System and method for determining a location area of a mobile user

• US 10,237,684 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2017
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital CE Patent Holdings SAS (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Swisscom AG (Government of Switzerland)
• Inventors: Versteeg, Ernst, Taillard, Eric, Bailly, Patrick, Laurent, Maxence
• Primary Examiner(s): Arevalo, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US15/692,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20180091941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561, 455436, 455522, 455108, 455118, 4552261, 455557
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02521 using a radio-map
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0278 involving statistical or probabilistic considerations G01S5/0252, G01S5/0294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/026 Co-operative diversity, e.g. using fixed or mobile stations as relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for adaptively determining location of a mobile device. Antenna probabilities for a plurality of antennas in an area covered by a mobile radio network may be determined, with the antenna probabilities being determined based on expected field strengths for the plurality of antennas in each of a plurality of sub-areas of the area; and with the antenna probabilities indicate for each antenna, in each of the plurality of sub-areas, the probability that a mobile communication terminal uses that antenna when located in that sub-area. A location area for a user using a mobile communication terminal may then be determined based on the antenna probabilities and a determination of one or more antennas used by the mobile communication termination, wherein the location area is determined without measuring signal properties at the mobile communication terminal.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining antenna probabilities for a plurality of antennas in an area covered by a mobile radio network, wherein;

the antenna probabilities are determined based on expected field strengths for the plurality of antennas in each of a plurality of sub-areas of the area; and

the antenna probabilities indicate for each antenna, in each of the plurality of sub-areas, the probability that a mobile communication terminal uses that antenna when located in that sub-area;

determining a location area for a user using a mobile communication terminal based on the antenna probabilities and a determination of one or more antennas used by the mobile communication termination, wherein the location area is determined without measuring signal properties at the mobile communication terminal; and

determining the location area based on identifying one or more of the plurality of sub-areas that meet particular criteria;

determining when the one or more of the plurality of sub-areas define the location area, wherein the determining is based on one or more defining criteria;

and when the determining that the one or more of the plurality of sub-areas do not define the location area based on at least one of the one or more defining criteria;

determining one or more sub-areas to be considered; and

grouping the one or more sub-areas to be considered into one or more areas of connected sub-areas.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising determining location probabilities for the plurality of sub-areas, wherein each location probability indicates a probability that a mobile communication terminal is located in a respective sub-area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular criteria comprises each one or more of the plurality of sub-areas having at least a defined minimum probability that a mobile communication terminal is located in that sub-area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more defining criteria comprise a number of sub-areas being lower than a defined maximum number of sub-areas, and a density of probable sub-areas being higher than a defined minimum density.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising determining the sub-areas to be considered by selecting from the sub-areas with descending location probability those sub-areas which together make up at least a defined target probability.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising modifying a grouping defining the location area using the one or more sub-areas to be considered.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising enlarging the grouping the defining the location area using one or more sub-areas closest, separated by an intermediate area with at least a defined minimum mean location probability.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising determining location probabilities for the plurality of sub-areas, wherein each location probability indicates a probability that a mobile communication terminal is located in a respective sub-area.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular criteria comprises each one or more of the plurality of sub-areas having at least a defined minimum probability that a mobile communication terminal is located in that sub-area.

10. A system, comprising:

one or more processors for use in a computer system associated with a mobile radio network, the one or more processors being operable to;

determine antenna probabilities for a plurality of antennas in an area covered by the mobile radio network, wherein;

the antenna probabilities are determined based on expected field strengths for the plurality of antennas in each of a plurality of sub-areas of the area;

the antenna probabilities indicate for each antenna, in each of the plurality of sub-areas, the probability that a mobile communication terminal uses that antenna when located in that sub-area; and

determine a location area for a user using a mobile communication terminal based on the antenna probabilities and a determination of one or more antennas used by the mobile communication termination, wherein the location area is determined without measuring signal properties at the mobile communication terminal;

determine the location area based on identifying one or more of the plurality of sub-areas that meet particular criteria;

determine when the one or more of the plurality of sub-areas define the location area, wherein the determining is based on one or more defining criteria; and

when the determining that the one or more of the plurality of sub-areas do not define the location area based on at least one of the one or more defining criteria;

determine one or more sub-areas to be considered;

and group the one or more sub-areas to be considered into one or more areas of connected sub-areas.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are operable to determine location probabilities for the plurality of sub-areas, wherein each location probability indicates a probability that a mobile communication terminal is located in a respective sub-area.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the particular criteria comprises each one or more of the plurality of sub-areas having at least a defined minimum probability that a mobile communication terminal is located in that sub-area.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more defining criteria comprise a number of sub-areas being lower than a defined maximum number of sub-areas, and a density of probable sub-areas being higher than a defined minimum density.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are operable to determine the sub-areas to be considered by selecting from the sub-areas with descending location probability those sub-areas which together make up at least a defined target probability.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are operable to modify a grouping defining the location area using the one or more sub-areas to be considered.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more processors are operable to determine enlarge the grouping the defining the location area using one or more sub-areas closest, separated by an intermediate area with at least a defined minimum mean location probability.

17. A method, comprising:

determining antenna probabilities for a plurality of antennas in an area covered by a mobile radio network, wherein;

the antenna probabilities are determined based on expected field strengths for the plurality of antennas in each of a plurality of sub-areas of the area; and

the antenna probabilities indicate for each antenna, in each of the plurality of sub-areas, the probability that a mobile communication terminal uses that antenna when located in that sub-area;

determining a location area for a user using a mobile communication terminal based on the antenna probabilities and a determination of one or more antennas used by the mobile communication termination, wherein the location area is determined without measuring signal properties at the mobile communication terminal;

determining the location area based on identifying one or more of the plurality of sub-areas that meet particular criteria;

determining when the one or more of the plurality of sub-areas define the location area, wherein the determining is based on one or more defining criteria;

wherein the one or more defining criteria comprise a number of sub-areas being lower than a defined maximum number of sub-areas, and a density of probable sub-areas being higher than a defined minimum density.

18. A system, comprising:

one or more processors for use in a computer system associated with a mobile radio network, the one or more processors being operable to;

determine antenna probabilities for a plurality of antennas in an area covered by the mobile radio network, wherein;

the antenna probabilities are determined based on expected field strengths for the plurality of antennas in each of a plurality of sub-areas of the area; and

the antenna probabilities indicate for each antenna, in each of the plurality of sub-areas, the probability that a mobile communication terminal uses that antenna when located in that sub-area;

determine a location area for a user using a mobile communication terminal based on the antenna probabilities and a determination of one or more antennas used by the mobile communication termination, wherein the location area is determined without measuring signal properties at the mobile communication terminal;

determine the location area based on identifying one or more of the plurality of sub-areas that meet particular criteria; and

determine when the one or more of the plurality of sub-areas define the location area, wherein the determining is based on one or more defining criteria;

wherein the one or more defining criteria comprise a number of sub-areas being lower than a defined maximum number of sub-areas, and a density of probable sub-areas being higher than a defined minimum density.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the one or more processors are operable to determine location probabilities for the plurality of sub-areas, wherein each location probability indicates a probability that a mobile communication terminal is located in a respective sub-area.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the particular criteria comprises each one or more of the plurality of sub-areas having at least a defined minimum probability that a mobile communication terminal is located in that sub-area.