the positioning server 206 along with the global
cell identifier. As described in further detail below, positioning
server 206 can communicate the location along with a global cell
identifier or similar information of HeNB 202 to the device 204 as
assistance information for HeNB 202 to facilitate determining a
position of device 204, as described herein.
[0061] Referring to FIG. 3, illustrated is an example wireless
communication system 300 that facilitates registering with a
positioning server. System 300 can include a HeNB 302 that can
optionally communicate with one or more devices, such as device
304, to provide access to a wireless network. System 300 also
includes a positioning server 306 that provides assistance
information regarding one or more base stations or related cells
for computing a position, as described. Furthermore, HeNB 302 can
optionally communicate with an HeMS 308 to receive access to the
wireless network. HeNB 302 can be a femtocell, picocell, or similar
base station, device 304 can be a UE, modem, etc., and positioning
server 306 can be an eSMLC, etc., as described.
[0062] HeNB 302 comprises an optional NLM component 310 for
measuring signals from one or more neighboring base stations, a
location determining component 312 for obtaining a location of HeNB
302, and a location registering component 314 for communicating the
location and/or related information to positioning server 306.
Device 304 can optionally comprise an assistance information
receiving component 316 that obtains assistance information related
to an HeNB or one or more other base stations (not shown), and an
assistance information requesting component 318 that can transmit a
request for assistance information to a positioning server. In
addition, positioning server 306 can comprise an HeNB registering
component 320 that associates an HeNB with a location or related
parameters based at least in part on a registration, and an
assistance information providing component 322 that determines and
provides assistance information based on a request from one or more
devices.
[0063] According to an example, location determining component 312
can discern one or more parameters related to a location of HeNB
302. The one or more parameters can relate to a location of varying
precision, and thus can include a latitude/longitude location of
HeNB 302, an identifier of a neighboring macrocell base station
(e.g., a macrocell identifier), a point-of-interest in a GPS system
(e.g., an address, zip code, city, county, state, store
name/address, etc.) a relative position thereto, and/or the like.
For example, location determining component 312 can compute the
location (e.g. based on positioning measurements from one or more
devices), as described previously, receive the location from a
configuration of HeNB 302, retrieve the location from one or more
network nodes (e.g., with planned deployment or other geographic
association, such as HeMS 308, and/or the like), receive the
location from a device, etc. In any case, location registering
component 314, for example, can register the location or one or
more parameters related to the location along with a global cell
identifier of HeNB 302 with a positioning server 306. In this
example, HeNB registering component 320 can receive the location or
one or more parameters and global cell identifier, and can store
assistance information for HeNB 302.
[0064] In this regard, for example, assistance information
requesting component 318 can transmit a request for assistance
information related to HeNB 302 to positioning server 306,
assistance information providing component 322 can return the one
or more parameters registered for the HeNB 302, and assistance
information receiving component 316 can obtain the one or more
parameters, for example. As described above, device 304 can
subsequently determine a position based at least in part on the one
or more parameters. In another example, location registering
component 314 can provide one or more positioning measurements
received from one or more devices to positioning server 306, and
HeNB registering component 320 can compute a location of HeNB 302
based at least in part on the positioning measurements and can
store the computed location with the global cell identifier as
assistance information.
[0065] In one specific example, NLM component 310 can determine one
or more identifiers of one or more neighboring cells (e.g., a
macrocell identifier), and location determining component 312 can
associate the location to the one or more identifiers. In another
example, location determining component 312 can receive the one or
more identifiers from one or more devices (e.g., in a measurement
report), which can include NLM component 310, device 304, and/or
the, like listening to signals from the neighboring base stations
to determine the one or more identifiers. Thus, in this example,
location registering component 314 can provide the one or more
identifiers to the positioning server 306 along with a global cell
identifier of HeNB 302. HeNB registering component 320 can receive
the one or more identifiers and global cell identifier for storing
as assistance information of HeNB 302. Thus, as described in one
example, assistance information providing component 322 can provide
the one or more identifiers as assistance information for HeNB
302.
[0066] In this example, assistance information requesting component
318 can subsequently transmit a request for assistance information
for HeNB 302 to positioning server 306, and assistance information
providing component 322 can return the one or more identifiers of
the one or more neighboring cells. In this regard, assistance
information receiving component 316 can obtain the one or more
identifiers, and assistance information requesting component 318
can request assistance information for the one or more neighboring
cell identifiers from positioning server 306. In another example,
upon positioning server 306 receiving the request for assistance
information of HeNB 302, assistance information providing component
322 can determine that the assistance information associated with
HeNB 302 corresponds to one or more neighboring cell identifiers,
and can instead return assistance information for the one or more
neighboring cells. In yet another example, HeNB registering
component 320 can store the assistance information for the one or
more neighboring cells upon receiving the registration request from
HeNB 302 comprising the one or more identifiers of the one or more
neighboring cells.
[0067] In another example, location determining component 312 can
determine a location according to one or more planned network
nodes, such as HeMS 308. In this example, location determining
component 312 can receive or otherwise determine a location of HeMS
308, e.g., a zip code, city, county, state, country, address,
point-of-interest, and/or the like. In any case, location
registering component 314 can provide the location (e.g., along
with a global cell identifier), to positioning server 306 for
subsequent provisioning as assistance information, and HeNB
registering component 320 can store the location as assistance
information for HeNB 302, as described. In addition, location
determining component 312 can discern a positioning error,
transmission power, cell size, etc. of HeNB 302, and location
registering component 314 can additionally provision one or more of
these parameters to positioning server 306, for subsequent use as
assistance information for determining a position by one or more
devices. In one example, location determining component 312 can
obtain the positioning error from a configuration, specification,
hardcoding, etc. In another example, location determining component
312 can compute the positioning error based at least in part on a
number of base stations from which positioning is determined by NLM
component 310, a number of devices from which positioning
parameters are received, and/or the like.
[0068] Turning to FIG. 4, an example wireless communications system
400 for allowing position determination when communicating with a
non-registered HeNB is illustrated. System 400 includes an HeNB
402, which can provide wireless network access to one or more
devices, such as device 404, as described. System 400 also includes
a positioning server 406, as described, for providing assistance
information for determining positioning. Moreover, as described,
HeNB 402 can be a femtocell, picocell, etc., device 404 can be a
UE, modem, etc., and positioning server 406 can be an eSMLC or
similar core network component that provides assistance information
related to one or more base stations or related cells.
[0069] HeNB 402 comprises a neighboring cell information
provisioning component 408 that provides one or more parameters
regarding one or more neighboring cells to a device to facilitate
determining positioning. Device 404 comprises an assistance
information determining component 410 that obtains assistance
information related to the one or more neighboring cells, a
neighboring cell information receiving component 412 that obtains
or more parameters regarding one or more neighboring cells, and an
optional positioning measurement component 414 that determines one
or more positioning measurements based at least in part on the one
or more parameters.
[0070] According to an example, device 404 can communicate with
HeNB 402 to access a wireless network, and thus HeNB 402 can be a
serving HeNB to device 404. Device 404 can additionally determine
its position using one or more position determining techniques, as
described previously, such as A-GPS, OTDOA, E-CID, and/or the like.
In this regard, assistance information determining component 410
can transmit a request for assistance information to positioning
server 406, as described. In one example, assistance information
determining component 410 can transmit a request for assistance
information, and positioning server 406 can return an indication
that it does not have such assistance information or that serving
HeNB 402 is otherwise unregistered with positioning server 406.
[0071] For example, neighboring cell information receiving
component 412 can detect the neighboring cell (e.g., based at least
in part on receiving one or more signals therefrom), identify the
neighboring cell as a previously visited cell (e.g., based at least
in part on a stored history of cells), and/or the like. In this
example, assistance information determining component 410 can
obtain assistance information of the previously visited cell (e.g.,
which assistance information determining component 410 can have
stored when communicating with the previously visited cell).
Moreover, for example, positioning measurement component 414 can
utilize assistance information determining a position of device
404. In another example, neighboring cell information provisioning
component 408 can transmit information regarding one or more
neighboring cells to device 404, such as an identification of the
one or more neighboring cells, assistance information related to
the one or more neighboring cells, etc. Thus, assistance
information determining component 410 can receive the assistance
information regarding the one or more neighboring cells from
serving HeNB 402, and neighboring cell information determining
component 412 can obtain an identifier of the one or more
neighboring cells or otherwise identify neighboring cells related
to the assistance information received from HeNB 402. In this
regard, positioning measurement component 414 can accordingly
determine a position of device 404 based at least in part on the
received assistance information, identifying the one or more
neighboring cells, etc.
[0072] Referring to FIGS. 5-8, example methodologies relating to
providing positioning determination in wireless networks with HeNBs
are illustrated. While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation,
the methodologies are shown and described as a series of acts, it
is to be understood and appreciated that the methodologies are not
limited by the order of acts, as some acts may, in accordance with
one or more embodiments, occur in different orders and/or
concurrently with other acts from that shown and described herein.
For example, it is to be appreciated that a methodology could
alternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states or
events, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, not all illustrated
acts may be required to implement a methodology in accordance with
one or more embodiments.
[0073] Referring to FIG. 5, an example methodology 500 is displayed
that facilitates determining a location based at least in part on
received positioning measurements. At 502, one or more positioning
measurements measured by one or more devices in a wireless network
in which a HeNB communicates can be received. As described, the one
or more positioning measurements can be measured by one or more
served devices, a co-located NLM, etc. Where the one or more
devices are served devices, for example, the one or more
positioning measurements can also include assistance information
received by the one or more devices. Alternatively, and/or where
the one or more devices are a co-located NLM, assistance
information can be received over a backhaul link with a positioning
server. The one or more measurements can include signal strength,
SNR, or similar measurements of base stations, and the assistance
information can include a location of the base stations, for
example. In another example, the one or more measurements can
include pathloss to the devices, and the assistance information can
include computed positions of the devices. At 504, a location of
the HeNB can be determined based at least in part on the
positioning measurements. For example, this can be determined using
A-GPS, OTDOA, E-CID, and/or similar positioning determination
techniques based at least in part on the one or more positioning
parameters and/or assistance information. Moreover, in an example,
the location can be registered with a positioning server to
facilitate subsequent positioning determination by one or more
served devices.
[0074] Turning to FIG. 6, an example methodology 600 is displayed
that facilitates determining a position when communicating with an
HeNB that is not registered with a positioning server. At 602, a
different base station from a serving HeNB can be determined for
utilizing assistance information in determining a position. For
example, this can include determining that the serving HeNB is not
registered with a positioning server (e.g., based at least in part
on receiving an indication of such when requesting assistance
information for the HeNB). Thus, at 602, the different base station
can be determined based at least in part on receiving signals from
the different base station, determining a previously visited base
station, receiving parameters regarding the different base station
from the HeNB, and/or the like. In any case, at 604, assistance
information related to the different base station can be received
from the serving HeNB or a positioning server. Thus, a position can
be determined based at least in part on assistance information of a
different base station than the serving HeNB.
[0075] Referring to FIG. 7, illustrated is an example methodology
700 for registering a location with a positioning server. At 702,
one or more parameters related to a location can be received. For
example, the one or more parameters can be received from a network
component with geographic association (e.g., HeMS), from one or
more devices, from a configuration, based on determining the
position, as described, and/or the like. In addition, the one or
more parameters can be a coarse or more accurate location, such as
an address or geographic area, such as a zip code, city, state,
etc. In another example, the one or more parameters can be an
identifier of a nearby macrocell base station. In yet another
example, the one or more parameters can relate to a positioning
error, transmission power, cell size, and/or other similar
parameters. In any case, at 704, a global cell identifier and the
one or more parameters can be registered with a positioning server
over a backhaul link. In this regard, as described, the positioning
server can provide the one or more parameters as assistance
information in response to subsequent device requests to facilitate
determining device positioning.
[0076] It will be appreciated that, in accordance with one or more
aspects described herein, inferences can be made regarding
determining a position of an HeNB, determining a base station for
which to request assistance information when communicating with an
HeNB not registered with a positioning server, determining a
positioning error associated with an HeNB, and/or the like, as
described. As used herein, the term to "infer" or "inference"
refers generally to the process of reasoning about or inferring
states of the system, environment, and/or user from a set of
observations as captured via events and/or data. Inference can be
employed to identify a specific context or action, or can generate
a probability distribution over states, for example. The inference
can be probabilistic--that is, the computation of a probability
distribution over states of interest based on a consideration of
data and events. Inference can also refer to techniques employed
for composing higher-level events from a set of events and/or data.
Such inference results in the construction of new events or actions
from a set of observed events and/or stored event data, whether or
not the events are correlated in close temporal proximity, and
whether the events and data come from one or several event and data
sources.
[0077] FIG. 8 is an illustration of a mobile device 800 that
facilitates determining a position. Mobile device 800 comprises a
receiver 802 that receives a signal from, for instance, a receive
antenna (not shown), performs typical actions on (e.g., filters,
amplifies, downconverts, etc.) the received signal, and digitizes
the conditioned signal to obtain samples. Receiver 802 can comprise
a demodulator 804 that can demodulate received symbols and provide
them to a processor 806 for channel estimation. Processor 806 can
be a processor dedicated to analyzing information received by
receiver 802 and/or generating information for transmission by a
transmitter 808, a processor that controls one or more components
of mobile device 800, and/or a processor that both analyzes
information received by receiver 802, generates information for
transmission by transmitter 808, and controls one or more
components of mobile device 800.
[0078] Mobile device 800 can additionally comprise memory 810 that
is operatively coupled to processor 806 and that can store data to
be transmitted, received data, information related to available
channels, data associated with analyzed signal and/or interference
strength, information related to an assigned channel, power, rate,
or the like, and any other suitable information for estimating a
channel and communicating via the channel. Memory 810 can
additionally store protocols and/or algorithms associated with
estimating and/or utilizing a channel (e.g., performance based,
capacity based, etc.).
[0079] It will be appreciated that the data store (e.g., memory
810) described herein can be either volatile memory or nonvolatile
memory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. By way
of illustration, and not limitation, nonvolatile memory can include
read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically
programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), or
flash memory. Volatile memory can include random access memory
(RAM), which acts as external cache memory. By way of illustration
and not limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as
synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM
(SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM
(ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM).
The memory 810 of the subject systems and methods is intended to
comprise, without being limited to, these and any other suitable
types of memory.
[0080] Processor 806 can further be optionally operatively coupled
to an assistance information receiving component 812, which can be
similar to assistance information receiving component 316, an
assistance information requesting component 814, which can be
similar to assistance information requesting component 318 or
assistance information determining component 410. Processor 806 can
also be optionally operatively coupled to a neighboring cell
information receiving component 816, which can be similar to
neighboring cell information receiving component 412, and a
positioning measurement component 818, which can be similar to
positioning measurement component 414. Mobile device 800 still
further comprises a modulator 820 that modulate signals for
transmission by transmitter 808 to, for instance, a base station,
another mobile device, etc. Although depicted as being separate
from the processor 806, it is to be appreciated that the assistance
information receiving component 812, assistance information
requesting component 814, neighboring cell information receiving
component 816, positioning measurement component 818, demodulator
804, and/or modulator 820 can be part of the processor 806 or
multiple processors (not shown).
[0081] FIG. 9 is an illustration of a system 900 that facilitates
providing assistance information for device positioning
determination. System 900 comprises a base station 902, which can
be substantially any base station (e.g., a small base station, such
as a femtocell, picocell, etc., relay node, mobile base station . .
. ) having a receiver 910 that receives signal(s) from one or more
mobile devices 904 through a plurality of receive antennas 906
(e.g., which can be of multiple network technologies, as
described), and a transmitter 930 that transmits to the one or more
mobile devices 904 through a plurality of transmit antennas 908
(e.g., which can be of multiple network technologies, as
described). In addition, in one example, transmitter 930 can
transmit to the mobile devices 904 over a wired front link.
Receiver 910 can receive information from one or more receive
antennas 906 and is operatively associated with a demodulator 912
that demodulates received information. In addition, in an example,
receiver 910 can receive from a wired backhaul link. Demodulated
symbols are analyzed by a processor 914 that can be similar to the
processor described above with regard to FIG. 8, and which is
coupled to a memory 916 that stores information related to
estimating a signal (e.g., pilot) strength and/or interference
strength, data to be transmitted to or received from mobile
device(s) 904 (or a disparate base station (not shown)), and/or any
other suitable information related to performing the various
actions and functions set forth herein.
[0082] Processor 914 is further optionally coupled to a NLM
component 918, which can be similar to NLM component 208 and/or NLM
component 310, a positioning measurement receiving component 920,
which can be similar to positioning measurement receiving component
210, and/or a location determining component 922, which can be
similar to location determining component 212 or location
determining component 312. In addition, processor 914 can be
optionally coupled to a location registering component 924, which
can be similar to location registering component 214 or location
registering component 314, and/or a neighboring cell information
provisioning component 926, which can be similar to neighboring
cell information provisioning component 408. Moreover, for example,
processor 914 can modulate signals to be transmitted using
modulator 928, and transmit modulated signals using transmitter
930. Transmitter 930 can transmit signals to mobile devices 904
over Tx antennas 908. Furthermore, although depicted as being
separate from the processor 914, it is to be appreciated that the
NLM component 918, positioning measurement receiving component 920,
location determining component 922, location registering component
924, neighboring cell information provisioning component 926,
demodulator 912, and/or modulator 928 can be part of the processor
914 or multiple processors (not shown).
[0083] With reference to FIG. 10, illustrated is a system 1000 that
determines a location based on received positioning measurements.
For example, system 1000 can reside at least partially within a
base station, mobile device, etc. It is to be appreciated that
system 1000 is represented as including functional blocks, which
can be functional blocks that represent functions implemented by a
processor, software, or combination thereof (e.g., firmware).
System 1000 includes a logical grouping 1002 of electrical
components that can act in conjunction. For instance, logical
grouping 1002 can include an electrical component for receiving one
or more positioning measurements measured by one or more devices in
a wireless network in which a HeNB communicates 1004. As described,
the one or more devices can be one or more served devices, a
co-located NLM, and/or the like. In addition, the one or more
positioning measurements can relate to signal strengths and
assistance information of one or more base stations, GPS locations,
and/or the like.
[0084] Further, logical grouping 1002 can comprise an electrical
component for determining a location of the HeNB based at least in
part on the one or more positioning parameters 1006. As described,
for example, electrical component 1006 can determine the location
based at least in part on using A-GPS, OTDOA, E-CID, etc. according
to the received positioning measurements, and/or the like. For
example, electrical component 1004 can include a positioning
measurement receiving component 210, as described above. In
addition, for example, electrical component 1006, in an aspect, can
include a location determining component 212, as described above.
Additionally, system 1000 can include a memory 1008 that retains
instructions for executing functions associated with the electrical
components 1004 and 1006. While shown as being external to memory
1008, it is to be understood that one or more of the electrical
components 1004 and 1006 can exist within memory 1008.
[0085] In one example, electrical components 1004 and 1006 can
comprise at least one processor, or each electrical component 1004
and 1006 can be a corresponding module of at least one processor.
Moreover, in an additional or alternative example, electrical
components 1004 and 1006 can be a computer program product
comprising a computer readable medium, where each electrical
component 1004 and 1006 can be corresponding code.
[0086] With reference to FIG. 11, illustrated is a system 1100 that
requests assistance information. For example, system 1100 can
reside at least partially within a base station, mobile device,
etc. It is to be appreciated that system 1100 is represented as
including functional blocks, which can be functional blocks that
represent functions implemented by a processor, software, or
combination thereof (e.g., firmware). System 1100 includes a
logical grouping 1102 of electrical components that can act in
conjunction. For instance, logical grouping 1102 can include an
electrical component for determining a different base station from
a serving HeNB for utilizing assistance information in determining
a position 1104. As described, for example, electrical component
1104 can determine the different base station based at least in
part on detecting a neighboring base station or related cell from
which signals are received, specifying a previously visited base
station or related cell, receiving information regarding the
different base station from the HeNB, etc.
[0087] Further, logical grouping 1102 can comprise an electrical
component for receiving assistance information related to the
different base station from the serving HeNB or a positioning
server 1106. For example, in an aspect, electrical component 1104
can include neighboring cell information receiving component 412,
as described above. In addition, for example, electrical component
1106, in an aspect, can include assistance information determining
component 410, as described above. Additionally, system 1100 can
include a memory 1108 that retains instructions for executing
functions associated with the electrical components 1104 and 1106.
While shown as being external to memory 1108, it is to be
understood that one or more of the electrical components 1104 and
1106 can exist within memory 1108.
[0088] In one example, electrical components 1104 and 1106 can
comprise at least one processor, or each electrical component 1104
and 1106 can be a corresponding module of at least one processor.
Moreover, in an additional or alternative example, electrical
components 1104 and 1106 can be a computer program product
comprising a computer readable medium, where each electrical
component 1104 and 1106 can be corresponding code.
[0089] With reference to FIG. 12, illustrated is a system 1200 that
registers with a positioning server. For example, system 1200 can
reside at least partially within a base station, mobile device,
etc. It is to be appreciated that system 1200 is represented as
including functional blocks, which can be functional blocks that
represent functions implemented by a processor, software, or
combination thereof (e.g., firmware). System 1200 includes a
logical grouping 1202 of electrical components that can act in
conjunction. For instance, logical grouping 1202 can include an
electrical component for receiving one or more parameters related
to a location 1204. As described, the one or more parameters can
relate to an address, city, zip code, state, neighboring base
station, positioning measurements from one or more devices, and/or
the like.
[0090] Further, logical grouping 1202 can comprise an electrical
component for registering a global cell identifier and the one or
more parameters with a positioning server over a backhaul link
1206. For example, in an aspect, electrical component 1204 can
include location determining component 312, as described above. In
addition, for example, electrical component 1206, in an aspect, can
include location registering component 314, as described above.
Additionally, system 1200 can include a memory 1208 that retains
instructions for executing functions associated with the electrical
components 1204 and 1206. While shown as being external to memory
1208, it is to be understood that one or more of the electrical
components 1204 and 1206 can exist within memory 1208.
[0091] In one example, electrical components 1204 and 1206 can
comprise at least one processor, or each electrical component 1204
and 1206 can be a corresponding module of at least one processor.
Moreover, in an additional or alternative example, electrical
components 1204 and 1206 can be a computer program product
comprising a computer readable medium, where each electrical
component 1204 and 1206 can be corresponding code.
[0092] Referring now to FIG. 13, a wireless communication system
1300 is illustrated in accordance with various embodiments
presented herein. System 1300 comprises a base station 1302 that
can include multiple antenna groups. For example, one antenna group
can include antennas 1304 and 1306, another group can comprise
antennas 1308 and 1310, and an additional group can include
antennas 1312 and 1314. Two antennas are illustrated for each
antenna group; however, more or fewer antennas can be utilized for
each group. Base station 1302 can additionally include a
transmitter chain and a receiver chain, each of which can in turn
comprise a plurality of components associated with signal
transmission and reception (e.g., processors, modulators,
multiplexers, demodulators, demultiplexers, antennas, etc.), as is
appreciated.
[0093] Base station 1302 can communicate with one or more mobile
devices such as mobile device 1316 and mobile device 1322; however,
it is to be appreciated that base station 1302 can communicate with
substantially any number of mobile devices similar to mobile
devices 1316 and 1322. Mobile devices 1316 and 1322 can be, for
example, cellular phones, smart phones, laptops, handheld
communication devices, handheld computing devices, satellite
radios, global positioning systems, PDAs, and/or any other suitable
device for communicating over wireless communication system 1300.
As depicted, mobile device 1316 is in communication with antennas
1312 and 1314, where antennas 1312 and 1314 transmit information to
mobile device 1316 over a forward link 1318 and receive information
from mobile device 1316 over a reverse link 1320. Moreover, mobile
device 1322 is in communication with antennas 1304 and 1306, where
antennas 1304 and 1306 transmit information to mobile device 1322
over a forward link 1324 and receive information from mobile device
1322 over a reverse link 1326. In a frequency division duplex (FDD)
system, forward link 1318 can utilize a different frequency band
than that used by reverse link 1320, and forward link 1324 can
employ a different frequency band than that employed by reverse
link 1326, for example. Further, in a time division duplex (TDD)
system, forward link 1318 and reverse link 1320 can utilize a
common frequency band and forward link 1324 and reverse link 1326
can utilize a common frequency band.
[0094] Each group of antennas and/or the area in which they are
designated to communicate can be referred to as a sector of base
station 1302. For example, antenna groups can be designed to
communicate to mobile devices in a sector of the areas covered by
base station 1302. In communication over forward links 1318 and
1324, the transmitting antennas of base station 1302 can utilize
beamforming to improve signal-to-noise ratio of forward links 1318
and 1324 for mobile devices 1316 and 1322. Also, while base station
1302 utilizes beamforming to transmit to mobile devices 1316 and
1322 scattered randomly through an associated coverage, mobile
devices in neighboring cells can be subject to less interference as
compared to a base station transmitting through a single antenna to
all its mobile devices. Moreover, mobile devices 1316 and 1322 can
communicate directly with one another using a peer-to-peer or ad
hoc technology as depicted. According to an example, system 1300
can be a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication
system.
[0095] FIG. 14 shows an example wireless communication system 1400.
The wireless communication system 1400 depicts one base station
1410 and one mobile device 1450 for sake of brevity. However, it is
to be appreciated that system 1400 can include more than one base
station and/or more than one mobile device, wherein additional base
stations and/or mobile devices can be substantially similar or
different from example base station 1410 and mobile device 1450
described below. In addition, it is to be appreciated that base
station 1410 and/or mobile device 1450 can employ the systems
(FIGS. 1-4 and 9-13), mobile devices, (FIG. 8), and/or methods
(FIGS. 5-7) described herein to facilitate wireless communication
there between. For example, components or functions of the systems
and/or methods described herein can be part of a memory 1432 and/or
1472 or processors 1430 and/or 1470 described below, and/or can be
executed by processors 1430 and/or 1470 to perform the disclosed
functions.
[0096] At base station 1410, traffic data for a number of data
streams is provided from a data source 1412 to a transmit (TX) data
processor 1414. According to an example, each data stream can be
transmitted over a respective antenna. TX data processor 1414
formats, codes, and interleaves the traffic data stream based on a
particular coding scheme selected for that data stream to provide
coded data.
[0097] The coded data for each data stream can be multiplexed with
pilot data using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)
techniques. Additionally or alternatively, the pilot symbols can be
frequency division multiplexed (FDM), time division multiplexed
(TDM), or code division multiplexed (CDM). The pilot data is
typically a known data pattern that is processed in a known manner
and can be used at mobile device 1450 to estimate channel response.
The multiplexed pilot and coded data for each data stream can be
modulated (e.g., symbol mapped) based on a particular modulation
scheme (e.g., binary phase-shift keying (BPSK), quadrature
phase-shift keying (QPSK), M-phase-shift keying (M-PSK),
M-quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM), etc.) selected for that
data stream to provide modulation symbols. The data rate, coding,
and modulation for each data stream can be determined by
instructions performed or provided by processor 1430.
[0098] The modulation symbols for the data streams can be provided
to a TX MIMO processor 1420, which can further process the
modulation symbols (e.g., for OFDM). TX MIMO processor 1420 then
provides NT modulation symbol streams to NT transmitters (TMTR)
1422a through 1422t. In various embodiments, TX MIMO processor 1420
applies beamforming weights to the symbols of the data streams and
to the antenna from which the symbol is being transmitted.
[0099] Each transmitter 1422 receives and processes a respective
symbol stream to provide one or more analog signals, and further
conditions (e.g., amplifies, filters, and upconverts) the analog
signals to provide a modulated signal suitable for transmission
over the MIMO channel. Further, NT modulated signals from
transmitters 1422a through 1422t are transmitted from NT antennas
1424a through 1424t, respectively.
[0100] At mobile device 1450, the transmitted modulated signals are
received by NR antennas 1452a through 1452r and the received signal
from each antenna 1452 is provided to a respective receiver (RCVR)
1454a through 1454r. Each receiver 1454 conditions (e.g., filters,
amplifies, and downconverts) a respective signal, digitizes the
conditioned signal to provide samples, and further processes the
samples to provide a corresponding "received" symbol stream.
[0101] An RX data processor 1460 can receive and process the NR
received symbol streams from NR receivers 1454 based on a
particular receiver processing technique to provide NT "detected"
symbol streams. RX data processor 1460 can demodulate,
deinterleave, and decode each detected symbol stream to recover the
traffic data for the data stream. The processing by RX data
processor 1460 is complementary to that performed by TX MIMO
processor 1420 and TX data processor 1414 at base station 1410.
[0102] The reverse link message can comprise various types of
information regarding the communication link and/or the received
data stream. The reverse link message can be processed by a TX data
processor 1438, which also receives traffic data for a number of
data streams from a data source 1436, modulated by a modulator
1480, conditioned by transmitters 1454a through 1454r, and
transmitted back to base station 1410.
[0103] At base station 1410, the modulated signals from mobile
device 1450 are received by antennas 1424, conditioned by receivers
1422, demodulated by a demodulator 1440, and processed by a RX data
processor 1442 to extract the reverse link message transmitted by
mobile device 1450. Further, processor 1430 can process the
extracted message to determine which precoding matrix to use for
determining the beamforming weights.
[0104] Processors 1430 and 1470 can direct (e.g., control,
coordinate, manage, etc.) operation at base station 1410 and mobile
device 1450, respectively. Respective processors 1430 and 1470 can
be associated with memory 1432 and 1472 that store program codes
and data. Processors 1430 and 1470 can also perform computations to
derive frequency and impulse response estimates for the uplink and
downlink, respectively.
[0105] FIG. 15 illustrates a wireless communication system 1500,
configured to support a number of users, in which the teachings
herein may be implemented. The system 1500 provides communication
for multiple cells 1502, such as, for example, macro cells
1502A-1502G, with each cell being serviced by a corresponding
access node 1504 (e.g., access nodes 1504A-1504G). As shown in FIG.
15, access terminals 1506 (e.g., access terminals 1506A-1506L) can
be dispersed at various locations throughout the system over time.
Each access terminal 1506 can communicate with one or more access
nodes 1504 on a forward link (FL) and/or a reverse link (RL) at a
given moment, depending upon whether the access terminal 1506 is
active and whether it is in soft handoff, for example. The wireless
communication system 1500 can provide service over a large
geographic region.
[0106] FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary communication system 1600
where one or more femto nodes are deployed within a network
environment. Specifically, the system 1600 includes multiple femto
nodes 1610A and 1610B (e.g., femtocell nodes or HeNB) installed in
a relatively small scale network environment (e.g., in one or more
user residences 1630). Each femto node 1610 can be coupled to a
wide area network 1640 (e.g., the Internet) and a mobile operator
core network 1650 via a digital subscriber line (DSL) router, a
cable modem, a wireless link, or other connectivity means (not
shown). As will be discussed below, each femto node 1610 can be
configured to serve associated access terminals 1620 (e.g., access
terminal 1620A) and, optionally, alien access terminals 1620 (e.g.,
access terminal 1620B). In other words, access to femto nodes 1610
can be restricted such that a given access terminal 1620 can be
served by a set of designated (e.g., home) femto node(s) 1610 but
may not be served by any non-designated femto nodes 1610 (e.g., a
neighbor's femto node).
[0107] FIG. 17 illustrates an example of a coverage map 1700 where
several tracking areas 1702 (or routing areas or location areas)
are defined, each of which includes several macro coverage areas
1704. Here, areas of coverage associated with tracking areas 1702A,
1702B, and 1702C are delineated by the wide lines and the macro
coverage areas 1704 are represented by the hexagons. The tracking
areas 1702 also include femto coverage areas 1706. In this example,
each of the femto coverage areas 1706 (e.g., femto coverage area
1706C) is depicted within a macro coverage area 1704 (e.g., macro
coverage area 1704B). It should be appreciated, however, that a
femto coverage area 1706 may not lie entirely within a macro
coverage area 1704. In practice, a large number of femto coverage
areas 1706 can be defined with a given tracking area 1702 or macro
coverage area 1704. Also, one or more pico coverage areas (not
shown) can be defined within a given tracking area 1702 or macro
coverage area 1704.
[0108] Referring again to FIG. 16, the owner of a femto node 1610
can subscribe to mobile service, such as, for example, 3G mobile
service, offered through the mobile operator core network 1650. In
addition, an access terminal 1620 can be capable of operating both
in macro environments and in smaller scale (e.g., residential)
network environments. Thus, for example, depending on the current
location of the access terminal 1620, the access terminal 1620 can
be served by an access node 1660 or by any one of a set of femto
nodes 1610 (e.g., the femto nodes 1610A and 1610B that reside
within a corresponding user residence 1630). For example, when a
subscriber is outside his home, he is served by a standard macro
cell access node (e.g., node 1660) and when the subscriber is at
home, he is served by a femto node (e.g., node 1610A). Here, it
should be appreciated that a femto node 1610 can be backward
compatible with existing access terminals 1620.
[0109] A femto node 1610 can be deployed on a single frequency or,
in the alternative, on multiple frequencies. Depending on the
particular configuration, the single frequency or one or more of
the multiple frequencies can overlap with one or more frequencies
used by a macro cell access node (e.g., node 1660). In some
aspects, an access terminal 1620 can be configured to connect to a
preferred femto node (e.g., the home femto node of the access
terminal 1620) whenever such connectivity is possible. For example,
whenever the access terminal 1620 is within the user's residence
1630, it can communicate with the home femto node 1610.
[0110] In some aspects, if the access terminal 1620 operates within
the mobile operator core network 1650 but is not residing on its
most preferred network (e.g., as defined in a preferred roaming
list), the access terminal 1620 can continue to search for the most
preferred network (e.g., femto node 1610) using a Better System
Reselection (BSR), which can involve a periodic scanning of
available systems to determine whether better systems are currently
available, and subsequent efforts to associate with such preferred
systems. Using an acquisition table entry (e.g., in a preferred
roaming list), in one example, the access terminal 1620 can limit
the search for specific band and channel. For example, the search
for the most preferred system can be repeated periodically. Upon
discovery of a preferred femto node, such as femto node 1610, the
access terminal 1620 selects the femto node 1610 for camping within
its coverage area.
[0111] A femto node can be restricted in some aspects. For example,
a given femto node can only provide certain services to certain
access terminals. In deployments with so-called restricted (or
closed) association, a given access terminal can only be served by
the macro cell mobile network and a defined set of femto nodes
(e.g., the femto nodes 1610 that reside within the corresponding
user residence 1630). In some implementations, a femto node can be
restricted to not provide, for at least one access terminal, at
least one of: signaling, data access, registration, paging, or
service.
[0112] In some aspects, a restricted femto node (which can also be
referred to as a Closed Subscriber Group HeNB) is one that provides
service to a restricted provisioned set of access terminals. This
set can be temporarily or permanently extended as necessary. In
some aspects, a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) can be defined as the
set of access nodes (e.g., femto nodes) that share a common access
control list of access terminals. A channel on which all femto
nodes (or all restricted femto nodes) in a region operate can be
referred to as a femto channel.
[0113] Various relationships can thus exist between a given femto
node and a given access terminal. For example, from the perspective
of an access terminal, an open femto node can refer to a femto node
with no restricted association. A restricted femto node can refer
to a femto node that is restricted in some manner (e.g., restricted
for association and/or registration). A home femto node can refer
to a femto node on which the access terminal is authorized to
access and operate on. A guest femto node can refer to a femto node
on which an access terminal is temporarily authorized to access or
operate on. An alien femto node can refer to a femto node on which
the access terminal is not authorized to access or operate on,
except for perhaps emergency situations (e.g., 911 calls).
[0114] From a restricted femto node perspective, a home access
terminal can refer to an access terminal that authorized to access
the restricted femto node. A guest access terminal can refer to an
access terminal with temporary access to the restricted femto node.
An alien access terminal can refer to an access terminal that does
not have permission to access the restricted femto node, except for
perhaps emergency situations, for example, 911 calls (e.g., an
access terminal that does not have the credentials or permission to
register with the restricted femto node).
[0115] For convenience, the disclosure herein describes various
functionality in the context of a femto node. It should be
appreciated, however, that a pico node can provide the same or
similar functionality as a femto node, but for a larger coverage
area. For example, a pico node can be restricted, a home pico node
can be defined for a given access terminal, and so on.
[0116] A wireless multiple-access communication system can
simultaneously support communication for multiple wireless access
terminals. As mentioned above, each terminal can communicate with
one or more base stations via transmissions on the forward and
reverse links. The forward link (or downlink) refers to the
communication link from the base stations to the terminals, and the
reverse link (or uplink) refers to the communication link from the
terminals to the base stations. This communication link can be
established via a single-in-single-out system, a MIMO system, or
some other type of system.
[0117] The various illustrative logics, logical blocks, modules,
components, and circuits described in connection with the
embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a
general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field
programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device,
discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or
any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described
herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but,
in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional
processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A
processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing
devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a
plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in
conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.
Additionally, at least one processor may comprise one or more
modules operable to perform one or more of the steps and/or actions
described above. An exemplary storage medium may be coupled to the
processor, such that the processor can read information from, and
write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the
storage medium may be integral to the processor. Further, in some
aspects, the processor and the storage medium may reside in an
ASIC. Additionally, the ASIC may reside in a user terminal. In the
alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as
discrete components in a user terminal.
[0118] In one or more aspects, the functions, methods, or
algorithms described may be implemented in hardware, software,
firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software,
the functions may be stored or transmitted as one or more
instructions or code on a computer-readable medium, which may be
incorporated into a computer program product. Computer-readable
media includes both computer storage media and communication media
including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer
program from one place to another. A storage medium may be any
available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of
example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can
comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage,
magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any
other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program
code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be
accessed by a computer. Also, substantially any connection may be
termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if software is
transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a
coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber
line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and
microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair,
DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and
microwave are included in the definition of medium. Disk and disc,
as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical
disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc
where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs
usually reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the
above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable
media.
[0119] While the foregoing disclosure discusses illustrative
aspects and/or embodiments, it should be noted that various changes
and modifications could be made herein without departing from the
scope of the described aspects and/or embodiments as defined by the
appended claims. Furthermore, although elements of the described
aspects and/or embodiments may be described or claimed in the
singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation to the
singular is explicitly stated. Additionally, all or a portion of
any aspect and/or embodiment may be utilized with all or a portion
of any other aspect and/or embodiment, unless stated otherwise.
* * * * *