Mobile station localization apparatus, systems, and methods

• US 8,233,912 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2010
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Taaghol, Pouya, Venkatachalam, Muthaiah
• Primary Examiner(s): TORRES, MARCOS L
• Application Number:
  US12/651,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20100103825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-457, 455/67.11, 455/404.2, 455/561, 370/338, 370/328, 342/450, 342/463, 342/464, 342/385, 342/386
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Embodiments herein may use first and second path loss values L1 and L2 to calculate first and second distances R1 and R2 between the MS and first and second base stations BS1 and BS2, respectively, in a wireless packet-carrying network. L1 and L2 may comprise values of a reduction in signal strength of signals as transmitted by the BS1 and the BS2 and as received by the MS. The MS may triangulate its position relative to a grid using R1 and R2. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method performed by a mobile station (MS) operating in a wireless network, the method comprising:

measuring a first signal strength received at the MS from a first base station (BS1);

measuring a second signal strength received at the MS from a second base station (BS2);

receiving first path loss parameter values at the MS broadcast from the BS1, wherein the first path loss parameter values include each of;

a value of transmit power at the BS1, an antenna height associated with the BS1, and a position of the BS1;

receiving second path loss parameter values at the MS broadcast from the BS2, wherein the second path loss parameter values include each of;

a value of transmit power at the BS2, an antenna height associated with the BS2, and a position of the BS2; and

calculating a three-dimensional location of the MS using the measured first signal strength, the measured second signal strength, the received first path loss parameter values, and the received second path loss parameter values;

wherein the position of the BS1 includes grid coordinates corresponding to location of the BS1 relative to a two-dimensional grid, and wherein the position of the BS2 includes grid coordinates corresponding to a location of the BS2 relative to the two-dimensional grid; and

wherein the first path loss parameter values and the second path loss parameter values are broadcasted from the BS1 and the BS2 respectively using a position assistant information (PAI) field of a broadcast frame.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the calculated location of the MS to another network entity.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using the calculated location in an operation at the MS.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first path loss parameter values are in a message broadcast from the BS1 and the second path loss parameter values are in a message broadcast from the BS2.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the mobile station and the base stations operate in accordance with an IEEE 802.16 standard.

6. A method performed by a base station (BS) operating in a wireless network, the method comprising:

determining path loss parameter values, wherein the path loss parameter values include a value of transmit power at the BS, an antenna height associated with the BS, and a position of the BS; and

broadcasting, on a periodic basis within an information field of a broadcast frame, a message containing the path loss parameter values;

wherein the position of the BS includes grid coordinates corresponding to a location of the BS relative to a two-dimensional grid; and

wherein the BS operates in accordance with an IEEE 802.16 standard, and wherein the information field is a position assistant information (PAI) field.

7. A method performed by a base station (BS) operating in a wireless network, the method comprising:

determining path loss parameter values, wherein the path loss parameter values include a value of transmit power at the BS, an antenna height associated with the BS, and a position of the BS; and

broadcasting a message containing the path loss parameter values on a periodic basis;

wherein the position of the BS includes grid coordinates corresponding to a location of the BS relative to a grid;

wherein the BS operates in accordance with an IEEE 802.16 standard, and

wherein the message is broadcasted in a position assistant information (PAI) field of a broadcast frame.