Method and system for determining locations of mobile stations using directional corrections

• US 7,659,850 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Hou, Jiongkuan, Swift, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIU, HARRY K
• Application Number:
  US11/451,714
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 340/903, 455/456, 455/12.1, 455/25, 455/101, 455/69, 455/456.1, 342/451
• US Class Current: 342/451
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/021 Calibration, monitoring or correction G01S5/0252 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location

Abstract

A base station almanac (BSA) stores directional forward link calibration (FLC) values that correct for differences between the listed locations of base station antennas and the actual locations of the antennas. Each directional FLC value is specific to wireless signals that are transmitted from a particular base station antenna and propagate toward a particular receiving area. A mobile station operating in a receiving area measures a wireless signal from a base station antenna located outside of the receiving area to obtain a signal measurement. The location of the mobile station is determined by applying a positioning algorithm that uses the signal measurement corrected by the directional FLC value for that particular combination of base station antenna and receiving area.

Claims

1. A method for mobile station location determination, said method comprising:

measuring a wireless signal transmitted from a base station antenna and received by a mobile station located in a receiving area to obtain a signal measurement, said receiving area being associated with a plurality of directional correction values;

obtaining a selected directional correction value from among said plurality of directional correction values, wherein said selected directional correction value is specific to wireless signals that are transmitted from said base station antenna and propagate toward said receiving area; and

determining a location of said mobile station by applying a positioning algorithm that uses said signal measurement and said selected directional correction value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said signal measurement is a phase of a pilot signal transmitted from said base station antenna.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said positioning algorithm is an advanced forward link trilateration (AFLT) positioning algorithm or a hybrid positioning algorithm.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said base station antenna is located outside of said receiving area.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving area is a cell.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving area is a sector.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said selected directional correction value is a directional forward link calibration (FLC) value in a base station almanac (BSA).

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said BSA includes a listed location of said base station antenna and said directional FLC value corrects for a difference between said listed location of said base station antenna and an actual location of said base station antenna.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said base station antenna is associated with a transmitting area.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said transmitting area is a cell.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said transmitting area is a sector.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said selected directional correction value is specific to a direction defined by a position of said transmitting area relative to said receiving area.