Systems and methods for location positioning within radio access systems

• US 8,559,982 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2011
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Inventors: Yee, Jung, Wu, Shiquan
• Primary Examiner(s): BALAOING, ARIEL A
• Application Number:
  US13/162,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20110312340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.5, 455/456.2, 455/456.1, 455/414.2, 455/7, 455/11.1
• US Class Current: 455/456.5
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/04 Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/10 Position of receiver fixed by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements , e.g. omega or decca systemsG01S5/12 takes precedence ; beacons and receivers cooperating therewith G01S1/306, G01S1/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method for calculating the geographical position of a user equipment (UE) unit includes collecting position parameters conveying the relative position of the UE unit from two or more base stations using technologies mandated for the modern wireless networks. Particularly, know (predetermined) signals embedded in the downlink and uplink subframes, such as preambles, pilots, ranging codes are used for determining the coordinates of the UE unit. In addition, the methods and systems proposed here take advantage of the multiple antennas systems mandated at both the UE and BTS.

Claims

1. A method for determining the location of a user equipment (UE) unit operating within the coverage area of a base transceiver station (BTS) in a radio access network, said UE unit transmitting a periodic ranging code in an incoming signal received on an uplink channel, comprising:

at said BTS, monitoring the incoming signal received from said UE unit over a first antenna and a second antenna;

identifying the signal as a particular call and detecting said ranging code received in the signal;

measuring a first and a second time of arrival (TOA) from said ranging code received at said first and second antennae, respectively;

generating a first function representing a first plurality of possible positions of the UE unit based on the first TOA and a second function representing a second plurality of possible positions of the UE unit based on the second TOA;

determining the geographical coordinates of said UE unit using said first and second functions;

appending the geographical coordinates to the particular call; and

transmitting the particular call with the geographical coordinates to a service provider relevant to the s articular call and the geographical coordinates.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the first function represents a first circle having said first TOA as a radius and first antenna as a center and the second function represents a second circle having said second TOA as a radius and said second antenna as a center.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

determining from the periodic ranging code received at said first and second antennae, a second set of position parameters using a technique that conveys the relative angular position of said UE unit; and

further determining the geographical coordinates of said UE unit using said second set of position parameters.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein determining the geographical coordinates of said UE unit is based on the coordinates of said UE unit relative to said BTS.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said radio access network is one of a WiMax, a 3GPP LTE and a UMB network.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, ranging code is inherently transmitted by said UE unit in uplink subframes for at least one non-location use.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said periodic ranging code includes a ranging code known to said BTS and a caller identification.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said uplink frame includes an additional symbol providing an identification of said UE unit and a request for identifying the geographical coordinates of said UE unit.

13. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second set of position parameters is further determined based on the distance between said UE unit and said first and second antennae.

14. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the geographical coordinates of said UE unit are established at the intersection between said first circle and said second circle.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the particular call is a 911 call.

16. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising receiving an additional position parameter from a neighboring BTS and processing the additional position parameter for further determining the geographical coordinates of said UE unit.

8. A location identification module for a base transceiver station BTS operating in a radio access network, said BTS having a first antenna and a second antenna, comprising:

a first monitoring unit for monitoring incoming traffic received, on the first antenna and identifying a periodic ranging code in a specific signal received from a user equipment (UE) unit positioned in the area of coverage of said BTS and determining a first position parameter;

a second monitoring unit for monitoring the incoming traffic received on the second antenna and identifying said periodic bit ranging code in the specific signal received from said UE unit and determining a second position parameter; and

a coordinate estimator for

determining a first and a second time of arrival (TOA) from said periodic ranging code received at said first and second antennae, respectively,

generating a first and a second function representing a first and a second circle having said first and second TOA, respectively, as a radius and said first and second antennae, respectively, as a center,

determining the geographical coordinates of said UE unit using said first and second functions, and

appending the geographical coordinates to the specific signal; and

a transceiver for transmitting the specific signal with the geographical coordinates to a service provider relevant to the particular call and the geographical coordinates.

9. A location identification module as claimed in claim 8, wherein said radio access network is a WiMax network.

10. A location identification module as claimed in claim 9, wherein said periodic is a ranging code is inherently transmitted in uplink subframes by said UE unit.

11. A location identification module as claimed in claim 8 wherein the second set of position parameters is further determined based on the distance between said UE unit and said first and second antennae.

17. A location identification module as claimed in claim 8, wherein said coordinate estimator is further for:

determining from said ranging code received at said first and second antennae a second set of position parameters using a technique that conveys the relative angular position of said UE unit; and

further determining the geographical coordinates of said UE unit using said second set of position parameters.