Method and apparatus for high-accuracy position location using search mode ranging techniques
First Claim
1. A method of pinpointing the physical position of a target communication device, comprising:
- (a) determining a position of the target communication with sufficient accuracy to direct a search communication device to within a vicinity of the target communication device;
(b) repeatedly measuring the range between the target communication device and the mobile search communication device once the search communication device is within the vicinity by repeatedly exchanging an outbound ranging signal and a reply ranging signal between the target communication device and the search communication device and determining a round-trip signal propagation time of the outbound ranging signal and the reply ranging signal; and
(c) directing movement of the search communication device toward the target communication device in response to the repeatedly measured range, thereby pinpointing the position of the target communication device by reducing the range between the search and target communication devices.
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Abstract
A high accuracy search and tracking system that uses a round-trip messaging scheme in which the time of arrive (TOA) of ranging signals is accurately determined to yield the range estimates between a target communications device and one or more search communications devices. Successive ranging estimates are used by a search device to home in upon the target device. The physical location pinpoint communications system can be used alone, or in combination with other location estimation systems that can be used initially, or throughout the search and tracking process to pinpoint the physical location of the target device. The search radio(s) transmits ranging signals to the target radio which responds by transmitting reply ranging signals. Upon reception of the reply ranging signal, the search radio determines the range to the reference radio from the signal propagation time. Errors in TOA estimates can be minimized using advanced processing techniques, if required.
142 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of pinpointing the physical position of a target communication device, comprising:
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(a) determining a position of the target communication with sufficient accuracy to direct a search communication device to within a vicinity of the target communication device;
(b) repeatedly measuring the range between the target communication device and the mobile search communication device once the search communication device is within the vicinity by repeatedly exchanging an outbound ranging signal and a reply ranging signal between the target communication device and the search communication device and determining a round-trip signal propagation time of the outbound ranging signal and the reply ranging signal; and
(c) directing movement of the search communication device toward the target communication device in response to the repeatedly measured range, thereby pinpointing the position of the target communication device by reducing the range between the search and target communication devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A search communication device for pinpointing the physical position of a target communication device in a vicinity of the search communication device, comprising:
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a transmitter configured to transmit an outbound ranging signal to the target communication device;
a receiver configured to receive a reply ranging signal from the reference communication device in response to the outbound ranging signal; and
a processor configured to determine the range to the target communication device from a round-trip signal propagation time of the reply ranging signal and the outbound ranging signal, wherein;
said search communication device is configurable to operate in a search mode in which said search communication device repeatedly determines the range to the target communication device to enable an operator to direct movement of the search communication device toward the target communication device, thereby pinpointing the position of the target communication device by reducing the range between the search and target communication devices. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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19. A search communication device for pinpointing the physical position of a target communication device in a vicinity of the search communication device, comprising:
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means for transmitting an outbound ranging signal to the target communication device;
means for receiving a reply ranging signal from the reference communication device in response to the outbound ranging signal; and
means for determining the range to the target communication device from a round-trip signal propagation time of the reply ranging signal and the outbound ranging signal, wherein said search communication device is configurable to operate in a search mode in which said search communication device repeatedly determines the range to the target communication device to enable an operator to direct movement of the search communication device toward the target communication device, thereby pinpointing the position of the target communication device by reducing the range between the search and target communication devices.
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30. A system for pinpointing the physical position of a target communication device, comprising:
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a search communication device configured to transmit an outbound ranging signal and receive a reply ranging signal;
a target mobile communication device configured to receive the outbound ranging signal and transmit the reply ranging signal to said search communication device, said search communication device determining the range to the target communication device from a round-trip signal propagation time of the reply ranging signal and the outbound ranging signal, wherein;
said search and target communication devices are configurable to operate in a search mode in which said search communication device repeatedly determines the range to said target communication device to enable an operator to direct movement of said search communication device toward said target communication device, thereby pinpointing the position of said target communication device by reducing the range between said search and target communication devices. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification