Server for crowdsourcing information in a communication network using small cells

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017208563-A1
Application number	US-201715478083-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 3, 2017
Priority date	Dec 13, 2012
Publication date	Jul 20, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for using a small cell as a reliable crowd-sourcing agent are presented. In some embodiments, a small cell installed at a known location may observe one or more wireless signals at the known location, wherein the small cell comprises a built-in network listen receiver for observing cellular downlink signals. Subsequently, the small cell may provide, to at least one crowdsourcing server, information that identifies the location and describes one or more detected properties of the one or more observed wireless signals. In at least one arrangement, the information provided to at least one crowdsourcing server is a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) configuration based on an observed LTE downlink signals. In at least one arrangement, the information provided to at least one crowdsourcing server is configured to be used by the at least one crowdsourcing server in providing position assistance information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A crowdsourcing server comprising:
at least one processor; and memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed, cause the crowdsourcing server to: receive, from a small cell installed at a known location, information describing one or more wireless signals observed by the small cell at the known location, wherein the small cell comprises a built-in network listen receiver for observing cellular downlink signals; update a database based on the received information; and provide location assistance information to one or more mobile devices using information included in the database.

2 . The crowdsourcing server of claim 1 , wherein the received information is a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) configuration based on an observed LTE downlink signals.

3 . The crowdsourcing server of claim 2 , wherein the PRS configuration includes at least one of:
one or more PRS bandwidth information elements; one or more PRS Configuration Indices; one or more Number of PRS Subframes information elements; and one or more PRS Muting Information elements.

4 . The crowdsourcing server of claim 1 , wherein the database includes signal observation information provided by a plurality of small cells installed at a plurality of different locations.

5 . The crowdsourcing server of claim 1 , wherein the database further includes signal observation information received from other mobile devices.

6 . A method for crowdsourcing wireless signals using a crowdsourcing server comprising:
receiving, from a small cell installed at a known location, information describing one or more wireless signals observed by the small cell at the known location, wherein the small cell comprises a built-in network listen receiver for observing cellular downlink signals; updating a database based on the received information; and providing location assistance information to one or more mobile devices using information included in the database.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the received information is a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) configuration based on an observed LTE downlink signals.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the PRS configuration includes at least one of:
one or more PRS bandwidth information elements; one or more PRS Configuration Indices; one or more Number of PRS Subframes information elements; and one or more PRS Muting Information elements.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the database includes signal observation information provided by a plurality of small cells installed at a plurality of different locations.

10 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the database further includes signal observation information received from other mobile devices.

11 . One or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions for crowdsourcing wireless signals that, when executed, cause one or more computing devices included in a crowdsourcing server to:
receive, from a small cell installed at a known location, information describing one or more wireless signals observed by the small cell at the known location, wherein the small cell comprises a built-in network listen receiver for observing cellular downlink signals; update a database based on the received information; and provide location assistance information to one or more mobile devices using information included in the database.

12 . The one or more computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the received information is a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) configuration based on an observed LTE downlink signals.

13 . The one or more computer-readable media of claim 12 , wherein the PRS configuration includes at least one of:
one or more PRS bandwidth information elements; one or more PRS Configuration Indices; one or more Number of PRS Subframes information elements; and one or more PRS Muting Information elements.

14 . The one or more computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the database includes signal observation information provided by a plurality of small cells installed at a plurality of different locations.

15 . The one or more computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the database further includes signal observation information received from other mobile devices.

16 . A crowdsourcing server comprising:
means for receiving, from a small cell installed at a known location, information describing one or more wireless signals observed by the small cell at the known location, wherein the small cell comprises a built-in network listen receiver for observing cellular downlink signals; means for updating a database based on the received information; and means for providing location assistance information to one or more mobile devices using information included in the database.

17 . The server of claim 16 , wherein the received information is a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) configuration based on an observed LTE downlink signals.

18 . The server of claim 17 , wherein the PRS configuration includes at least one of:
one or more PRS bandwidth information elements; one or more PRS Configuration Indices; one or more Number of PRS Subframes information elements; and one or more PRS Muting Information elements.

19 . The server of claim 16 , wherein the database includes signal observation information provided by a plurality of small cells installed at a plurality of different locations.

20 . The server of claim 16 , wherein the database further includes signal observation information received from other mobile devices.

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Fischer Sven
• Farmer Dominic
• Burroughs Kirk Allan

Classifications

• H04W16/32

  Hierarchical cell structures · CPC title

• H04W64/00 Primary

  Locating users or terminals {or network equipment} for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management · CPC title

• H04L5/0048

  Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver (allocation of control signalling H04L5/0053; use of control signalling H04L5/0091) · CPC title

• H04W84/045

  using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B · CPC title

• H04W4/02 Primary

  Services making use of location information · CPC title