Wireless user position update using infrastructure measurements
First Claim
1. A method for tracking a position of a mobile unit in a mobile radio communication system using information from earth-orbiting satellites and information received from infrastructure of the system, wherein the infrastructure consists of equipment associated with transmitting and receiving voice or data traffic to and from the mobile phone, comprising the steps of:
- (A) calculating an initial position of the mobile unit using measurements from the earth-orbiting satellites;
(B) calculating first and second range measurements using first and second signals transmitted between the mobile unit and the infrastructure;
(C) estimating a positional difference between the initial position and a current position of the mobile station with the first and second range measurements, wherein only range measurements made from signals transmitted between the mobile unit and infrastructure are used to perform the estimating;
(D) determining an accuracy value associated with the positional difference estimated in step (C), and comparing the accuracy value to a first threshold to determine whether the positional difference estimated in step (C) has an acceptable accuracy;
(E) if the positional difference estimated in step (C) has an acceptable accuracy, then updating the initial position using the positional difference and repeating steps (B)-(D); and
(F) if the positional difference estimated in step (C) does not have an acceptable accuracy, then repeating steps (A)-(D).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for tracking the position of a mobile unit in a mobile radio communication system using information from earth-orbiting satellites and information received from the infrastructure of the system, wherein the infrastructure consists of equipment associated with transmitting and receiving voice or data traffic to and from the mobile phone. An initial position of the mobile unit is calculated using measurements from earth-orbiting satellites. Next, one or more range measurements are made using signals transmitted between the mobile unit and the infrastructure. A positional difference between the initial position and a current position of the mobile station is estimated using the one or more range measurements, wherein only range measurements made from signals transmitted between the mobile unit and the infrastructure are used to perform the estimating. An accuracy value is next determined for the estimated positional measurement, and the accuracy value is compared to a threshold to determine whether the estimated positional measurement has an acceptable accuracy. If the estimated positional measurement has an acceptable accuracy, then the initial position of the mobile unit is updated using the estimated positional measurement and the process is repeated using only range measurements made from signals transmitted between the mobile unit and the infrastructure; otherwise, a new initial position is determined from the earth-orbiting satellites and the process is repeated.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for tracking a position of a mobile unit in a mobile radio communication system using information from earth-orbiting satellites and information received from infrastructure of the system, wherein the infrastructure consists of equipment associated with transmitting and receiving voice or data traffic to and from the mobile phone, comprising the steps of:
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(A) calculating an initial position of the mobile unit using measurements from the earth-orbiting satellites; (B) calculating first and second range measurements using first and second signals transmitted between the mobile unit and the infrastructure; (C) estimating a positional difference between the initial position and a current position of the mobile station with the first and second range measurements, wherein only range measurements made from signals transmitted between the mobile unit and infrastructure are used to perform the estimating; (D) determining an accuracy value associated with the positional difference estimated in step (C), and comparing the accuracy value to a first threshold to determine whether the positional difference estimated in step (C) has an acceptable accuracy; (E) if the positional difference estimated in step (C) has an acceptable accuracy, then updating the initial position using the positional difference and repeating steps (B)-(D); and (F) if the positional difference estimated in step (C) does not have an acceptable accuracy, then repeating steps (A)-(D). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for tracking a position of a mobile unit in a mobile radio communication system using information from earth-orbiting satellites and information received from infrastructure of the system, wherein the infrastructure consists of equipment associated with transmitting and receiving voice or data traffic to and from the mobile phone, comprising the steps of:
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(A) calculating an initial position of the mobile unit using measurements from earth-orbiting satellites and determining directional and velocity values associated with the mobile unit; (B) calculating a first range measurement using a first signal transmitted between the mobile unit and the infrastructure; (C) estimating a positional difference between the initial position and a current position of the mobile station with the first range measurement and the directional and velocity values, wherein only the directional and velocity values and one or more range measurements made from signals transmitted between the mobile unit and the infrastructure are used to perform the estimating; (D) determining an accuracy value associated with the positional difference estimated in step (C), and comparing the accuracy value to a first threshold to determine whether the positional difference estimated in step (C) has an acceptable accuracy; (E) if the positional difference estimated in step (C) has an acceptable accuracy, then updating the initial position using the positional difference and repeating steps (B) -(D); and (F) if the positional difference estimated in step (C) does not have an acceptable accuracy, then repeating steps (A)-(D).
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17. A method for tracking a position of a mobile unit in a mobile radio communication system using information received from infrastructure of the system, wherein the infrastructure consists of equipment associated with transmitting and receiving voice or data traffic to and from the mobile phone, comprising the steps of:
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(A) calculating an initial position of the mobile unit using measurements from at least three different terrestrial base stations; (B) calculating first and second range measurements using first and second signals transmitted between the mobile unit and the infrastructure; (C) estimating a positional difference between the initial position and a current position of the mobile station with the first and second range measurements, wherein only range measurements made from signals transmitted between the mobile unit and infrastructure are used to perform the estimating; (D) determining an accuracy value associated with the positional difference estimated in step (C), and comparing the accuracy value to a first threshold to determine whether the positional difference estimated in step (C) has an acceptable accuracy; (E) if the positional difference estimated in step (C) has an acceptable accuracy, then updating the initial position using the positional difference and repeating steps (B) -(D); and (F) if the positional difference estimated in step (C) does not have an acceptable accuracy, then repeating steps (A)-(D).
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18. A method for tracking a position of a mobile unit in a mobile radio communication system using information received from infrastructure of the system, wherein the infrastructure consists of equipment associated with transmitting and receiving voice or data traffic to and from the mobile phone, comprising the steps of:
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(A) calculating an initial position of the mobile unit using measurements from at least three different terrestrial base stations and determining directional and velocity values associated with the mobile unit; (B) calculating a first range measurement using a first signal transmitted between the mobile unit and the infrastructure; (C) estimating a positional difference between the initial position and a current position of the mobile station with the first range measurement and the directional and velocity values, wherein only the directional and velocity values and one or more range measurements made from signals transmitted between the mobile unit and the infrastructure are used to perform the estimating; (D) determining an accuracy value associated with the positional difference estimated in step (C), and comparing the accuracy value to a first threshold to determine whether the positional difference estimated in step (C) has an acceptable accuracy; (E) if the positional difference estimated in step (C) has an acceptable accuracy, then updating the initial position using the positional difference and repeating steps (B) -(D); and (F) if the positional difference estimated in step (C) does not have an acceptable accuracy, then repeating steps (A)-(D).
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19. An apparatus for tracking a position of a mobile unit in a mobile radio communication system using information from earth-orbiting satellites and information received from infrastructure of the system, wherein the infrastructure consists of equipment associated with transmitting and receiving voice or data traffic to and from the mobile phone, comprising:
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(A) a controller that calculates an initial position of the mobile unit using measurements from earth-orbiting satellites; (B) at least one receiver that receives first and second signals transmitted between the mobile unit and the infrastructure; (C) wherein the controller calculates first and second range measurements using the first and second signals, and then estimates a positional difference between the initial position and a current position of the mobile station using the first and second range measurements, wherein only range measurements made from signals transmitted between the mobile unit and the infrastructure are used by the controller to estimate the positional difference; (D) wherein the controller determines an accuracy value associated with the estimated positional difference and compares the accuracy value to a threshold to determine whether the estimated current positional difference has an acceptable accuracy; (E) wherein, if the estimated positional difference has an acceptable accuracy, the controller updates the initial position using the positional difference; and (F) wherein, if the estimated positional difference does not have an acceptable accuracy, the controller determines a new initial position of the mobile unit using measurements from the earth-orbiting satellites.
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20. An apparatus for tracking a position of a mobile unit in a mobile radio communication system using information from earth-orbiting satellites and information received from infrastructure of the system, wherein the infrastructure consists of equipment associated with transmitting and receiving voice or data traffic to and from the mobile phone, comprising:
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(A) means for calculating an initial position of the mobile unit using measurements from earth-orbiting satellites; (B) means for receiving first and second signals transmitted between the mobile unit and the infrastructure; (C) means for calculating first and second range measurements using the first and second signals, and then estimating a positional difference between the initial position and a current position of the mobile station using the first and second range measurements, wherein only range measurements made from signals transmitted between the mobile unit and the infrastructure are used to estimate the positional difference; (D) means for determining an accuracy value associated with the estimated positional difference and comparing the accuracy value to a threshold to determine whether the estimated positional difference has an acceptable accuracy; (E) means for updating the initial position using the positional difference if the estimated positional difference has an acceptable accuracy; and (F) means for determining a new initial position of the mobile unit using measurements from the earth-orbiting satellites if the estimated positional difference does not have an acceptable accuracy.
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21. An apparatus for tracking a position of a mobile unit in a mobile radio communication system using information from earth-orbiting satellites and information received from infrastructure of the system, wherein the infrastructure consists of equipment associated with transmitting and receiving voice or data traffic to and from the mobile phone, comprising:
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(A) a controller that calculates an initial position of the mobile unit using measurements from earth-orbiting satellites and determines directional and velocity values associated with the mobile unit; (B) a receiver that receives a first signal transmitted between the mobile unit and the infrastructure; (C) wherein the controller calculates a first range measurement using the first signal, and then estimates a positional difference between the initial position and a current position of the mobile station using the first range measurement and the directional and velocity values, wherein only the directional and velocity values and one or more range measurements made from signals transmitted between the mobile unit and the infrastructure are used by the controller to estimate the positional difference; (D) wherein the controller determines an accuracy value associated with the estimated positional difference and compares the accuracy value to a threshold to determine whether the estimated current positional difference has an acceptable accuracy; (E) wherein, if the estimated positional difference has an acceptable accuracy, the controller updates the initial position using the positional difference; and (F) wherein, if the estimated positional difference does not have an acceptable accuracy, the controller determines a new initial position of the mobile unit using measurements from the earth-orbiting satellites.
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22. An apparatus for tracking a position of a mobile unit in a mobile radio communication system using information from earth-orbiting satellites and information received from infrastructure of the system, wherein the infrastructure consists of equipment associated with transmitting and receiving voice or data traffic to and from the mobile phone, comprising:
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(A) means for calculating an initial position of the mobile unit using measurements from earth-orbiting satellites and determining directional and velocity values associated with the mobile unit; (B) means for receiving a first signal transmitted between the mobile unit and the infrastructure; (C) means for calculating a first range measurements using the first signal, and then estimating a positional difference between the initial position and a current position of the mobile station using the directional and velocity values and first range measurement, wherein only the directional and velocity values and one or more range measurements made from signals transmitted between the mobile unit and the infrastructure are used to estimate the positional difference; (D) means for determining an accuracy value associated with the estimated positional difference and comparing the accuracy value to a threshold to determine whether the estimated positional difference has an acceptable accuracy; (E) means for updating the initial position using the positional difference if the estimated positional difference has an acceptable accuracy; and (F) means for determining a new initial position of the mobile unit using measurements from the earth-orbiting satellites if the estimated positional difference does not have an acceptable accuracy.
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Specification