Automated portable call collection unit

• US 8,862,153 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2011
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Iwaszko, Robert M., Torres, Jeff, Covington, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): PHUONG, DAI
• Application Number:
  US13/114,905
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 455/115.2, 455/430, 455/440, 4554561-4563, 455/457, 701468-476, 701/478, 701482-485, 713/400, 713/401, 713/500, 713/600
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/396 Determining accuracy or reliability of position or pseudorange measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/27 for locating or positioning the transmitter

Abstract

An automated portable call collection unit (APCCU) may gather information used in testing the accuracy of a wireless mobile device locating system. A GPS ground truth detector may detect the location of the APCCU based on GPS signals. A cellular GPS detector may detect GPS signals identified by a signal-identification communication from the locating system. An internal clock may keep time and synchronize its time to GPS time as announced periodically by GPS time signals. A controller may repeatedly cause a cellular network communication system to wirelessly request and receive the signal-identification communication and to send the information about the detected GPS signals, the locations, and the times. All of this may be done in a manner that insures that the accuracy of the locating system is not tested before the internal clock is first synchronized to GPS time following application of operating power to the APCCU.

Claims

1. An automated portable call collection unit for gathering information used in testing the accuracy of a wireless mobile device locating system, the automated portable call collection unit comprising:

a GPS ground truth detector configured to detect a location of the automated portable call collection unit based on GPS signals;

a cellular GPS detector configured to detect GPS signals identified by a signal-identification communication from the wireless mobile device locating system;

an internal clock configured to keep time and to synchronize its time to GPS time as announced periodically by GPS time signals;

a cellular network communication system configured to;

wirelessly request and receive the signal-identification communication from the wireless mobile device locating system over a cellular communication network;

wirelessly send information to the wireless mobile device locating system over the cellular communication network about;

one or more locations detected by the GPS ground truth detector;

the GPS signals that are detected by the cellular GPS detector; and

one or more of the times on the internal clock; and

a controller configured to repeatedly cause the cellular network communication system to wirelessly request and receive the signal-identification communication and to send the information about the GPS signals, the locations, and the times, all in a manner that insures that the accuracy of the wireless mobile device locating system is not tested before the internal clock is first synchronized to GPS time following application of operating power to the automated portable call collection unit.

2. The automated portable call collection unit of claim 1 wherein the manner that insures the accuracy of the tests includes not requesting the signal-identification communication until after the internal clock is first synchronized to GPS time following application of operating power to the automated portable call collection unit.

3. The automated portable call collection unit of claim 1 wherein the manner that insures the accuracy of the tests includes not sending the information about the locations, the GPS signals, or the times until after the internal clock is first synchronized to GPS time following application of operating power to the automated portable call collection unit.

4. The automated portable call collection unit of claim 1 wherein the manner that insures the accuracy of the tests includes sending information to the wireless device locating system indicative of when the internal clock is first synchronized to GPS time following application of operating power to the automated portable call collection unit.

5. The automated portable call collection unit of claim 1 wherein the manner that insures the accuracy of the tests includes sending information indicative of which of the locations, GPS signals, and/or times were detected after the internal clock is first synchronized to GPS time following application of operating power to the automated portable call collection unit.

6. The automated portable call collection unit of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to determine when the internal clock is first synchronized to GPS time following application of operating power to the automated portable call collection unit by equating this first synchronization with a pre-determined amount of time following application of operating power to the automated portable call collection unit.

7. The automated portable call collection unit of claim 6 wherein the pre-determined time is at least ten minutes.

8. The automated portable call collection unit of claim 7 wherein the pre-determined time is at least fifteen minutes.

9. The automated portable call collection unit of claim 6 wherein the pre-determined period of time is at least the time it takes the GPS ground truth detector to acquire the GPS signals.

10. The automated portable call collection unit of claim 6 wherein the pre-determined period of time is at least the time between successive GPS time signals.

11. The automated portable call collection unit of claim 6 wherein the pre-determined period of time is at least the time it takes the GPS ground truth detector to acquire the GPS signals plus the time between successive GPS time signals.

12. The automated portable call collection unit of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to periodically cause the cellular network communication system to wirelessly request and receive the signal-identification communication and to send the information about the GPS signals, the locations, and the times.

13. The automated portable call collection unit of claim 1 wherein the GPS ground truth detector is configured to detect the locations on a periodic basis.

14. The automated portable call collection unit of claim 13 wherein the periodic basis is at least once every second.

15. The automated portable call collection unit of claim 13 wherein the information that is sent to the wireless mobile device locating system includes information about several locations that were detected by the GPS ground truth detector and the times on the internal clock when each was detected.

16. An automated portable call collection system comprising:

an automated portable call collection unit for gathering information used in testing the accuracy of a wireless mobile device locating system;

a power connector on the automated portable call collection unit configured to receive operating power for the automated portable call collection unit;

a vehicle cable configured at one end to plug into the power connector and at the other end to plug into a receptacle in a vehicle so as to draw operating power for the automated portable call collection unit from the vehicle;

a battery configured to provide operating power for the automated portable call collection unit;

a battery cable configured at one end to plug into the power connector and at the other end to connect to the battery so as to draw operating power for the automated portable call collection unit from the battery; and

a shock-resistant case with protective padding configured to house the automated portable call collection unit, the cigarette lighter cable, the battery, and the battery cable in a manner that protects each one of them against damage from shock during transport of the case,

wherein the automated portable call collection unit comprises;

a GPS ground truth detector configured to detect a location of the automated portable call collection unit based on GPS signals;

a cellular GPS detector configured to detect GPS signals identified by a signal-identification communication from the wireless mobile device locating system;

an internal clock configured to keep time and to synchronize its time to GPS time as announced periodically by GPS time signals;

a cellular network communication system configured to;

wirelessly request and receive the signal-identification communication from the wireless mobile device locating system over a cellular communication network;

wirelessly send information to the wireless mobile device locating system over the cellular communication network about;

one or more locations detected by the GPS ground truth detector;

the GPS signals that are detected by the cellular GPS detector; and

one or more of the times on the internal clock; and

a controller configured to repeatedly cause the cellular network communication system to wirelessly request and receive the signal-identification communication and to send the information about the GPS signals, the locations, and the times, all in a manner that insures that the accuracy of the wireless mobile device locating system is not tested before the internal clock is first synchronized to GPS time following application of operating power to the automated portable call collection unit.

17. The automated portable call collection system of claim 16, further comprising:

a GPS ground truth antenna configured to receive the GPS signals;

wherein the shock-resistant case is configured to house the GPS ground truth antenna in a manner that protects it against damage from shock during transport of the case.

18. The automated portable call collection system of claim 16, further comprising:

a cellular GPS antenna configured to receive the GPS signals;

wherein the shock-resistant case is configured to house the cellular GPS antenna in a manner that protects it against damage from shock during transport of the case.

19. The automated portable call collection system of claim 16, further comprising:

a cellular communication antenna configured to send and receive the cellular communication signals;

wherein the shock-resistant case is configured to house the cellular communication antenna in a manner that protects it against damage from shock during transport of the case.