Subscriptionless location of wireless devices

• US 20080132244A1
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyhook Holding, Inc. (Liberty Broadband Corp.)
• Original Assignee: TruePosition Incorporated
• Inventors: Anderson, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,920,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00957 Compositions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Techniques for locating wireless devices involve a wireless device making measurements of signals transmitted by geographically distributed base stations within a wireless network. If some key site information is known about these transmitters, such as the transmitter location, transmit signal power, signal propagation, and transmit signal timing, measurements of these transmit signals by a device to be located can be used to determine the position of the device. In this example, all information exchange between the device and the location node is facilitated by a data link that is not provided by the wireless network providing signals used in the location estimation process. Accordingly, devices may be located based on downlink signal measurements made by the devices, where the devices are not part of the wireless network, are not provided wireless service by the network, and do not possess the ability to transmit signals to the wireless network, and where communication resources of the wireless network are not consumed to facilitate location.

Claims

1. A method for locating a wireless device, comprising:

(a) providing, to a first node, key information for one or more base station transmitters of one or more wireless communications networks;

(b) at a wireless device to be located, measuring signals transmitted by said one or more base station transmitters;

(c) communicating information representative of one of said key information and said signal measurements, wherein said information is communicated via a communication link to one of said first node and said wireless device to be located, wherein said communication link is not provided by said one or more wireless communications networks; and

(d) at one of said first node and said wireless device to be located, computing the location of the wireless device to be located.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first node is configured for computing location.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication link comprises an Ethernet link.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication link comprises the Internet.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication link comprises a dial-up telephone link.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication link comprises a WiFi link.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first node comprises the wireless device to be located.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first node comprises a server.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the signal measurements include timing measurements.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said timing measurements include signal time of arrival (TOA) measurements.

11. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said timing measurements include signal time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the signal measurements include power level measurements.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the signal measurements include signal to noise ratio measurements.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said key information includes cell identification information.

15. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said key information includes transmitter location information.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said transmitter location information includes latitude and longitude information.

17. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said key information includes signal timing information.

18. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said key information includes signal transmit power information.

19. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said key information includes signal propagation information.

20. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said key information is automatically determined by one or more wireless devices.

21. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said key information is known a priori.

22. A method as recited in claim 1, comprising, at said wireless device to be located, measuring signals transmitted by a plurality of base station transmitters.

23. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein said plurality of base station transmitters include transmitters from at least two wireless networks.

24. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless device to be located lacks a wireless transmitter.

25. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless device to be located comprises a computer.

26. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless device to be located comprises a WiFi access node.

27. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless device to be located comprises a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) access node.

28. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless device to be located comprises a Video over Internet Protocol access node.

29. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method is carried out to provide location for emergency services.

30. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein the method is carried out to provide location services for emergency VoIP calls.

31. A system for locating a wireless device, comprising:

a first node;

means for providing to said first node key information for one or more base station transmitters of one or more wireless communications networks;

a wireless device to be located, including means for measuring signals transmitted by said one or more base station transmitters; and

communicating means for communicating selected information representative of one of said key information and said signal measurements, wherein said communicating means are configured to communicate said selected information via a communication link to one of said first node and said wireless device to be located, wherein said communication link is not provided by said one or more wireless communications networks.

32. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said first node is configured for computing location.

33. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said communication link comprises an Ethernet link.

34. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said communication link comprises the Internet.

35. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said communication link comprises a dial-up telephone link.

36. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said communication link comprises a WiFi link.

37. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said first node comprises the wireless device to be located.

38. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said first node comprises a server.

39. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein the signal measurements include timing measurements.

40. A system as recited in claim 39, wherein said timing measurements include signal time of arrival (TOA) measurements.

41. A system as recited in claim 39, wherein said timing measurements include signal time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements.

42. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein the signal measurements include power level measurements.

43. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein the signal measurements include signal to noise ratio measurements.

44. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said key information includes cell identification information.

45. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said key information includes transmitter location information.

46. A system as recited in claim 45, wherein said transmitter location information includes latitude and longitude information.

47. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said key information includes signal timing information.

48. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said key information includes signal transmit power information.

49. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said key information includes signal propagation information.

50. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said key information is automatically determined by one or more wireless devices.

51. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said key information is known a priori.

52. A system as recited in claim 31, comprising, at said wireless device to be located, means for measuring signals transmitted by a plurality of base station transmitters.

53. A system as recited in claim 52, wherein said plurality of base station transmitters include transmitters from at least two wireless networks.

54. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said wireless device to be located lacks a wireless transmitter.

55. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said wireless device to be located comprises a computer.

56. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said wireless device to be located comprises a WiFi access node.

57. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said wireless device to be located comprises a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) access node.

58. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said wireless device to be located comprises a Video over Internet Protocol access node.

59. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein the system is configured to provide location for emergency services.

60. A system as recited in claim 59, wherein the system is configured to provide location services for emergency VoIP calls.

61. A wireless device, comprising:

a receiver and a processor configured to measure signals transmitted by a base station transmitter of a wireless communications network; and

means for communicating with a first node, via a communication link between said wireless device and said first node, and for transmitting data representative of the signal measurements to said first node.

62. A wireless device as recited in claim 61, wherein said communication link comprises a link that is unsupported by a wireless telephone network.

63. A wireless device as recited in claim 62, wherein said communication link comprises an Ethernet link.

64. A wireless device as recited in claim 62, wherein said communication link comprises the Internet.

65. A wireless device as recited in claim 62, wherein said communication link comprises a dial-up telephone link.

66. A wireless device as recited in claim 62, wherein said communication link comprises a WiFi link.

67. A wireless device as recited in claim 61, wherein the signal measurements include timing measurements.

68. A wireless device as recited in claim 67, wherein said timing measurements include signal time of arrival (TOA) measurements.

69. A wireless device as recited in claim 67, wherein said timing measurements include signal time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements.

70. A wireless device as recited in claim 61, wherein the signal measurements include power level measurements.

71. A wireless device as recited in claim 61, wherein the signal measurements include signal to noise ratio measurements.

72. A wireless device as recited in claim 61, comprising means for measuring signals transmitted by a plurality of base station transmitters.

73. A wireless device as recited in claim 72, wherein said plurality of base station transmitters include transmitters from at least two wireless networks.

74. A wireless device as recited in claim 61, wherein said wireless device lacks a wireless transmitter.

75. A wireless device as recited in claim 61, wherein said wireless device comprises a computer.

76. A wireless device as recited in claim 61, wherein said wireless device comprises a WiFi access node.

77. A wireless device as recited in claim 61, wherein said wireless device comprises a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) access node.

78. A wireless device as recited in claim 61, wherein said wireless device comprises a Video over Internet Protocol access node.

79. A wireless device as recited in claim 61, wherein the wireless device is configured to provide location for emergency services.

80. A wireless device as recited in claim 79, wherein the wireless device is configured to provide location services for emergency VoIP calls.