Apple patents method to pick best satellite or ground signal for location
Apple describes a system where a server helps locate a device by choosing the best mix of ground-based and satellite-based signal sources. It picks one specific source as a reference point based on signal quality to improve accuracy.
In the filing’s own words
A positioning server is configured to determine a set of anchor points to be used in a positioning method for a user equipment, wherein each of the anchor points is associated with a type of anchor point comprising a terrestrial type or a non-terrestrial type, select a subset of the set of anchor points based on the types of the anchor points, select one anchor point from the subset of anchor points as a reference anchor point based on an expected quality of a positioning reference signal (PRS) transmission received from the anchor point, transmit to the UE a PRS configuration for each of the anchor points and indicating to the UE the reference anchor point and instruct each of the anchor points to transmit respective PRSs in accordance with the PRS configuration.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An apparatus comprising processing circuitry coupled to a memory, the processing circuitry configured to perform operations comprising: determining a set of anchor points comprising one or more anchor points of a terrestrial type and one or more anchor points of a non-terrestrial type to be used in a positioning method for a user equipment (UE); selecting a subset of anchor points from the set of anchor points, wherein the subset anchor points consist of a same type of anchor point; selecting one anchor point from the subset of anchor points as a reference anchor point based on an expected quality of a positioning reference signal (PRS) transmission associated with each anchor point from the subset of anchor points; generating, for transmission to the UE, a PRS configuration for each of the anchor points and indicating to the UE the reference anchor point; and instructing each of the anchor points to transmit respective PRSs in accordance with the PRS configuration.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Reference point selection for OTDOA in a non-terrestrial network
- Patent number
- US12763899B2
- Application number
- 17820311
- Filed
- Aug 17, 2022
- Granted
- Oct 13, 2026
- Inventors
- 10
- Claims
- 18
Classified under
H04L 5/0051 Electricity & electronicsH04B 7/18513 Electricity & electronicsH04W 24/08 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in Networks & wireless
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.