System and Method for Estimating Positioning Error within a WLAN-Based Positioning System

• US 20110080841A1
• Filed: 12/13/2010
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyhook Wireless Incorporated (Liberty Broadband Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Skyhook Wireless Incorporated (Liberty Broadband Corp.)
• Inventors: MORGAN, Edward J., ALIZADEH-SHABDIZ, Farshid
• Granted Patent: US 8,019,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/02 using radio waves G01S19/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/021 Calibration, monitoring or correction G01S5/0252 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0244 Accuracy or reliability of position solution or of measurements contributing thereto
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

The invention features a method of estimating an expected error of a position estimate for use in a WLAN positioning system that estimates the position of a WLAN-enabled device. The WLAN-enabled device receives signals transmitted by a WLAN access point in range of the WLAN-enabled device. The method estimates the position of the WLAN-enabled device based on the received signals from the WLAN access point in range of the WLAN enabled device. The method also estimates an expected error of the position estimate based on characteristics of the WLAN access point in range of the WLAN enabled device, wherein the expected error predicts a relative accuracy of the position estimate.

Claims

1. In a WLAN positioning system for estimating the position of a WLAN-enabled device, a method of estimating an expected error of a position estimate, a method comprising:

the WLAN-enabled device receiving signals transmitted by a WLAN access point in range of the WLAN-enabled device;

estimating the position of the WLAN-enabled device based on the received signals from the WLAN access point in range of the WLAN enabled device; and

estimating an expected error of the position estimate based on characteristics of the WLAN access point in range of the WLAN enabled device, wherein the expected error predicts a relative accuracy of the position estimate.

2. In a WLAN positioning system for estimating the position of a WLAN-enabled device, a system for estimating an expected error of a position estimate, the system for estimating the expected error comprising:

a WLAN-enabled device for receiving signals transmitted by a WLAN access point in range of the WLAN-enabled device;

position estimating logic for estimating the position of the WLAN-enabled device based on the received signals from the WLAN access point in range of the WLAN enabled device; and

error estimating logic for estimating an expected error of the position estimate based on characteristics of the WLAN access points in range of the WLAN enabled device, wherein the expected error predicts a relative accuracy of the position estimate.