Sparsed U-TDOA wireless location networks

• US 8,140,092 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2007
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyhook Holding, Inc. (Liberty Broadband Corp.)
• Original Assignee: TruePosition Incorporated
• Inventors: Mia, Rashidus S., Lefever, Ronald, Anderson, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LY, NGHI H
• Application Number:
  US11/736,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20080261614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/404.2, 455/440, 455/423, 455/424
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

In an overlay, U-TDOA-based, Wireless Location System, LMUs typically co-located with BTSs, are used to collect radio signaling both in the forward and reverse channels. Techniques are used to compensate for sparse LMU deployments where sections of the U-TDOA service area are uplink demodulation or downlink beacon discovery limited.

Claims

1. An iterative method for designing a sparse wireless location system (WLS) overlaid on a wireless communications system (WCS), comprising:

performing an intelligent network design process to produce a first WLS network design;

determining that an uplink demodulation performance limiting factor affects the first WLS network design; and

in response to determining that an uplink demodulation performance limiting factor affects the first WLS design, modifying the first WLS design by performing of the following to produce an updated sparse WLS design;

(a) determining whether communications system demodulation data is enabled in the WCS, and if so enabling a WLS demodulated data feature;

(b) if communications system demodulation data is not enabled in the WCS, and if an Abis monitoring system (AMS) is not deployed in the WCS, then enabling a mid-amble only correction feature in the WLS;

(c) if communications system demodulation data is not enabled in the WCS, and if an Abis monitoring system (AMS) is deployed in the WCS, then enabling an AMS-derived demodulated data feature in the WLS; and

performing another iteration of the intelligent network design process with updated design specifications and determining whether another performance limiting factor affects the updated sparse WLS design.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said WLS comprises an uplink time difference of arrival (U-TDOA) system including a plurality of geographically dispersed location measuring units (LMUs).

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said WLS is overlaid on a GSM wireless communications system comprising a plurality of geographically dispersed base transceiver stations (BTSs).

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising identifying at least one cluster of co-synchronized cell sectors prior to performing an intelligent network design process to produce said first WLS network design.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising determining that the first WLS network design or a modified version thereof is affected by an accuracy performance limiting factor.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising modifying the first WLS network design by increasing an integration time at one or more location measuring units (LMUs).

7. A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising modifying the first WLS network design by deploying a hybrid time difference of arrival (TDOA)/enhanced cell identification (ECID) location process in the WLS.

8. A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising modifying the first WLS network design by deploying a hybrid time TDOA/angle of arrival (AoA) location process in the WLS.

9. A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising modifying the first WLS network design by adding at least one location measuring unit (LMU) to the first WLS network design.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising determining that the first WLS network design or a modified version thereof is affected by a downlink beacon discovery performance limiting factor.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising modifying the first WLS network design by deploying at least one enhanced downlink antenna.

12. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising modifying the first WLS network design by deploying downlink interference cancellation.

13. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising modifying the first WLS network design by deploying base transceiver station (BTS) synchronization.

14. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising modifying the first WLS network design by adding at least one location measuring unit (LMU) to the first WLS network design.

15. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising modifying the first WLS network design by determining that an Abis monitoring system (AMS) is not deployed, and then deploying at least one downlink-only location measuring unit (LMU) at an identified site.

16. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising modifying the first WLS network design by determining that an Abis monitoring system (AMS) is deployed, and then enabling the use of Enhanced Beacon Synchronization (EBS) and AMS-derived beacon timing functions.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions for carrying out a prescribed method for designing a sparse wireless location system (WLS), said prescribed method comprising:

performing an intelligent network design process to produce a first WLS network design;

determining that an uplink demodulation performance limiting factor affects the first WLS network design; and

in response to determining that an uplink demodulation performance limiting factor affects the first WLS design, modifying the first WLS design by performing the following to produce an updated sparse WLS design;

determining whether communications system demodulation data is enabled in the WCS, and if so enabling a WLS demodulated data feature;

if communications system demodulation data is not enabled in the WCS, and if an Abis monitoring system (AMS) is not deployed in the WCS, then enabling a mid-amble only correction feature in the WLS;

if communications system demodulation data is not enabled in the WCS, and if an AMS is deployed in the WCS, then enabling an AMS-derived demodulated data feature in the WLS; and

performing another iteration of the intelligent network design process with updated design specifications and determining whether another performance limiting factor affects the updated sparse WLS network design.

18. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein said WLS comprises an uplink time difference of arrival (U-TDOA) system including a plurality of geographically dispersed location measuring units (LMUs).

19. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein said WLS is overlaid on a GSM wireless communications system comprising a plurality of geographically dispersed base transceiver stations (BTSs).

20. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein said method further comprises identifying at least one cluster of co-synchronized cell sectors prior to performing an intelligent network design process to produce said first WLS network design.

21. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein said method further comprises determining that the first WLS network design or a modified version thereof is affected by an accuracy performance limiting factor.

22. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 21, wherein said method further comprises modifying the first WLS network design by increasing an integration time at one or more location measuring units (LMUs).

23. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 21, wherein said method further comprises modifying the first WLS network design by deploying a hybrid time difference of arrival (TDOA)/enhanced cell identification (ECID) location process in the WLS.

24. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 21, wherein said method further comprises modifying the first WLS network design by deploying a hybrid time TDOA/angle of arrival (AoA) location process in the WLS.

25. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 21, wherein said method further comprises modifying the first WLS network design by adding at least one location measuring unit (LMU) to the first WLS network design.

26. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein said method further comprises determining that the first WLS network design or a modified version thereof is affected by a downlink beacon discovery performance limiting factor.

27. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 26, wherein said method further comprises modifying the first WLS network design by deploying at least one enhanced downlink antenna.

28. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 26, wherein said method further comprises modifying the first WLS network design by deploying downlink interference cancellation.

29. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 26, wherein said method further comprises modifying the first WLS network design by deploying base transceiver station (BTS) synchronization.

30. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 26, wherein said method further comprises modifying the first WLS network design by adding at least one location measuring unit (LMU) to the first WLS network design.

31. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 26, wherein said method further comprises modifying the first WLS network design by determining that an Abis monitoring system (AMS) is not deployed, and then deploying at least one downlink-only location measuring unit (LMU) at an identified site.

32. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 26, wherein said method further comprises modifying the first WLS network design by determining that an Abis monitoring system (AMS) is deployed, and then enabling the use of Enhanced Beacon Synchronization (EBS) and AMS-derived beacon timing functions.