Estimating the Location of a Wireless Terminal in the Purview of a Distributed-Antenna System

• US 20190028152A1
• Filed: 06/30/2018
• Published: 01/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Polaris Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Degli-Esposti, Vittorio
• Granted Patent: US 10,236,945 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0006 Particular feeding systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/02 Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas RAKE receivers H04B1/7115
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/022 Site diversity; Macro-diversity using two or more spaced independent antennas H04B7/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/04 using two or more spaced independent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0404 the mobile station comprising multiple antennas, e.g. to provide uplink diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• 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 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

A wireless telecommunications system that employs a distributed-antenna system is described in which different combinations of radio signals are assigned to antennas so as to facilitate locating a wireless terminal based on the identity and the relative signal strength of the radio signals it receives above a signal-strength threshold.

Claims

1. A wireless telecommunications system that employs a distributed-antenna system to provide wireless telecommunications service to a wireless terminal, the wireless telecommunications system comprising:

a first antenna located at a first location that;

(i) radiates a first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(ii) radiates a second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, to have a signal strength above a signal-strength threshold in a first region;

a second antenna located at a second location that;

(i) does not radiate the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(ii) radiates the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, to have a signal strength above the signal-strength threshold in a second region;

a third antenna located at a third location that;

(i) radiates the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal to have a signal strength above the signal-strength threshold in a third region, and

(ii) does not radiate the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

a radio bank for generating the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal and the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, wherein;

(i) the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal is distinguishable by the wireless terminal from the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal;

a first wireline assembly for transporting the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal from the radio bank to the first antenna and to the third antenna; and

a second wireline assembly for transporting the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal from the radio bank to the first antenna and to the second antenna.

2. The wireless telecommunications system of claim 1 wherein:

(i) the first region and the second region intersect, and

(ii) the first region and the third region intersect.

3. The wireless telecommunications system of claim 1 wherein:

(i) the first region and the second region intersect, and

(ii) the first region and the third region do not intersect.

4. The wireless telecommunications system of claim 1 further comprising:

a fourth antenna located at a fourth location that;

(i) radiates the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(ii) radiates the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal;

a fifth antenna located at a fifth location that;

(i) does not radiate the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(ii) radiates the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal;

a sixth antenna located at a sixth location that;

(i) radiates the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(ii) does not radiate the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal;

wherein the first wireline assembly also transports the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal from the radio bank to the fourth antenna and the sixth antenna;

wherein the second wireline assembly also transports the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal from the radio bank to the fourth antenna and to the fifth antenna.

5. The wireless telecommunications system of claim 1 further comprising:

a third wireline assembly for transporting a third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal from the radio bank to the third antenna; and

wherein the radio bank also generates the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, wherein;

(iv) the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal is distinguishable by the wireless terminal from the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(v) the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal is distinguishable by the wireless terminal from the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal.

6. A wireless telecommunications system that employs a distributed-antenna system to provide wireless telecommunications service to a wireless terminal, the wireless telecommunications system comprising:

a first antenna located at a first location that;

(i) radiates a first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal to have a signal strength above a signal-strength threshold in a first region, and

(ii) radiates a second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(iii) does not radiate a third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal;

a second antenna located at a second location that;

(i) radiates the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal to have a signal strength above the signal-strength threshold in a second region, and

(ii) does not radiate the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(iii) radiates the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal;

a third antenna located at a third location that;

(i) radiates the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal to have a signal strength above the signal-strength threshold in a third region, and

(ii) does not radiate the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(iii) does not radiate a third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal;

a radio bank for generating the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, wherein;

(i) the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal is distinguishable by the wireless terminal from the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal,

(ii) the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal is distinguishable by the wireless terminal from the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(iii) the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal is distinguishable by the wireless terminal from the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal; and

a first wireline assembly for transporting the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal from the radio bank to the first antenna, to the second antenna, and to the third antenna;

a second wireline assembly for transporting the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal from the radio bank to the first antenna; and

a third wireline assembly for transporting the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal from the radio bank to the second antenna.

7. The wireless telecommunications system of claim 6 wherein:

(i) the first region and the second region intersect, and

(ii) the first region and the third region intersect.

8. The wireless telecommunications system of claim 6 wherein:

(i) the first region and the second region intersect, and

(ii) the first region and the third region do not intersect.

9. The wireless telecommunications system of claim 6 further comprising:

a fourth antenna located at a fourth location that;

(i) radiates the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(ii) radiates the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(iii) does not radiate the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal;

a fifth antenna located at a fifth location that;

(i) radiates the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(ii) does not radiate the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(iii) radiates the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal;

a sixth antenna located at a sixth location that;

(i) radiates the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(ii) does not radiate the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(iii) does not radiate the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal;

wherein the first wireline assembly also transports the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal from the radio bank to the fourth antenna, the fifth antenna, and the sixth antenna;

wherein the second wireline assembly also transports the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal from the radio bank to the fourth antenna; and

wherein the third wireline assembly also transports the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal from the radio bank to the fifth antenna.

10. A wireless telecommunications system that employs a distributed-antenna system to provide wireless telecommunications service to a wireless terminal, the wireless telecommunications system comprising:

a first antenna located at a first location that;

(i) radiates a first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(ii) radiates a second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(iii) does not radiate a third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal;

a second antenna located at a second location that;

(i) does not radiate the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(ii) radiates the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(iii) radiates the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal;

a third antenna located at a third location that;

(i) does not radiate the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(ii) does not radiate the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(iii) radiates the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal;

a radio bank for generating the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, wherein;

(i) the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal is distinguishable by the wireless terminal from the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(ii) the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal is distinguishable by the wireless terminal from the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(iii) the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal is distinguishable by the wireless terminal from the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal; and

a first wireline assembly for transporting the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal from the radio bank to the first antenna;

a second wireline assembly for transporting the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal from the radio bank to the first antenna and to the second antenna; and

a third wireline assembly for transporting the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal from the radio bank to the second antenna and to the third antenna.

11. The wireless telecommunications system of claim 10 wherein:

(i) the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, as radiated by the first antenna, has a signal strength above a signal-strength threshold in a first region, and

(ii) the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, as radiated by the second antenna, has a signal strength above the signal-strength threshold in a second region, and

(iii) the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, as radiated by the second antenna, has a signal strength above the signal-strength threshold in a third region, and

(iv) the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, as radiated by the third antenna, has a signal strength above the signal-strength threshold in a fourth region, and

(v) the first region and the second region intersect, and

(vi) the third region and the fourth region intersect.

13. The wireless telecommunications system of claim 10 further comprising:

a fourth antenna located at a fourth location that;

(i) radiates the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(ii) radiates the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(iii) does not radiate the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal;

a fifth antenna located at a fifth location that;

(i) does not radiate the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(ii) radiates the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(iii) radiates the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal;

a sixth antenna located at a sixth location that;

(i) does not radiate the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(ii) does not radiate the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(iii) radiates the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal;

wherein the first wireline assembly also transports the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal from the radio bank to the fourth antenna;

wherein the second wireline assembly also transports the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal from the radio bank to the fourth antenna and the fifth antenna;

wherein the third wireline assembly also transports the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal from the radio bank to the fifth antenna and the sixth antenna.

12. (canceled)

14. A wireless telecommunications system that employs a distributed-antenna system to provide wireless telecommunications service to a wireless terminal, the wireless telecommunications system comprising:

a first antenna located at a first location that;

(i) radiates a first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(ii) radiates a second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal to have a signal strength above a signal-strength threshold in a first region, and

(iii) does not radiate a third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal;

a second antenna located at a second location that;

(i) does not radiate the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(ii) radiates the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal to have a signal strength above the signal-strength threshold in a second region, and

(iii) radiates the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal;

a radio bank for generating the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, wherein;

(i) the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal is distinguishable by the wireless terminal from the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(ii) the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal is distinguishable by the wireless terminal from the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, and

(iii) the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal is distinguishable by the wireless terminal from the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal;

a first wireline assembly for transporting the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal from the radio bank to the first antenna;

a second wireline assembly for transporting the second modulated radio-frequency carrier signal from the radio bank to the first antenna and to the second antenna; and

a third wireline assembly for transporting the third modulated radio-frequency carrier signal from the radio bank to the second antenna.

15. The wireless telecommunications system of claim 14 wherein:

(i) the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal has a signal strength above a signal-strength threshold in a third region, and

(ii) the first region and the second region intersect, and

(iii) the first region and the third region intersect.

16. The wireless telecommunications system of claim 14 wherein:

(i) the first modulated radio-frequency carrier signal, has a signal strength above a signal-strength threshold in a third region, and

(ii) the first region and the second region intersect, and

(iii) the first region and the third region do not intersect.