Methods and apparatus for mobile station location estimation
First Claim
1. A mobile location module processor that performs the method of estimating a location of a mobile station in a network service area divided into a plurality of zones, the network service area served by a plurality of base stations, the method comprising:
- obtaining, for each of the plurality of zones, a set of zone location values associated with that zone;
obtaining, for each of the plurality of base stations, a base station identifier associated with that base station;
obtaining, for each of the plurality of base stations, a set of base station location values associated with that base station;
calculating, for each of the plurality of zones, a set of pre-determined signal strength values associated with that zone, wherein each calculated pre-determined signal strength value within a particular set is associated with a different one of the base station identifiers, wherein calculating each pre-determined signal strength value includes using a propagation characteristic, using the set of zone location values associated with that zone, using the set of base station location values associated with that base station identifier, and without using measured signal strength values;
storing the sets of zone location values, the associated set of calculated pre-determined signal strength values for each of the sets of zone location values and the associated base station identifiers;
obtaining a set of signal strength values reported by the mobile station;
determining a plurality of error scores, each based on a comparison of the set of reported signal strength values with a different one of the sets of pre-determined signal strength values;
selecting, based on the error scores, one of the sets of pre-determined signal strength values and the associated set of zone location values by selecting the set of pre-determined signal strength values associated with the error score indicating the closest match of reported and pre-determined signal strength; and
determining an estimated location of the mobile station based on the selected set of zone location values.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for estimating mobile station location include receiving reported signal strengths or other attachment indicator values from a mobile station. The reported signal strengths are compared with characteristic received signal strength values in a coverage area of a mobile network. A mobile switching center determines if a location function is requested and initiates a location estimation process by a mobile location module (MLM). The MLM receives the reported signal strength contours associated with the attachment points. Based on a comparison of the reported attachment indicator values with characteristic values, the MLM provides a mobile location estimate.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A mobile location module processor that performs the method of estimating a location of a mobile station in a network service area divided into a plurality of zones, the network service area served by a plurality of base stations, the method comprising:
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obtaining, for each of the plurality of zones, a set of zone location values associated with that zone; obtaining, for each of the plurality of base stations, a base station identifier associated with that base station; obtaining, for each of the plurality of base stations, a set of base station location values associated with that base station; calculating, for each of the plurality of zones, a set of pre-determined signal strength values associated with that zone, wherein each calculated pre-determined signal strength value within a particular set is associated with a different one of the base station identifiers, wherein calculating each pre-determined signal strength value includes using a propagation characteristic, using the set of zone location values associated with that zone, using the set of base station location values associated with that base station identifier, and without using measured signal strength values; storing the sets of zone location values, the associated set of calculated pre-determined signal strength values for each of the sets of zone location values and the associated base station identifiers; obtaining a set of signal strength values reported by the mobile station; determining a plurality of error scores, each based on a comparison of the set of reported signal strength values with a different one of the sets of pre-determined signal strength values; selecting, based on the error scores, one of the sets of pre-determined signal strength values and the associated set of zone location values by selecting the set of pre-determined signal strength values associated with the error score indicating the closest match of reported and pre-determined signal strength; and determining an estimated location of the mobile station based on the selected set of zone location values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A mobile location module processor that performs the method of estimating a location of a mobile station in a network service area divided into a plurality of zones, the network service area served by a plurality of base stations, the method comprising:
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obtaining, for each of the plurality of zones, a set of zone location values associated with that zone; obtaining, for each of the plurality of base stations, a base station identifier associated with that base station; obtaining, for each of the plurality of base stations, a set of base station location values associated with that base station; calculating, for each of the plurality of zones, a set of pre-determined signal strength values associated with that zone, wherein each calculated pre-determined signal strength value within a particular set is associated with a different one of the base station identifiers, wherein calculating each pre-determined signal strength value includes using a propagation characteristic, using the set of zone location values associated with that zone, using the set of base station location values associated with that base station identifier, and without using measured signal strength values; storing the sets of zone location values, the associated set of calculated pre-determined signal strength values for each of the sets of zone location values and the associated base station identifiers; obtaining a set of signal strength values reported by the mobile station; determining a plurality of error scores, each based on a comparison of the set of reported signal strength values with a different one of the sets of pre-determined signal strength values; selecting, based on the error scores, one of the sets of pre-determined signal strength values and the associated set of zone location values; determining an estimated location of the mobile station based on the selected set of zone location values; and providing an error estimate, wherein the error estimate is a set of dimensions of the zone associated with the selected set of pre-determined signal strength values. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification