Estimating location of a communications device

• US 7,633,443 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Sillasto, Eero
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nga X
• Application Number:
  US11/475,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20060290568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 342461-465
• US Class Current: 342/464
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/876 Combination of several spaced transponders or reflectors of known location for determining the position of a receiver G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/10 Position of receiver fixed by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements , e.g. omega or decca systemsG01S5/12 takes precedence ; beacons and receivers cooperating therewith G01S1/306, G01S1/308

Abstract

In determining a location estimate for a communications device, at least one first location estimate is determined based on information relating to signals transmitted between the communications device and at least one first antenna of a communications system. At least one second antenna of the communications system is determined, the at least second antenna not used for communication by the communications device. Thereafter, a second location estimate for the communications device is determined based at least on the at least one first location estimate and information relating to the at least one second antenna.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

calculating at least one a first location estimate for a communications device based on information relating to signals transmitted between a communications device and at least one first antenna of a communications system,

selecting at least one second antenna of the communications system, wherein the at least one second antenna not currently used for communication by the communications device, and

determining a second location estimate for the communications device using the first location estimate and information relating to the at least one second antenna,

wherein the information relating to the at least one second antenna comprises antenna direction information of the at least one second antenna.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the information relating to the at least one second antenna comprises:

antenna location information, antenna profile information, and path loss information.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the selecting of the at least one second antenna comprises considering at least one of:

antenna location information, antenna direction information, and antenna profile information.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second location estimate comprises an angular part and wherein the determining of the second location estimate comprises determining said angular part of the second location estimate, wherein the determining of said angular part comprises taking into account said information relating to the at least one second antenna.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one first location estimate comprises at least one radial location estimate.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the second location estimate comprises a radial part and wherein the radial part of the second location estimate is based on the at least one radial location estimate.

7. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the determining of the angular part of the second location estimate comprised measuring distances between points of an arc relating to a radial part of the second location estimate and the at least one second antenna location.

8. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the determining of the angular part of the second location estimate comprises measuring estimated path losses relating to the at least one second antenna at points of an arc relating to a radial part of the second location estimate.

9. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the determining of the angular part of the second location estimate comprises using antenna profile information of the at least one second antenna.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the determining of the second location estimate comprises selecting one of a plurality of two-dimensional location estimates as the second location estimate.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the at least one first location estimate comprises at least one of the two-dimensional location estimates.

12. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the communications device is configured to communicate with the communications system via said at least one first antenna.

13. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one first antenna is located at a single antenna site.

14. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one first antenna comprises at least two first antennas located at two separate antenna sites.

15. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one first antenna comprises at least three first antennas located at separate three antenna sites.

16. A method as defined in claim 1, where the at least one second antenna is located at a single antenna site.

17. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one second antenna includes at least two second antennas, located at multiple antenna sites.

18. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one second antenna is located in a geographic location with the at least one first antenna.

19. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one second antenna is co-located with the at least one first antenna.

20. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one second antenna is located at a separate antenna site than the at least one first antenna.

21. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one first antenna belongs to a single antenna hierarchy level.

22. A method as defined in claim 21, comprising:

checking that the at least one second antenna belongs to said single antenna hierarchy level of the at least one first antenna.

23. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the calculating of at least one a first location estimate comprising using at least one of the group that includes cell identity information relating to the at least one first antenna, and timing information relating to signals transmitted between the communications device and the at least one first antenna.

24. A system comprising:

a plurality of antennas; and

a processor configured to

calculate at least one first location estimate for a communications device based on information relating to signals transmitted between a communications device and at least one first antenna of the system,

select at least one second antenna of the communications system, the at least one second antenna not used for communication by the communications device, and

determine a second location estimate for the communications device based on the at least one first location estimate and information relating to the at least one second antenna,

wherein the information relating to the at least one second antenna comprises antenna direction information of the at least one second antenna.

25. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor configured to

participate in a communications system comprising a plurality of antennas,

calculate at least one first location estimate for a communications device based on information relating to signals transmitted between the communications device and at least one first antenna of a communications system,

select at least one second antenna of the communications system, the at least one second antenna not used for communication by the communications device, and

determine a second location estimate for the communications device based on the at least one first location estimate and information relating to the at least one second antenna,

wherein the information relating to the at least one second antenna comprises antenna direction information of the at least one second antenna.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 25, comprising a location server.

27. An apparatus defined in claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured to receive information about antennas of the communications system and to determine said at least one second antenna based on the information about antennas of the communications system.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 25, comprising a radio resource controller.

29. A system, comprising:

a plurality of antennas,

calculating means for calculating at least one first location estimate for a communications device based on information relating to signals transmitted between the communications device and at least one first antenna of the communications system,

selecting means for selecting at least one second antenna of the communications system, the at least one second antenna not used for communication by the communications device, and

determining means for determining a second location estimate for the communications device based on the at least one first location estimate and information relating to the at least one second antenna,

wherein the information relating to the at least one second antenna comprises antenna direction information of the at least one second antenna.

30. An apparatus, comprising:

connecting means for connecting to a communications system comprising a plurality of antennas,

calculating means for calculating at least one first location estimate for a communications device based on information relating to signals transmitted between the communications device and at least one first antenna of a communications system,

selecting means for selecting at least one second antenna of the communications system, the at least one second antenna not used for communication by the communications device, and

determining means for determining a second location estimate for the communications device based on the at least one first location estimate and information relating to the at least one second antenna,

wherein the information relating to the at least one second antenna comprises antenna direction information of the at least one second antenna.

31. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable program instructions to perform a method comprising:

calculating at least one first location estimate for a communications device based on information relating to signals transmitted between the communications device and at least one first antenna of a communications system,

selecting at least one second antenna of the communications system, the at least one second antenna not used for communication by the communications device, and

determining a second location estimate for the communications device based on the at least one first location estimate and information relating to the at least one second antenna,

wherein the information relating to the at least one second antenna comprises antenna direction information of the at least one second antenna.

32. An apparatus, comprising:

a connector configured to connect to a communications system comprising a plurality of antennas,

a calculator configured to calculate at least one first location estimate for a communications device based on information relating to signals transmitted between the communications device and at least one first antenna of a communications system,

a selector configured to select at least one second antenna of the communications system, the at least one second antenna not used for communication by the communications device, and

determining circuitry configured to determine a second location estimate for the communications device based on the at least one first location estimate and information relating to the at least one second antenna,

wherein the information relating to the at least one second antenna comprise antenna direction information of the at least one second antenna.

33. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the information relating to the at least one second antenna comprises:

antenna location information, antenna profile information, and path loss information.

34. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the selector is configured to consider at least one of:

antenna location information, antenna direction information, and antenna profile information.

35. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the second location estimate comprises an angular part and wherein the determining circuitry is configured to determine said angular part of the second location estimate comprising taking into account said information relating to the at least one second antenna.

36. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the at least one first location estimate comprises at least one radial location estimate.

37. An apparatus as defined in claim 36, wherein the second location estimate comprises a radial part and wherein the radial part of the second location estimate is based on the at least one radial location estimate.

38. An apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein the determining circuitry is configured to measure distances between points of an arc relating to a radial part of the second location estimate and the at least one second antenna location.

39. An apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein the determining circuitry is configured to measure estimated path losses relating to the at least one second antenna at points of an arc relating to a radial part of the second location estimate.

40. An apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein the determining of the angular part of the second location estimate comprises using antenna profile information of the at least one second antenna.

41. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the determining circuitry is configured to select one of a plurality of two-dimensional location estimates as the second location estimate.

42. An apparatus as defined in claim 41, wherein the at least one first location estimate comprises at least one of the two-dimensional location estimates.

43. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the communications device is configured to communicate with the communications system via said at least one first antenna.

44. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the at least one first antenna is located at a single antenna site.

45. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the at least one first antenna comprises at least two first antennas located at two separate antenna sites.

46. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the at least one first antenna comprises at least three first antennas located at separate three antenna sites.

47. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, where the at least one second antenna is located at a single antenna site.

48. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the at least one second antenna includes at least two second antennas, located at multiple antenna sites.

49. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the at least one second antenna is located in a geographic location with the at least one first antenna.

50. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the at least one second antenna is co-located with the at least one first antenna.

51. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the at least one second antenna is located at a separate antenna site than the at least one first antenna.

52. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the at least one first antenna belongs to a single antenna hierarchy level.

53. An apparatus as defined in claim 52, wherein the selector is configured to check that the at least one second antenna belongs to said single antenna hierarchy level of the at least one first antenna.

54. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the calculator configured to use at least one of the group that includes cell identity information relating to the at least one first antenna, and timing information relating to signals transmitted between the communications device and the at least one first antenna.