Mobile station locating and tracking system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A wireless tracking system, comprising:
- a plurality of base stations;
a remote station;
each of said base stations and said remote station comprising a transmitter, a receiver and digital signal processing circuitry;
at least some of said base stations further comprising propagation delay time calculating circuitry capable of determining the propagation delays in signals transmitted between said remote station and said at least some base stations; and
either said remote station or at least one base station further comprising distance calculating circuitry capable of calculating the distance between said remote station to said at least some base stations at different points in time based upon said propagation delay times, wherein either said remote station or said at least some base stations further comprise rate determining circuitry capable of determining the rate of travel of said remote station based upon said locations of said remote station at said different points in time.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for locating a remote station within an area of a wireless communications network without using a global positioning system. Communications are established between a remote station and a plurality of base stations using separate time slots within at least one over-the-air loop. Propagation delay times associated with signals transmitted or received within the time slots are determined, and one or more possible locations of the remote station are identified based upon the determined propagation delay times.
44 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A wireless tracking system, comprising:
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a plurality of base stations;
a remote station;
each of said base stations and said remote station comprising a transmitter, a receiver and digital signal processing circuitry;
at least some of said base stations further comprising propagation delay time calculating circuitry capable of determining the propagation delays in signals transmitted between said remote station and said at least some base stations; and
either said remote station or at least one base station further comprising distance calculating circuitry capable of calculating the distance between said remote station to said at least some base stations at different points in time based upon said propagation delay times, wherein either said remote station or said at least some base stations further comprise rate determining circuitry capable of determining the rate of travel of said remote station based upon said locations of said remote station at said different points in time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
location determining circuitry capable of determining the location of said remote station at said different points in time based upon said distances from said remote station to said plurality of base stations calculated at said different points in time.
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3. The wireless tracking system of claim 1, wherein two or more remote stations are tracked simultaneously.
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4. The wireless tracking system of claim 1,
wherein said rate of travel of said remote station is plotted as a function of time.
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5. A wireless tracking system, comprising:
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a plurality of base stations;
a remote station;
each of said base stations and said remote station comprising a transmitter, a receiver and digital signal processing circuitry;
at least some of said base stations further comprising propagation delay time calculating circuitry capable of determining the propagation delays in signals transmitted between said remote station and said at least some base stations; and
either said remote station or at least one base station further comprising distance calculating circuitry capable of calculating the distance between said remote station to said at least some base stations at different points in time based upon said propagation delay times, wherein either said remote station or said at least some base stations further comprise direction determining circuitry capable of determining the direction of travel of said remote station based upon said locations of said remote station at said different points in time. - View Dependent Claims (6)
wherein said direction of travel of said remote station is plotted as a function of time.
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7. A method for tracking a mobile station, comprising:
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establishing communications between a mobile station and at least three base stations using signals sent between said mobile station and said at least three base stations;
transmitting substantially synchronized signals from said at least three base stations to said mobile station at different points in time;
calculating propagation delay times associated with signals sent between said mobile station and said at least three base stations at said different points in time;
calculating distances from said mobile station to said at least three base stations at said different points in time using said propagation delay times calculated at said different points in time; and
determining a rate of travel of said mobile station based upon said locations of said mobile station determined at said different points in time. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
determining locations of said mobile station at said different points in time based upon said distances from said mobile station to said at least three base stations calculated at said different points in time.
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9. The method for tracking a mobile station of claim 7, further comprising:
tracking two or more mobile stations simultaneously.
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10. The method for tracking a mobile station of claim 7,
wherein said rate of travel of said mobile station is plotted as a function of time. -
11. The method for tracking a mobile station of claim 7,
wherein said base stations transmit additional signals that are not necessarily substantially synchronized which may be used for communications with other mobile stations.
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12. A method for tracking a mobile station, comprising:
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establishing communications between a mobile station and at least three base stations using signals sent between said mobile station and said at least three base stations;
transmitting substantially synchronized signals from said at least three base stations to said mobile station at different points in time;
calculating propagation delay times associated with signals sent between said mobile station and said at least three base stations at said different points in time;
calculating distances from said mobile station to said at least three base stations at said different points in time using said propagation delay times calculated at said different points in time; and
determining a direction of travel of said mobile station based upon said locations of said mobile station determined at said different points in time. - View Dependent Claims (13)
wherein said direction of travel of said mobile station is plotted as a function of time.
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14. A wireless communications system, comprising:
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a plurality of base stations;
at least one remote station;
each of said base stations and said at least one remote station including transmitter, receiver and digital signal processing circuitry for establishing and maintaining communications using signals sent within at least one over-the-air loop having an expected duration;
each of said base stations including processing circuitry for determining propagation delay times associated with said signals received during said at least one over-the-air loop, said propagation delay times being determined based at least in part upon a difference between said expected duration of said at least one over-the-air loop and a measured duration of said at least one over-the-air loop; and
said at least one remote station including processing circuitry for calculating distances to said plurality of base stations based upon said propagation delay times. - View Dependent Claims (15)
processing circuitry for determining at least one possible location for said at least one remote station based upon said calculated distances.
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16. A wireless communication network comprising:
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a plurality of base stations;
at least one remote station;
each of said base stations and said at least one remote station including transmitter, receiver and digital processing circuitry for establishing and maintaining communications using signals sent within at least one over-the-air loop having an expected duration; and
each of said base stations including processing circuitry for determining propagation delay times associated with said signals received during said at least one over-the-air loop and for calculating distances to said remote station based upon said determined propagation delay times, said propagation delay times being calculated based upon a difference between said expected duration of said at least one over-the-air loop and a measured duration of said at least one over-the-air loop. - View Dependent Claims (17)
processing circuitry for determining at least one possible location for said at least one remote station based upon said calculated distances.
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18. A method for determining a location of a remote station, comprising:
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establishing communications between a remote station and a plurality of base stations using signals sent within at least one over-the-air loop;
determining propagation delay times associated with said signals sent within said at least one over-the-air loop, said propagation delay times being determined based at least in part upon a difference between an expected duration of said at least one over-the-air loop and a measured duration of said at least one over-the-air loop; and
determining at least one possible location of said remote station based upon said determined propagation delay times.
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Specification