SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LOCATION POSITIONING WITHIN RADIO ACCESS SYSTEMS

• US 20110312340A1
• Filed: 06/16/2011
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Inventors: Wu, Shiquan, Yee, Jung
• Granted Patent: US 8,559,982 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/04 Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/10 Position of receiver fixed by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements , e.g. omega or decca systemsG01S5/12 takes precedence ; beacons and receivers cooperating therewith G01S1/306, G01S1/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method for calculating the geographical position of a user equipment (UE) unit includes collecting position parameters conveying the relative position of the UE unit from two or more base stations using technologies mandated for the modern wireless networks. Particularly, know (predetermined) signals embedded in the downlink and uplink subframes, such as preambles, pilots, ranging codes are used for determining the coordinates of the UE unit. In addition, the methods and systems proposed here take advantage of the multiple antennas systems mandated at both the UE and BTS.

Claims

1. A method for determining the location of a user equipment (UE) unit operating within the coverage area of a plurality of antennae of a base transceiver station (BTS) in a radio access network, said UE unit transmitting uplink a specified periodic bit sequence, comprising:

i) at said BTS, monitoring the incoming traffic received from said UE unit over two receive antennae for detecting said specified periodic bit sequence;

ii) measuring a respective first and second position parameter from said specified periodic bit sequence received as said first and second antenna, respectively; and

iii) processing said first and second position parameters at said BTS for establishing the geographical coordinates of said UE unit.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said UE unit is triggered to transmit a signal known to BTS as said specified periodic bit sequence.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second position parameters are a first and a second time of arrival (TOA).

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein step iii) comprises:

generating a first and a second function, representing a first and a second circle having said first and respectively second TOA as a radius and said first and second antenna as a center; and

establishing the geographical coordinates of said UE unit at the intersection between said two circles.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first position parameter is the angle or arrival (AOA) of said specified periodic bit sequence on said first antenna, and the second position parameter is the distance between said UE unit and said second antennae.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein step iii) comprises calculating the coordinates of said UE unit relative to said BTS and establishing the geographical coordinates of said UE unit based on the coordinates of said UE unit relative to said BTS.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said radio access network is one of a WiMax, a 3GPP LTE and a UMB network.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said specified periodic bit sequence is a ranging code transmitted in the uplink subframes by said UE unit.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising operating said UE unit in a location ranging mode, where said specified periodic bit sequence is a location ranging code transmitted by said UE unit.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said location ranging code includes a ranging code known to said BTS and a caller identification.

17. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said specified periodic bit sequence is an additional symbol transmitted in said uplink frame, which includes an identification of said UE unit and a request for identifying the geographical coordinates of said UE unit.

11. A location identification module for a base transceiver station BTS operating in a radio access network, said BTS having a first and a second antennae, comprising:

a first monitoring unit for monitoring the incoming traffic received on the first antenna and identifying said specified periodic bit sequence received from a user equipment (UE) unit positioned in the area of coverage of said BTS and determining a first position parameter;

a second monitoring unit for monitoring the incoming traffic received on the second antenna and identifying said specified periodic bit sequence received from said UE unit and determining a second position parameter; and

a coordinate estimator for processing said two position parameters and establishing the geographical coordinates of said UE unit.

12. A location identification module as claimed in claim 11, wherein said radio access network is a WiMax network.

13. A location identification module as claimed in claim 12, wherein said specified periodic bit sequence is a ranging code transmitted in the uplink subframes by said UE unit.

14. A location identification module as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first and second position parameters are a first and a second time of arrival (TOA) of said specified periodic bit sequence at said first and second antenna.

15. A location identification module as claimed in claim 11 wherein said first position parameter is the angle or arrival (AOA) of said specified periodic bit sequence on said first antenna, and the second position parameter is the distance between said UE unit and said second antennae measured at said BTS.

16. A location identification module as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a transceiver for receiving two additional position parameters from two neighbouring BTSs and transmitting said first position parameter to said two neighbouring BTSs,

wherein said two additional position parameters are processed with said first position parameter for establishing the geographical coordinates of said UE unit.