SYSTEMS AND METHODS PROVIDING TRANSMIT DIVERSITY TO COMBAT MULTIPATH EFFECTS IN POSITION ESTIMATION

• US 20160286520A1
• Filed: 06/10/2016
• Published: 09/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NextNav, LLC
• Original Assignee: NextNav, LLC
• Inventors: SENDONARIS, ANDREW
• Granted Patent: US 9,860,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0273 using multipath or indirect path propagation signals in position determination
• 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 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Systems and methods for estimating a position of receiver using sets of two or more transmitters that share one or more common characteristics with each other. The systems and methods may estimate the position of the receiver using signals that were transmitted from a different transmitter in a set of co-located transmitters.

Claims

1. A method for estimating a position of receiver, wherein the method comprises:

extracting information from a first ranging signal received from a first transmitter;

extracting information from a second ranging signal received from a second transmitter;

determining a first location of the first transmitter;

determining a second location of the second transmitter, wherein the first location and the second location are separated by no more than 100 meters; and

determining an estimated position of the receiver based on one or more relationships between the information extracted from the first and second ranging signals and information corresponding to the first and second locations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises:

determining a weight based on the one or more relationships; and

using the weight to determine the estimated position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises:

determining a time bias based on the one or more relationships; and

using the time bias to determine the estimated position.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises:

determining a first line-of-sight distance between an initial estimate of the receiver'"'"'s position and the first location of the first transmitter;

determining a second line-of-sight distance between the initial estimate of the receiver'"'"'s position and the second location of the second transmitter;

determining a first path distance between the receiver and the first location of the first transmitter, wherein the first path distance corresponds to a first distance travel by the first ranging signal;

determining a second path distance between the receiver and the second location of the second transmitter, wherein the second path distance corresponds to a second distance travel by the second ranging signal; and

determining said estimated position of the receiver using the first line-of-sight distance, the second line-of-sight distance, the first path distance, and the second path distance.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method comprises:

determining a first measure of difference between the first and second path distances;

determining a second measure of difference between the first and second line-of-sight distances; and

determining if the first measure exceeds the second measure by a first amount.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein if the first measure exceeds the second measure by a first amount, the method further comprises:

based on determining that the first path distance is less than the second path distance;

determining the estimated position using the information extracted from the first ranging signal and without using the information extracted from the second ranging signal;

or

adjusting the information extracted from the second ranging signal, wherein the estimated position is determined using the adjusted information extracted from the second ranging signal; and

based on determining that the second path distance is less than the first path distance;

determining the estimated position using the information extracted from the second ranging signal and without using the information extracted from the first ranging signal;

or

adjusting the information extracted from the first ranging signal, wherein the estimated position is determined using the adjusted information extracted from the first ranging signal.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first ranging signal and the second ranging signal are concurrently transmitted, and wherein if the first measure exceeds the second measure by the first amount, the method further comprises:

based on determining that the first ranging signal arrived at the receiver before the second ranging signal arrived at the receiver;

determining the estimated position using the information extracted from the first ranging signal and without using the information extracted from the second ranging signal;

or

adjusting the information extracted from the second ranging signal, wherein the estimated position is determined using the adjusted information extracted from the second ranging signal; and

based on determining that the second ranging signal arrived at the receiver before the first ranging signal arrived at the receiver;

determining the estimated position using the information extracted from the second ranging signal and without using the information extracted from the first ranging signal;

or

adjusting the information extracted from the first ranging signal, wherein the estimated position is determined using the adjusted information extracted from the first ranging signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ranging signal and the second ranging signal are concurrently transmitted, and wherein the method comprises:

based on determining that the first ranging signal arrived at the receiver before the second ranging signal arrived at the receiver;

determining the estimated position using the information extracted from the first ranging signal and without using the information extracted from the second ranging signal, or

adjusting the information extracted from the second ranging signal, wherein the estimated position is determined using the adjusted information extracted from the second ranging signal; and

based on determining that the second ranging signal arrived at the receiver before the first ranging signal arrived at the receiver;

determining the estimated position using the information extracted from the second ranging signal and without using the information extracted from the first ranging signal, or

adjusting the information extracted from the first ranging signal, wherein the estimated position is determined using the adjusted information extracted from the first ranging signal.

9. A system comprising one or more processors that perform the method of claim 1.

10. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media embodying program instructions adapted to be executed to implement the method of claim 1.