Position estimation assistance information for mobile station

Abstract

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to providing assistance information to a mobile station for performing position estimation operations.

1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, at a server, fix information records associated with position estimations of a first plurality of mobile stations, wherein each received fix information record is associated with a corresponding mobile station position estimation and comprises measurements of one or more one or more wireless transmitter signals;   computing, for each of the received fix information records, a corresponding fix score; and   determining, based, at least in part, on the corresponding fix scores, whether to store one or more fix information records.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the one or more fix information records in a network database according to a priority scheme for the fix information records, when a determination to store the one or more fix information records is made. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the server comprises a network database server communicatively coupled to a wireless network. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising determining, based, at least in part, on the corresponding fix scores, whether to transmit the one or more stored fix information records to a second plurality of mobile stations. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising transmitting the one or more stored fix information records according to the priority scheme for the fix information records, when a determination to transmit the one or more fix information records is made. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more stored fix information records is transmitted in response to requests for assistance data received at the server. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein, in response to each request for assistance data and prior to transmitting the one or more stored fix information records, the server specifies an amount of information to be included in each received fix information record. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the requests for assistance data and the responses to the requests for assistance data conform to one or more wireless positioning protocols. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more wireless positioning protocols are based on at least one of Long Term Evolution (LTE), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), CDMA 2000, or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standards. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fix score is computed as a function of an independence score, a need score, and a Horizontal Estimated Position Error (HEPE) associated with a mobile station position estimation corresponding to each fix information record, wherein the independence score is a measure of reliability of a transmitter providing the corresponding received fix information record, and the need score is measure indicating the relative desirability of retaining a fix information record. 
     
     
         11 . A server, comprising:
 a communications interface to receive fix information records associated with position estimations of a first plurality of mobile stations, wherein each received fix information record is associated with a corresponding mobile station position estimation and comprises measurements of one or more one or more wireless transmitter signals; and   a processor coupled to the communications interface, wherein the processor is configured to:   compute, for each of the received fix information records, a corresponding fix score; and   determine, based, at least in part, on the corresponding fix scores, whether to store one or more fix information records.   
     
     
         12 . The server of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 storage coupled to the processor, the storage comprising a network database, and   wherein the processor is further configured to:
 store the one or more fix information records in the network database according to a priority scheme for the fix information records, when a determination to store the one or more fix information records is made. 
   
     
     
         13 . The server of  claim 12 , wherein the server further comprises a network database server coupled to the network database and communicatively coupled to a wireless network. 
     
     
         14 . The server of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine, based, at least in part, on the corresponding fix scores, whether to transmit the one or more stored fix information records to a second plurality of mobile stations.   
     
     
         15 . The server of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 initiate the transmission of the one or more stored fix information records according to the priority scheme for the fix information records, when a determination to transmit the one or more fix information records is made.   
     
     
         16 . The server of  claim 15 , wherein the processor initiates the transmission of the one or more stored fix information records in response to requests for assistance data received at the server. 
     
     
         17 . The server of  claim 16 , wherein, prior to initiating the transmission of the one or more stored fix information records, the processor is configured to:
 specify, in response to each request for assistance data, an amount of information to be included in each received fix information record.   
     
     
         18 . The server of  claim 16 , wherein the requests for assistance data and the responses to the requests for assistance data conform to one or more wireless positioning protocols. 
     
     
         19 . The server of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more wireless positioning protocols are based on at least one of Long Term Evolution (LTE), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), CDMA 2000, or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standards. 
     
     
         20 . The server of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 compute the fix score as a function of an independence score, a need score, and a Horizontal Estimated Position Error (HEPE) associated with a mobile station position estimation corresponding to each fix information record, wherein the independence score is a measure of reliability of a transmitter providing the corresponding received fix information record, and the need score is measure indicating the relative desirability of retaining a fix information record.   
     
     
         21 . A server, comprising:
 communications interface means, the communications interface means to receive fix information records associated with position estimations of a first plurality of mobile stations, wherein each received fix information record is associated with a corresponding mobile station position estimation and comprises measurements of one or more one or more wireless transmitter signals;   means for computing, for each of the received fix information records, a corresponding fix score; and   means for determining, based, at least in part, on the corresponding fix scores, whether to store one or more fix information records.   
     
     
         22 . The server of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 storage means coupled to the means for determining, the storage comprising a network database, the storage means to store the one or more fix information records in the network database according to a priority scheme for the fix information records, when a determination to store the one or more fix information records is made.   
     
     
         23 . The server of  claim 22 , wherein the storage means comprises network database server means, the network database server means coupled to the network database and communicatively coupled to a wireless network. 
     
     
         24 . The server of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 means for determining, based, at least in part, on the corresponding fix scores, whether to transmit the one or more stored fix information records to a second plurality of mobile stations.   
     
     
         25 . The server of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 means for initiating the transmission of the one or more stored fix information records according to the priority scheme for the fix information records, when a determination to transmit the one or more fix information records is made.   
     
     
         26 . The server of  claim 25 , wherein the means for initiating the transmission of the one or more stored fix information records initiates the transmission in response to requests for assistance data received at the server. 
     
     
         27 . The server of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 means for specifying, prior to initiating the transmission of the one or more stored fix information records, and in response to each request for assistance data, an amount of information to be included in each received fix information record.   
     
     
         28 . The server of  claim 26 , wherein the requests for assistance data and the responses to the requests for assistance data conform to one or more wireless positioning protocols. 
     
     
         29 . The server of  claim 28 , wherein the one or more wireless positioning protocols are based on at least one of Long Term Evolution (LTE), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), CDMA 2000, or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standards. 
     
     
         30 . The server of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 means for computing the fix score as a function of an independence score, a need score, and a Horizontal Estimated Position Error (HEPE) associated with a mobile station position estimation corresponding to each fix information record, wherein the independence score is a measure of reliability of a transmitter providing the corresponding received fix information record, and the need score is measure indicating the relative desirability of retaining a fix information record.   
     
     
         31 . A computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a processor, perform a method comprising:
 receiving, at a server, fix information records associated with position estimations of a first plurality of mobile stations, wherein each received fix information record is associated with a corresponding mobile station position estimation and comprises measurements of one or more one or more wireless transmitter signals;   computing, for each of the received fix information records, a corresponding fix score; and   determining, based, at least in part, on the corresponding fix scores, whether to store one or more fix information records.   
     
     
         32 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 31 , further comprising storing the one or more fix information records in a network database according to a priority scheme for the fix information records, when a determination to store the one or more fix information records is made. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 32 , wherein the server comprises a network database server communicatively coupled to a wireless network. 
     
     
         34 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 32 , further comprising determining, based, at least in part, on the corresponding fix scores, whether to transmit the one or more stored fix information records to a second plurality of mobile stations. 
     
     
         35 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 34 , further comprising transmitting the one or more stored fix information records according to the priority scheme for the fix information records, when a determination to transmit the one or more fix information records is made. 
     
     
         36 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the one or more stored fix information records is transmitted in response to requests for assistance data received at the server. 
     
     
         37 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein, in response to each request for assistance data and prior to transmitting the one or more stored fix information records, the server specifies an amount of information to be included in each received fix information record. 
     
     
         38 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the requests for assistance data and the responses to the requests for assistance data conform to one or more wireless positioning protocols. 
     
     
         39 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 38 , wherein the one or more wireless positioning protocols are based on at least one of Long Term Evolution (LTE), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), CDMA 2000, or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standards. 
     
     
         40 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein the fix score is computed as a function of an independence score, a need score, and a Horizontal Estimated Position Error (HEPE) associated with a mobile station position estimation corresponding to each fix information record, wherein the independence score is a measure of reliability of a transmitter providing the corresponding received fix information record, and the need score is measure indicating the relative desirability of retaining a fix information record. 
     
     
         41 . A method, comprising:
 generating, at a mobile station (MS), one or more fix information records, wherein each fix information record is associated with a corresponding position estimation of the MS and comprises measurements of one or more wireless transmitter signals;   compute a distinct score associated with each fix information record in a subset of the generated fix information records; and   determining, based, at least in part, on the corresponding fix scores, whether to transmit at least one fix information record in the subset.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising:
 transmitting at least one fix information record in the subset into a network when a determination to transmit the one or more fix information records is made.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the determination to transmit the at least one fix information record in the subset is made, based, in part, on a comparison of the distinct score of the at least one fix information record with scores of stored fix information records in the MS. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one fix information record is transmitted as part of one or more wireless positioning protocols. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the one or more wireless positioning protocols are based on at least one of Long Term Evolution (LTE), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), CDMA 2000, or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standards. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein, an amount of information in each transmitted fix information record is specified by a network entity. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising:
 determining, based, at least in part, on the corresponding fix scores, whether to store one or more fix information records in the subset on the MS.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising:
 storing the one or more fix information records in the subset on the MS according to a priority scheme for the one or more fix information records, when a determination to store the one or more fix information records in the subset is made.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the fix score is computed as a function of an independence score, a need score, and a Horizontal Estimated Position Error (HEPE) associated with a MS position estimation corresponding to each fix information record, wherein the independence score is a measure of reliability of a transmitter providing the corresponding received fix information record, and the need score is measure indicating the relative desirability of retaining a fix information record. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the wireless transmitter signals comprise one or more of femtocell, Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Bluetooth, Satellite Positioning System (SPS), and cellular transmitter signals. 
     
     
         51 . A mobile station (MS), comprising:
 a receiver to receive one or more wireless signals from one or more wireless transmitters;   a processor coupled to the receiver, wherein the processor is configured to:
 generate one or more fix information records, wherein each fix information record is associated with a corresponding position estimation of the MS and comprises measurements of one or more wireless transmitter signals; 
 compute a distinct score associated with each fix information record in a subset of the generated fix information records; and 
 determine, based, at least in part, on the corresponding fix scores, whether to transmit at least one fix information record in the subset. 
   
     
     
         52 . The MS of  claim 51 , further comprising:
 a transmitter, a transmitter coupled to the processor, the transmitter to transmit at least one fix information record in the subset into a network when a determination to transmit the one or more fix information records is made.   
     
     
         53 . The MS of  claim 51 , wherein the determination to transmit the at least one fix information record in the subset is made, based, in part, on a comparison of the distinct score of the at least one fix information record with scores of stored fix information records in the MS. 
     
     
         54 . The MS of  claim 51 , wherein the transmitter transmits the at least one fix information record as in conformance with one or more wireless positioning protocols. 
     
     
         55 . The MS of  claim 54 , wherein the one or more wireless positioning protocols are based on at least one of Long Term Evolution (LTE), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), CDMA 2000, or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standards. 
     
     
         56 . The MS of  claim 51 , wherein, an amount of information in each transmitted fix information record is specified by a network entity. 
     
     
         57 . The MS of  claim 51 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine, based, at least in part, on the corresponding fix scores, whether to store one or more fix information records in the subset.   
     
     
         58 . The MS of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to store the one or more fix information records in the subset in the memory according to a priority scheme for the one or more fix information records, when a determination to store the one or more fix information records in the subset is made.   
     
     
         59 . The MS of  claim 51 , wherein the processor is configured to compute the fix score as a function of an independence score, a need score, and a Horizontal Estimated Position Error (HEPE) associated with a MS position estimation corresponding to each fix information record, wherein the independence score is a measure of reliability of a transmitter providing the corresponding received fix information record, and the need score is measure indicating the relative desirability of retaining a fix information record. 
     
     
         60 . The MS of  claim 51 , wherein the receiver is capable of receiving wireless transmitter signals comprising one or more of femtocell, Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Bluetooth, Satellite Positioning System (SPS), and cellular transmitter signals. 
     
     
         61 . A mobile station (MS), comprising:
 receiving means for receiving one or more wireless signals from one or more wireless transmitters;   means for generating one or more fix information records coupled to the receiving means, wherein each generated fix information record is associated with a corresponding position estimation of the MS and comprises measurements of one or more wireless transmitter signals;   means for computing a distinct score associated with each fix information record in a subset of the generated fix information records; and   means for determining, based, at least in part, on the corresponding fix scores, whether to transmit at least one fix information record in the subset.   
     
     
         62 . The MS of  claim 61 , further comprising:
 transmitting means coupled to the means for determining, the transmitting means to transmit at least one fix information record in the subset into a network when a determination to transmit the one or more fix information records is made.   
     
     
         63 . The MS of  claim 61 , wherein the determination to transmit the at least one fix information record in the subset is made, based, in part, on a comparison of the distinct score of the at least one fix information record with scores of stored fix information records in the MS. 
     
     
         64 . The MS of  claim 61 , wherein the transmitting means transmits the at least one fix information record as in conformance with one or more wireless positioning protocols. 
     
     
         65 . The MS of  claim 64 , wherein the one or more wireless positioning protocols are based on at least one of Long Term Evolution (LTE), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), CDMA 2000, or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standards. 
     
     
         66 . The MS of  claim 61 , wherein, an amount of information in each transmitted fix information record is specified by a network entity. 
     
     
         67 . The MS of  claim 61 , further comprising:
 means for determining, based, at least in part, on the corresponding fix scores, whether to store one or more fix information records in the subset.   
     
     
         68 . The MS of  claim 67 , further comprising:
 storage means coupled to the means for determining whether to store one or more fix information records in the subset, the storage means to store the one or more fix information records in the subset in the storage means according to a priority scheme for the one or more fix information records, when a determination to store the one or more fix information records in the subset is made.   
     
     
         69 . The MS of  claim 61 , wherein the processor is configured to compute the fix score as a function of an independence score, a need score, and a Horizontal Estimated Position Error (HEPE) associated with a MS position estimation corresponding to each fix information record, wherein the independence score is a measure of reliability of a transmitter providing the corresponding received fix information record, and the need score is measure indicating the relative desirability of retaining a fix information record. 
     
     
         70 . The MS of  claim 61 , wherein the receiving means is capable of receiving wireless transmitter signals comprising one or more of femtocell, Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Bluetooth, Satellite Positioning System (SPS), and cellular transmitter signals. 
     
     
         71 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor perform steps in a method, the steps comprising:
 generating, at a mobile station (MS), one or more fix information records, wherein each fix information record is associated with a corresponding position estimation of the MS and comprises measurements of one or more wireless transmitter signals;   compute a distinct score associated with each fix information record in a subset of the generated fix information records; and   determining, based, at least in part, on the corresponding fix scores, whether to transmit at least one fix information record in the subset.   
     
     
         72 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 71 , further comprising:
 transmitting at least one fix information record in the subset into a network when a determination to transmit the one or more fix information records is made.   
     
     
         73 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 71 , wherein the determination to transmit the at least one fix information record in the subset is made, based, in part, on a comparison of the distinct score of the at least one fix information record with scores of stored fix information records in the MS. 
     
     
         74 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 71 , wherein the at least one fix information record is transmitted as part of one or more wireless positioning protocols. 
     
     
         75 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 74 , wherein the one or more wireless positioning protocols are based on at least one of Long Term Evolution (LTE), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), CDMA 2000, or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standards. 
     
     
         76 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 71 , wherein, an amount of information in each transmitted fix information record is specified by a network entity. 
     
     
         77 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 71 , further comprising:
 determining, based, at least in part, on the corresponding fix scores, whether to store one or more fix information records in the subset on the MS.   
     
     
         78 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 77 , further comprising:
 storing the one or more fix information records in the subset on the MS according to a priority scheme for the one or more fix information records, when a determination to store the one or more fix information records in the subset is made.   
     
     
         79 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 71 , wherein the fix score is computed as a function of an independence score, a need score, and a Horizontal Estimated Position Error (HEPE) associated with a MS position estimation corresponding to each fix information record, wherein the independence score is a measure of reliability of a transmitter providing the corresponding received fix information record, and the need score is measure indicating the relative desirability of retaining a fix information record. 
     
     
         80 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 71 , wherein the wireless transmitter signals comprise one or more of femtocell, Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Bluetooth, Satellite Positioning System (SPS), and cellular transmitter signals.