Mobile location method for WLAN-type systems
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- providing an estimate of a mobile location of a wireless node, point or terminal in a wireless local area network or other suitable network, the estimate being based at least partly on a correlation of a radio frequency signal strength measurement and a grid point in a signal strength database or radio map;
the signal strength database or radio map being built using a signal strength fingerprint algorithm that includes recording grid positions and signal strength measurements;
a data structure entry for each grid point being based at least partly on an identification number for each grid point, an estimated received information at a respective grid point, a physical location of the respective grid point, and received signal strength information from a respective transmission of an access point at the respective grid point; and
the signal strength fingerprint algorithm including;
placing access points in the wireless local area network or other suitable network and recording their coordinates;
taking signal strengths measurements in areas of interest in the wireless local area network or other suitable network;
applying a linear regression method to estimate propagation channels;
estimating propagation channels at each grid point; and
processing the results to form the signal strength database or radio map.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a new and unique method and apparatus for providing an estimate of a mobile location of a wireless node, point or terminal in a wireless local area network (WLAN) or other suitable network, the estimate being based on a correlation of a radio frequency (RF) signal strength measurement and a grid point in a signal strength database or radio map. The signal strength database or radio map is built using a signal strength fingerprint algorithm. The signal strength fingerprint algorithm includes selecting and measuring a set of grid points in the wireless local area network (WLAN) or other suitable network.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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providing an estimate of a mobile location of a wireless node, point or terminal in a wireless local area network or other suitable network, the estimate being based at least partly on a correlation of a radio frequency signal strength measurement and a grid point in a signal strength database or radio map; the signal strength database or radio map being built using a signal strength fingerprint algorithm that includes recording grid positions and signal strength measurements; a data structure entry for each grid point being based at least partly on an identification number for each grid point, an estimated received information at a respective grid point, a physical location of the respective grid point, and received signal strength information from a respective transmission of an access point at the respective grid point; and the signal strength fingerprint algorithm including; placing access points in the wireless local area network or other suitable network and recording their coordinates; taking signal strengths measurements in areas of interest in the wireless local area network or other suitable network; applying a linear regression method to estimate propagation channels; estimating propagation channels at each grid point; and processing the results to form the signal strength database or radio map. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A wireless local area network or other suitable network comprising:
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a network node, point or element having one or more modules configured for providing an estimate of a mobile location of a wireless node, point or terminal therein, the estimate being based at least partly on a correlation of a radio frequency signal strength measurement and a grid point in a signal strength database or radio map; the signal strength database or radio map being built using a signal strength fingerprint algorithm that includes recording grid positions and signal strength measurements; a data structure entry for each grid point being based at least partly on an identification number for each grid point, an estimated received information at a respective grid point, a physical location of the respective grid point, and received signal strength information from a respective transmission of an access point at the respective grid point; and the signal strength fingerprint algorithm including; placing access points in the wireless local area network or other suitable network and recording their coordinates; taking signal strengths measurements in areas of interest in the wireless local area network or other suitable network; applying a linear regression method to estimate propagation channels; estimating propagation channels at each grid point; and processing the results to form the signal strength database or radio map. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A network node, point or element comprising:
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a module configured for providing an estimate of a mobile location of a wireless node, point or terminal operating in a wireless local area network or other suitable network, the estimate being based at least partly on a correlation of a radio frequency signal strength measurement and a grid point in a signal strength database or radio map; the signal strength database or radio map being built using a signal strength fingerprint algorithm that includes recording grid positions and signal strength measurements; and a data structure entry for each grid point being based at least partly on an identification number for each grid point, an estimated received information at a respective grid point, a physical location of the respective grid point, and received signal strength information from a respective transmission of an access point at the respective grid point; and the signal strength fingerprint algorithm including; placing access points in the wireless local area network or other suitable network and recording their coordinates; taking signal strengths measurements in areas of interest in the wireless local area network or other suitable network; applying a linear regression method to estimate propagation channels; estimating propagation channels at each grid point; and processing the results to form the signal strength database or radio map. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer program product with a program code, which program code is stored on a machine readable carrier, for carrying out the steps of a method comprising providing an estimate of a mobile location of a wireless node, point or terminal in a wireless local area network or other suitable network, the estimate being based on a correlation of a radio frequency signal strength measurement and a grid point in a signal strength database or radio map, the signal strength database or radio map being built using a signal strength fingerprint algorithm that includes recording grid positions and signal strength measurements;
- and a data structure entry for each grid point being based at least partly on an identification number for each grid point, an estimated received information at a respective grid point, a physical location of the respective grid point, and received signal strength information from a respective transmission of an access point at the respective grid point,; and
the signal strength fingerprint algorithm including;
placing access points in the wireless local area network or other suitable network and recording their coordinates;
taking signal strengths measurements in areas of interest in the wireless local area network or other suitable network;
applying a linear regression method to estimate propagation channels;
estimating propagation channels at each grid point; and
processing the results to form the signal strength database or radio map when the computer program is run in a module of either a node, point or terminal, including an Access Point or other suitable grid point, in the wireless local area network or other suitable network.
- and a data structure entry for each grid point being based at least partly on an identification number for each grid point, an estimated received information at a respective grid point, a physical location of the respective grid point, and received signal strength information from a respective transmission of an access point at the respective grid point,; and
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24. A method comprising:
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building a database using a signal strength fingerprint algorithm for use in providing an estimate of a mobile location of a wireless node, point or terminal in a wireless local area network or other suitable network arranged in a geographic location; placing access points or other suitable grid points in the wireless local area network or other suitable network and recording their coordinates in the geographic location; taking signal strengths measurements in areas of interest in the wireless local area network or other suitable network; applying a linear regression method to estimate propagation channels; estimating propagation channels at each access or other suitable grid point; processing the results to form the signal strength database or radio map; the signal strength database or radio map being built using the signal strength fingerprint algorithm that includes recording grid positions and signal strength measurements; a data structure entry for each grid point being based at least partly on an identification number for each grid point, an estimated received information at a respective grid point, a physical location of the respective grid point, and received signal strength information from a respective transmission of an access point at the respective grid point; and the signal strength fingerprint algorithm including; placing access points in the wireless local area network or other suitable network and recording their coordinates; taking signal strengths measurements in areas of interest in the wireless local area network or other suitable network; applying a linear regression method to estimate propagation channels; estimating propagation channels at each grid point; and processing the results to form the signal strength database or radio map. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification