Radio frequency signal for determining location

• US 7,844,237 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jordan, Christopher Ross, Cheung, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, HUY Q
• Application Number:
  US11/380,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20070254611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,678 Days
• Field of Search: 455/166.1, 455/154.2, 455/434, 455/160.1, 455/161.1, 455/517, 455/403, 455/422.1
• US Class Current: 455/166.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0268 by deriving positions from different combinations of signals or of estimated positions in a single positioning system

Abstract

Systems and methods of position sensing for a receiver, via employing an ability thereof to receive signals in a broader range than what such receiver is initially tuned for. A frequency skip component can skip channel frequencies such that the spectrum range is scanned without a typical requirement of tuning to all the channels during such scan. Accordingly, the subject innovation enables the entire spectrum of interest to be scanned at a substantially reduced amount of time. Location interpolation for the receiver and time stamping of received signals can be implemented as part of the position sensing.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a receiver at a location that receives signals over a spectrum of frequencies from one or more base stations, wherein each base station is at a position and each frequency is associated with a channel;

a signal analyzer unit associated with the receiver;

a location interpolation component that evaluates kinetics data for a motion of the receiver; and

a frequency skip component that is part of the signal analyzer unit and scans for one or more interested frequencies and skips one or more unscanned frequencies during the scan;

wherein the frequency skip component designates a channel selected at interval m as;

Channel at Interval m=[1+(2B+1)×

m] [Mod N]

wherein;

N=number of interested channels;

B=+channel tolerance that represents number of neighboring channel(s) that can be detected at one of above and below a channel that the receiver is tuned for;

wherein the signal analyzer unit supplies a scan for the spectrum of frequencies,

and identifies received signals and the base stations associated with the identified signals.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the location interpolation component performs a linear interpolation for the location of the receiver, and wherein the signal analyzer unit refines the receiver location based on the position of the one or more base stations.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the signal analyzer system further comprises a time stamp component that stamps incoming data at time of reception of signal, and wherein the location interpolation component evaluates the kinetics data using the stamp to refine the interpolated location of the receiver.

4. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising a GPS system that supplies location related information for the receiver.

5. The communication system of claim 2, further comprising an artificial intelligence component that interacts with the signal analyzer unit to facilitate an operation thereof.

6. The communication system of claim 2, further comprising- a channel selectable in a non-random manner.

7. A method of scanning a spectrum of frequencies comprising:

receiving one or more signals over a spectrum of frequencies from one or more base stations by a receiver at a location associated with a signal analyzer unit, wherein each frequency is associated with a channel;

scanning one or more interested frequencies of a the spectrum of frequencies;

designating a channel selected at interval m as;

Channel at Interval m=[1+(2B+1)×

m] [Mod N]

wherein

N=number of interested channels;

B=+channel tolerance that represents a number of neighboring channel(s) that can be detected at one of above and below a channel that the receiver is tuned for;

skipping one or more frequencies that are adjacent to the one or more interested frequencies;

detecting and identifying one or more signals on the one or more skipped frequencies; and

supplying a scan for the spectrum of frequencies.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising locating a position of the receiver.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising skipping the one or more unscanned frequencies in a nonrandomized manner.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising interpolating a location of the receiver based on known positions thereof.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising skipping the one or more unscanned frequencies in a non-linear fashion.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving one or more positions of the one or more base stations that transmit the signal and refining the interpolated location of the receiver using the position of the base stations.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising acquiring data related to motion of the receiver and refining the interpolated location of the receiver using the motion data.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising assigning a time stamp to the signal and refining the interpolated location of the receiver using the time stamp.

15. A method of determining a location of a receiver, the method comprising:

receiving one or more signals over a spectrum of frequencies originating from one or more base stations by a receiver at a location;

scanning one or more interested frequencies of the spectrum of frequencies;

designating a channel selected at an interval m as;

Channel at Interval m=[1+(2B+1)×

m] [Mod N]

wherein

N=number of interested channels;

B=+channel tolerance that represents a number of neighboring channel(s) that can be detected at one of above and below a channel that the receiver is tuned for;

skipping one or more frequencies that are adjacent to the one or more interested frequencies;

detecting and identifying one or more signals on the one or more skipped frequencies;

determining a position of one or more base stations originating the identified signal; and

interpolating the location of the receiver based upon the determined position and one or more prior known positions of the one or more base stations.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising evaluating kinetic data to determine a motion of the receiver and refining the interpolated location of the receiver using the said motion.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising assigning a time stamp to the one or more received signals at time of reception of signal and further evaluating the kinetic data using the time stamp.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising skipping the one or more unscanned frequencies in a non-linear fashion.