Estimating location of a communications device

• US 20060290568A1
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Sillasto, Eero
• Granted Patent: US 7,633,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/464
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/876 Combination of several spaced transponders or reflectors of known location for determining the position of a receiver G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/10 Position of receiver fixed by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements , e.g. omega or decca systemsG01S5/12 takes precedence ; beacons and receivers cooperating therewith G01S1/306, G01S1/308

Abstract

In determining a location estimate for a communications device, at least one first location estimate is determined based on information relating to signals transmitted between the communications device and at least one first antenna of a communications system. At least one second antenna of the communications system is determined, the at least second antenna not used for communication by the communications device. Thereafter, a second location estimate for the communications device is determined based at least on the at least one first location estimate and information relating to the at least one second antenna.

Claims

1. A method for determining location estimate for a communications device, the method comprising:

determining at least one first location estimate for a communications device based on information relating to signals transmitted between the communications device and at least one first antenna of a communications system,

determining at least one second antenna of the communications system, the at least second antenna not used for communication by the communications device, and

determining a second location estimate for the communications device based on the at least one first location estimate and information relating to the at least one second antenna.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the information relating to the at least second antenna comprises information characterizing the at least second antenna.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the information relating to the at least second antenna comprises at least one of the following:

antenna location information, antenna direction information, antenna profile information, and path loss information.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the following is taken into account in determining the at least second antenna:

antenna location information, antenna direction information, and antenna profile information.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, comprising taking into account the information relating to the at least one second antenna in determining an angular part of the second location estimate.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one first location estimate comprises at least one radial location estimate.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein a radial part of the second location estimate is based on the at least one radial location estimate.

8. A method as defined in claim 5, comprising determining the angular part of the second location estimate based at least on distances between points of an arc relating to a radial part of the second location estimate and the at least one second antenna location.

9. A method as defined in claim 5, comprising determining the angular part of the second location estimate based at least on estimated path losses relating to the at least one second antenna at points of an arc relating to a radial part of the second location estimate.

10. A method as defined in claim 5, comprising determining the angular part of the second location estimate based at least on antenna profile information of the at least one second antenna.

11. A method as defined in claim 1, comprising selecting one of a plurality of two-dimensional location estimates as the second location estimate.

12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the at least one first location estimate comprises at least one two-dimensional location estimate.

13. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the communications device communicates with the communications system via said at least one first antenna.

14. A method as defined in claim 1, comprising taking into account signal strength information relating to at least one of the at least one second antenna in determining the second location estimate.

15. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one first antenna is located at a single antenna site.

16. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one first antenna includes at least two first antennas located at two antenna sites.

17. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one first antenna includes at least three first antennas located at three antenna sites.

18. A method as defined in claim 1, where the at least one second antenna is located at a single antenna site.

19. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one second antenna includes at least two second antennas, located at multiple antenna sites.

20. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one second antenna is located in a geographic location with the at least one first antenna.

21. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one second antenna is co-located with the at least one first antenna.

22. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one second antenna is located at a separate antenna site than the at least one first antenna.

23. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one first antenna belongs to a single antenna hierarchy level.

24. A method as defined in claim 23, comprising checking that the at least one second antenna belongs to the single antenna hierarchy level as the at least one first antenna.

25. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one first location estimate is determined based on at least one of the following:

cell identity information relating to the at least one first antenna, and timing information relating to signals transmitted between the communications device and the at least one first antenna.

26. A communications system comprising a plurality of antennas, the communications system being configured to

determine at least one first location estimate for a communications device based on information relating to signals transmitted between the communications device and at least one first antenna of the communications system,

determine at least one second antenna of the communications system, the at least second antenna not used for communication by the communications device, and

determine a second location estimate for the communications device based on the at least one first location estimate and information relating to the at least one second antenna.

27. A network element for a communications system comprising a plurality of antennas, the network element being configured to

determine at least one first location estimate for a communications device based on information relating to signals transmitted between the communications device and at least one first antenna of a communications system,

determine at least one second antenna of the communications system, the at least second antenna not used for communication by the communications device, and

determine a second location estimate for the communications device based on the at least one first location estimate and information relating to the at least one second antenna.

28. A network element as defined in claim 28, comprising a location server.

30. A network element as defined in claim 28, comprising a radio resource controller.

29. A network element as defined in claim 29, configured to receive information about antennas of the communications system and to determine said at least one second antenna based on the information about antennas of the communications system.

31. A communications system comprising:

a plurality of antennas,

means for determining at least one first location estimate for a communications device based on information relating to signals transmitted between the communications device and at least one first antenna of the communications system,

means for determining at least one second antenna of the communications system, the at least second antenna not used for communication by the communications device, and

means for determining a second location estimate for the communications device based on the at least one first location estimate and information relating to the at least one second antenna.

32. A network element for a communications system comprising a plurality of antennas, the network element comprising:

means for determining at least one first location estimate for a communications device based on information relating to signals transmitted between the communications device and at least one first antenna of a communications system,

means for determining at least one second antenna of the communications system, the at least second antenna not used for communication by the communications device, and

means for determining a second location estimate for the communications device based on the at least one first location estimate and information relating to the at least one second antenna.

33. A computer program, embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program configured to control a computer to perform the steps of:

determining at least one first location estimate for a communications device based on information relating to signals transmitted between the communications device and at least one first antenna of a communications system,

determining at least one second antenna of the communications system, the at least second antenna not used for communication by the communications device, and

determining a second location estimate for the communications device based on the at least one first location estimate and information relating to the at least one second antenna.