Method and apparatus for locating a transceiver

• US 20070111737A1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Swope, Charles, Young, Richard, Gonzalez, Armando
• Granted Patent: US 8,483,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A radio system for locating a radio transceiver configured to exchange voice or data with a plurality of base stations on a narrowband channel is described. The system includes the radio transceiver that exchanges voice or data on the narrowband channel with a base station of the plurality of base stations and also to periodically transmit a chirp signal to the plurality of base stations. The radio system also includes the plurality of base stations each with a matched filter configured to receive the periodically transmitted chirp signal and to triangulate a location of the radio transceiver using the received chirp signal.

Claims

1. A radio system for locating a radio transceiver configured to exchange voice or data with a plurality of base stations on a narrowband channel, the system comprising:

the radio transceiver that exchanges voice or data on the narrowband channel with a base station of the plurality of base stations and also to periodically transmit a chirp signal to the plurality of base stations; and

the plurality of base stations each with a matched filter configured to receive the periodically transmitted chirp signal and to triangulate a location of the radio transceiver using the received chirp signal,

wherein the radio transceiver comprises a narrowband radio architecture utilizing a voltage controlled oscillator having multi-band capability.

2. The radio system as in claim 1 further comprising a synchronization signal that a base station of the plurality of base stations transmits to the transceiver to synchronize transmission of the chirp signal.

3. The radio system as in claim 1 further comprising a timing function within the transceiver that alternates transmission of narrowband signals and chirp signals.

4. The radio system as in claim 1 wherein the chirp signal further comprises a sweep time of less than 100 microseconds.

5. The radio system as in claim 1 wherein the chirp signal further comprises a frequency range of greater than 10 MHz.

6. The radio system as in claim 1 further comprising at least one base station of the plurality of base stations determining an identity of the transceiver from a content of the chirp signal.

7. The radio system as in claim 1 further comprising a base station of the plurality of base stations remotely activating transmission of the chirp signal.

8. The radio system as in claim 1 wherein some of the plurality of base stations are portable.

9. A radio transceiver configured to exchange voice or data with a plurality of base stations on a narrowband channel, the transceiver comprising:

a transceiver function within the transceiver that exchanges voice or data with a base station of the plurality of base stations on the narrowband channel; and

a chirp function coupled to the transceiver function that causes the transceiver to periodically transmit a chirp signal that allows the plurality of base stations to triangulate a location of the radio transceiver.

10. The radio system as in claim 9 further comprising a synchronization signal that the transceiver receives from a base station of the plurality of base stations and that the transceiver uses to synchronize transmission of the chirp signal.

11. The radio system as in claim 9 further comprising a timing function within the transceiver that alternates transmission of narrowband signals and chirped signals.

12. The radio system as in claim 9 wherein the narrowband channel further comprises a FM channel.

13. The radio system as in claim 9 wherein the chirp signal further comprises a sweep time of less than 100 microseconds.

14. The radio system as in claim 9 wherein the chirp signals further comprises a frequency range of greater than 10 MHz.

15. A plurality of base stations at least one of which exchanges voice or data with a transceiver on a narrowband channel, the plurality of base stations comprising:

a time function that measures a difference in time of arrival of a chirp signal received by each of the plurality of base stations from the transceiver; and

a triangulation function that locates the transceiver relative to the plurality of base stations by triangulation.

16. The radio system as in claim 15 further comprising a synchronization signal that a base station of the plurality of base stations transmits to the transceiver to synchronize transmission of the chirp signal.

17. The radio system as in claim 15 wherein the narrowband channel further comprises a simplex channel.

18. The radio system as in claim 15 wherein the narrowband channel further comprises a FM channel.

19. The radio system as in claim 15 wherein the chirp signal further comprises a sweep time of less than 100 microseconds.

20. The radio system as in claim 15 wherein the chirp signal further comprises a frequency range of greater than 10 MHz.