Mobile communication device and communication network for providing location services

• US 6,070,083 A
• Filed: 05/14/1998
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Corporation
• Inventors: Watters, J. Michael, Strawczynski, Leo, Steer, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOLDETATIOS, YEMANE
• Application Number:
  US09/078,499
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456, 455/457, 455/440, 455/524, 455/67.1, 455/226.1, 342/463, 342/464, 342/465, 342/457, 342/357.1, 342/357.08
• US Class Current: 455/517
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• 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 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A mobile communication system and communication device for providing location services. Time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements are used to determine the location of a mobile of the network. The location may be forwarded to a service provider. The location may alternatively be used to determine service providers that are local to the mobile. Correction factors deprived from calibration TDOA measurements made at calibration terminals are applied to the TDOA measurements enhance the accuracy of the location determination.

Claims

1. A process in a mobile communication network comprising:

determining time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements made by a mobile for at least three base station pairs of the network;

determining correction factors corresponding to each of said base station pairs;

applying correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

determining the location of the mobile from said corrected TDOA measurements;

receiving a specification of a type of service provider from the mobile;

determining service providers of the type specified by the mobile that are local to the determined location of the mobile; and

providing information regarding the service providers to the mobile.

2. The process claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a specification of a service provider from the mobile; and

providing the location of the mobile to the specified service provider.

3. The process claimed in claim 2, wherein providing the location of the mobile comprises initiating a call to the specified service provider.

4. The process claimed in claim 1, wherein determining correction factors comprises querying a database associating correction factors with base station pairs.

5. The process claimed in claim 1, wherein determining correction factors comprises:

determining calibration TDOA measurements for said base station pairs made at known locations; and

determining differences between said calibration TDOA measurements and expected TDOA measurements at said known locations for said base station pairs.

6. A mobile communication network, comprising:

means for determining time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements made by a mobile for at least three base station pairs of the network;

means for determining correction factors corresponding to each of said base station pairs;

means for applying correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

means for determining the location of the mobile from said corrected TDOA measurements;

means for receiving a specification of a type of service provider from the mobile;

means for determining service providers of the type specified by the mobile that are local to the determined location of the mobile; and

means for providing information regarding the service providers to the mobile.

7. The mobile communication network claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

means for receiving a specification of a service provider from the mobile; and

means for providing the location of the mobile to the specified service provider.

8. The mobile communication network claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for providing the location of the mobile comprises means for initiating a call to the specified service provider.

9. The mobile communication network claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for determining correction factors comprises a database associating correction factors with base station pairs.

10. The mobile communication network claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for determining correction factors comprises:

means for determining calibration TDOA measurements for said base station pairs made at known locations; and

means for determining differences between said calibration TDOA measurements and expected TDOA measurements at said known locations for said base station pairs.

11. A process in a mobile of a mobile radio communication network, comprising:

measuring a time difference of arrival (TDOA) at the mobile for at least three base station pairs of the network;

determining correction factors associated with each of said base station pairs;

applying said correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

determining a location from said TDOA measurements;

providing said location and a specification of a service provider type; and

receiving information regarding service providers of the specified type that are local to the location of the mobile.

12. The process claimed in claim 11, further comprising providing a specification of a service provider identified in the received information.

13. The process claimed in claim 12, wherein providing a specification of a service provider comprises initiating a call to said service provider.

14. The process claimed in claim 11, wherein determining correction factors comprises receiving correction factors broadcast from base stations.

15. The process claimed in claim 11, wherein determining correction factors comprises querying at least one calibration terminal maintaining a database associating correction factors with base station pairs.

16. The process claimed in claim 11, wherein determining said correction factors comprises:

determining calibration TDOA measurements for said base station pairs made at known locations; and

determining differences between said calibration TDOA measurements and expected TDOA measurements at said known locations for said base station pairs.

17. The process claimed in claim 16, wherein determining calibration TDOA measurements comprises querying a location server maintaining a database associating calibration TDOA measurements with case station pairs.

18. The process claimed in claim 16, wherein determining calibration TDOA measurements comprises querying at least one calibration terminal maintaining a database associating calibration TDOA measurements with base station pairs.

19. A mobile of a mobile radio communication network, comprising:

means for measuring a time difference of arrival (TDOA) at the mobile for at least three base station pairs of the network;

means for determining correction factors associated with each of said base station pairs;

means for applying said correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

determining a location from said TDOA measurements;

means for providing said location and a specification of a service provider type; and

means for receiving information regarding service providers of the specified type that are local to the location of the mobile.

20. The mobile claimed in claim 19, further comprising means for providing a specification of a service provider identified in received information regarding service providers.

21. The mobile claimed in claim 20, wherein said means for providing a specification of a service provider comprises means for initiating a call to said service provider.

22. The mobile claimed in claim 19, wherein said means for determining correction factors comprises means for receiving correction factors broadcasts from base stations.

23. The mobile claimed in claim 19, wherein said means for determining correction factors comprises means for querying at least one calibration terminal maintaining a database associating correction factors with base station pairs.

24. The mobile claimed in claim 19, wherein said means for determining correction factors comprises:

means for determining calibration TDOA measurements for said base station pairs made at known locations; and

means for determining differences between said calibration TDOA measurements and expected TDOA measurements at said known locations for said base station pairs.

25. The mobile claimed in claim 24, wherein said means for determining calibration TDOA measurements comprises means for querying a location server maintaining a database associating calibration TDOA measurements with base station pairs.

26. The mobile claimed in claim 24, wherein said means for determining calibration TDOA measurements comprises means for querying at least one calibration terminal maintaining a database associating calibration TDOA measurements with base station pairs.

27. A process in a mobile of a mobile radio communication network, comprising:

measuring a time difference of arrival (TDOA) at the mobile for at least three base station pairs of the network;

determining correction factors associated with each of said base station pairs by querying at least one calibration terminal maintaining a database associating correction factors with base station pairs;

applying said correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

determining a location of the mobile from said TDOA measurements; and

issuing a request to provide the location of the mobile to a specified service provider.

28. The process claimed in claim 27, wherein providing a request to provide the location of the mobile to a specified service provider comprises initiating a call to the service provider.

29. A mobile of a mobile radio communication network, comprising:

means for measuring a time difference of arrival (TDOA) at the mobile for at least three base station pairs of the network;

means for determining correction factors associated with each of said base station pairs;

means for applying said correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements by querying at least one calibration terminal maintaining a database associating correction factors with base station pairs;

means for determining a location from said TDOA measurements; and

means for issuing a request to provide the location of the mobile to a specified service provider.

30. The mobile claimed in claim 29, wherein said means for providing a request to provide the location of the mobile to a specified service provider comprises means for initiating a call to the service provider.

31. A process in an element of a mobile communication network, comprising:

determining time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements at the location of a mobile of the network for at least three base station pairs of the network;

determining correction factors corresponding to each of said base station pairs by querying at least one calibration terminal maintaining a database associating correction factors with base station pairs;

applying correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

determining a location of the mobile from said corrected TDOA measurements; and

providing the determined location to a service provider specified by the mobile.

32. The process claimed in claim 31, wherein determining TDOA measurements comprises receiving TDOA measurements made by a mobile.

33. The process claimed in claim 31, wherein providing the location of the mobile comprises initiating a call to the specified service provider.

34. An element of a mobile communication network, comprising:

means for determining time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements at the location of a mobile of the network for at least three base station pairs of the network;

means for determining correction factors corresponding to each of said base station pairs by querying at least one calibration terminal maintaining a database associating correction factors with base station pairs;

means for applying correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

means for determining a location of the mobile from said corrected TDOA measurements; and

means for providing the determined location to a service provider specified by the mobile.

35. The element claimed in claim 34, wherein said means for determining TDOA measurements comprises means for receiving TDOA measurements made by a mobile.

36. The element claimed in claim 34, wherein said means for providing the location of the mobile comprises means for initiating a call to the specified service provider.

37. A process in an element of a mobile communication network comprising:

determining a time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurement for at least three base station pairs of the network;

determining correction factors corresponding to each of said base station pairs;

applying correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

determining the location of the mobile from said corrected TDOA measurements;

receiving a specification of a type of service provider from the mobile;

determining service providers of the type specified by the mobile that are local to the determined location of the mobile; and

providing information regarding the service providers to the mobile.

38. The process claimed in claim 37, further comprising:

receiving a specification of a service provider provided by the mobile; and

providing the location of the mobile to the specified service provider.

39. The process claimed in claim 38, wherein providing the location of the mobile comprises initiating a call to the specified service provider.

40. The process claimed in claim 37, wherein determining correction factors comprises receiving correction factor messages from base stations.

41. The process claimed in claim 37, wherein determining correction factors comprises querying at least one calibration terminal maintaining a database associating correction factors with base station pairs.

42. The process claimed in claim 37, wherein determining correction factors comprises:

determining calibration TDOA measurements for said base station pairs made at known locations; and

determining differences between said calibration TDOA measurements and expected TDOA measurements at said known locations for said base station pairs.

43. The process claimed in claim 42, wherein determining calibration TDOA measurements comprises querying a database associating calibration TDOA measurements with base station pairs.

44. The process claimed in claim 42, wherein determining calibration TDOA measurements comprises querying at least one calibration terminal maintaining a database associating calibration TDOA measurements with base station pairs.

45. An element of a mobile communication network comprising:

means for determining a time difference of arrival (TDOA) for at least three base station pairs of the network;

means for determining correction factors corresponding to each of the base station pairs;

means for applying correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

means for determining the location of the mobile from said corrected TDOA measurements;

means for receiving a specification of a type of service provider from the mobile;

means for determining service providers of the type specified by the mobile that arc local to the determined location of the mobile; and

means for providing information regarding the service providers to the mobile.

46. The element claimed in claim 45, further comprising:

means for receiving a specification of a service provider provided by the mobile; and

means for providing the location of the mobile to the specified service provider.

47. The element claimed in claim 45, wherein said means for providing the location of the mobile comprises means for initiating a call to the specified service provider.

48. The element claimed in claim 45, wherein said means for determining correction factors comprises means for receiving correction factor messages from base stations.

49. The element claimed in claim 45, wherein said means for determining correction factors comprises means for querying at least one calibration terminal maintaining a database associating correction factors with base station pairs.

50. The element claimed in claim 45, wherein said means for determining correction factors comprises:

means for determining calibration TDOA measurements for said base station pairs made at known locations; and

means for determining differences between said calibration TDOA measurements and expected TDOA measurements at said known locations for said base station pairs.

51. The element claimed in claim 50, wherein said means for determining calibration TDOA measurements comprises a database associating calibration TDOA measurements with base station pairs.

52. A process in an element of a mobile communication network, comprising:

determining time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements at the location of a mobile of the network for at least three base station pairs of the network;

determining calibration TDOA measurements for each of said base station pairs made at known locations by querying a database associating calibration TDOA measurements with base station pairs;

determining correction factors comprising differences between said calibration TDOA measurements and expected TDOA measurements at said known locations for said base station pairs;

applying correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

determining a location of the mobile from said corrected TDOA measurements; and

providing the determined location to a service provider specified by the mobile.

53. The process claimed in claim 52, wherein determining TDOA measurements comprises receiving TDOA measurements made by a mobile.

54. The process claimed in claim 52, wherein providing the location of the mobile comprises initiating a call to the specified service provider.

55. A process in an element of a mobile communication network, comprising:

determining time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements at the location of a mobile of the network for at least three base station pairs of the network;

determining calibration TDOA measurements for each of said base stat on pairs made at known locations by querying a calibration terminal associating calibration TDOA measurements with base station pairs;

determining correction factors comprising differences between said calibration TDOA measurements and expected TDOA measurements at said known locations for said base station pairs;

applying correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

determining a location of the mobile from said corrected TDOA measurements; and

providing the determined location to a service provider specified by the mobile.

56. The process claimed in claim 55, wherein determining TDOA measurements comprises receiving TDOA measurements made by a mobile.

57. The process claimed in claim 55, wherein providing the location of the mobile comprises initiating a call to the specified service provider.

58. An element of a mobile communication network, comprising:

means for determining time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements at the location of a mobile of the network for at least three base station pairs of the network;

means for determining calibration TDOA measurements for each of said base station pairs made at known locations by querying a database associating calibration TDOA measurements with base station pairs;

means for determining correction factors comprising differences between said calibration TDOA measurements and expected TDOA measurements at said known locations for said base station pairs;

means for applying correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

means for determining a location of the mobile from said corrected TDOA measurements; and

means for providing the determined location to a service provider specified by the mobile.

59. The element claimed in claim 58, wherein said means for determining TDOA measurements comprises means for receiving TDOA measurements made by a mobile.

60. The element claimed in claim 58, wherein said means for providing the location of the mobile comprises means for initiating a call to the specified service provider.

61. An element of a mobile communication network, comprising:

means for determining time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements at the location of a mobile of the network for at least three base station pairs of the network;

means for determining calibration TDOA measurements for each of said base station pairs made at known locations by querying a calibration terminal associating calibration TDOA measurements with base station pairs;

means for determining correction factors comprising differences between said calibration TDOA measurements and expected TDOA measurements at said known locations for said base station pairs;

means for applying correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

means for determining a location of the mobile from said corrected TDOA measurements; and

means for providing the determined location to a service provider specified by the mobile.

62. The element claimed in claim 61, wherein said means for determining TDOA measurements comprises means for receiving TDOA measurements made by a mobile.

63. The element claimed in claim 61, wherein said means for providing the location of the mobile comprises means for initiating a call to the specified service provider.

64. A process in a mobile communication network, comprising:

determining time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements at the location of a mobile of the network for at least three base station pairs of the network;

determining correction factors corresponding to each of said base station pairs by querying at least one calibration terminal maintaining a database associating correction factors with base station pairs;

applying correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

determining a location of the mobile from said corrected TDOA measurements; and

providing the determined location to a service provider specified by the mobile.

65. The process claimed in claim 64, wherein providing the location of the mobile comprises initiating a call to the specified service provider.

66. A mobile communication network, comprising:

means for determining time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements at the location of a mobile of the network for at least three base station pairs of the network;

means for determining correction factors corresponding to each of said base station pairs by querying at least one calibration terminal maintaining a database associating correction factors with base station pairs;

means for applying correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

means for determining a location of the mobile from said corrected TDOA measurements; and

means for providing the determined location to a service provider specified by the mobile.

67. The network claimed in claim 66, wherein said means for providing the location of the mobile comprises means for initiating a call to the specified service provider.

68. A process in a mobile communication network, comprising:

determining time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements at the location of a mobile of the network for at least three base station pairs of the network;

determining calibration TDOA measurements for each of said base station pairs made at known locations by querying a database associating calibration TDOA measurements with base station pairs;

determining correction factors comprising differences between said calibration TDOA measurements and expected TDOA measurements at said known locations for said base station pairs;

applying correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

determining a location of the mobile from said corrected TDOA measurements; and

providing the determined location to a service provider specified by the mobile.

69. The process claimed in claim 68, wherein providing the location of the mobile comprises initiating a call to the specified service provider.

70. A process in a mobile communication network, comprising:

determining time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements at the location of a mobile of the network for at least three base station pairs of the network;

determining calibration TDOA measurements for each of said base station pairs made at known locations by querying a calibration terminal associating calibration TDOA measurements with base station pairs;

determining correction factors comprising differences between said calibration TDOA measurements and expected TDOA measurements at said known locations for said base station pairs;

applying correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

determining a location of the mobile from said corrected TDOA measurements; and

providing the determined location to a service provider specified by the mobile.

71. The process claimed in claim 70, wherein providing the location of the mobile comprises initiating a call to the specified service provider.

72. A mobile communication network, comprising:

means for determining time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements at the location of a mobile of the network for at least three base station pairs of the network;

means for determining calibration TDOA measurements for each of said base station pairs made at known locations by querying a database associating calibration TDOA measurements with base station pairs;

means for determining correction factors comprising differences between said calibration TDOA measurements and expected TDOA measurements at said known locations for said base station pairs;

means for applying correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

means for determining a location of the mobile from said corrected TDOA measurements; and

means for providing the determined location to a service provider specified by the mobile.

73. The network claimed in claim 72, wherein said means for providing the location of the mobile comprises means for initiating a call to the specified service provider.

74. A mobile communication network, comprising:

means for determining time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements at the location of a mobile of the network for at least three base station pairs of the network;

means for determining calibration TDOA measurements for each of said base station pairs made at known locations by querying a calibration terminal associating calibration TDOA measurements with base station pairs;

means for determining correction factors comprising differences between said calibration TDOA measurements and expected TDOA measurements at said known locations for said base station pairs;

means for applying correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

means for determining a location of the mobile from said corrected TDOA measurements; and

means for providing the determined location to a service provider specified by the mobile.

75. The network claimed in claim 74, wherein said means for providing the location of the mobile comprises means for initiating a call to the specified service provider.

76. A process in a mobile of a mobile radio communication network, comprising:

measuring a time difference of arrival (TDOA) at the mobile for at least three base station pairs of the network;

determining calibration TDOA measurements for said base station pairs made at known locations by querying a location server maintaining a database associating calibration TDOA measurements with base station pairs; and

determining correction factors comprising differences between said calibration TDOA measurements and expected TDOA measurements at said known locations for said base station pairs;

applying said correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

determining a location from said TDOA measurements; and

providing a request to provide the location of the mobile to a specified service provider.

77. The process claimed in claim 76, wherein determining calibration TDOA measurements comprises querying at least one calibration terminal maintaining a database associating calibration TDOA measurements with base station pairs.

78. A mobile of a mobile radio communication network, comprising:

means for measuring a time difference of arrival (TDOA) at the mobile for at least three base station pairs of the network;

means for determining calibration TDOA measurements for said base station pairs made at known locations by querying a location server maintaining a database associating calibration TDOA measurements with base station pairs; and

means for determining correction factors comprising differences between said calibration TDOA measurements and expected TDOA measurements at said known locations for said base station pairs;

means for applying said correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

means for determining a location from said TDOA measurements; and

means for providing a request to provide the location of the mobile to a specified service provider.

79. The mobile claimed in claim 78, wherein said means for providing a request to provide the location of the mobile to a specified service provider comprises means for initiating a call to the service provider.

80. A process in a mobile of a mobile radio communication network, comprising:

measuring a time difference of arrival (TDOA) at the mobile for at least three base station pairs of the network;

determining calibration TDOA measurements for said base station pair, made at known locations by querying a calibration terminal maintaining a database associating calibration TDOA measurements with base station pairs; and

determining correction factors comprising differences between said calibration TDOA measurements and expected TDOA measurements at said known locations for said base station pairs;

applying said correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

determining a location from said TDOA measurements; and

providing a request to provide the location of the mobile to a specified service provider.

81. The process claimed in claim 80, wherein determining calibration TDOA measurements comprises querying at least one calibration terminal maintaining a database associating calibration TDOA measurements with base station pairs.

82. A mobile of a mobile radio communication network, comprising:

means for measuring a time difference of arrival (TDOA) at the mobile for at least three base station pairs of the network;

means for determining calibration TDOA measurements for said base station pairs made at known locations by querying a calibration terminal maintaining a database associating calibration TDOA measurements with base station pairs; and

means for determining correction factors comprising differences between said calibration TDOA measurements and expected TDOA measurements at said known locations for said base station pairs;

means for applying said correction factors to corresponding TDOA measurements to yield corrected TDOA measurements;

means for determining a location from said TDOA measurements; and

means for providing a request to provide the location of the mobile to a specified service provider.

83. The mobile claimed in claim 82, wherein said means for providing a request to provide the location of the mobile to a specified service provider comprises means for initiating a call to the service provider.