Method of increasing the accuracy of geographical information of a mobile station of a radio communication system

• US 7,242,349 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2004
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evolium SAS (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Evolium SAS (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Tangemann, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US10/844,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20040233104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.02, 342/357.06, 342/357.13, 342/386, 701/207, 701/213, 701/214, 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/13.2
• US Class Current: 342/386
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method of increasing the accuracy of geographical information of a mobile station of a radio communication system is described. The geographical information of the mobile station is evaluated without using a GPS receiver. Stored positions of other mobile stations using GPS receivers, are used to adapt the geographical information.

Claims

1. A method of increasing the accuracy of geographical information of a mobile station of a radio communication system, where a plurality of other mobile stations are in communication within said radio communication system, comprising:

evaluating the geographical information of the mobile station without using a GPS receiver, and

using stored positions of said other mobile stations to adapt the geographical information of said mobile station, wherein said other mobile stations use GPS receivers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographical information is evaluated based on an identification of a cell in which the mobile station is located at present.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the geographical information is evaluated based on an estimated distance of the mobile station from a base station.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the distance is evaluated by measuring the strength of the signal being transmitted from the mobile station to the base station.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the distance is evaluated by measuring the propagation time of the signal being transmitted from the mobile station to the base station.

6. The method of claims 1, wherein the other mobile stations receive a GPS signal and provide the positions to a location estimator, and wherein the positions are stored in the location estimator.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the location estimator evaluates the positions and defines areas with a higher concentration of positions and areas with a lower concentration of positions.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the geographical information of the mobile station without a GPS receiver is adapted such that the geographical information indicates that mobile station is located is more in an area with a higher concentration of positions.

9. The method of claims 7, wherein the geographical information of the mobile station without a GPS receiver is evaluated depending on statistical probabilities of the positions of those mobile stations having a GPS receiver.

10. A mobile station of a radio communication system, wherein geographical information of the mobile station is evaluated without using a GPS receiver, and wherein stored positions of other mobile stations using GPS receivers, are used to adapt the geographical information.

11. A location estimator located within a radio communication system, the radio communication system comprising a mobile station, wherein geographical information of the mobile station is evaluated without using a GPS receiver, and wherein stored positions of other mobile stations using GPS receivers, are used to adapt the geographical information.

12. A radio communication system comprising a mobile station, wherein geographical information of the mobile station is evaluated without using a GPS receiver, and wherein stored positions of other mobile stations using GPS receivers, are used to adapt the geographical information.