Method and apparatus for determining location of a base station using a plurality of mobile stations in a wireless mobile network
First Claim
1. In a wireless communication network that includes a plurality of mobile stations in communication with one or more base stations, a method of determining a position of a base station, comprising:
- a. programming a group of mobile stations with a BTS calibration program, thereby providing a plurality of calibration-enabled mobile stations, wherein each mobile station has a user, and wherein said step of programming a group of mobile stations with the calibration program comprises obtaining consent of the users of said group of mobile phones and then downloading the BTS calibration program into said group of mobile phones;
b. providing a BTS calibration server networked with said base station;
c. requesting calibration information from at least one of said calibration-enabled mobile stations in communication with a base station;
d. determining a position of said calibration-enabled mobile station(s) in communication with said base station;
e. receiving a signal from said base station to said mobile station(s) in communication with said base station;
f. transmitting calibration information indicative of said position and said signal from said mobile station(s) to the BTS calibration server; and
g. in said BTS calibration server, comparing the calibration information with base station almanac information associated with said base station, and calibrating the position of said base station responsive thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining a position of a base station in a wireless communication network that includes a mobile station in communication with base stations. A BTS calibration server is networked with the base stations. A BTS calibration program is programmed into a group of mobile stations that have position location capabilities. Using the BTS calibration program, calibration information may be requested by the BTS calibration server, or a session may be initiated by the mobile station. The BTS calibration program also provides privacy features that allow user of the mobile station to prevent it from being used for base station location. If authorized, the BTS calibration program determines the position of the mobile station, and provides calibration information, such as position and base station phase measurements, to the server. The calibration information may be used to calibrate the base station almanac.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. In a wireless communication network that includes a plurality of mobile stations in communication with one or more base stations, a method of determining a position of a base station, comprising:
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a. programming a group of mobile stations with a BTS calibration program, thereby providing a plurality of calibration-enabled mobile stations, wherein each mobile station has a user, and wherein said step of programming a group of mobile stations with the calibration program comprises obtaining consent of the users of said group of mobile phones and then downloading the BTS calibration program into said group of mobile phones; b. providing a BTS calibration server networked with said base station; c. requesting calibration information from at least one of said calibration-enabled mobile stations in communication with a base station; d. determining a position of said calibration-enabled mobile station(s) in communication with said base station; e. receiving a signal from said base station to said mobile station(s) in communication with said base station; f. transmitting calibration information indicative of said position and said signal from said mobile station(s) to the BTS calibration server; and g. in said BTS calibration server, comparing the calibration information with base station almanac information associated with said base station, and calibrating the position of said base station responsive thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A wireless communication network comprising:
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a. a plurality of base stations, each having a unique location; b. a BTS calibration server networked with said plurality of base stations; c. a plurality of calibration-enabled mobile stations wirelessly communicating with at least one of said base stations, each of said calibration-enabled mobile stations having a BTS calibration program and a position location system for determining its position, and a means for receiving a signal from said base station to said mobile station; d. means for requesting calibration information from at least one of said calibration-enabled mobile stations in communication with a base station; e. means for determining if the mobile station is authorized to communicate calibration information, wherein said BTS calibration program provides privacy settings stored in said mobile station to indicate authorization to provide calibration information, and said means for determining if the mobile station is authorized to communicate calibration information farther comprises checking said privacy settings to verify that the mobile station is authorized to provide calibration information; f. means for transmitting calibration information indicative of said position and said signal from said mobile station(s) to the BTS calibration server; g. a base station almanac networked with said plurality of base stations and said BTS calibration server; and h. means, in said BTS calibration server, for calculating a distance from said mobile station(s) to said base station, comparing it with base station almanac information associated with said base station, and calibrating the position of said base station responsive thereto. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. In a wireless communication network that includes a plurality of mobile stations in communication with one or more base stations, a method of determining a position of a base station, comprising:
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a. programming a group of mobile stations with a BTS calibration program, thereby providing a plurality of calibration-enabled mobile stations wherein each mobile station has a user, and wherein said users of said calibration-enabled mobile phones utilize the BTS calibration program to create privacy settings to indicate authorization to provide calibration information; b. providing a BTS calibration server networked with said base station; c. requesting calibration information from at least one of said calibration-enabled mobile stations in communication with a base station, and determining if the mobile station is authorized to communicate calibration information, including checking said privacy settings to verify that the mobile station is authorized to provide calibration information, and if there is no authorization then exiting operation before transmitting calibration information, otherwise completing operation; d. determining a position of said calibration-enabled mobile station(s) in communication with said base station; e. receiving a signal from said base station to said mobile station(s) in communication with said base station; f. transmitting calibration information indicative of said position and said signal from said mobile station(s) to the BTS calibration server; and g. in said BTS calibration server, comparing the calibration information with base station almanac information associated with said base station, and calibrating the position of said base station responsive thereto. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification