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 communications device, the method comprising:
 transmitting a signal including a first value at a predetermined location in said signal, said first value indicating that the communications device is operating as a location anchor point; and   performing at least one of:
 i) transmitting information indicating the known location of the communications device; or 
 ii) measuring signals received from other devices and reporting the signal measurement information and information indicating the devices from which the measured signals were received to a location determination server. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method includes said step of transmitting information indicating the known location of the communications device; and
 wherein said information includes a second value identifying one of a plurality of predetermined locations, said one of the plurality of predetermined locations being the location of said communications device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the known location is a predetermined anchor point location from a set of possible anchor point locations. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said communications device is a mobile communications device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method includes measuring signals received from other devices and reporting the signal measurement information and information indicating the devices from which the measured signals were received,
 said step of measuring signals including:   measuring the received power of a first peer discovery signal communicating a first device identifier.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 determining from the first peer discovery signal the first communicated device identifier.   
     
     
         7 . A communications device comprising:
 means for transmitting a signal including a first value at a predetermined location in said signal, said first value indicating that the communications device is operating as a location anchor point; and   means for performing at least one of:
 i) transmitting information indicating the known location of the communications device; or 
 ii) measuring signals received from other devices and reporting the signal measurement information and information indicating the devices from which the measured signals were received to a location determination server. 
   
     
     
         8 . The communications device of  claim 7 , wherein said means for performing at least one of:
 i) transmitting information indicating the known location of the communications device; or   ii) measuring signals received from other devices and reporting the signal measurement information and information indicating the devices from which the measured signals were received to a location determination server,
 includes means for transmitting information indicating the known location of the communications device; and 
   wherein said information includes a second value identifying one of a plurality of predetermined locations, said one of the plurality of predetermined locations being the location of said communications device.   
     
     
         9 . The communications device of  claim 7 , wherein the known location is a predetermined anchor point location from a set of possible anchor point locations. 
     
     
         10 . The communications device of  claim 8 , wherein said communications device is a mobile communications device. 
     
     
         11 . A computer program product for use in a communications device, the computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:
 code for causing at least one computer to transmit a signal including a first value at a predetermined location in said signal, said first value indicating that the communications device is operating as a location anchor point; and 
 code for causing said at least one computer to perform at least one of:
 i) transmitting information indicating the known location of the communications device; or 
 ii) measuring signals received from other devices and reporting the signal measurement information and information indicating the devices from which the measured signals were received to a location determination server. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . A communications device comprising:
 at least one processor configured to:
 transmit a signal including a first value at a predetermined location in said signal, said first value indicating that the communications device is operating as a location anchor point; and 
 perform at least one of:
 i) transmitting information indicating the known location of the communications device; or 
 ii) measuring signals received from other devices and reporting the signal measurement information and information indicating the devices from which the measured signals were received to a location determination server; and 
 
   memory coupled to said at least one processor.   
     
     
         13 . The communications device of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one processor is configured to transmit information indicating the known location of the communications device; and
 wherein said information includes a second value identifying one of a plurality of predetermined locations, said one of the plurality of predetermined locations being the location of said communications device.   
     
     
         14 . The communications device of  claim 12 , wherein the known location is a predetermined anchor point location from a set of possible anchor point locations. 
     
     
         15 . The communications device of  claim 13 , wherein said communications device is a mobile communications device.