Methods and apparatus for triggering cooperative positioning or learning in a wireless network

Abstract

One or more bits are used in peer discovery signals to signal a device's ability and/or willingness to participate in a cooperative manner with regard to one or more mobile device location determination related operations. In some embodiments, the one or more bits are located at predetermined locations within a header portion of a peer discovery signal. Different bits, in some embodiments, are associated with different specific cooperative location determination related operations. The peer discovery signal is transmitted, e.g., broadcast, periodically or on some predetermined basis by a mobile wireless communications device. In this manner, a device listening to the peer discovery signals can determine other devices' willingness to perform particular location discovery related operations with very little signaling overhead.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a first mobile communications device to communicate device information, the method comprising:
 transmitting a peer discovery signal including a predetermined bit designated for use in signaling a willingness to perform a first device location determination related operation, said predetermined bit being set to a first value when said first mobile communications device is willing to perform said first device location determination related operation and being set to a second value when said first mobile communications device is not willing to perform said first device location determination related operation; and   monitoring for a signal from a second mobile communications device corresponding to said first device location determination related operation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first device location determination related operation is a map parameter determination operation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , when said monitoring for a signal from a second mobile communications device detects receipt of a signal from the second mobile communications device corresponding to said first device location determination related operation, performing the step of:
 performing a signal measurement on the received signal; and   using said signal measurement in determining said map parameter.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said signal from the second mobile communications device is a signal transmitted by said second mobile communications device in response to receipt of said transmitted peer discovery signal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said parameter indicates the presence or absence of a physical obstruction at a location on said map. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first device location determination related operation is a position ambiguity resolution operation. 
     
     
         7 . A first mobile communications device to communicate device comprising:
 means for transmitting a peer discovery signal including a predetermined bit designated for use in signaling a willingness to perform a first device location determination related operation, said predetermined bit being set to a first value when said first mobile communications device is willing to perform said first device location determination related operation and being set to a second value when said first mobile communications device is not willing to perform said first device location determination related operation; and   means for monitoring for a signal from a second mobile communications device corresponding to said first device location determination related operation.   
     
     
         8 . The first mobile communications device of  claim 7 , wherein said first device location determination related operation is a map parameter determination operation. 
     
     
         9 . The first mobile communications device of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 means for performing a signal measurement on the received signal; and   means for using said signal measurement in determining said map parameter; when said means for monitoring for a signal from a second mobile communications device detects receipt of a signal from the second mobile communications device corresponding to said first device location determination related operation.   
     
     
         10 . The first mobile communications device of  claim 9 , wherein said signal from the second mobile communications device is a signal transmitted by said second mobile communications device in response to receipt of said transmitted peer discovery signal. 
     
     
         11 . The first mobile communications device of  claim 9 , wherein said parameter indicates the presence or absence of a physical obstruction at a location on said map. 
     
     
         12 . The first mobile communications device of  claim 7 , wherein said first device location determination related operation is a position ambiguity resolution operation. 
     
     
         13 . A computer program product for use in a first mobile communications device, the computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:
 code for causing at least one computer to transmit a peer discovery signal including a predetermined bit designated for use in signaling a willingness to perform a first device location determination related operation, said predetermined bit being set to a first value when said first mobile communications device is willing to perform said first device location determination related operation and being set to a second value when said first mobile communications device is not willing to perform said first device location determination related operation; and 
 code for causing said at least one computer to monitor for a signal from a second mobile communications device corresponding to said first device location determination related operation. 
   
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein said first device location determination related operation is a map parameter determination operation. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 14 , when said code for causing said at least one computer to monitor for a signal from a second mobile communications device detects receipt of a signal from the second mobile communications device corresponding to said first device location determination related operation, performing the step of:
 code for performing a signal measurement on the received signal; and   code for using said signal measurement in determining said map parameter.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein said signal from the second mobile communications device is a signal transmitted by said second mobile communications device in response to receipt of said transmitted peer discovery signal. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein said parameter indicates the presence or absence of a physical obstruction at a location on said map. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein said first device location determination related operation is a position ambiguity resolution operation. 
     
     
         19 . A first mobile communications device comprising:
 at least one processor configured to:
 transmit a peer discovery signal including a predetermined bit designated for use in signaling a willingness to perform a first device location determination related operation, said predetermined bit being set to a first value when said first mobile communications device is willing to perform said first device location determination related operation and being set to a second value when said first mobile communications device is not willing to perform said first device location determination related operation; and 
 monitor for a signal from a second mobile communications device corresponding to said first device location determination related operation; and 
   memory coupled to said at least one processor.   
     
     
         20 . The first mobile communications device of  claim 19 , wherein said first device location determination related operation is a map parameter determination operation. 
     
     
         21 . The first mobile communications device of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one processor is further configured to:
 perform a signal measurement on the received signal; and   use said signal measurement in determining said map parameter; when said monitoring for a signal from a second mobile communications device detects receipt of a signal from the second mobile communications device corresponding to said first device location determination related operation.   
     
     
         22 . The first mobile communications device of  claim 21 , wherein said signal from the second mobile communications device is a signal transmitted by said second mobile communications device in response to receipt of said transmitted peer discovery signal. 
     
     
         23 . The first mobile communications device of  claim 21 , wherein said signal from the second mobile communications device is a signal transmitted by said second mobile communications device in response to receipt of said transmitted peer discovery signal. 
     
     
         24 . The first mobile communications device of  claim 23 , wherein said parameter indicates the presence or absence of a physical obstruction at a location on said map. 
     
     
         25 . The first mobile communications device of  claim 19 , wherein said first device location determination related operation is a position ambiguity resolution operation