Mobile device location determination using micronetworks

Abstract

A facility for determining the location of a mobile device when a location determination of a desired accuracy is desired. If available, the facility determines the location of the mobile device using a device-based technique or using a location determination technique that is accessible over a macronetwork. Macronetworks are networks that are designed to cover relatively large areas. If a location determination technique of desired accuracy is not available on the device or over a macronetwork, the facility attempts to use a location determination technique that is accessible over a micronetwork to determine the location of the mobile device. Micronetworks are networks that are designed to cover smaller areas. By forcing a switch from a macronetwork-based location determination technique to a micronetwork-based location determination technique, the facility ensures that a location determination is made for the mobile device of a desired accuracy, time to fix (TTF), and/or yield.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . At least one non-transitory, computer-readable medium carrying instructions, which when executed by at least one data processor, performs operations to determine a location of a mobile device, the operations comprising:
 following an evaluation that a geographic location of the mobile device provided via a macronetwork would fail a location determination criterion, obtaining data related to a micronetwork after the mobile device has broadcast a distress message to any micronetworks,
 wherein location information is obtainable regardless of whether a two-way communication session is established between the mobile device and the micronetwork, and 
 wherein the obtaining of data related to the micronetwork is performed while the mobile device has maintained a communication session with the macronetwork; 
   determining updated location information for the mobile device based on the data related to the micronetwork,
 wherein the data related to the micronetwork is provided by the mobile device via the macronetwork. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the location determination criterion failed when at least one of an accuracy, a time-to-fix, and a yield associated with a macronetwork-obtained location fails to satisfy a desired accuracy, a desired time-to-fix, or a desired yield associated with the mobile device. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the desired accuracy is an accuracy within 20 meters of an actual location of the mobile device. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the micronetwork is distinct from the macronetwork. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the operations interoperate with a switch or a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL). 
     
     
         6 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the geographic location of the mobile device provided via the macronetwork is a macronetwork-based location determination technique that includes a Global Positioning System, a Time Delay On Arrival (TDOA), an Assisted Global Positioning System (AGPS), or a Round Trip Time (RTT) technique. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a retrieved location information as an indication of the location of the mobile device to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). 
     
     
         8 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the communication session with the macronetwork comprises communicating via Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), or Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) protocols, and   wherein the broadcasting to any micronetworks comprises communicating via Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), General Access Network (GAN), Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA), Wireless Universal Serial Bus (WUSB), or ZigBee protocols.   
     
     
         9 . A computer-implemented method for determining a location of a mobile device, the method comprising:
 following an evaluation that a geographic location of the mobile device provided via a macronetwork would fail a location determination criterion, obtaining data related to a micronetwork after the mobile device has broadcast a distress message to any micronetworks,
 wherein location information is obtainable regardless of whether a two-way communication session is established between the mobile device and the micronetwork, and 
 wherein the obtaining of data related to the micronetwork is performed while the mobile device has maintained a communication session with the macronetwork; 
   determining updated location information for the mobile device based on the data related to the micronetwork,
 wherein the data related to the micronetwork is provided by the mobile device via the macronetwork. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the location determination criterion failed when at least one of an accuracy, a time-to-fix, and a yield associated with a macronetwork-obtained location fails to satisfy a desired accuracy, a desired time-to-fix, or a desired yield associated with the mobile device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the desired accuracy is an accuracy within 20 meters of an actual location of the mobile device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the micronetwork is distinct from the macronetwork. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method interoperates with a switch or a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the geographic location of the mobile device provided via the macronetwork is a macronetwork-based location determination technique that includes a Global Positioning System, a Time Delay On Arrival (TDOA), an Assisted Global Positioning System (AGPS), or a Round Trip Time (RTT) technique. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising providing a retrieved location information as an indication of the location of the mobile device to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the communication session with the macronetwork comprises communicating via Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), or Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) protocols, and   wherein the broadcasting to any micronetworks comprises communicating via Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), General Access Network (GAN), Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA), Wireless Universal Serial Bus (WUSB), or ZigBee protocols.   
     
     
         17 . A system for determining a location of a mobile device, the system comprising:
 at least one hardware processor;   at least one non-transitory memory, coupled to the at least one hardware processor and storing instructions, which when executed by the at least one hardware processor, perform a process, the process comprising:   following an evaluation that a geographic location of the mobile device provided via a macronetwork would fail a location determination criterion, obtaining data related to a micronetwork after the mobile device has broadcast a distress message to any micronetworks,
 wherein location information is obtainable regardless of whether a two-way communication session is established between the mobile device and the micronetwork, and 
 wherein the obtaining of data related to the micronetwork is performed while the mobile device has maintained a communication session with the macronetwork; 
   determining updated location information for the mobile device based on the data related to the micronetwork,
 wherein the data related to the micronetwork is provided by the mobile device via the macronetwork. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the location determination criterion failed when at least one of an accuracy, a time-to-fix, and a yield associated with a macronetwork-obtained location fails to satisfy a desired accuracy, a desired time-to-fix, or a desired yield associated with the mobile device. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the desired accuracy is an accuracy within 20 meters of an actual location of the mobile device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the method interoperates with a switch or a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL).