Methods and apparatus for mobile station location estimation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- defining, by a mobile location apparatus comprising a processor, a first location zone based, at least in part, on a geographic coverage area of a cell serving a mobile communication device;
determining, by the mobile location apparatus, a second location zone associated with the mobile communication device, wherein the second location zone is determined based, at least in part, on a corresponding strength of signal associated with each of a plurality of cells measured by the mobile communication device, wherein the corresponding strength of signal associated with each of the plurality of cells measured by the mobile communication device is used to calculate a corresponding distance between the mobile communication device and a respective base station of each of the plurality of cells, and wherein the corresponding distance between the mobile communication device and the respective base station of each of the plurality of cells is used to determine the second location zone associated with the mobile communication device;
receiving, by the mobile location apparatus, from the mobile communication device, first coordinates of the mobile communication device calculated, at a first time period, by a global positioning system of the mobile communication device;
determining, by the mobile location apparatus, whether the first coordinates of the mobile communication device are within the first location zone;
in response to determining that the first coordinates of the mobile communication device are within the first location zone, determining, by the mobile location apparatus, whether the first coordinates of the mobile communication device are within the second location zone; and
in response to determining that the first coordinates of the mobile communication device are within the second location zone, associating, by the mobile location apparatus, the first coordinates of the mobile communication device with a high confidence level as being an estimate of a geographical location of the mobile communication device.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for estimating mobile station location include receiving reported signal strengths or other attachment indicator values from a mobile station. The reported signal strengths are compared with characteristic received signal strength values in a coverage area of a mobile network. A mobile switching center determines if a local function is requested and initiates a location estimation process by a mobile location module (MLM). The MLM receives the reported signal strength contours associated with the attachment points. Based on a comparison of the reported attachment indicator values with characteristic values, the MLM provides a mobile location estimate.
28 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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defining, by a mobile location apparatus comprising a processor, a first location zone based, at least in part, on a geographic coverage area of a cell serving a mobile communication device; determining, by the mobile location apparatus, a second location zone associated with the mobile communication device, wherein the second location zone is determined based, at least in part, on a corresponding strength of signal associated with each of a plurality of cells measured by the mobile communication device, wherein the corresponding strength of signal associated with each of the plurality of cells measured by the mobile communication device is used to calculate a corresponding distance between the mobile communication device and a respective base station of each of the plurality of cells, and wherein the corresponding distance between the mobile communication device and the respective base station of each of the plurality of cells is used to determine the second location zone associated with the mobile communication device; receiving, by the mobile location apparatus, from the mobile communication device, first coordinates of the mobile communication device calculated, at a first time period, by a global positioning system of the mobile communication device; determining, by the mobile location apparatus, whether the first coordinates of the mobile communication device are within the first location zone; in response to determining that the first coordinates of the mobile communication device are within the first location zone, determining, by the mobile location apparatus, whether the first coordinates of the mobile communication device are within the second location zone; and in response to determining that the first coordinates of the mobile communication device are within the second location zone, associating, by the mobile location apparatus, the first coordinates of the mobile communication device with a high confidence level as being an estimate of a geographical location of the mobile communication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A mobile location apparatus comprising:
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a processor; and a memory that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising defining a first location zone based, at least in part, on a geographic coverage area of a cell serving a mobile communication device, determining a second location zone associated with the mobile communication device, wherein the second location zone is determined based, at least in part, on a corresponding strength of signal associated with each of a plurality of cells measured by the mobile communication device, wherein the corresponding strength of signal associated with each of the plurality of cells measured by the mobile communication device is used to calculate a corresponding distance between the mobile communication device and a respective base station of each of the plurality of cells, and wherein the corresponding distance between the mobile communication device and the respective base station of each of the plurality of cells is used to determine the second location zone associated with the mobile communication device, receiving, from the mobile communication device, first coordinates of the mobile communication device calculated, at a first time period, by a global positioning system of the mobile communication device, determining whether the first coordinates of the mobile communication device are within the first location zone, in response to determining that the first coordinates of the mobile communication device are within the first location zone, determining whether the first coordinates of the mobile communication device are within the second location zone, and in response to determining that the first coordinates of the mobile communication device are within the second location zone, associating the first coordinates of the mobile communication device with a high confidence level as being an estimate of a geographical location of the mobile communication device. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a mobile location apparatus, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
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defining a first location zone based, at least in part, on a geographic coverage area of a cell serving a mobile communication device; determining a second location zone associated with the mobile communication device, wherein the second location zone is determined based, at least in part, on a corresponding strength of signal associated with each of a plurality of cells measured by the mobile communication device, wherein the corresponding strength of signal associated with each of the plurality of cells measured by the mobile communication device is used to calculate a corresponding distance between the mobile communication device and a respective base station of each of the plurality of cells, and wherein the corresponding distance between the mobile communication device and the respective base station of each of the plurality of cells is used to determine the second location zone associated with the mobile communication device; receiving, from the mobile communication device, first coordinates of the mobile communication device calculated, at a first time period, by a global positioning system of the mobile communication device; determining whether the first coordinates of the mobile communication device are within the first location zone; in response to determining that the first coordinates of the mobile communication device are within the first location zone, determining whether the first coordinates of the mobile communication device are within the second location zone; and in response to determining that the first coordinates of the mobile communication device are within the second location zone, associating the first coordinates of the mobile communication device with a high confidence level as being an estimate of a geographical location of the mobile communication device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification