A-GPS/A-GLONASS, Wi-Fi and Cellular positioning are emerging as the key technologies that comprise hybrid positioning capabilities for any location-aware mobile device (although there are many others). 

Mobile device positioning must consist of a blend of technologies for the following reasons:

• End-users need to know their location awareness anywhere and everywhere
• A-GPS/A-GLONASS performs poorly in indoor and deep urban environments
• No one location technology provides adequate performance in all locations

Spirent’s hybrid positioning test capabilities, including Wi-Fi Positioning, are built on industry-leading A-GPS/A-GNSS mobile device test solutions. These solutions have been created in a response to an overwhelming market trend toward hybrid positioning.

Spirent is addressing this new need by offering hybrid positioning test solutions, including a WiFi Positioning Access Point Simulator (GSS5700).

Key Technologies for Mobile Device LBS

GNSS

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Spirent offers a complete range first-to-market performance and conformance test solutions for key location technology areas with A-GNSS/WiFi hybrid positioning, A-GPS LTE, A-GPS SUPL 2.0, A-GPS Over-the-Air (OTA), A-GLONASS and more.

With the increase in demand for accessibility to location based services everywhere, GPS/GLONASS and Assisted-GPS/GLONASS (A-GPS/A-GLONASS) alone have become insufficient as the sole positioning technology, more specifically when in-doors. The emerging trend will rely on A-GNSS and other alternate technologies for location calculations.

Wi-Fi

Positioning has emerged as a cost effective positioning technology that can provide fast and accurate location of Wi-Fi capable devices in indoor and outdoor environments where A-GPS/A-GLONASS positioning fails to deliver. Wi-Fi positioning utilizes existing Wi-Fi Access point infrastructure to quickly determine the location of the device with reasonable accuracy.

Ephemeris Extension

Another trend is the use of satellite ephemeris extension technology such as Predicted Orbits to improve GPS and GLONASS performance without the need for assistance data. Spirent address Predicted Orbits test needs for all air interface technologies.

Cellular Positioning

Utilizes the cellular network infrastructure to obtain a fast and coarse location estimate. It is a good fallback when Wi-Fi and GPS/GLONASS are not usable.

Spirent provides a range of solutions for testing A-GLONASS and Wi-Fi Positioning, including the new GSS5700 Wi-Fi Access Point simulator. Please refer to the “Solutions” and “Documents” tab for more information.

SUPL 2.0 Enabling Hybrid Location Technology

The introduction of LTE technology also brings new location technology requirements, most notably the need for SUPL 2.0 protocol support (a requirement for some, but not all, LTE carriers). Spirent works with location technology R&D companies to provide LTE, WCDMA, and CDMA SUPL 2.0 test solutions as the technology is being developed, thus enabling location technology to be brought to the market sooner and with better performance.

SUPL 2.0 also has the capability to support multiple location technologies with a single protocol. A-GPS, A-GLONASS, Wi-Fi positioning, Ephermerins Extension, and cellular positioning are all supported. This will make the deployment of hybrid location technology more streamlined and less complicated in the future. The picture highlights the necessity for the coexistence of different positioning technologies.

More Info

EE Times Article: Hybrid Location Technologies on Mobile Devices, Nov. 2009 

Application Note 121: Testing Real-World A-GNSS Performance in the Lab using ULTS 

Technical Note 128: GLONASS Test Capability (UMTS Location Test System).