Applications of signal quality observations

• US 20050181804A1
• Filed: 01/06/2005
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AiRISTA Flow, Inc. (AiRISTA, LLC), AiRISTA International Oy (AiRISTA, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Ekahau Oy
• Inventors: Misikangas, Pauli, Lekman, Lare
• Granted Patent: US 8,270,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/011 Identifying the radio environment
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0252 Radio frequency fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0257 Hybrid positioning by coordinating position lines of different shape G01S5/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools

Abstract

A method and apparatus for using at least one signal quality parameter in an application. A target device makes observations of at least one signal quality parameter in a wireless communication environment. Because there are gross differences between different target devices'"'"' observations, there are one or more device models that compensate for the differences. A selection logic selects an optimal device model for each target device. The observations made by the target device are processed with the selected device model and applied to an application, such as a positioning application or network planning.

Claims

1. A method for using at least one signal quality parameter in an application, the method comprising:

a target device making observations of at least one signal quality parameter in a wireless communication environment;

determining multiple device models that compensate for the differences between different target devices'"'"' observations of the at least one signal quality parameter;

selecting, among the multiple device models, a device model for the target device; and

processing the observations made by the target device with the selected device model and applying the processed observations to an application.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the application is a positioning application.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the application is a network planning and/or maintenance application.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the device model is based on statistical observations.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the device model is based on a cumulative distribution function of signal quality values.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the device model comprises a type-specific device model and a unit-specific device model.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising determining multiple device models and selecting the device model providing the best match for the target device.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting the device model based on the target device'"'"'s known location.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting the device model based on several estimated locations of the target device.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting the device model based on several estimated transitions of the target device.

11. A method according to claim 7, further comprising caching the result of the selection for future sessions.

12. An arrangement for using at least one signal quality parameter in an application, the arrangement comprising:

means for receiving from a target device observations of at least one signal quality parameter in a wireless communication environment;

multiple device models for compensating for the differences between different target devices'"'"' observations of the at least one signal quality parameter;

means for selecting, among the multiple device models, a device model for the target device; and

means for processing the observations made by the target device with the selected device model and for applying the processed observations to an application.

13. An arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the device model is based on statistical observations.

14. An arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the device model is based on a cumulative distribution function of signal quality values.

15. An arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the device model comprises a type-specific device model and a unit-specific device model.

16. An arrangement according to claim 12, further comprising means for determining multiple device models and for selecting the device model providing the best match for the target device.

17. An arrangement according to claim 12, further comprising means for selecting the device model based on the target device'"'"'s known location.

18. An arrangement according to claim 12, further comprising means for selecting the device model based on several estimated locations of the target device.

19. An arrangement according to claim 12, further comprising means for selecting the device model based on several estimated transitions of the target device.

20. An arrangement according to claim 16, further comprising means for caching the result of the selection for future sessions.