Location measurement acquisition optimization with Monte Carlo simulation

• US 8,188,920 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2009
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thomson, Martin, Winterbottom, James
• Primary Examiner(s): LIU, HARRY K
• Application Number:
  US12/579,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20110090121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 342/450
• US Class Current: 342/450
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0278 involving statistical or probabilistic considerations G01S5/0252, G01S5/0294 take precedence

Abstract

The present subject matter discloses a method for estimating dilution of precision (DOP) across a service area. A Monte Carlo simulation is used to determine the DOP across a service area. Random points are selected across a service area and as well as the radio transmitters who signals are capable of being received at the random points are determined. Using the network topology of radio transmitters, a DOP is calculated for each of the random points. DOP is modeled for the service area as a function of the calculated DOP for each of the random points. The modeled DOP is used to determined the measurement accuracy required for subsequent location requests.

Claims

1. A method for estimating dilution of precision (DOP) across a service area comprising:

selecting a plurality of points across the service area;

determining a set of radio transmitters that transmit signals capable of being received in the serving area;

calculating a DOP for each point in the plurality of points based on at least a geometry of each radio transmitter in the set of radio transmitters with respect to the points; and

modeling a DOP of the service area as a function of the calculated DOP of each of the plurality of points.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of points represent a random distribution.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising:

for every radio transmitter and point combination, determining the probability of each radio transmitters in the set of radio transmitters can be successfully measured at the plurality of points; and

calculating the DOP for each point based at least on the probability.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the probability is based on simulation data.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the probability is based on historical data.

6. A method of optimizing the number of measurements requested in a service area, comprising:

selecting a level of uncertainty;

determining a set of radio transmitters that transmit signals capable of being received in the serving area;

determining a metric across the service area based on at least the geometry of each of the radio transmitters within the set with respect to a plurality of randomly distributed points across the area; and

determining the number of measurements required at a location within the area based on at least the metric and the level of uncertainty.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the metric is dilution of precision (DOP).

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the metric is a predicted uncertainty.

9. The method of claim 6, comprising;

determining a measurement error standard deviation based at least on the metric and the level of uncertainty;

determining the number of measurements required to obtain the measurement error standard deviation based on a plurality of measurements.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of measurements represents simulated measurements.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of measurements represent historical measurements.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of determining a metric comprises:

calculating a dilution of precision (DOP) for each of the plurality of randomly distributed points based on at least a geometry of each radio transmitter in the set with respect to each of the plurality of points; and

,

modeling a DOP of the area as a function of the calculated DOP for each of the plurality of points.