Position determination of mobile stations
First Claim
1. Method for position determination of a mobile station in a mobile communications network, comprising the steps of:
- transmitting control signals in the mobile communications network, the control signals comprising base station identification data, at least one of the control signals comprising virtual base station identification data;
the mobile station being unable to connect to the mobile communications network using a virtual cell associated with the virtual base station identification data;
the base station identification data being associated with a transmission location of the control signal comprising the base station identification data;
receiving transmitted control signals in the mobile station; and
determining an estimation of a position of the mobile station based on characteristics of the received control signals and the base station identification data, whereby the step of determining being performed at least based on the transmission location associated with the virtual base station identification data.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a cellular communications network, additional control signals comprising virtual base station identification data are distributed in the radio system from well defined locations by e.g. transmitters. Since there is a connection between each virtual base station identification data and the location from where it is transmitted, a mobile terminal can use the information for improving its position estimation according to conventional procedures. No modifications of the mobile terminals are therefore necessary. The mobile terminal is not able to connect to the communications system using the virtual base station identification data, since this data only is intended for position estimating purposes. In such a way, the devices for providing the additional information necessary for the improved position estimation can be made very simple and inexpensive.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. Method for position determination of a mobile station in a mobile communications network, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting control signals in the mobile communications network, the control signals comprising base station identification data, at least one of the control signals comprising virtual base station identification data;
the mobile station being unable to connect to the mobile communications network using a virtual cell associated with the virtual base station identification data;
the base station identification data being associated with a transmission location of the control signal comprising the base station identification data;
receiving transmitted control signals in the mobile station; and
determining an estimation of a position of the mobile station based on characteristics of the received control signals and the base station identification data, whereby the step of determining being performed at least based on the transmission location associated with the virtual base station identification data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Radio network of a mobile communications network, comprising:
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transmitters arranged for transmitting control signals to a mobile station, the control signals comprising base station identification data;
at least one of the control signals comprises virtual base station identification data;
the mobile station being unable to connect to the mobile communications network using a virtual cell associated with the virtual base station identification data;
the base station identification data being associated with a location of the transmitter transmitting the base station identification data;
receiver means in the mobile station arranged for collecting information associated with characteristics of the control signals when received at the mobile station and for extracting the base station identification data; and
positioning means, communicational connected to the receiver means, the positioning means being arranged to determine a position estimate of the mobile station based on characteristics of the received control signals and the base station identification data, whereby the positioning means being arranged to determine the position estimate at least based on the transmitter location associated with the virtual base station identification data. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. Mobile communications network, comprising:
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transmitters arranged for transmitting control signals to a mobile station, the control signals comprising base station identification data;
at least one of the control signals comprises virtual base station identification data;
the mobile station being unable to connect to the mobile communications network using a virtual cell associated with the virtual base station identification data;
the base station identification data being associated with a location of the transmitter transmitting the base station identification data;
receiver means in the mobile station arranged for collecting information associated with characteristics of the control signals when received at the mobile station and for extracting the base station identification data; and
positioning means, communicational connected to the receiver means, the positioning means being arranged to determine a position estimate of the mobile station based on characteristics of the received control signals and the base station identification data, the positioning means being arranged to determine the position estimate at least based on the transmitter location associated with the virtual base station identification data.
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Specification