Methods of Setting Up a Call With, and Determining the Direction of, a Mobile Device

• US 20080214212A1
• Filed: 07/17/2006
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mmi Research Ltd. (Cobham PLC)
• Original Assignee: Mmi Research Ltd. (Cobham PLC)
• Inventors: Dolby, Riki Benjamin, Martin, Paul Maxwell, Pridmore, Andrew Paul, Timson, Anthony Richard
• Application Number:
  US11/996,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20080214212A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.5
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties

Abstract

A method of setting up a call with a mobile communication device, the method comprising transmitting a call request to the device over a wireless link, wherein the call request is adapted to cause the device to transmit a locator signal whilst blocking a connection management process which would otherwise cause the mobile communication device to provide a visual or audible alert. The locator signal can then be used by a direction finder to locate the direction of the device. Channel information is transmitted to the direction finder, the channel information identifying a channel of the locator signal.

Claims

1. A method of setting up a call with a mobile communication device, the method comprising transmitting a call request to the device over a wireless link, wherein the call request is adapted to cause the device to transmit a locator signal;

monitoring traffic on a traffic on a plurality of channels;

selecting a channel on the basis of the monitoring; and

causing the locator signal to be transmitted on the selected channel.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting channel information to a direction finder, the channel information identifying a channel of the locator signal.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the channel information includes timeslot and/or frequency information.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting a monitoring request to a direction finder, the monitoring request being adapted to cause a direction finder to determine the direction of the device by measuring the direction of arrival of the locator signal.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the device is caused to transmit the locator signal by a method according to claim 1.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the call request blocks the connection management process by omitting one or more connection management requests.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the call request blocks the connection management process by causing the device to enter into a test mode.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the test mode is GSM GPRS test mode A or B.

13. A method according to claim 1, further comprising causing the device to boost the power of the locator signal by transmitting a boost request to the device.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the call request is a GSM call request.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the locator signal is an encoded locator signal.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the call request instructs the device to transmit the locator signal using a specific code.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein the call request blocks the connection management process by receiving a request from the device to release the call;

and repeatedly sending a request for information to the device to prevent the device from releasing the call.

22. A computer program product which, when run on one or more computers, causes the computers) to perform a method according to claim 1.

23. Apparatus configured to perform a method according to claim 1.

24. A method according to claim 1, further comprising blocking a connection management process which would otherwise cause the mobile communication device to provide a visual or audible alert.

5. A method of determining the direction of a mobile communication device, the method comprising monitoring traffic on a plurality of channels;

selecting a channel on the basis of the monitoring;

causing the device to transmit a locator signal on the selected channel;

receiving the locator signal from the device over a wireless link; and

determining the direction of the device by measuring the direction of arrival of the locator signal.

7. A method according to claim 5, further comprising acquiring an identity parameter of the device;

checking if there is a match with a stored target identity parameter; and

determining the direction of the device if there is a match.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein the direction of arrival of the locator signal is determined by sensing the locator signal with two or more spaced apart sensors;

and determining the direction of arrival of the locator signal by a process of triangulation.

12. (canceled)

18. A method of determining the direction of a mobile communication device, the method comprising receiving channel information;

monitoring a channel identified by the channel information;

receiving a locator signal via a wireless link on the monitored channel; and

determining the direction of the device by measuring the direction of arrival of the locator signal.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the channel information includes timeslot and/or frequency information.

21. A method according to claim 18, wherein the monitored channel is a GSM channel.

20. A method of determining the direction of a mobile communication device, the method comprising receiving a monitoring request;

monitoring a selected channel in response to the monitoring request;

receiving a locator signal via a wireless link on the monitored channel; and

determining the direction of the device by measuring the direction of arrival of the locator signal.