Figure 3 The time-to-first-fix (TTFF) is considerably reduced when a GPS receiver is assisted with data provided by a cellular telephone network as this test data shows.

Assistance Data Global Locate owns and operates a worldwide reference network which continuously tracks the GPS satellites and logs the satellite tracking information into the reference hub. This tracking network allows us to predict satellite orbit and clock information for many days into the future. This information can then be used for AGPS. This feature of the network removes the reliance on the broadcast ephemerides and allows access to satellite orbit and clock data, in standard formats, not just for the current epoch but for times into the future. For example, a phone could request the orbit and clock data during off-peak times for the following day. This reduces the network traffic for assistance data during peak hours and provides the user with an all-day capability for location services without requesting assistance data. This concept can be easily expanded to many days of operation.

Figure 2 shows the assistance data system architecture. Global Locate provides the reference network and the hub for archiving the information. MSLocation Oy (a Finnish location services company) provides the server that receives requests from the phone, requests information from the Global Locate hub, then sends the SMS messages with orbit, clock, position, and time information.

Why AGPS? AGPS architectures increase the capability of a stand-alone receiver to conserve battery power, acquire and track more satellites, thereby improving observation geometry, and increase sensitivity over a conventional GPS architecture. These enhanced capabilities come from knowledge of the satellite position and velocity, the initial receiver position, and time supplied by the assistance server.

The received GPS signals are shifted in frequency due to the relative receiver-satellite motion. This is the so-called Doppler frequency shift. The receiver must find the frequency of the signal before it can lock onto it. Knowledge of the satellite position and velocity data and the initial receiver position reduces the number of frequency bins to be searched because the receiver directly computes the Doppler frequency shift instead of searching over the whole possible frequency range. Satellite position and velocity data are computed from the orbit and clock data provided by the assistance server. The initial receiver position can come from Cell ID techniques or any other available source of information. Reducing the number of frequency bins which must be searched to acquire the signal reduces the time-to-first-fix (TTFF).

Shorter Wait. TTFF is further reduced because the receiver no longer has the task of decoding the navigation data bits, a task that takes tens of seconds. Instead, the assistance server provides the satellite orbit and clock parameter values to the receiver. Shorter TTFF results in reduced power consumption because the system does not have to wait for the GPS receiver to decode the navigation data for each visible satellite. If the receiver had to decode the ephemeris from the broadcast message, it would take a minimum of 18 seconds after acquiring the signal, assuming that it did not drop or lose any data bits. In practice, TTFF (when decoding ephemeris data) is in the range of 20-60 seconds for environments where the receiver has an unobstructed view of the sky. If the environment is harsh, such as an urban canyon or even indoors, the receiver may take much longer to recover the data bits, if it can recover them at all.

Greater Sensitivity. Increased receiver sensitivity is directly related to the TTFF and the number of frequency bins which must be searched to find a satellite signal. Because the receiver has fewer frequency bins to search in an AGPS architecture, it can dwell in each bin for longer periods of time. This additional dwell time increases the sensitivity of the receiver, so that it can use signal strengths below the conventional thresholds to make range measurements. In addition, when the higher sensitivity is required, the navigation data bits would be difficult if not impossible to decode. Therefore, this technique allows the use of satellite data which would have otherwise been unavailable.

Customer Satisfaction. Although discussions of TTFF and navigation data bits are compelling to engineers, the real reason for implementing AGPS is customer satisfaction when using location or E-911 services. With AGPS, the position can be computed more quickly, on the order of a few seconds. If the position solution took minutes, as is common with warm starts in conventional GPS receivers, the consumer might become frustrated while waiting and wonder whether there was anything wrong with the phone. The typical cell phone consumer has grown accustomed to applications which work in a few seconds. Location services should behave the same way to gain customer acceptance beyond those already familiar with, and accustomed to, the performance of GPS receivers.

Figure 4 Since an assisted GPS receiver can work with weaker signals, additional range measurements are available to it which can result in increased positioning accuracy, as illustrated here.

Infrastructure Requirements SMS is currently available in most cellular networks and supports store and forward low data rate messaging services. The General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is the next generation of mobile messaging and is available in the so-called 2.5 Generation (2.5G) cellular systems. GPRS provides packet data services ("always on") with rates comparable to a 56 kilobit per second modem.

In the next generation of cell phones, 3G, data rates will be even higher in order to provide services such as streaming video, streaming audio, and high speed Internet access. 3G features "bandwidth on demand" depending on the quality and type of service the customers requests with data rates up to 2 megabits per second. 3G services are not yet available from the handset manufacturers, but the standards are being finalized and services are planned to start within the next few years.

Our AGPS system uses SMS because of the widespread availability of the service. SMS data rates and latencies provide adequate performance for AGPS purposes. However, special considerations were required to accommodate satellite orbit and clock information into the SMS constraints.

SMS Data Compression Our worldwide reference network, hub, and server infrastructure tracks the GPS satellites, computes current and predicts future satellite orbit and clock information, and provides that orbit and clock data to AGPS systems. The tracking network provides the raw tracking information to the hubs, as shown in Figure 2. Global Locate provides algorithms that convert raw orbit and clock information into an ephemeris-like format compatible with ICD-GPS-200C ephemeris propagation equations. For this application, the satellite orbit and clock information is compressed to best utilize the SMS messaging capability. This process of tracking the GPS satellites and computing orbit and clock data allows us to provide assistance data to the AGPS-equipped phone in a standard format while providing the best possible validity periods into the future.

The limiting factor on SMS messages is the overall length of about 140 bytes (accepted by most services, but length limitations vary by provider). Therefore, the satellite orbit and clock data must be organized to fit into these 140 byte blocks.

To send the full broadcast ephemeris content for each satellite in view would take one SMS message per satellite, resulting in 8-12 SMS messages per set of assistance data (assistance data is only provided for those satellites which should be in view from the initial location). However, we reduced the overall size of this data set by using a unique CAD scheme which fits orbit and clock information from three satellites into a single SMS message in addition to the initial position and time information. Therefore, assistance data takes 3-4 SMS messages instead of the 8-12 required to broadcast the full uncompacted data set.

The CAD compression scheme utilizes 138 bytes for the satellite orbit, clock, initial position, and time data. The additional two bytes are used to manage the message count and message sequencing. Each SMS message contains a full set of satellite information for the satellites included in the message, providing a robust architecture in the event a subset of the messages was lost. For example, in the event that 1 out of 4 SMS messages was dropped, satellite orbit and clock data for up to 9 satellites would still be available.

This robust and compact method to communicate with the AGPS receiver is a pre-standard implementation. With the advent of GPRS and 3G messaging services, the requirement for extremely compressed assistance data will diminish. However, a robust method of ensuring that an adequate subset of information is available to the AGPS receiver will still be required to provide the customer with the best location-based service experience.

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Phone Modifications Required The handsets we used to test our approach include a GPS receiver as an integral part of the phone. However, we had to modify the phone in several ways to upgrade it to an AGPS system. We modified the phone firmware to request assistance data via the SMS, convert the data from the SMS format to one compatible with the GPS receiver, and to load this data to the GPS receiver. Therefore, we recreated that data structure in the firmware based on the assistance data received via SMS. Location information can be extracted from the phone in three ways: through display as latitude and longitude, through the phone's National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) 0183 port or by using MPTP wirelessly over SMS. Similarly the phone could be remotely configured for various operating modes by using MPTP.

We also had to make minor modifications to the phone software to interface the phone to the SMS server and the Global Locate network. The assistance data is available in Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) format and is bit packed for immediate packing into the SMS messages. MSLocation provided the interface between the SMS messages and the Global Locate server. Additional software was added to the phone processor to unpack the assistance data from the SMS messages and convert that data into an ICD-GPS-200C data format.

MSLocation provided the initial position for use in the AGPS aiding data. This initial position is based on Cell ID, time slot, sector information, and cell tower location. The combination of GSM-network-based position solutions and AGPS provides a strong partnership for an optimal combination of technologies to provide location information.

AGPS Performance We have tested the performance of our AGPS approach for TTFF and position accuracy. We conducted the testing in both open and urban environments. TTFF was measured relative to the time when the assistance data was received at the phone and power consumption was monitored during the testing.

Special software was loaded into the phone to clear the memory of the GPS receiver prior to requesting a position solution. In these tests, the GPS receiver memory would be cleared and the assistance data requested. After the assistance data was converted to the format for the receiver, the position computation was requested. This test configuration used power directly from the phone battery and the built-in GPS antenna.

Figure 3 compares TTFF performance using AGPS assistance data and when decoding the navigation data from the satellite broadcast. We collected the data for this particular test using on outdoor rooftop antenna. The AGPS performance provides typical TTFF of 30 seconds compared to about 48 seconds for decoding the navigation data. This is a significant performance increase which directly impacts customer acceptance and usability of AGPS technology. It is also interesting to note that decoding the ephemeris takes 18 seconds (900 bits divided by 50 bits/second = 18 seconds).

Figure 4 shows the output position performance for the position computed using both broadcast ephemeris and AGPS assistance data compressed over the SMS data link. The resulting one-sigma accuracy shows a slight improvement relative to that using broadcast orbits.

Future Enhancements GPRS when available will provide a more efficient medium for transmiting AGPS assistance data over the network in comparison to today's SMS or circuit switched data.

When handsets are upgraded with the latest GPS chip technology, true indoor GPS performance will become a reality.

Manufacturers The Global Locate worldwide tracking network uses Trimble (Sunnyvale, California) 12-channel, survey-grade reference receivers. The Benefon Esc! and Track cell phones feature an embedded GPS receiver manufactured by u-blox AG (Thalwil, Switzerland) using the SiRF Technology, Inc. (San Jose, California) SiRFstar chipset.

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Usa BackupMobile TOP para seguimiento GPS y Cell ID Usa BackupMobile como un sistema de localizaci贸n GPS BackupMobile ofrece dos tipos de localizaci贸n basado sobre las capacidades de los celulares SISTEMA DE SEGUIMIENTO DE UBICACION DE CELULARES Usa BackupMobile TOP para convertir tu celular en un sistema localizaci贸n via GPS.聽 Conoce conocer la聽ubicaci贸n exacta del celular en tiempo聽real. BackupMoble usa GPRS para聽mucha mas informaci贸n en menor聽costo. Ya que la informaci贸n es enviada en formato de coordenadas, es posible bajar dicha informaci贸n de la Web en variados formatos, pudiendo mesclar dicha informaci贸n con algun software de mapas. Introducci贸n al sistema de localizaci贸n de celulares Existe una variedad de formas de hacer seguimiento a celulares y la exactitud var铆a dependiendo de cuanto estes dispuesto a pagar y el tipo de operador movil que tienes. - BackupMobile TOP escogi贸聽GPS y聽Cell ID. Para usar GPS se necesita que el GPS este habilitado en el celular, tal como el Nokia N95. - Si el聽GPS no est谩 habilitado , entonces la ubicaci贸n se puede conocer utilizando la cell ID. Para Cell ID, por favor lee el mas abajo. Veamos cuales son las formas de localizaci贸n: Cell ID, GPS o Requerimiento del Operador La primera diferencia que hay que saber entre Cell ID y Requerimiento del Operador es que no requieren un equipo especial y trabajan en la mayor铆a de los celulares, sin hacer ninguna modificaci贸n. GPS Al usar GPS se requiere que el celular al cual deseas hacer un seguimiento debe tener un hardware especial. Tales como el Nokia N95 o Navigator.聽Para los celulares que tienen el harware con GPS, BackupMobile utiliazar铆a el posicionamiento GPS y verias las coodernadas del celular en el reporte que aparece en la p谩gina Web. Soluci贸n entregada por el Operador de celulares Este sistema requiere que el operador de celular calcule tu posici贸n y te provee esta informaci贸n. Este servicio es muy raro, muy dificil de usar, y si es谩 disponible es muy caro. Este usa el mis mismo sistema que el Cecell ID, pero debido a que ellos pueden usar otra informaci贸n adicional, muchas veces es m谩s preciso que el sistema basado en Cell ID. La ubicaci贸n provista por el operador no es una opci贸n para el comun de la gente, y si tu quieres que te la provean, llama a tu operador y preguntale si ellos pueden decirte la ubicaci贸n de tu celular robado!! Cell ID provista por BackupMobile BackupMobile utiliza la tecnica de Cell ID para la ubicaci贸n de celulares. Aqui se explica como funiona esto: Un proveedor de red tiene cientos de estaciones base de radio ( llamadas celdas) las cuales conforman la red de celulares. Cada estaci贸n base es una "celda" la cual cubre un 谩rea f铆sica y las cuales se conectan entre si para hacer una red completa. El tama帽o de las celdas depende de la densidad de la estaci贸n base instalada en una 谩rea espec铆fica. El tama帽o de una celda puede variar desde 100m en ciudad hasta 3Km en zonas rurales. Un celular se conecta a la red usando la celda en la cual est谩 localizado. Cuando el celular es desplazado de lugar, este deja una celda y se conecta con otra. la nueva celda toma la responsabilidad de conectar el celular a la red. Cada vez que cambia de posici贸n el celular, BackupMobile lee el nombre de la celda (si esta disponible) y el cell ID, enviando esta informaci贸n a la p谩gina Web. Tu puedes saber que celda controla el celular, teniendo la informaci贸n de ID y el nombre asociado en una base de datos. Como obtener la ubicaci贸n Si el nombre del 谩rea no est谩 disponible en el evento de LOCALIZACION que se entrega como informaci貌n en la p谩gina Web, entonces tu puedes utilizar alg煤n sistema de descubrimiento de localizaci贸n gratuito. Estos sistemas de descubrimiento de cell id ofrecen la opci贸n de enviar informaci贸n, asi esta base de datos puede continuar creciendo y serian usadas para mejorar el servicio a nuestros clientes, nosotros constatemente estamos entregando esta informacian a Google Earth. Algunos sitios web poseen un sistema gratuito de identificaci贸n de celdas Ej.: www.cellspotting.com o www.celltrack.spv o developers.com Cell ID no es una tecnica exacta como otras tecnicas y los resultados son muchas veces variables, debido a que algunas celdas pueden contraerse y no permanecer est谩ticas, haciendo variar las 谩reas que cubren y la informaci贸n entregada al celular. Sin embargo la variaci贸n no es tan grande y para cierto tipo de informaci贸n que se requiere bastar铆a con este dato. La ventaja de utilizar este sistema de Cell id es que no se requiere un celular especial y el servicio es gratis. 聽 ACLARACION IMPORTANTE SOBRE LOCALIZACION CON CELL ID El sistema de seguimiento via Cell ID es un buen sistema para conocer la ubicaci贸n de un celularen radio de 1 km, pero no es sistuitulo del sistema segimiento via GPS. El sistema de Cell ID puede responder la pregunta, en que parte del centro de la ciudad estas, pero no en que calle exacta estas. Para la mayoria de los usuarios esto es suficiente para probar si alguien ment铆a respecto de donde se encontraba. El sistema de seguimiento Cell ID est谩 basado en enfomaci贸n de libre disponibilidad de las se帽ales de los celulares y la informaci贸n de la ubicaci贸n est谩 basada en CELL ID, y el nombre de la Celda. El nombre de una celda es usualmente en nombre de una parte de la ciudad (dependiendo que entregue el operador), y con esto es suficiente para saber en donde est谩 una persona, el conductor de una cami贸n, etc. SIN EMBARGO ALGUNOS OPERADORES DE RED NO TRANSMITEN EL NOMBRE DE LA CELDA y en este caso tu necesitas ver una base de datos para mapear el nombre de la celda con el ID de la misma.聽YA TENEMOS DISPONIBLE una lista con los Cell ID de operadores en Chile, asociado a los principales lugares en Santiago (Malls, Centro de Santiago, Pubs, Night clubs, Moteles, etc). Si compras una de las versiones de BackupMobile, tendr谩s esta lista a tu disposici贸n. Si tu operador de celulares no transite el nombre del 谩rea, tu puedes utilizar nuesta herramienta y puedes it al lugar tu mismo y verificar el dato, asociando luego el CellIId con el lugar f铆sico en donde se encontraba la persona ( gimnasio, oficina, bar) . Es necesario si posee una tarjeta SIM del mismo operador. 聽 聽 聽 CUALES SON LOS CELULARES SOPORTADOS ? EXAMINA EL TIPO DE REPORTES QUE GENERA Ve nuestros Reportes en la Web TIENES MAS DUDAS ? Ve nuestras Preguntas Frecuentes (FAQ) Es responsabilidad del usuario de BackupMobile conocer y obedecer, todas las leyes en su pa铆s con relaci贸n al uso de BackupMobile. Si usted tiene alguna duda, por favor inf贸rmese sobre las leyes locales antes de utilizar BackupMobile. Para bajar e instalar BackupMobile, usted deber谩 utilizarlo sin infringir las leyes de su pa铆s.Revisar informaci贸n de terceros sin su consentimiento, como ser mensajes SMS, registro de llamadas o instalar el software en un celular sin su consentimiento, puede ser considerado una actividad ilegal en su pa铆s. BackukMobile no se hace responsable por cualquier mal uso que pudiese ser realizado a trav茅s de cualquiera de las versiones de BackupMobile. Es la responsabilidad del comprador del software, obedecer las leyes de su pa铆s. Para comprar y bajar BackupMobile, usted debe estar de acuerdo con estos t茅rminos.