Assisted GPS in the nRF91, any more information?

[stevenminnick]

I'm looking for some additional information about the Assisted GPS functionality in the nRF91. 

1. Exactly what is it? 
2. How does it work? 
3. Is it available with the current firmware (1.0.1 at the time of this writing)?
4. Do I need to enable it, access it through software?

Items like that. 

Someone asked "Is it available?" and the answer was "yes it is" https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/42511/is-assisted-gps-available-in-nrf9160. And mentioned in the sneak peak.  https://www.nordicsemi.com/-/media/Software-and-other-downloads/SiP/nRF9160-SiP/nRF91-Series-sneak-peek-v10.pdf 

But I was looking for more details.  How assisted is it?  What is happening?  I understand it's "using cell to assist" but how much assistance is provided?  Do I have to do something to enable it?

Anyone have more information?  Maybe it's in a document and I missed it.

Steve

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi Steve,

 

I'll try as good as I can to answer, but because this is a feature not yet available, I cannot comment specifically on how things will end up in software, as I do not know this.

 

Exactly what is it? 

Its an assisted GPS, meaning that the LTE network provides you with some details to "kickstart" your GPS.

 

How does it work? 

 In theory, its a query over the LTE network to fetch certain things, like the GPS almanac (and ephemerides), from the network, to improve the time to first fix.

 

Is it available with the current firmware (1.0.1 at the time of this writing)?

 I would recommend checking the release notes of the modem. This can be found in the .zip downloaded from our website.

Unfortunately, AGPS is not yet implemented.

 

Do I need to enable it, access it through software?

It will be very similar to how the GPS is enabled now, but; Since this is a feature not yet ready, I cannot comment on how you will interface with the assisted feature in details.

 

Kind regards,

Håkon 

[stevenminnick]

Thanks.  Any information on the roadmap for this feature?  Slated to be implemented in version x?  In the next month?  Year? 

I did read through the release notes for the firmware but didn't see anything about the assisted feature of the GPS.  Wasn't sure if that meant that it wasn't in there, or maybe it was and just not described. 

[Håkon Alseth]

If you send me a PM with your location, I can share the details of your local RSM. Sales know more about roadmap related questions.

We in tech support tend to only focus on what we currently have, so even if I had any info on this, its likely that its outdated.

 

Cheers,

Håkon

[stevenminnick]

Thanks, I know my RSM.  I'll contact her.