Wireless location gateway and applications therefor

• US 7,714,778 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2001
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mobile Maven LLC (Dennis J. Dupray)
• Original Assignee: TracBeam LLC (Dennis J. Dupray)
• Inventors: Dupray, Dennis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US10/297,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20040266457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,263 Days
• Field of Search: 342/442, 342/457, 342/463, 342/357.01, 342/357.02, 342/357.06, 455/456.1, 455/456.6
• US Class Current: 342/357.31
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0252 Radio frequency fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0268 by deriving positions from different combinations of signals or of estimated positions in a single positioning system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0278 involving statistical or probabilistic considerations G01S5/0252, G01S5/0294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/005 Data network PoA devices

Abstract

A system for wirelessly locating mobile station/units (MS) and using resulting location determinations for providing a product or service is disclosed. The system is useful for routing an MS user to a plurality of desired locations, alerting an MS user to a nearby desired product or service based on satisfaction of user criteria, and providing enhanced security and 911 response. In one embodiment, the system responds to MS location requests via, e.g., Internet communication between a distributed network of location processing sites. A plurality of locating technologies including those based on: (1) TDOA; (2) pattern recognition; (3) timing advance; (5) GPS and network assisted GPS, (6) angle of arrival, (7) super resolution enhancements, and (8) supplemental information from low cost base stations can be activated, in various combinations, by system embodiments. MS location difficulties resulting from poor location accuracy/reliability and/or poor coverage are alleviated via such technologies in combination with automatically adapting and calibrating system performance according to environmental and geographical changes so that the system becomes progressively more comprehensive and accurate. Further, the system can be modularly configured for use in location signaling environments ranging from urban, dense urban, suburban, rural, mountain to low traffic or isolated roadways. Accordingly, the system is useful for 911 emergency calls, tracking, routing, people and animal location including applications for confinement to and exclusion from certain areas.

Claims

1. A method for locating mobile units, wherein for each of the mobile units, wireless signal measurements are obtained from transmissions between the mobile unit and a plurality of terrestrial communication stations, and wherein the mobile unit is independently moveable from each of the communication stations, and each of said communications stations includes one or more of:

a transmitter for transmitting wireless signals to the mobile units, and a receiver for receiving wireless signals from the mobile units, comprising;

first requesting a location of a first of the mobile units;

second requesting a location of a second of the mobile units;

wherein for at least the first mobile unit, one of the following location techniques (A-1) through (A-5) is used for locating the first mobile unit, and for at least the second mobile unit, a different one of the following location techniques (A-1) through (A-5) is used for locating the second mobile unit;

(A-1) a first technique for recognizing a pattern of wireless signal transmission characteristics, wherein said pattern of characteristics is indicative of a plurality of wireless signal transmission paths between the mobile unit and each of one or more of the communication stations;

(A-2) a second technique for estimating a location of said mobile unit, wherein the following steps (A-2-1) through (A-2-3) are performed;

(A-2-1) determining a time difference of arrival (TDOA) location estimate of said mobile unit based upon timing information of signals transmitted between the mobile unit and the communication stations;

(A-2-2) determining a timing advance (TA) location estimate for the mobile unit and at least one of the communication stations; and

(A-2-3) determining a location of the mobile unit using the TDOA location estimate, and the TA location estimate;

(A-3) a third technique for estimating a location of said mobile unit, wherein the following steps (A-3-1) through (A-3-3) are performed;

(A-3-1) obtaining a first measurement for a time of travel of a transmission transmitted by a wireless transmitter not supported on the earth'"'"'s surface, wherein the transmission is received at the mobile unit;

(A-3-2) obtaining a second measurement for a time of travel of a transmission communicated between the mobile unit, and one of the communication stations (CS) of a cell based communications system providing wireless two-way communication with a plurality of additional mobile units; and

(A-3-3) determining a position of said mobile unit using at least the first measurement to determine a geographical extent from the transmitter, and the second measurement to determine a geographical extent from the communication station CS;

(A-4) a fourth technique for estimating a location of said mobile unit using values of at least one location related characteristic of signals communicated between the mobile unit and the communication stations, wherein the following steps (A-4-1) through (A-4-10) are performed;

(A-4-1) estimating a channel power profile for each of M samples received at one of the communication stations;

(A-4-2) selecting a first set of N samples from the M samples;

(A-4-3) performing incoherent integration for said estimated channel power profiles for said first set of N samples to form a first integrated signal;

(A-4-4) if a quality level of the first integrated signal with respect to signal to noise is less than a predetermined threshold, selecting another sample from the M samples;

(A-4-5) performing incoherent integration for the estimated channel power profiles for said first set of N samples and said another sample to form a second integrated signal;

(A-4-6) if a quality level of said second integrated signal with respect to signal to noise is greater than or equal to said predetermined threshold, determining a location related signal characteristic value for a maximum level of the second integrated signal;

(A-4-7) using the signal characteristic value to provide a corresponding entry in a frequency of occurrence data structure;

(A-4-8) selecting a second set of N samples from the M samples;

(A-4-9) repeating all of the steps (A-4-3) through (A-4-7) for the second set of N samples; and

(A-4-10) determining a preferred value for the signal characteristic from the frequency of occurrence data structure; and

(A-5) a fifth technique for estimating a location of said mobile unit, wherein the following steps (A-5-1) and (A-5-2) are performed;

(A-5-1) determining a joint probability from location related information obtained from each of two different location providing information sources; and

(A-5-2) using the joint probability to determine a location estimate of the mobile unit;

combining the values indicative of amplitude and phase for two tone components of signals received at the communication stations to determine the position of the mobile unit;

first obtaining a first information of a location of the first mobile unit;

second obtaining second information of a location of the second mobile unit;

first obtaining first additional information using;

(a) the first information, and (b) information for a first destination determined using an input for identifying a first one or more geographic locations of interest, wherein when at least a first geographical condition related to both the location of the first mobile unit and the information for the first destination is satisfied, the first additional information includes information for a user of the first mobile unit to access the first destination;

second obtaining second additional information using;

(a) the second information, and (b) information for a second destination determined using an input for identifying a second one or more geographic locations of interest, wherein when at least a second geographical condition related to both the location of the second mobile unit and the information for the second destination is satisfied, the second additional information includes information for a user of the second mobile unit to access the second destination;

first transmitting the first additional information to the first mobile unit; and

second transmitting the second additional information to the second mobile unit.

2. The method of claim 1, further including for a third mobile unit,

third requesting a location of the third mobile unit, wherein the third request results in an activation of a sixth technique for estimating a location of said mobile unit, wherein the following steps (A-6-1) through (A-6-4) are performed:

(A-6-1) receiving global positioning system satellite (GPS) signals from a plurality of global positioning system satellites;

(A-6-2) receiving a plurality of cellular position signals that contain data in a GPS-like format;

(A-6-3) calculating the geographic position of the third mobile unit using signals received from a requisite number of satellites of a global positioning system signals when the requisite number of the plurality of global positioning system satellites are in view of a global positioning system receiver coupled to the third mobile unit; and

(A-6-4) calculating the geographic position of the third mobile unit using measurements of wireless transmissions between the third mobile unit and both said received plurality of cellular position signals and substantially all of said received global positioning system satellite signals when the requisite number of the plurality of global positioning system satellites are not in view of the global positioning system receiver.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second mobile units are the same.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second mobile units are different.

5. The method of claim 1, further including a step of transmitting routing information to at least the first mobile unit, wherein the routing information is for a route to the first destination.

6. The method of claim 1, further including a step of selecting advertising information to transmit to at least one of the first and second mobile units, wherein the advertising information identifies a corresponding one of the first and second destinations.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first geographical condition includes information for determining whether the first destination is:

(a1) within one of;

a specified travel distance of the location of the first mobile unit, or a specified geographical area of the location of the first mobile unit,

(a2) within a specified expected elapsed time of travel from the location of the first mobile unit; and

(a3) nearer to the location of the first mobile unit than at least one other destination for accessing an instance of the at least one desired item.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first geographic locations interest include at least one location for accessing a product or service identified as of interest prior to the step of first requesting.

7. An apparatus for locating mobile units wherein for each of the mobile units, wireless signal measurements are obtained from transmissions between the mobile unit and a plurality of terrestrial communication stations, and wherein the mobile unit is independently moveable from each of the communication stations, and each of said communications stations includes one or more of:

a transmitter for transmitting wireless signals to the mobile units, and a receiver for receiving wireless signals from the mobile units, comprising;

an interface for requesting a location of a first of the mobile units, and for requesting a location of a second of the mobile units;

wherein for at least the first mobile unit, the interface transmits activation information for one of the following location techniques (A-1) through (A-5) used for locating the first mobile unit, and for at least the second mobile unit, the interface transmits activation information to a different one of the following location techniques (A-1) through (A-5) used for locating the second mobile unit;

(A-1) a first technique for recognizing a pattern of wireless signal transmission characteristics, wherein said pattern of characteristics is indicative of a plurality of wireless signal transmission paths between the mobile unit and each of one or more of the communication stations;

(A-2) a second technique for estimating a location of said mobile unit, wherein the following steps (A-2-1) through (A-2-3) are performed;

(A-2-1) determining a time difference of arrival (TDOA) location estimate of said mobile unit based upon timing information of signals transmitted between the mobile unit and the communication stations;

(A-2-2) determining a timing advance (TA) location estimate for the mobile unit and at least one of the communication stations; and

(A-2-3) determining a location of the mobile unit using the TDOA location estimate, and the TA location estimate;

(A-3) a third technique for estimating a location of said mobile unit, wherein the following steps (A-3-1) through (A-3-3) are performed;

(A-3-1) obtaining a first measurement for a time of travel of a transmission transmitted by a wireless transmitter not supported on the earth'"'"'s surface, wherein the transmission is received at the mobile unit;

(A-3-2) obtaining a second measurement for a time of travel of a transmission communicated between the mobile unit, and one of the communication stations (CS) of a cell based communications system providing wireless two-way communication with a plurality of additional mobile units; and

(A-3-3) determining a position of said mobile unit using at least the first measurement to determine a geographical extent from the transmitter, and the second measurement to determine a geographical extent from the communication station CS;

(A-4) a fourth technique for estimating a location of said mobile unit using values of at least one location related characteristic of signals communicated between the mobile unit and the communication stations, wherein the following steps (A-4-1) through (A-4-10) are performed;

(A-4-1) estimating a channel power profile for each of M samples received at one of the communication stations;

(A-4-2) selecting a first set of N samples from the M samples;

(A-4-3) performing incoherent integration for said estimated channel power profiles for said first set of N samples to form a first integrated signal;

(A-4-4) if a quality level of the first integrated signal with respect to signal to noise is less than a predetermined threshold, selecting another sample from the M samples;

(A-4-5) performing incoherent integration for the estimated channel power profiles for said first set of N samples and said another sample to form a second integrated signal;

(A-4-6) if a quality level of said second integrated signal with respect to signal to noise is greater than or equal to said predetermined threshold, determining a location related signal characteristic value for a maximum level of the second integrated signal;

(A-4-7) using the signal characteristic value to provide a corresponding entry in a frequency of occurrence data structure;

(A-4-8) selecting a second set of N samples from the M samples;

(A-4-9) repeating all of the steps (A-4-3) through (A-4-7) for the second set of N samples; and

(A-4-10) determining a preferred value for the signal characteristic from the frequency of occurrence data structure; and

(A-5) a fifth technique for estimating a location of said mobile unit, wherein the following steps (A-5-1) and (A-5-2) are performed;

(A-5-1) determining a joint probability from location related information obtained from each of two different location providing information sources; and

(A-5-2) using the joint probability to determine a location estimate of the mobile unit;

combining the values indicative of amplitude and phase for two tone components of signals received at the communication stations to determine the position of the mobile unit;

a common interface for first receiving first information of a location of the first mobile unit, and for second receiving second information of a location of the second mobile unit;

one or more common components, including at least a presentation component for providing, for each of a plurality of users, a corresponding presentation for identifying one or more corresponding geographic locations of interest to the user, wherein;

(a) information for;

(a) a first location determined using an input for identifying one or more geographic locations of interest, and (b) the first information are used by the one or more common components to determine first additional information related to the first location, wherein when at least one geographical condition related to both the location of the first mobile unit and the first location is satisfied, the first additional information includes information for a user of the first mobile unit to access the first location; and

(b) information for;

(a) a second destination determined using an input for identifying one or more geographic locations of interest, and (b) the second information are used by the one or more common components to determine second additional information, wherein when at least one geographical condition related to both the location of the second mobile unit and the second location is satisfied, the second additional information includes information for a user of the second mobile unit to access the second location;

first transmitting the first additional information to the first mobile unit for presenting to the user of the first mobile unit; and

second transmitting the second additional information to the second mobile unit for presenting to the user of the second mobile unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first and second mobile units are the same.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first and second mobile units are different.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more components perform a step of determining routing information to transmit to at least one of the first and second mobile units, wherein the routing information is for a route to a corresponding one of the first and second destinations.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more components perform a step of selecting advertising information to transmit to at least one of the first and second mobile units, wherein the advertising information identifies a corresponding one of the first and second destinations.