Method and device for the location of a mobile telephone in a communications network

• US 20020183074A1
• Filed: 04/29/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thales SA
• Original Assignee: Thales SA
• Inventors: Delaveau, Francios, Josset, Dieudonne
• Granted Patent: US 6,999,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

Method and device for the detection of one or more mobiles within a communications network, the method comprising at least one step for the “acquisition” of at least one RACH type signal exchanged between a mobile and a base station of the network and a step to measure the angle of arrival of the signal, the measurement step being synchronized with a parameter of the exchanged signal. Application to the GSM network.

Claims

1. - A method for the detection of one or more mobiles within a communications network, wherein the method comprises at least one step for the “

acquisition”

of at least one signal exchanged between a mobile and a base station of the network and a step to measure the angle of arrival of the signal, the measurement step being synchronized with a parameter of the exchanged signal.

2. - A method according to claim 1 wherein the exchanged signal is sent from a mobile to a base station of the network.

3. - A method according to claim 1 comprising a step in which the mobile is called up at given points in time.

4. - A method according to one of the claims 1 to 3, comprising a step for dating the exchanged signal.

5. - A method according to claim 4 wherein the step for measuring the angle of arrival is carried out for example for one or more values of angles in order to locate the mobile or mobiles.

6. - A method according to one of the claims 1 to 5 comprising a step to determine the propagation time of the signal between a mobile and a base station.

7. - A method according to one of the claims 5 and 6 comprising a step for the processing of the signal received by the base station, such as a demodulation step in order to determine the nature of the call.

8. - A method according to claim 7 comprising a step for sorting the signal on the basis of the information on the date and the demodulated data.

9. A method according to one of the claims 1 to 6 comprising a step for counting one or more mobiles present in a given place in order to determine the corresponding density of mobiles.

10. - Application of the method according to one of the claims 1 to 9 to a GSM communications network.

11. - Application of the method according to one of the claims 1 to 10 to a GSM communications network for signals exchanged between a mobile and a RACH type base station.

13. - A device according to claim 12 wherein the element for the reception of the exchanged signals is an antenna network comprising five antennas.

14. - A device according to claim 12 wherein the synchronization element and the signal reception element are integrated in one and the same element.

12. - A device for the detection of one or more mobiles in a communications network, comprising at least:

one element adapted to receive the signals exchanged between one or more mobile stations and the network,

one element to synchronize the activation of the measurement of at least one angle of arrival of the exchanged signal,

one processor adapted to processing the signals received and managing the different elements

15. - A device according to any of the claims 12 to 14 wherein the processor is adapted to making goniometric measurements and managing the synchronization of the goniometry shots.

16. - A device according to any of the claims 12 to 14 wherein the processor comprises a local application adapted to managing the information given by an interface of the Abis network.

17. - A device according to any of the claims 12 to 14 wherein the processor comprises a system application in order to centralize the data coming from the different local applications.

18. - A system for the detection of one or more mobiles within a communications network, comprising at least one device according to any of the claims 12 to 17.