Position optimized wireless communication

• US 20040017310A1
• Filed: 07/24/2002
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MCNC Research & Development Institute (Research Triangle Institute)
• Original Assignee: MCNC Research & Development Institute (Research Triangle Institute)
• Inventors: Runkle, Paul Robert, Vargas-Hurlston, Sarah
• Granted Patent: US 6,750,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

A wireless communication base station consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention collects user transmissions and creates and maintains a database storing data that relates communication parameters to a geographic location. A base station receiver receives data packets containing data describing a geographic location of a mobile communication node. The base station predicts a future geographic location of the mobile communication node, and transmits communication parameters to the mobile communication node associated with the predicted future geographic location. The mobile communication node consistent with certain embodiments of the invention has a GPS positioning device that determines a geographic location of the communication node. A transceiver transmits data representing the geographic location and receives data representing communication parameters determined as a function of the data representing the geographic location. The mobile communication node adjusts its communication parameters in response thereto for the predicted geographic location.

Claims

1. A communication method, comprising:

receiving a transmission containing location data for a mobile communication node;

predicting a future location of the mobile communication node; and

transmitting a signal that adjusts at least one communication parameter of the mobile transmitter node based upon the predicted future location of the mobile communication node.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location data are derived from a Global Positioning System (GPS).

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predicting comprises:

receiving multiple sets of location data for the mobile communication node; and

comparing the multiple sets of location data with stored historical location data to predict a future location.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predicting comprises:

receiving multiple sets of location data for the mobile communication node and times associated with each set of location data; and

calculating a predicted location by determining a direction and a velocity for movement of the mobile communication node.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one communication parameter is selected from the following communication parameters:

channel, equalizer settings, antenna control settings, data rate and transmitter power settings.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predicted future location historically supports degraded communication quality of service compared to an optimal, and wherein the communication parameter reduces a data rate of the mobile communication node.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predicted future location historically is unable to support a satisfactory communication quality of service, and further comprising:

buffering data destined to the mobile communication node until a time when the communication quality of service is predicted to be satisfactory.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predicting comprises retrieving historical communication parameters from a database.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the retrieving comprises retrieving data indexed by one of a mobile communication node identifier and a geographic location.

10. A communication method, comprising:

transmitting a data packet from a mobile communication node to a base station, the data packet containing location data representing a geographic location of the mobile communication node; and

receiving a data packet from the base station that adjusts at least one communication parameter of the mobile communication node, the at least one communication parameter being based upon the geographic location of the mobile communication node.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the location data are derived from a Global Positioning System (GPS).

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one communication parameter is selected from the following communication parameters:

channel, equalizer settings, antenna control settings, data rate and transmitter power settings.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one communication parameter is based upon a predicted geographic location of the mobile communication node.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the predicted geographic location is predicted by comparing the multiple sets of location data with stored historical location data to predict a future location.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the predicted geographic location is predicted by determining a direction and a velocity for movement of the mobile communication node.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the predicted future location historically supports degraded communication quality of service compared to an optimal, and wherein the communication parameter reduces a data rate of the mobile communication node.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the predicted future location historically is unable to support a satisfactory communication quality of service, and further comprising:

buffering data destined to the mobile communication node until a time when the communication quality of service is predicted to be satisfactory.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the predicting comprises retrieving historical communication parameters from a database.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the retrieving comprises retrieving data indexed by one of a mobile communication node identifier and a geographic location.

20. A mobile communication node, comprising:

a positioning device that determines a geographic location of the communication node;

a transceiver that transmits data representing the geographic location and receives data representing communication parameters determined as a function of the data representing the geographic location; and

means for adjusting at least one communication parameter of the communication node in response to receipt of the data representing communication parameters.

21. The mobile communication node according to claim 20, wherein the positioning device derives position information from a Global Positioning System (GPS).

22. The mobile communication node according to claim 20, wherein the at least one communication parameter is selected from the following communication parameters:

channel, equalizer settings, antenna control settings, data rate and transmitter power settings.

23. The mobile communication node according to claim 20, wherein the at least one communication parameter is based upon a predicted geographic location of the mobile communication node.

24. The mobile communication node according to claim 23, wherein the predicted geographic location is predicted by comparing the multiple sets of location data with stored historical location data to predict a future location.

25. The mobile communication node according to claim 23, wherein the predicted geographic location is predicted by determining a direction and a velocity for movement of the mobile communication node.

26. The mobile communication node according to claim 23, wherein the predicted future location historically supports degraded communication quality of service compared to an optimal, and wherein the communication parameter reduces a data rate of the mobile communication node.

27. The mobile communication node according to claim 23, wherein the predicted future location historically is unable to support a satisfactory communication quality of service, and further comprising means for buffering data from the mobile communication node until a time when the communication quality of service is predicted to be satisfactory.

28. A wireless communication base station, comprising:

a database storing data that relates communication parameters to a geographic location;

a receiver that receives data packets containing data describing a geographic location of a mobile communication node;

means for predicting a future geographic location of the mobile communication node by reference to the database; and

a transmitter that transmits at least one communication parameter to the mobile communication node associated with the predicted geographic location.

29. The wireless communication base station according to claim 28, wherein the data describing a geographic location is derived from a Global Positioning System (GPS).

30. The wireless communication base station according to claim 28, wherein the at least one communication parameter is selected from the following communication parameters:

channel, equalizer settings, antenna control settings, data rate and transmitter power settings.

31. The wireless communication base station according to claim 28, wherein the predicted geographic location is predicted by comparing the multiple sets of location data with stored historical location data to predict the geographic location.

32. The wireless communication base station according to claim 28, wherein the predicted geographic location is predicted by determining a direction and a velocity for movement of the mobile communication node.

33. The wireless communication base station according to claim 28, wherein the predicted future location historically supports degraded communication quality of service compared to an optimal, and wherein the communication parameter reduces a data rate of the mobile communication node.

34. The wireless communication base station according to claim 28, wherein the predicted future location historically is unable to support a satisfactory communication quality of service, and further comprising means for buffering data destined for the mobile communication node until a time when the communication quality of service is predicted to be satisfactory.

35. The wireless communication base station according to claim 28, wherein the predicting comprises retrieving historical communication parameters from a database.

36. The wireless communication base station according to claim 35, wherein the retrieving comprises retrieving data indexed by one of a mobile communication node identifier and a geographic location.

37. A communication method, comprising:

receiving a data packet transmitted from a mobile communication node to a base station, the data packet containing location data representing a geographic location of the mobile communication node; and

adjusting at least one communication parameter based upon the geographic location of the mobile communication node.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the location data are derived from a Global Positioning System (GPS).

39. The method according to claim 37, wherein the at least one communication parameter is selected from the following communication parameters:

channel, equalizer settings, antenna control settings, data rate and transmitter power settings.

40. The method according to claim 37, wherein the at least one communication parameter is based upon a predicted geographic location of the mobile communication node.

41. The method according to claim 40, wherein the predicted geographic location is predicted by comparing the multiple sets of location data with stored historical location data to predict a future location.

42. The method according to claim 40, wherein the predicted geographic location is predicted by determining a direction and a velocity for movement of the mobile communication node.

43. The method according to claim 40, wherein the predicted future location historically supports degraded communication quality of service compared to an optimal, and wherein the communication parameter reduces a data rate of the mobile communication node.

44. The method according to claim 40, wherein the predicted future location historically is unable to support a satisfactory communication quality of service, and further comprising:

buffering data destined to the mobile communication node until a time when the communication quality of service is predicted to be satisfactory.

45. The method according to claim 40, wherein the predicting comprises retrieving historical communication parameters from a database.

46. The method according to claim 45, wherein the retrieving comprises retrieving data indexed by one of a mobile communication node identifier and a geographic location.

47. The method according to claim 37, wherein the communication parameter comprises a communication parameter of the mobile communication node.

48. The method according to claim 37, wherein the communication parameter comprises a communication parameter of the base station.

49. An electronic storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out a communication method, comprising:

receiving a data packet transmitted from a mobile communication node to a base station, the data packet containing location data representing a geographic location of the mobile communication node; and

adjusting at least one communication parameter based upon the geographic location of the mobile communication node.

50. A wireless communication base station, comprising:

a database storing data that relates communication parameters to a geographic location;

a receiver that receives data packets containing data describing a geographic location of a mobile communication node;

means for predicting a future geographic location of the mobile communication node by reference to the database; and

means for adjusting at least one communication parameter based upon the predicted geographic location.

51. The wireless communication base station according to claim 50, wherein the communication parameter comprises a communication parameter of the mobile communication node.

52. The wireless communication base station according to claim 50, wherein the communication parameter comprises a communication parameter of the base station.

53. An electronic storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out a communication method, comprising:

receiving a transmission containing location data for a mobile communication node;

predicting a future location of the mobile communication node; and

transmitting a signal that adjusts at least one communication parameter of the mobile transmitter node based upon the predicted future location of the mobile communication node.

54. An electronic storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out a communication method, comprising:

transmitting a data packet from a mobile communication node to a base station, the data packet containing location data representing a geographic location of the mobile communication node; and

receiving a data packet from the base station that adjusts at least one communication parameter of the mobile communication node, the at least one communication parameter being based upon the geographic location of the mobile communication node.

55. A communication system, comprising:

a mobile communication node;

a base station;

wherein the mobile communication node comprises;

a Global Positioning System (GPS) positioning device that determines a geographic location of the communication node;

a transceiver that transmits data representing the geographic location and receives data representing communication parameters determined as a function of the data representing the geographic location; and

means for adjusting at least one communication parameter of the communication node in response to receipt of the data representing communication parameters, wherein the at least one communication parameter is based upon a predicted geographic location of the mobile communication node;

and, wherein the base station comprises;

a database storing data that relates communication parameters to geographic location;

a receiver that receives the data packets containing data describing a geographic location of a mobile communication node;

means for predicting the future geographic location of the mobile communication node by retrieving historical information indexed by one of a mobile communication node identifier and a geographic location parameter from the database; and

a transmitter that transmits at least one communication parameter to the mobile communication node associated with the predicted geographic location; and

wherein the at least one communication parameter is selected from the following communication parameters;

channel, equalizer settings, antenna control settings, data rate and transmitter power settings.

56. The communication system according to claim 55, wherein the predicted geographic location is predicted by comparing the multiple sets of location data with stored historical location data to predict a future location.

57. The communication system according to claim 55, wherein the predicted geographic location is predicted by determining a direction and a velocity for movement of the mobile communication node.

58. The communication system according to claim 55, wherein the predicted future location historically supports degraded communication quality of service compared to an optimal, and wherein the communication parameter reduces a data rate of the mobile communication node.

59. The communication system according to claim 55, wherein the predicted future location historically is unable to support a satisfactory communication quality of service, and further comprising means for buffering data between the base station and the mobile communication node until a time when the communication quality of service is predicted to be satisfactory.