Method and system for device positioning utilizing distributed transceivers with array processing

• US 8,639,270 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Golba LLC
• Original Assignee: Golba LLC
• Inventors: Moshfeghi, Mehran
• Primary Examiner(s): Perez-Gutierrez, Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fang, Keith
• Application Number:
  US13/435,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20130260798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/456.5
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0018 Transmission from mobile station to base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0226 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A mobile device receives signals from base stations each with multiple distributed transceivers. Each distributed transceiver may operate at different carrier frequencies. Each distributed transceiver is equipped with an independently configurable antenna array handling transmissions of the radio frequency signals to the mobile device. The mobile device generates channel measurements for the received signals, and subsequently receives a position estimate from a remote location server. The location server determines corresponding transmit diversity configurations applied to the base stations for conducting the channel measurements for the mobile device, and channel measurements at scanned locations in a location scanning region. The location server selects and utilize a signature function to calculate the position estimate for the mobile device over the transmit diversity configurations. A multi-level positioning process may be performed by adopting various signature functions, subsets of transmit configurations and/or subspaces of the location scanning region for accurate device positioning.

Claims

1. A method of processing signals, the method comprising:

in a mobile device;

receiving radio frequency signals from one or more base stations, wherein;

each of said one or more base stations comprises a plurality of distributed transceivers; and

each of said plurality of distributed transceivers comprises an independently configurable antenna array for transmitting said radio frequency signals to said mobile device;

generating channel measurements for said received radio frequency signals; and

receiving a position estimate for said mobile device from a remote location server, wherein;

corresponding transmit diversity configurations are determined by said remote location server, said corresponding transmit diversity configurations being applied to said one or more base stations for both said channel measurements for said mobile device and channel measurements at scanned locations in a location scanning region;

said position estimate for said mobile device over said location scanning region utilizing said channel measurements for said mobile device, said channel measurements at said scanned locations, and said corresponding transmit diversity configurations are calculated by said remote location server; and

wherein said corresponding transmit diversity configurations comprise base station identifier index, transceiver index, transceiver operating frequency, and transmit antenna patterns and array configurations for each of said one or more base stations.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a signature function for said channel measurements for said mobile device, and said channel measurements at said scanned locations over said corresponding transmit diversity configurations, are selected by said remote location server.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said signature function is defined in terms of full channel response, receive signal strength indicator, strongest multipath, or angle of arrival for said channel measurements for said mobile device, and said channel measurements at said scanned locations over said corresponding transmit diversity configurations.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein said signature function is utilized by said remote location server to determine said position estimate for said mobile device over said corresponding transmit diversity configurations.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said position estimate for said mobile device is updated by said remote location server based on resolution of said signature function over said scanned locations in said location scanning region.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein a subset of said corresponding transmit diversity configurations and/or a subspace of said location scanning region is selected by said remote location server based on said resolution of said signature function over said scanned locations in said location scanning region.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said signature function is utilized by said remote location server to calculate said updated position estimate for said mobile device over said subset of said corresponding transmit diversity configurations and/or over said subspace of said location scanning region.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein said updated position estimate for said mobile device is calculated by said remote location server, by utilizing a different signature function for each of said channel measurements for said mobile device and said channel measurements with said known locations over said corresponding transmit diversity configurations.

9. The method according to claim 5, comprising receiving said updated position estimate at said mobile device.

10. A system for processing signals, the system comprising a mobile device, said mobile device being operable to:

receive radio frequency signals from one or more base stations, wherein;

each of said one or more base stations comprises a plurality of distributed transceivers; and

each of said plurality of distributed transceivers comprises an independently configurable antenna array for transmitting said radio frequency signals to said mobile device;

determine channel characteristics for said received radio frequency signals;

generate channel measurements for said received radio frequency signals; and

receive a position estimate for said mobile device from a remote location server, wherein;

corresponding transmit diversity configurations are determined by said remote location server, said corresponding transmit diversity configurations being applied to said one or more base stations for both said channel measurements for said mobile device and channel measurements at scanned locations in a location scanning region;

said position estimate for said mobile device over said location scanning region utilizing said channel measurements for said mobile device, said channel measurements at said scanned locations, and said corresponding transmit diversity configurations are calculated by said remote location server; and

wherein said corresponding transmit diversity configurations comprise base station identifier index, transceiver index, transceiver operating frequency, and transmit antenna patterns and array configurations for each of said one or more base stations.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein a signature function for said channel measurements for said mobile device, and said channel measurements at said scanned locations over said corresponding transmit diversity configurations, are selected by said remote location server.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said signature function is defined in terms of full channel response, receive signal strength indicator, strongest multipath, or angle of arrival for said channel measurements for said mobile device, and said channel measurements at said scanned locations over said corresponding transmit diversity configurations.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said signature function is utilized by said remote location server to determine said position estimate for said mobile device over said corresponding transmit diversity configurations.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said position estimate for said mobile device is updated by said remote location server based on resolution of said signature function over said scanned locations in said location scanning region.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein a subset of said corresponding transmit diversity configurations and/or a subspace of said location scanning region is selected by said remote location server based on said resolution of said signature function over said scanned locations in said location scanning region.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said signature function is utilized by said remote location server to calculate said updated position estimate for said mobile device over said subset of said corresponding transmit diversity configurations and/or over said subspace of said location scanning region.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein said updated position estimate for said mobile device is calculated by said remote location server, by utilizing a different signature function for each of said channel measurements for said mobile device, and said channel measurements with said known locations over said corresponding transmit diversity configurations.

18. The system according to claim 14, wherein said mobile device receives said updated position estimate.