Methods and arrangements for locating a mobile telecommunications station
First Claim
1. An arrangement for use in determining an approximate geographical location of a mobile station (MS) within a coverage area of a mobile telecommunications network based on a plurality of uplink signal characteristic measurements for uplink signals transmitted by the MS, the arrangement comprising:
- a mobile station (MS) configured to generate and transmit an uplink signal having a plurality of data bursts;
a data generator, within said MS, said data generator being configured to selectively steal at least a portion of said uplink signal by generating position measuring data and replacing portions of said uplink signal with at least portions of said position measuring data prior to transmission of said uplink signal by said MS;
a plurality of receiving nodes having known geographical locations within the coverage area of the mobile telecommunications network, each of said receiving nodes being configured to receive said uplink signal, detect said position measuring data and measure at least one uplink signal characteristic associated with the receipt of said position measuring data;
a mobile location center (MLC) operatively configured to receive measured uplink signal characteristic data associated with each of said receiving nodes, said MLC being further configured to determine an approximate geographical location of said MS based on said measured uplink signal characteristic data.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a mobile telecommunications network, a mobile station (MS) is configured to generate and uplink transmit position measuring data prior to and/or during a call connection, without noticeably interrupting the user or degrading the quality of service provided. Position measuring data can be uplink transmitted over an idle traffic channel during a call set up operation for a brief moment while the call connection is being completed. Position measuring data can also be uplink transmitted during a call by selectively stealing data positions or burst positions in the uplink signal. The position measuring data is received by a plurality of base stations and uplink signal characteristics are measured and collected. The measured uplink signal characteristic data from several base stations is then used to determine a current approximate geographical location of the mobile station.
145 Citations
41 Claims
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1. An arrangement for use in determining an approximate geographical location of a mobile station (MS) within a coverage area of a mobile telecommunications network based on a plurality of uplink signal characteristic measurements for uplink signals transmitted by the MS, the arrangement comprising:
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a mobile station (MS) configured to generate and transmit an uplink signal having a plurality of data bursts;
a data generator, within said MS, said data generator being configured to selectively steal at least a portion of said uplink signal by generating position measuring data and replacing portions of said uplink signal with at least portions of said position measuring data prior to transmission of said uplink signal by said MS;
a plurality of receiving nodes having known geographical locations within the coverage area of the mobile telecommunications network, each of said receiving nodes being configured to receive said uplink signal, detect said position measuring data and measure at least one uplink signal characteristic associated with the receipt of said position measuring data;
a mobile location center (MLC) operatively configured to receive measured uplink signal characteristic data associated with each of said receiving nodes, said MLC being further configured to determine an approximate geographical location of said MS based on said measured uplink signal characteristic data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A mobile station (MS) suitable for use within a mobile telecommunications network, said MS comprising:
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a processor configured to convert desired information into a plurality of coded data bursts;
a transmitter connected to said processor and configured to transmit said coded data bursts in an uplink signal;
a data generator connected to said processor and configured to selectively steal at least a portion of said uplink signal by generating position measuring data and replacing portions of said coded data bursts with at least portions of said position measuring data prior to transmission of said uplink signal by said transmitter, said position measuring data being configured to be detectable within said uplink signal by a plurality of receiving nodes. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for use in determining an approximate geographical location of a mobile station (MS) within a coverage area of a mobile telecommunications network, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating an uplink signal, having a plurality of data bursts, with a mobile station (MS);
generating position measuring data, with said MS in response to a mobile station location request;
selectively stealing at least a portion of said uplink signal by replacing at least portions of said plurality of data bursts with portions of said position measuring data;
transmitting said uplink signal, including said inserted positioning data, from said MS to a plurality of receiving nodes having known geographical locations within the coverage area of the mobile telecommunications network;
receiving said uplink signal, including said positioning data, at each of said receiving nodes and, in response, detecting said position measuring data within said received uplink signal and measuring at least one uplink signal characteristic associated with the receipt time of said detected position measuring data; and
determining an approximate geographical location of said MS based on measured uplink signal characteristic data from each of said receiving nodes. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
selectively stealing data bursts by replacing at least one of said data bursts with a positioning burst that includes at least a portion of said position measuring data.
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25. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of data bursts further include speech data, and said step of replacing portions of said uplink signal with at least portions of said position measuring data further includes:
selectively stealing data within at least one of said data bursts by replacing at least a portion of said speech data with at least a portion of said position measuring data.
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26. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein said step of generating position measuring data further includes generating a substantially random sequence of data.
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27. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein said step of replacing portions of said uplink signal with at least portions of said position measuring data further includes:
dynamically controlling the timing of said position measuring data within said uplink signal over a period of time.
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28. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein said step of replacing portions of said uplink signal with at least portions of said position measuring data further includes:
temporarily delaying the timing of said position measuring data within said uplink signal when said uplink signal includes command signaling data.
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29. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising the step of:
transmitting said uplink signal, having said position measuring data therein, over a first channel for a finite period of time following a successful handover operation in which said MS is redirected to continue transmitting said uplink signal over a second channel.
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30. A method for use in a mobile station (MS) that is configurable for use within a mobile telecommunications network, the method comprising the steps of:
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converting desired information into a plurality of coded data bursts;
generating position measuring data; and
selectively replacing portions of said plurality of coded data bursts with at least portions of said position measuring data prior to transmission of said uplink signal, said position measuring data being configured to be detectable within said uplink signal by a plurality of receiving nodes. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
selectively replacing at least one of said data bursts with a positioning burst that includes at least a portion of said position measuring data.
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32. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein said position measuring data includes a substantially random sequence of data.
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33. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein said step of selectively replacing portions of said plurality of coded data bursts with at least portions of said position measuring data prior to transmission of said uplink signal further includes:
dynamically controlling the timing of said position measuring data within said uplink signal over a period of time.
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34. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein said step of selectively replacing portions of said plurality of coded data bursts with at least portions of said position measuring data prior to transmission of said uplink signal further includes:
temporarily delaying the timing of said position measuring data within said uplink signal when said uplink signal includes command signaling data.
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35. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising the step of:
transmitting said uplink signal, having said position measuring data therein, over a first channel for a finite period of time following a successful handover operation in which said MS is redirected to continue transmitting said uplink signal over a second channel.
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36. A method for use in determining an approximate geographical location of a mobile station (MS) within a coverage area of a mobile telecommunications network, the method comprising the steps of:
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initializing a call set up operation between a mobile station (MS) and a receiving node;
allocating a traffic channel for use by said MS;
following allocation of said traffic channel, but prior to completing an associated call connection, generating position measuring data within said MS and selectively uplink transmitting at least one data burst having position measuring data therein, from said MS over said traffic channel to a plurality of receiving nodes having known geographical locations;
at each of said plurality of receiving nodes, measuring at least one uplink signal characteristic associated with receipt of said position measuring data; and
determining an approximate geographical location of said MS based on measured uplink signal characteristic data from each of said plurality of receiving nodes. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification