Signal Comparison-Based Location Determining Method
First Claim
1. A signal-comparison based location-determining method, operable by a first portable RF communications device in conjunction with at least two fixed location service-area antenna stations capable of RF communication with the device wherein the stations are substantially continuously operating, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) the first portable RF communications device monitoring its location by (i) receiving communications signals from a plurality of local fixed-location service-area antenna stations, (ii) identifying at least one ID within at least one of the received communications signals, and (iii) measuring a signal characteristic associated with the communications signals;
(b) the first portable RF communication device determining if the monitored location is within proximity to a location chosen by a user of the first portable RF communication device, by electronically comparing a fingerprint of the monitored location with a fingerprint of the chosen location, wherein the fingerprint of a given location is a group of figures identifying the location which include at least one figure which is an ID within a communication signal received at the given location and at least one figure which is based on a characteristic of a signal received at the location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
At least one portable RF communications device in conjunction with at least two fixed-location service-area antenna stations respectively capable of RF communication with the at least one device performs the steps of: (I) using a portable device at a selected location to measure RF communications signals from the plurality of local fixed-location service-area antenna stations and electronically storing at least two of the respective reception signal strength measurements; and (II) monitoring a portable device location by causing the device to measure reception signal strength associated with local fixed-location service-area antenna stations signals, and to electronically compare these measurements with the stored at least two measurements.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A signal-comparison based location-determining method, operable by a first portable RF communications device in conjunction with at least two fixed location service-area antenna stations capable of RF communication with the device wherein the stations are substantially continuously operating, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) the first portable RF communications device monitoring its location by (i) receiving communications signals from a plurality of local fixed-location service-area antenna stations, (ii) identifying at least one ID within at least one of the received communications signals, and (iii) measuring a signal characteristic associated with the communications signals; (b) the first portable RF communication device determining if the monitored location is within proximity to a location chosen by a user of the first portable RF communication device, by electronically comparing a fingerprint of the monitored location with a fingerprint of the chosen location, wherein the fingerprint of a given location is a group of figures identifying the location which include at least one figure which is an ID within a communication signal received at the given location and at least one figure which is based on a characteristic of a signal received at the location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 28)
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8. (canceled)
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29. (canceled)
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30. A method of facilitating signal-comparison based location-determining by a portable RF communication device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) building a database of geographic locations and corresponding fingerprints, wherein the fingerprint of a given location is a group of figures identifying the location which include at least one figure which is an ID within a communication signal received at the given location and at least one figure which is based on a characteristic of a signal received at the location; (b) in response to a geographic location chosen by a portable RF communication device, providing the portable RF communication device with the corresponding fingerprint for the geographic location, which is used by the portable RF communication device in determining whether a location monitored by the portable RF communication device is within proximity to the chosen geographic location by comparing the fingerprint of the monitored location with the fingerprint of the chosen location; wherein the monitoring of the location includes (i) receiving communications signals from a plurality of local fixed-location service-area antenna stations, (ii) identifying at least one ID within at least one of the received communications signals, and (iii) measuring a signal characteristic associated with the communications signals. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. (canceled)
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45. A signal-comparison based location-determining system, comprising:
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(a) a first portable RF communications device communicating with at least two fixed location service-area antenna stations capable of RF communication with the device, wherein the antenna stations are substantially continuously operating; (b) software residing on the portable RF communications device, said software causing the portable RF communications device to monitor its location by (i) receiving communications signals from a plurality of local fixed-location service-area antenna stations, (ii) identifying at least one ID within at least one of the received communications signals, and (iii) measuring a signal characteristic associated with the communications signals; (c) software residing on the portable RF communication device, said software causing the portable RF communication device to determine if the monitored location is within proximity to a location chosen by a user of the portable RF communication device, by electronically comparing a fingerprint of the monitored location with a fingerprint of the chosen location, wherein the fingerprint of a given location is a group of figures identifying the location which include at least one figure which is an ID within a communication signal received at the given location and at least one figure which is based on a characteristic of a signal received at the location.
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Specification