Location method and system
First Claim
1. A method for locating a wireless terminal device (10) in a cellular network, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing at least two spatially diverse local measurement units (41-43;
410-440;
201A-201F) arranged at a local determination unit (20;
200) and adapted to receive a signal from said wireless terminal device (10);
b) processing measurements signals received from said at least two local measurement units (41-43;
410-440;
201A-201F) at said local determination unit (20;
200) to obtain a location information of said wireless terminal device (10); and
c) transmitting said location information to a location center (90) of said cellular network in response to a location request received from said location center (90).
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a location method and system for locating a wireless terminal device (10) in a cellular network. At least two spatially diverse local measurement units (41-43) are arranged at a local determination unit (20) and adapted to receive a signal from the wireless terminal device (10). Measurement signals received from the at least two local measurement units (41-43) are processed at said local determination unit (20) to obtain a location information of said wireless terminal device (10) to be transmitted to a location center of said cellular network. The location information may be a time difference of arrival value or a location estimate. Thereby, a high accurate location can be provided in specific areas, such as indoor environments. Furthermore, network signaling load is reduced and clock synchronization between location measurement units is no longer required, due to the fact that the location information is directly generated at the local location measurement units.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method for locating a wireless terminal device (10) in a cellular network, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing at least two spatially diverse local measurement units (41-43;
410-440;
201A-201F) arranged at a local determination unit (20;
200) and adapted to receive a signal from said wireless terminal device (10);
b) processing measurements signals received from said at least two local measurement units (41-43;
410-440;
201A-201F) at said local determination unit (20;
200) to obtain a location information of said wireless terminal device (10); and
c) transmitting said location information to a location center (90) of said cellular network in response to a location request received from said location center (90). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for locating a wireless terminal device (10) in a cellular network, said system comprising:
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a) at least two spatially diverse local measurement units (41-43;
410-440;
201A-201F) for receiving a signal from said wireless terminal device (10);
b) a local determination unit (20;
200) for receiving measurement signals from said local measurement units (41-43;
410-440;
201A-201F) and for processing said received measurement signals to obtain a location information of said wireless terminal device (10); and
c) a location center (90) for receiving said location information from said local determination unit (20;
200) in response to a location request transmitted by said location center (90) and for providing a location estimate of said wireless terminal (10) to said cellular network. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A network device for determining a location information of a wireless terminal device (10), said network device (20;
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200) comprising;
a) receiving means (51-53) for receiving measuring signals from at least two spatially diverse measurement units (41-43;
410-440;
201A-201F) arranged at said network device (20;
200) and adapted to receive a signal from said wireless terminal device (10);
b) determination means (23, 24) for processing said received measuring signals to generate a location information of said wireless terminal device (10); and
c) signaling means (26) for providing said location information to a location center (90) of a cellular network in response to a location request received from said location center. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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200) comprising;
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32. A network device for providing a location estimate of a wireless terminal device (10) to a cellular network, wherein said network device (90) is arranged to determine a local determination unit (20;
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200), to transmit a location request to said local determination unit (20;
200), when a request for locating said wireless terminal device (10) has been received from said cellular network, and to provide a location estimate of said wireless terminal (10) to said cellular network based on a location information received from said local determination unit (20;
200) in response to said location request. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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200), to transmit a location request to said local determination unit (20;
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35. A measuring unit for an indoor location system of a cellular network, said measuring unit (201A-201F) comprising:
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a) receiving means (203) for receiving a signal transmitted from a wireless terminal device (10) via at least two antenna means (202) arranged at a predetermined distance from each other;
b) measuring means (210, 211) for measuring phase and/or strength values of signals obtained from said two antenna means (202); and
c) processing means (209) for evaluating the quality of said measured phase and/or strength values of said received signals and for providing said measured phase and/or strength values to a local location determination unit (200) based on said evaluated quality. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification