Estimating the Location of a Wireless Terminal Based on Signal Path Impairment
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Abstract
A technique for estimating the location of a wireless terminal at an unknown location in a geographic region is disclosed. The technique is based on the recognition that there are traits of electromagnetic signals that are dependent on topography, the receiver, the location of the transmitter, and other factors. For example, if a particular radio station is known to be received strongly at a first location and weakly at a second location, and a given wireless terminal at an unknown location is receiving the radio station weakly, it is more likely that the wireless terminal is at the second location than at the first location.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1-13. -13. (canceled)
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14. A method comprising:
estimating a first location of a wireless terminal based on a measured error rate for a signal that is processed by the wireless terminal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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(1) receiving; (i) a first measured error rate for a first signal that is processed by a wireless terminal, and (ii) a second measured error rate for a second signal that is processed by the wireless terminal; and (2) estimating a first location of the wireless terminal based on the first measured error rate and the second measured error rate. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method comprising:
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(1) receiving; (i) a first error rate for a signal that is processed by a wireless terminal, wherein the first error rate is measured at a first time T1, and (ii) a second error rate for the signal, wherein the second error rate is measured at a second time T2, and wherein the first time does not equal the second time; and (2) estimating a first location of the wireless terminal at the second time T2 based on; (i) the first error rate, (ii) the second error rate, and (iii) an estimate of the probability that the wireless terminal at a second location at the first time T1 will still be at the second location at the second time T2. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. (canceled)
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27-39. -39. (canceled)
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40. A location server comprising:
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a memory, which is non-volatile, for storing application software; and a processor for executing the application software to estimate a first location of a wireless terminal based on a measured error rate for a signal that is processed by the wireless terminal. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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44. A location server comprising:
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a transceiver for receiving; (i) a first measured error rate for a first signal that is processed by a wireless terminal, and (ii) a second measured error rate for a second signal that is processed by the wireless terminal; a memory, which is non-volatile, for storing application software; and a processor for executing the application software to estimate a first location of the wireless terminal based on the first measured error rate and the second measured error rate. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A location server comprising:
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a transceiver for receiving; (i) a first error rate for a signal that is processed by a wireless terminal, wherein the first error rate is measured at a first time T1, and (ii) a second error rate for the signal, wherein the second error rate is measured at a second time T2, and wherein the first time does not equal the second time T2; a memory, which is non-volatile, for storing application software; and a processor for executing the application software to estimate a first location of the wireless terminal at the second time T2 based on; (i) the first error rate, (ii) the second error rate, and (iii) an estimate of the probability that the wireless terminal at a second location at the first time T1 will still be at the second location at the second time T2. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51)
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Specification