CN103037506B

CN103037506B - Localization method, system and relevant device

Info

Publication number: CN103037506B
Application number: CN201110304719.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 陈心昕; 常辉; 季海峰
Original assignee: China Mobile Communications Group Co Ltd
Current assignee: China Mobile Communications Group Co Ltd
Priority date: 2011-10-10
Filing date: 2011-10-10
Publication date: 2016-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2031-10-10
Also published as: CN103037506A

Abstract

The invention discloses localization method, system and relevant device, in order to reduce the user's that is positioned in position fixing process the frequency of utilization of terminal device and architecture platform, promote locating speed and precision. A kind of localization method, comprising: terminal device, in each locating periodically, is initiated GPS (global positioning system)/AGPS (agps system) location according to sample frequency; If successfully obtain at least one GPS positional information, report location-server; If do not obtain GPS positional information and judge and be moved according to CI (cell ID) information, reporting the first indication information. Another kind of localization method, comprising: terminal device, in each locating periodically, judges whether to be moved according to CI information; In the time that judgement is moved, initiate GPS/AGPS location, if successfully obtain GPS positional information, report location-server; If do not obtain GPS positional information, report the first indication information.

Description

Positioning method, system and related equipment

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of positioning technologies, and in particular, to a positioning method, a positioning system, and a related device.

Background

The positioning system is a system that provides self-position information or other-person position information for a user initiating positioning by using one or more positioning technologies, and generally comprises a terminal device of the user to be positioned and a positioning platform providing a specific positioning mode. In the prior art, common positioning techniques include: GPS (global positioning system)/AGPS (assisted global positioning system) positioning technology, base station positioning technology, and the like. Wherein:

the GPS positioning technology is mainly used when a positioned user is outdoors, can provide self position information for a positioning initiating user, can also provide navigation for the positioning initiating user during walking and driving, and can also provide position information of other people for the positioning initiating user. The positioning precision is high and can reach below 10 m. Based on the GPS positioning technology, the prior art provides an AGPS positioning technology. AGPS positioning technology is mature, standardized protocols can be followed, and chips supporting the standardized protocols are also commercialized, but the positioning user still cannot obtain the position information when the positioning user is indoors.

The base station positioning technology performs positioning based on the position of a base station where the terminal equipment of a positioned user is located, and the positioning precision is low and is generally between 500m and several kilometers. On the basis of the base station positioning technology, various positioning technologies for optimizing the positioning accuracy of the base station are provided in the prior art, but the support of a chip and the transformation of related wireless network elements and core network elements are required, so that the commercialization and the product popularization have certain difficulty.

For the positioning system, in addition to the positioning accuracy, the realization difficulty, and the like provided by the adopted positioning technology, the practicability, the popularization, and the like of the adopted positioning technology need to be considered. The positioning system adopting the GPS/AGPS positioning technology is mainly used outdoors by a positioned user, if the positioned user is indoors, the position information of the positioned user cannot be obtained, and the battery service life of the terminal equipment of the positioned user is greatly shortened because a GPS search satellite needs to consume more electric quantity.

In the prior art, a positioning system generally adopts a GPS/AGPS positioning technology and a base station positioning technology, and because the GPS/AGPS positioning technology is greatly influenced by external factors such as weather, indoor and outdoor factors, the positioning system switches to a base station positioning mode to obtain position information of a positioned user when the GPS/AGPS positioning fails. Frequent failure of GPS/AGPS positioning may occur for many times, so that the time for obtaining the position information of the positioned user is prolonged, and the terminal equipment of the positioned user consumes time and power but cannot obtain accurate position information in a short time; and a large amount of GPS/AGPS positioning returns to base station positioning, and the pressure of a positioning platform (referred to as a base station positioning platform for short in the application document) providing a base station positioning mode is increased.

In the prior art, a positioning system adopting a GPS/AGPS positioning technology and a base station positioning technology, and a GPS/AGPS positioning failure rollback base station positioning mode may result in a long positioning time, and both a terminal device side and a base station positioning platform side may participate in GPS/AGPS positioning and base station positioning for many times, while a positioning initiating user obtains position information with a low positioning accuracy.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the invention provides a positioning method, a positioning system and related equipment, which are used for reducing the use frequency of terminal equipment and a base station positioning platform of a positioned user in the positioning process and improving the positioning speed and precision.

The positioning method provided by the embodiment of the invention comprises the following steps:

the terminal equipment of the positioned user initiates GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system according to the preset sampling frequency in each preset positioning period;

for the current positioning period, if the terminal equipment successfully obtains at least one piece of GPS position information, reporting the obtained at least one piece of GPS position information to a positioning server for recording; and

if the terminal equipment does not obtain the GPS position information and judges that the terminal equipment moves according to the CI information, reporting first indication information of failed GPS/AGPS positioning and movement of the terminal equipment to a positioning server, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating the positioning server to perform base station positioning on the terminal equipment through a base station positioning platform and recording the obtained base station position information.

the positioning server records at least one piece of GPS position information which is successfully obtained and reported after the terminal equipment of the positioned user initiates GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system according to a preset sampling frequency in the current positioning period; or

The positioning server receives first indication information that the terminal equipment fails in positioning and the terminal equipment moves, wherein the first indication information is reported when the terminal equipment fails in positioning and the terminal equipment does not obtain GPS position information after the terminal equipment initiates GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system according to a preset sampling frequency in a current positioning period and the terminal equipment moves according to CI information; and carrying out base station positioning on the terminal equipment through a base station positioning platform according to the received first indication information, and recording the obtained base station position information.

Correspondingly, a terminal device provided in an embodiment of the present invention includes:

the GPS/AGPS positioning module is used for initiating GPS/AGPS positioning for obtaining GPS position information to a GPS satellite system according to a preset sampling frequency in each preset positioning period;

the first reporting module is used for reporting the obtained at least one piece of GPS position information to a positioning server for recording if the GPS/AGPS positioning module successfully obtains the at least one piece of GPS position information aiming at the current positioning period;

and a second reporting module, configured to report, for a current positioning period, first indication information that the GPS/AGPS positioning fails and the terminal device moves to a positioning server if the GPS/AGPS positioning module does not obtain GPS position information and determines that the terminal device moves according to CI information, where the first indication information is used to indicate the positioning server to perform base station positioning on the terminal device through a base station positioning platform, and record obtained base station position information.

The embodiment of the invention provides a positioning server, which comprises:

the first recording module is used for recording at least one piece of GPS position information which is successfully obtained and reported after the terminal equipment of the positioned user initiates GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system according to the preset sampling frequency in the current positioning period;

a receiving module, configured to receive first indication information that the terminal device does not obtain GPS location information after initiating GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system according to a preconfigured sampling frequency in a current positioning period, and determines, according to CI information, that the GPS/AGPS positioning reported when the terminal device moves fails and the terminal device moves;

the second recording module is used for positioning the base station of the terminal equipment through the base station positioning platform according to the received first indication information and recording the obtained base station position information;

and the storage module is used for storing the recorded position information of the terminal equipment.

The positioning system provided by the embodiment of the invention comprises a GPS satellite system, a base station positioning platform, terminal equipment of a positioned user and a positioning server, wherein:

the terminal equipment is used for initiating GPS/AGPS positioning to the GPS satellite system according to the preset sampling frequency in each preset positioning period; if at least one piece of GPS position information is successfully obtained aiming at the current positioning period, reporting the obtained at least one piece of GPS position information to a positioning server; if the GPS position information is not obtained and the terminal equipment is judged to move according to the CI information, reporting first indication information of failed GPS/AGPS positioning and movement of the terminal equipment to a positioning server;

the positioning server is used for recording at least one piece of GPS position information reported by the terminal equipment in the current positioning period; or receiving first indication information reported by the terminal equipment in the current positioning period, performing base station positioning on the terminal equipment through a base station positioning platform according to the received first indication information, and recording the obtained base station position information.

judging whether the terminal equipment of the positioned user moves or not according to the CI information in each preset positioning period;

aiming at the current positioning period, when the terminal equipment is judged to move, initiating GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system, and reporting the obtained GPS position information to a positioning server for recording if the GPS position information is successfully obtained; if the GPS position information is not obtained, reporting first indication information of the movement of the terminal equipment to a positioning server, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating the positioning server to carry out base station positioning on the terminal equipment through a base station positioning platform, and recording the obtained base station position information.

the positioning server records that the terminal equipment of the positioned user moves in the current positioning period, and initiates GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system after judging that the terminal equipment moves according to the CI information, and successfully obtains and reports GPS position information; or

The positioning server receives first indication information of movement of the terminal equipment, which is reported when the positioning server judges that the terminal equipment moves according to CI information in the current positioning period, initiates GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system and does not obtain GPS position information; and carrying out base station positioning on the terminal equipment through a base station positioning platform according to the received first indication information, and recording the obtained base station position information.

the judging module is used for judging whether the terminal equipment moves or not according to the CI information in each preset positioning period;

the GPS/AGPS positioning module is used for initiating GPS/AGPS positioning for obtaining GPS position information to a GPS satellite system when judging that the terminal equipment moves according to the current positioning period;

the reporting module is used for reporting the obtained GPS position information to the positioning server for recording if the GPS/AGPS positioning module successfully obtains the GPS position information; if the GPS/AGPS positioning module does not obtain the GPS position information, reporting first indication information of the movement of the terminal equipment to a positioning server, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating the positioning server to carry out base station positioning on the terminal equipment through a base station positioning platform and recording the obtained base station position information.

The embodiment of the invention provides a positioning server, which comprises:

the first recording module is used for recording the GPS/AGPS positioning initiated to the GPS satellite system after the terminal equipment of the positioned user moves in the current positioning period according to the CI information and successfully acquiring and reporting the GPS position information;

the receiving module is used for receiving first indication information of movement of the terminal equipment, which is reported when the terminal equipment is judged to move according to the CI information in the current positioning period, initiates GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system and does not obtain GPS position information;

the terminal equipment is used for judging whether the terminal equipment moves or not according to the CI information in each preset positioning period; aiming at the current positioning period, when the terminal equipment is judged to move, initiating GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system, if the GPS position information is successfully obtained, reporting the obtained GPS position information to a positioning server, and if the GPS position information is not obtained, reporting first indication information of the movement of the terminal equipment to the positioning server;

the positioning server is used for recording the GPS position information reported by the terminal equipment in the current positioning period; or receiving first indication information reported by the terminal equipment in the current positioning period, positioning the base station of the terminal equipment through a base station positioning platform according to the received first indication information, and recording the obtained base station position information.

In the first positioning method, system and related device provided by the embodiment of the present invention, the terminal device of the positioned user periodically initiates GPS/AGPS positioning, and if at least one piece of GPS location information is successfully obtained, the positioning server is directly reported; if the GPS position information is not obtained, whether the terminal equipment moves is further judged according to the CI information, and the positioning server carries out base station positioning on the terminal equipment through the base station positioning platform when the terminal equipment is judged to move. The position information of the positioned user can be quickly and accurately obtained no matter the positioned user is outdoors or indoors; and according to the possible position of the terminal equipment of the positioned user, the frequency of returning the base station positioning due to the positioning failure of the GPS/AGPS is reduced as much as possible, so that the use frequency of the terminal equipment of the positioned user and the base station positioning platform is reduced, and the time for obtaining the position information of the positioned user under the condition of the positioning failure of the GPS/AGPS is shortened.

In the second positioning method, system and related device provided in the embodiments of the present invention, the terminal device of the positioned user periodically determines whether the terminal device moves according to the CI information, and initiates GPS/AGPS positioning to the GPS satellite system when it is determined that the terminal device moves, and if the GPS position information is successfully obtained, the positioning server directly reports the GPS position information to the positioning server, and if the GPS position information is not obtained, the positioning server performs base station positioning on the terminal device through the base station positioning platform. The position information of the positioned user can be quickly and accurately obtained no matter the positioned user is outdoors or indoors; moreover, according to the possible position of the terminal equipment of the positioned user, the frequency of GPS/AGPS positioning of the terminal equipment is reduced as much as possible, so that the battery consumption of the terminal equipment is reduced, and the service life of the battery is prolonged; according to the possible position of the terminal equipment of the positioned user, the times of base station positioning and the times of returning base station positioning due to GPS/AGPS positioning failure are reduced as much as possible, so that the use frequency of the terminal equipment and a base station positioning platform is reduced, and the time for obtaining the position information of the positioned user under the condition of GPS/AGPS positioning failure is shortened.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the invention and not to limit the invention. In the drawings:

fig. 1 is a schematic network architecture diagram of a positioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a positioning logic process in a GPS/AGPS positioning priority mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a block diagram of a possible structure of a terminal device in a GPS/AGPS positioning priority mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a possible structure of a positioning server in a GPS/AGPS positioning priority mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a flowchart of processing of the positioning logic in the CI positioning priority mode according to the embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 is a block diagram of a possible structure of a terminal device in a CI positioning priority mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a block diagram of a possible structure of a location server in the CI location priority mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the specification, it being understood that the preferred embodiments described herein are merely for illustrating and explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention, and that the embodiments and features of the embodiments in the present invention may be combined with each other without conflict.

The embodiment of the invention provides a positioning system adopting a GPS/AGPS positioning technology and a base station positioning technology, which not only considers the factors of positioning precision, realization difficulty and the like, but also comprehensively considers the characteristics of a positioned user group, and adopts a flexible and configurable positioning mode based on the positioning technology aiming at the specific user group using the positioning system, generally the old, children and other objects needing monitoring, so as to realize the purpose of providing the position information of the positioned user (a person under guardianship) for a positioning initiating user (a monitoring person).

First, briefly explaining a network architecture of a positioning system provided in an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 1, the positioning system includes a GPS satellite system, a base station positioning platform, a terminal device of a positioned user, and a positioning server, the positioning server is connected to the base station positioning platform, a core network element of a mobile communication system, a short message gateway, and the like, and the base station positioning platform is connected to a GIS (geographic location information system), where:

the GPS satellite system and the base station positioning platform have the same functions as those in the prior art, and detailed description is omitted;

the terminal equipment of the positioned user has a GPS/AGPS positioning function, can initiate GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system to obtain GPS position information, and reports the obtained GPS position information to a positioning server through a GPRS channel;

the positioning server can interact with the base station positioning platform, so that base station positioning is carried out on the terminal equipment of a positioned user through the base station positioning platform, and base station position information is obtained;

the positioning server can record each position information of the obtained terminal equipment, and provide functions of position inquiry, short message or multimedia message issuing, Web mode display, position track marking, area alarm and the like for a positioning initiating user (guardian) based on each position information stored locally.

Based on the network architecture of the positioning system provided by the embodiment of the invention, aiming at the old, children and other objects needing monitoring, the characteristics of different position tracks in different time periods are provided, and different positioning modes are adopted in different time periods. Next, the various positioning modes will be described in detail.

Positioning mode one, GPS/AGPS/AGPS positioning priority mode

The positioning mode carries out periodic GPS/AGPS positioning on a positioned user and requires that the terminal equipment has a GPS/AGPS positioning function. In the positioning mode, high-precision position information can be provided, but the battery service life of the terminal equipment is not influenced. The time period for the positioning mode to be effective is configurable, and is generally recommended to be configured according to the outdoor activity time of the positioned user, such as the time period for children to go to school and leave a bus, and the time period for the elder or other objects needing monitoring to go out.

Positioning mode two, CI (cell ID, cell identification) positioning priority mode

In the positioning mode, the position trajectory of the user to be positioned is not greatly changed, and the position information of the user to be positioned needs to be periodically acquired. The time period for the positioning mode to be effective is configurable, and is generally recommended to be configured according to the indoor activity time of the positioned user, such as the time period for children to be in class, the time period for the elderly or other objects needing monitoring to be at home.

Positioning mode three, silent mode

The positioning mode requires that the position of the positioned user is basically unchanged, and the position information of the positioned user (the person under guardianship) is acquired in real time or at regular time according to the requirement of the positioning initiating user (the guardian). The time period for which the positioning mode is effective may be configurable, generally suggesting a time period set such that the location of the positioned user does not substantially change and does not need to be positioned frequently, such as a night break.

Based on the three positioning modes, the real-time and timed position information query, the position track query, the area alarm, the SOS emergency positioning of the positioned user can be provided for the positioning user, and the peripheral position information of the positioned user can be displayed in a Web mode according to the obtained peripheral position information of the positioned user.

And aiming at different positioning modes, the terminal equipment and the positioning server of the positioned user execute different positioning logic processing flows.

The positioning logic process flow of the GPS/AGPS positioning priority mode requires that periodic GPS/AGPS positioning is preferentially performed on a user to be positioned, and a positioning period and a sampling frequency need to be configured in advance, for example, a positioning period T may be configured to be 10 minutes, and a sampling frequency F may be configured to be once every 2 minutes, and for a current positioning period, as shown in fig. 2, the method includes the following steps:

s201, initiating GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system according to a preset sampling frequency in a current positioning period by terminal equipment of a positioned user;

s202, in the current positioning period, whether the terminal equipment successfully obtains at least one piece of GPS position information, if so, executing S203, and if not, executing S205;

s203, the terminal equipment reports the acquired at least one piece of GPS position information to a positioning server;

s204, the positioning server records at least one piece of GPS position information which is successfully obtained and reported by the terminal equipment;

s205, the terminal device judges whether the terminal device moves according to the CI information, if so, S206 is executed, and if not, S208 is executed;

s206, the terminal equipment reports the first indication information of the failed GPS/AGPS positioning and the movement of the terminal equipment to a positioning server;

s207, the positioning server performs base station positioning on the terminal equipment through the base station positioning platform according to the received first indication information, and records the obtained base station position information;

s208, if the current positioning period is the appointed reporting period, the terminal equipment reports the second indication information that the GPS/AGPS positioning fails and the terminal equipment does not move to a positioning server, wherein one reporting period is appointed in each set number of positioning periods, for example, one reporting period is appointed in each N positioning periods, and N can be configured in specific implementation;

and S209, the positioning server records the current position information of the terminal equipment as the latest position information stored locally according to the received second indication information.

When it needs to be described, if the terminal device determines that the terminal device has not moved according to the CI information and the current positioning period is not the specified reporting period, the terminal device does not need to execute any processing, and accordingly, the positioning server may directly record the current position information of the terminal device as the latest position information stored locally, and the positioning server may not execute any processing.

In a specific implementation, if the positioning server does not receive the GPS location information, the first indication information, or the second indication information reported by the terminal device within a set number of consecutive positioning cycles (N positioning cycles), the base station is positioned for the terminal device through the base station positioning platform, and the obtained base station location information is recorded.

In a specific implementation, the terminal device of the located user can determine whether the terminal device moves according to the CI information in the following manner.

In a first way,

The terminal equipment judges whether the CI of the cell where the terminal equipment is located is unchanged, if so, the terminal equipment is judged not to move, otherwise, the terminal equipment is judged to move.

The second way,

The terminal equipment judges whether the CI of the cell where the terminal equipment is located and the CI of the adjacent cells with the set number are unchanged, for example, whether the CI of three adjacent cells in six adjacent cells is unchanged is judged, if yes, the terminal equipment is judged not to move, and otherwise, the terminal equipment is judged to move.

Based on the same technical concept, the embodiment of the invention provides a positioning system in a GPS/AGPS positioning priority mode, and corresponding terminal equipment and a positioning server.

The positioning system under the GPS/AGPS positioning priority mode comprises a GPS satellite system, a base station positioning platform, terminal equipment of a positioned user and a positioning server, wherein:

One possible structure of the terminal device of the located user, as shown in fig. 3, includes:

a GPS/AGPS positioning module 301, configured to initiate GPS/AGPS positioning for obtaining GPS location information to a GPS satellite system according to a preconfigured sampling frequency in each positioning period;

a first reporting module 302, configured to report, for a current positioning period, if the GPS/AGPS positioning module 301 successfully obtains at least one piece of GPS location information, the obtained at least one piece of GPS location information to a positioning server for recording;

a second reporting module 303, configured to report, for the current positioning period, first indication information that the GPS/AGPS positioning fails and the terminal device moves to a positioning server if the GPS/AGPS positioning module 301 does not obtain GPS position information and determines that the terminal device moves according to the CI information, where the first indication information is used to indicate the positioning server to perform base station positioning on the terminal device through a base station positioning platform, and record the obtained base station position information.

One possible structure of the positioning server, as shown in fig. 4, includes:

a first recording module 401, configured to record at least one piece of GPS location information that is successfully obtained and reported after a terminal device of a located user initiates GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system according to a preconfigured sampling frequency in a current positioning period;

a receiving module 402, configured to receive first indication information that the terminal device does not obtain GPS location information after initiating GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system according to a preconfigured sampling frequency in a current positioning period, and determines, according to CI information, that the GPS/AGPS positioning reported when the terminal device moves fails and the terminal device moves;

a second recording module 403, configured to perform base station positioning on the terminal device through a base station positioning platform according to the received first indication information, and record obtained base station position information;

a storage module 404, configured to store the recorded location information of the terminal device.

According to the positioning method, the positioning system and the related equipment under the GPS/AGPS positioning priority mode, the terminal equipment of a positioned user periodically initiates GPS/AGPS positioning, and if at least one piece of GPS position information is successfully obtained, the positioning server is directly reported; if the GPS position information is not obtained, whether the terminal equipment moves is further judged according to the CI information, and the positioning server carries out base station positioning on the terminal equipment through the base station positioning platform when the terminal equipment is judged to move. The position information of the positioned user can be quickly and accurately obtained no matter the positioned user is outdoors or indoors; and according to the possible position of the terminal equipment of the positioned user, the frequency of returning the base station positioning due to the positioning failure of the GPS/AGPS is reduced as much as possible, so that the use frequency of the terminal equipment of the positioned user and the base station positioning platform is reduced, and the time for obtaining the position information of the positioned user under the condition of the positioning failure of the GPS/AGPS is shortened.

The processing flow of the positioning logic in the CI positioning priority mode requires priority for determining whether the user to be positioned periodically moves, and needs to configure a positioning period in advance, for example, the positioning period T may be configured to be 30 minutes, and as shown in fig. 5, includes the following steps for the current positioning period:

s501, judging whether the terminal equipment of the positioned user moves or not according to CI information in the current positioning period, if so, executing S502, and if not, executing S508;

s502, the terminal equipment initiates GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system;

s503, whether the terminal equipment successfully obtains the GPS position information, if so, executing S504, and if not, executing S506;

s504, the terminal device reports the acquired GPS position information to a positioning server;

s505, the positioning server records the GPS position information successfully obtained and reported by the terminal equipment;

s506, the terminal device reports the first indication information of the movement of the terminal device to a positioning server;

s507, the positioning server performs base station positioning on the terminal equipment through the base station positioning platform according to the received first indication information, and records the obtained base station position information;

s508, if the current positioning period is a designated reporting period, the terminal device reports the second indication information that the terminal device is not moving to the positioning server, where a reporting period is designated in each positioning period of a set number, for example, a reporting period is designated in each M positioning periods, and M is configurable in specific implementation;

s509, the positioning server records the current location information of the terminal device as the latest location information stored locally according to the received second indication information.

In a specific implementation, if the positioning server does not receive the GPS location information, the first indication information, or the second indication information reported by the terminal device within a set number of consecutive positioning cycles (M positioning cycles), the base station is positioned for the terminal device through the base station positioning platform, and the obtained base station location information is recorded.

In accordance with the GPS preferred positioning mode, the terminal device of the user to be positioned can determine whether the terminal device moves according to the CI information in the following manner.

In a first way,

The second way,

Based on the same technical concept, embodiments of the present invention provide a positioning system in a CI positioning priority mode, and a corresponding terminal device and a positioning server, and because the principle of solving the problem of the positioning system and the related device is similar to that of the positioning method, the implementation of the positioning system and the related device may refer to the implementation of the method, and repeated details are not repeated.

The positioning system under the CI positioning priority mode comprises a GPS satellite system, a base station positioning platform, terminal equipment of a positioned user and a positioning server, wherein:

One possible structure of the terminal device, as shown in fig. 6, includes:

a judging module 601, configured to judge whether the terminal device moves according to the CI information in each preconfigured location period;

a GPS/AGPS positioning module 602, configured to initiate, for a current positioning period, GPS/AGPS positioning for obtaining GPS location information to a GPS satellite system when it is determined that the terminal device moves;

a reporting module 603, configured to report, if the GPS/AGPS positioning module 602 successfully obtains the GPS location information, the obtained GPS location information to a positioning server for recording; if the GPS/AGPS positioning module 602 does not obtain GPS location information, reporting first indication information indicating that the terminal device is moving to a positioning server, where the first indication information is used to indicate the positioning server to perform base station positioning on the terminal device through a base station positioning platform, and recording the obtained base station location information.

One possible structure of the positioning server, as shown in fig. 7, includes:

a first recording module 701, configured to record, in a current positioning period, after determining that a terminal device of a user to be positioned moves according to CI information, a GPS/AGPS positioning is initiated to a GPS satellite system, and GPS location information is successfully obtained and reported;

a receiving module 702, configured to receive first indication information that the terminal device moves and is reported when the terminal device determines that the terminal device moves according to CI information in a current positioning period, and initiates GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system and does not obtain GPS location information;

a second recording module 703, configured to perform base station positioning on the terminal device through a base station positioning platform according to the received first indication information, and record obtained base station position information;

a storage module 704, configured to store the recorded location information of the terminal device.

According to the positioning method, the positioning system and the related equipment in the CI positioning priority mode provided by the embodiment of the invention, the terminal equipment of a positioned user periodically judges whether the terminal equipment moves according to CI information, when the terminal equipment is judged to move, GPS/AGPS positioning is initiated to a GPS satellite system, if GPS position information is successfully obtained, a positioning server is directly reported, and if the GPS position information is not obtained, the positioning server carries out base station positioning on the terminal equipment through a base station positioning platform. The position information of the positioned user can be quickly and accurately obtained no matter the positioned user is outdoors or indoors; moreover, according to the possible position of the terminal equipment of the positioned user, the frequency of GPS/AGPS positioning of the terminal equipment is reduced as much as possible, so that the battery consumption of the terminal equipment is reduced, and the service life of the battery is prolonged; according to the possible position of the terminal equipment of the positioned user, the times of base station positioning and the times of returning base station positioning due to GPS/AGPS positioning failure are reduced as much as possible, so that the use frequency of the terminal equipment and a base station positioning platform is reduced, and the time for obtaining the position information of the positioned user under the condition of GPS/AGPS positioning failure is shortened.

The positioning logic processing flow of the silent mode is basically consistent with that in the prior art, and in the silent mode, the terminal equipment suspends all active positioning and reporting and only waits for receiving a real-time or timing positioning request issued by a positioning user through a positioning server. In the silent mode, the on-line heartbeat packet of the terminal equipment needs to be reported regularly.

For the above three positioning modes, the positioning server locally stores each position information of the terminal device of the positioned user. The method comprises the steps that position information locally stored by a positioning server is effective within a preset time difference threshold G, and when the positioning server receives a position information query request initiated by a positioning user, whether the time difference between the storage time of the latest position information locally stored and the initiation time of the position information query request is smaller than or equal to the preset time difference threshold G or not is judged;

if yes, returning the latest position information stored locally to the user who initiates the positioning;

if not, controlling the terminal equipment of the positioned user to initiate GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system, and if receiving the GPS position information reported by the terminal equipment, returning the GPS position information to the positioning initiating user; and if the GPS position information reported by the terminal equipment is not received, carrying out base station positioning on the terminal equipment through a base station positioning platform, and returning the obtained base station position information to the positioning initiating user.

For the above three positioning modes, the positioning server may provide a periodic area alarm to the positioning initiating user, both the period P of the area alarm of the positioning server and the alarm area of the positioned user may be configurable, and the configured alarm area may be a first alarm area for the positioned user to alarm when entering, or a second alarm area for the positioned user to alarm when leaving, which specifically includes the following steps:

the positioning server periodically checks the locally stored position information according to a first alarm area of the terminal equipment which is configured in advance, and when the latest position information is checked to be in the first alarm area and the next-time new position information exceeds the first alarm area, alarm information is sent to a positioning initiating user; or,

and the positioning server periodically checks the locally stored position information according to a second alarm area of the terminal equipment which is configured in advance, and sends alarm information to a positioning user when the latest position information is checked to exceed the second alarm area and the next-new position information is in the second alarm area.

The positioning method, the positioning system and the related equipment provided by the embodiment of the invention can quickly and accurately obtain the position information of the positioned user no matter the positioned user is outdoors or indoors.

According to the possible position of the terminal equipment of the positioned user, the frequency of GPS/AGPS positioning of the terminal equipment is reduced as much as possible, so that the battery consumption of the terminal equipment is reduced, the service life of the battery is prolonged, and the problem of high power consumption of the existing terminal equipment with the GPS/AGPS positioning function is solved as much as possible.

According to the possible position of the terminal equipment of the positioned user, the times of positioning the base station and the times of returning the base station to position due to positioning failure of the GPS/AGPS are reduced as much as possible, the use frequency of the terminal equipment and the base station positioning platform is reduced, and the time for obtaining the position information of the positioned user under the condition of positioning failure of the GPS/AGPS is shortened.

Aiming at the requirements of more fixed time arrangement and guardians for position tracks and area alarms of children, old people and the like in one day, on the basis of initiating the positioning times as few as possible, more accurate position track information, area alarm information and real-time or timing position information can be obtained.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, embodiments of the present invention may be provided as a method, apparatus (device), or computer program product. Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) having computer program code embodied therein.

The present invention is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each flow and/or block of the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, and combinations of flows and/or blocks in the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, additional variations and modifications in those embodiments may occur to those skilled in the art once they learn of the basic inventive concepts. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as including preferred embodiments and all such alterations and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, if such modifications and variations of the present invention fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention and their equivalents, the present invention is also intended to include such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A method of positioning, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that terminal equipment of a positioned user initiates GPS/assisted global positioning system AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system according to a preconfigured sampling frequency in each preconfigured positioning period;

if the terminal equipment does not obtain the GPS position information and judges that the terminal equipment moves according to the cell identification CI information, reporting first indication information of failed GPS/AGPS positioning and movement of the terminal equipment to a positioning server, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating the positioning server to perform base station positioning on the terminal equipment through a base station positioning platform and recording the obtained base station position information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the terminal device does not obtain the GPS position information, and the terminal device is determined not to move according to the CI information, and the current positioning period is the appointed reporting period, reporting second indication information of GPS/AGPS positioning failure and the terminal device not moving to a positioning server, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the positioning server to record the current position information of the terminal device as the latest position information stored locally, and one reporting period is appointed in each set number of positioning periods.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the method for determining whether the terminal device moves according to the CI information specifically includes:

the terminal equipment judges whether the CI of the cell where the terminal equipment is located is unchanged, if so, the terminal equipment is judged not to move, otherwise, the terminal equipment is judged to move; or

The terminal equipment judges whether the CI of the cell where the terminal equipment is located and the CI of the adjacent cells with the set number are unchanged, if so, the terminal equipment is judged not to move, and otherwise, the terminal equipment is judged to move.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the location method is performed within a time period configured according to outdoor activity time of a located user.

5. A method of positioning, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that a positioning server receives first indication information that after terminal equipment initiates GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system according to a preset sampling frequency in a current positioning period, GPS position information is not obtained, and the fact that the GPS/AGPS positioning reported when the terminal equipment moves is judged to be failed and the terminal equipment moves according to cell identification CI information; and carrying out base station positioning on the terminal equipment through a base station positioning platform according to the received first indication information, and recording the obtained base station position information.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

the positioning server also receives second indication information that the terminal equipment fails to acquire GPS position information and determines that the terminal equipment does not move according to CI information after initiating GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system according to a preset sampling frequency in a current positioning period, and the terminal equipment does not move when the current positioning period is a specified reporting period, wherein a reporting period is specified in each set number of positioning periods; and recording the current position information of the terminal equipment as the latest position information stored locally according to the received second indication information.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

and if the positioning server does not receive the GPS position information, the first indication information or the second indication information reported by the terminal equipment in the continuous positioning period with the set number, carrying out base station positioning on the terminal equipment through a base station positioning platform, and recording the obtained base station position information.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

the positioning server receives a position information query request initiated by a positioning user, and judges whether the time difference between the storage time of the latest position information stored locally and the initiation time of the position information query request is less than or equal to a preset time difference threshold value or not;

if not, controlling the terminal equipment to initiate GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system, and if receiving GPS position information reported by the terminal equipment, returning the GPS position information to a positioning initiating user; and if the GPS position information reported by the terminal equipment is not received, carrying out base station positioning on the terminal equipment through a base station positioning platform, and returning the obtained base station position information to the positioning initiating user.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

the positioning server periodically checks the locally stored position information according to a first alarm area of the terminal equipment which is configured in advance, and when the latest position information is checked to be in the first alarm area and the next-time new position information exceeds the first alarm area, alarm information is sent to a positioning initiating user; or

10. A terminal device, comprising:

the GPS/AGPS positioning module is used for initiating GPS/AGPS positioning for obtaining GPS position information to the GPS satellite system according to the preconfigured sampling frequency in each preconfigured positioning period;

and a second reporting module, configured to report, for a current positioning period, first indication information that the GPS/AGPS positioning fails and the terminal device moves to a positioning server if the GPS/AGPS positioning module does not obtain GPS position information and determines that the terminal device moves according to cell identity CI information, where the first indication information is used to indicate the positioning server to perform base station positioning on the terminal device through a base station positioning platform, and record obtained base station position information.

11. A positioning server, comprising:

the first recording module is used for recording at least one piece of GPS position information which is successfully obtained and reported after the terminal equipment of a positioned user initiates GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system according to a preset sampling frequency in a current positioning period;

a receiving module, configured to receive first indication information that the terminal device does not obtain GPS location information after initiating GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system according to a preconfigured sampling frequency in a current positioning period, and determines, according to cell identifier CI information, that the GPS/AGPS positioning reported when the terminal device moves fails and the terminal device moves;

12. A positioning system comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite system and a base station positioning platform, and is characterized by also comprising terminal equipment of a positioned user and a positioning server, wherein:

the terminal equipment is used for initiating GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system according to a preconfigured sampling frequency in each preconfigured positioning period; if at least one piece of GPS position information is successfully obtained aiming at the current positioning period, reporting the obtained at least one piece of GPS position information to a positioning server; if the GPS position information is not obtained and the terminal equipment is judged to move according to the cell identification CI information, reporting first indication information of failed GPS/AGPS positioning and movement of the terminal equipment to a positioning server;

13. A method of positioning, comprising:

the terminal equipment of the positioned user judges whether the terminal equipment moves or not according to the cell identification CI information in each preset positioning period;

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

and reporting second indication information that the terminal equipment does not move to a positioning server if the current positioning period is a specified reporting period according to the current positioning period, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the positioning server to record the current position information of the terminal equipment as the latest position information stored locally, and one reporting period is specified in each set number of positioning periods.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method for determining whether the terminal device moves according to the CI information specifically includes:

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the locating method is performed within a time period configured according to indoor activity time of a located user.

17. A method of positioning, comprising:

the positioning server receives first indication information of movement of the terminal equipment, which is reported when the terminal equipment is judged to move according to CI information in a current positioning period, initiates GPS/AGPS (global positioning system) positioning to a GPS satellite system, and does not obtain GPS position information; and carrying out base station positioning on the terminal equipment through a base station positioning platform according to the received first indication information, and recording the obtained base station position information.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

the positioning server also receives second indication information that the terminal equipment does not move when the terminal equipment is judged to not move according to the CI information and the current positioning period is a specified reporting period in the current positioning period, wherein a reporting period is specified in each set number of positioning periods; and recording the current position information of the terminal equipment as the latest position information stored locally according to the received second indication information.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

22. A terminal device, comprising:

the judging module is used for judging whether the terminal equipment moves or not according to the cell identifier CI information in each preset positioning period;

23. A positioning server, comprising:

the first recording module is used for recording the GPS position information which is successfully obtained and reported after the terminal equipment of the positioned user is judged to move according to the cell identification CI information in the current positioning period and initiates GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system;

24. A positioning system comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite system and a base station positioning platform, and is characterized by also comprising terminal equipment of a positioned user and a positioning server, wherein:

the terminal equipment is used for judging whether the terminal equipment moves or not according to the cell identifier CI information in each preset positioning period; aiming at the current positioning period, when the terminal equipment is judged to move, initiating GPS/AGPS positioning to a GPS satellite system, if the GPS position information is successfully obtained, reporting the obtained GPS position information to a positioning server, and if the GPS position information is not obtained, reporting first indication information of the movement of the terminal equipment to the positioning server;