Geolocation techniques for an airborne cellular system
First Claim
1. A method of locating a billing area for a call initiated by a system user in an airborne cellular communications system, comprising:
- determining a location and heading of an airplane carrying a system repeater;
calculating a center location of a repeater beam in which coverage was initiated;
mapping the center location to a closest corresponding geographic billing location; and
associating the call with the closest corresponding geographic billing location.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of locating a billing area associated with a cell phone call initiated in an airborne cellular communications system enables service providers to more accurately identify system user locations within the system'"'"'s area of coverage. In operation, propagation delay and beam number location of an initiated call are identified to determine a current handset radial beam location. The propagation delay is then mapped to a stored closest corresponding radial geographic billing location, and the call is then associated with the closest corresponding radial geographic billing location. Additional system accuracy may be provided by determining azimuthal position within a beam footprint by determining a handoff location of a signal from a first beam to a second beam, and then mapping handoff information to a closest corresponding azimuthal geographic billing location. Both the closest corresponding radial and azimuthal geographic billing locations are then used to identify a current handset location. Such a system user location technique also enables an airborne system to comply with FCC E911 caller location requirements.
189 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method of locating a billing area for a call initiated by a system user in an airborne cellular communications system, comprising:
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determining a location and heading of an airplane carrying a system repeater;
calculating a center location of a repeater beam in which coverage was initiated;
mapping the center location to a closest corresponding geographic billing location; and
associating the call with the closest corresponding geographic billing location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
using the beam number to create a pseudo-base transceiving station for a terrestrial infrastructure to enable infrastructure components to interpret beam information as originating from a terrestrial base transceiving station. -
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the associating of the call is performed for an entire duration of the call.
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5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mapping of the center location provides accuracy to within approximately 50 km.
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6. A method of determining a location of a handset within a coverage area of a cellular communications system having an airborne repeater, comprising:
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determining a propagation delay and a beam number associated with a call;
mapping the propagation delay and the beam number to a geographic location;
determining an azimuthal position based on a handoff of the call caused by rotating coverage beams; and
refining the geographic location determined from the mapping of the propagation delay and the beam number based on the azimuthal position. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification