Position Determination of Mobile Stations in a Wireless Network
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network, and a method of operating a network. The network includes a plurality of stations each able to transmit and receive data so that the network can transmit data between stations via at least one selected intermediate station. Each station transmits probe signals in broadcast fashion to other stations to gather a list of neighbour stations. The stations transmit position data and/or position determining data in at least some of the probe signals. Each station maintains position data and/or position determining data received from selected probing stations, and utilizes the data to determine the absolute or relative position of itself and/or other stations. The stations can determine the relative or absolute position of other stations in direct communication with themselves, and also of other stations not in direct communication with themselves.
73 Citations
92 Claims
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1-46. -46. (canceled)
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47. A method of operating a network comprising a plurality of stations each able to transmit and receive data so that the network can transmit data between stations via at least one selected intermediate station, the method comprising:
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monitoring, at each station, the activity of other stations on the network to establish the availability of neighbor stations having connectivity with the monitoring station; transmitting probe signals from each station, other stations which receive the probe signals from a probing station responding directly, or indirectly via another station, to the probing station to thereby indicate their availability as neighbor stations able to receive or relay data; transmitting position data and/or position determining data in at least some of the probe signals and/or in responses to probe signals, the position data including data indicative of the absolute or relative position of a station transmitting a probe signal or a response signal, and the position determining data including data usable by a station receiving a probe signal or a response signal to determine the absolute or relative position of the station and/or other stations; maintaining, at stations which receive probe signals from one or more probing stations and/or response signals from one or more responding stations, position data and/or position determining data received from selected ones of the probing and/or responding stations; and at one or more of said stations maintaining said position data and/or position determining data, utilizing the position data and/or position determining data to determine the absolute or relative position of said each station and/or other stations, thereby enabling any station to determine its own position or the position of another station in the network either as an absolute position or relative to other stations. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80)
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81. A network comprising a plurality of stations each able to transmit and receive data so that the network can transmit data between stations via at least one selected intermediate station, wherein each station in the network comprises a transmitter, a receiver and data processing means and is operable to:
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monitor the activity of other stations on the network to establish the availability of neighbor stations having connectivity with the monitoring station; transmit probe signals to other stations and receive probe signals from other stations, so that other stations which receive the probe signals from a probing station can respond directly, or indirectly via another station, to the probing station to thereby indicate their availability as neighbor stations able to receive or relay data; transmit position data and/or position determining data in at least some of the probe signals and/or in responses to probe signals, the position data including data indicative of the absolute or relative position of a station transmitting a probe signal or a response signal, and the position determining data including data usable by a station receiving a probe signal or a response signal to determine the absolute or relative position of the station and/or other stations; maintain, at stations which receive probe signals from one or more probing stations and/or response signals from one or more responding stations, position data and/or position determining data received from selected ones of the probing stations and/or responding stations; and utilize the maintained position data and/or position determining data to determine the absolute or relative position of said station and/or other stations, thereby enabling any station to determine its own position or the position of another station in the network either as an absolute position or relative to other stations. - View Dependent Claims (82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
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Specification