Methods and apparatuses for use with mode-switchable navigation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017315240-A1
Application number	US-201715650684-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 14, 2017
Priority date	Jun 27, 2008
Publication date	Nov 2, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use with mode switchable navigation radios and the like. The methods and apparatuses may be implemented to selectively switch between certain operating modes based, at least in part, one or more determinations relating to one or more satellite positioning signals and/or space vehicles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for use in determining a position location of a mobile device, the method comprising, at the mobile device:
acquiring satellite positioning signals transmitted by a plurality of space vehicles as part of a first mode of operation of a position locating circuitry of the mobile device; tracking the plurality of space vehicles for position location based on respective satellite positioning signals acquired by the mobile device; determining, respectively, a measured signal strength value for each one of the plurality of space vehicles being tracked based on the corresponding acquired satellite positioning signals; and in response to a determination that the respective measured signal strength value for each one of the space vehicles being tracked satisfies a threshold signal strength value, initiating a change from the first mode of operation of the position locating circuitry to a second mode of operation, wherein the position locating circuitry attempts to subsequently reacquire signals from one or more of the plurality of space vehicles being tracked less often in the second mode of operation than in the first mode of operation.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, while the operational mode of the position locating circuitry of the mobile device comprises the second mode, the position locating circuitry is configured to not attempt to reacquire satellite positioning signals from the plurality of space vehicles during a period of a duty cycle.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating the change from the first mode of operation of the position locating circuitry to the second mode of operation is further based, at least in part, on determination that a number of the plurality of space vehicles being tracked exceeds a threshold number.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating the change from the first mode of operation of the position locating circuitry to the second mode of operation is further based, at least in part, on determination that corresponding position information is accessible for each of the plurality of space vehicles being tracked.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating the change from the first mode of operation of the position locating circuitry to the second mode of operation is further based, at least in part, on determination that position information corresponding to any of the plurality of space vehicles being tracked is not currently being received.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating the change from the first mode of operation of the position locating circuitry to the second mode of operation is further based, at least in part, on determination that an error associated with a current position location determined based, at least in part, on at least a portion of the satellite positioning signals acquired from the plurality of space vehicles does not exceed a position location error threshold.

7 . The method of claim 1 , and further comprising, at the mobile device:
subsequent to initiating the change from the first mode of operation of the position locating circuitry to a second mode of operation, initiating a further change from the second mode of operation of the position locating circuitry to the first mode of operation based at least in part on a timed condition corresponding to the change from the first mode of operation of the position locating circuitry to the second mode of operation.

8 . A mobile device comprising:
position locating circuitry configured to:
acquire satellite positioning signals transmitted by a plurality of space vehicles as part of a first mode of operation;
track the plurality of space vehicles for position location based on the corresponding acquired satellite positioning signals; and
determine, respectively, a measured signal strength value for each one of the plurality of space vehicles being tracked based on the corresponding acquired satellite positioning signals; and
a controller coupled to the position locating circuitry and configured to:
in response to a determination that the respective measured signal strength value for each one of the space vehicles being tracked satisfies a threshold signal strength value, initiate a change in the position location circuitry from the first mode of operation to a second mode of operation, wherein the position locating circuitry attempts to subsequently reacquire signals from one or more of the plurality of space vehicles being tracked less often in the second mode of operation than in the first mode of operation.

9 . The mobile device of claim 8 , wherein, while the operational mode of the position locating circuitry comprises the second mode, the position locating circuitry is configured to not attempt to reacquire satellite positioning signals from the plurality of space vehicles during a period of a duty cycle.

10 . The mobile device of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to initiate the change from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation further based, at least in part, on determination that a number of the plurality of space vehicles being tracked exceeds a threshold number.

11 . The mobile device of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to initiate the change from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation further based, at least in part, on determination that corresponding position information is accessible for each of the plurality of space vehicles being tracked.

12 . The mobile device of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to initiate the change from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation further based, at least in part, on determination that position information corresponding to any of the plurality of space vehicles being tracked is not currently being received.

13 . The mobile device of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to initiate the change from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation further based, at least in part, on determination that an error associated with a current position location determined based, at least in part, on at least a portion of the satellite positioning signals acquired from the plurality of space vehicles does not exceed a position location error threshold.

14 . The mobile device of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to subsequently initiate a further change of the position locating circuitry from the second mode of operation to the first mode of operation based at least in part on a timed condition corresponding to the initiated change from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation.

15 . An apparatus for use in determining a position location of a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:
means for acquiring satellite positioning signals transmitted by a plurality of space vehicles as part of a first mode of operation the apparatus; means for tracking the plurality of space vehicles for position location based on the corresponding acquired satellite positioning signals; means for determining, respectively, a measured signal strength value for each one of the plurality of space vehicles being tracked based on the corresponding acquired satellite positioning signals; means for determining that the respective measured signal strength value for each one of the space vehicles being tracked satisfies a threshold signal strength value; and means for initiating a change from the first mode of operation of the apparatus to a second mode of operation in response to a determination that the respective measured signal strength value for each one of the

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Farmer Dominic Gerard
• Wu Jie
• Daita Lalitaprasad V
• Rowitch Douglas Neal
• Riley Wyatt Thomas

Classifications

• G01S19/34 Primary

  Power consumption · CPC title

• G01S19/24

  Acquisition or tracking {or demodulation} of signals transmitted by the system {(synchronisation aspects of direct sequence spread spectrum modulation H04B1/7073)} · CPC title

• G01S19/27

  creating, predicting or correcting ephemeris or almanac data within the receiver · CPC title

• G01S19/39

  the satellite radio beacon positioning system transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO · CPC title

• G01S19/23

  Testing, monitoring, correcting or calibrating of receiver elements · CPC title