Determination of positions of wireless transceivers to be added to a wireless communication network
First Claim
1. A method of determining unknown positions of wireless transceivers to be added to a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
- obtaining a plurality of time difference of arrival (TDOA) values comprising a plurality of unknown-unknown TDOA values and a plurality of unknown-known TDOA values;
wherein each unknown-unknown TDOA value identifies a difference between a pair of measurements made at a first unknown position, the pair of measurements being of times of arrival of wireless signals transmitted from a pair of additional unknown positions;
wherein each unknown-known TDOA value identifies a difference between another pair of measurements, with one measurement in said another pair being of time of arrival of a wireless signal transmitted from one of the unknown positions and another measurement in said another pair being of time of arrival of an additional wireless signal transmitted from a known position;
solving a set of simultaneous equations, to identify at least the unknown positions, based on at least (a) the plurality of TDOA values and (b) a plurality of known positions including said known position; and
storing in a memory, identifications of said unknown positions obtained by said solving.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Positions of non-reference wireless transceivers to be added to a wireless communication network are determined as follows. Each non-reference wireless transceiver performs measurements of times of arrival (TOA) of signals transmitted by other non-reference wireless transceivers, as well as reference wireless transceivers. Thereafter, time difference of arrival (TDOA) values are computed from at least two types of pairs of measurements as follows: (a) unknown-unknown TDOA values are obtained as differences between TOA measurements of signals transmitted by non-reference wireless transceivers and (b) unknown-known TDOA values are obtained as differences between a TOA measurement of a signal transmitted by a non-reference wireless transceiver and another TOA measurement of another signal transmitted by a reference wireless transceiver. Both types of TDOA values are used to solve simultaneous equations to identify the positions of the non-reference wireless transceivers and optionally times of transmission of the signals by the non-reference wireless transceivers.
95 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A method of determining unknown positions of wireless transceivers to be added to a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
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obtaining a plurality of time difference of arrival (TDOA) values comprising a plurality of unknown-unknown TDOA values and a plurality of unknown-known TDOA values; wherein each unknown-unknown TDOA value identifies a difference between a pair of measurements made at a first unknown position, the pair of measurements being of times of arrival of wireless signals transmitted from a pair of additional unknown positions; wherein each unknown-known TDOA value identifies a difference between another pair of measurements, with one measurement in said another pair being of time of arrival of a wireless signal transmitted from one of the unknown positions and another measurement in said another pair being of time of arrival of an additional wireless signal transmitted from a known position; solving a set of simultaneous equations, to identify at least the unknown positions, based on at least (a) the plurality of TDOA values and (b) a plurality of known positions including said known position; and storing in a memory, identifications of said unknown positions obtained by said solving. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for a new wireless transceiver to be added to a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
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receiving a first request; generating a first plurality of measurements in response to the first request, by measuring at a first unknown position, a first plurality of times of arrival of a set of wireless signals; transmitting the first plurality of measurements; receiving a second request; generating a second plurality of measurements in response to the second request by measuring at the first unknown position, a second plurality of times of arrival of wireless signals in a subset within said set; wherein the subset excludes a wireless signal of maximum received signal strength (RSS) in said set; and transmitting the second plurality of measurements. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method for a new wireless transceiver to be added to a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
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measuring received signal strength (RSS) of a plurality of wireless signals, to obtain a plurality of RSS measurements; using the plurality of RSS measurements to identify a maximum RSS measurement therein; transmitting an identification of a wireless transceiver that generated the maximum RSS measurement; receiving a listing of wireless transceivers; using the listing to generate a plurality of time difference of arrival (TDOA) values comprising a plurality of unknown-unknown TDOA values, and a plurality of unknown-known TDOA values; wherein each unknown-unknown TDOA value identifies a difference between a pair of measurements at an unknown position, the pair of measurements being of times of arrival of signals transmitted from unknown positions; wherein each unknown-known TDOA value identifies a difference between another pair of measurements at said unknown position, with one measurement in said another pair being of time of arrival of a wireless signal transmitted from one of the unknown positions and another measurement in said another pair being of time of arrival of an additional wireless signal transmitted from a known position; and transmitting the plurality of TDOA values. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for adding to a wireless communication network, a plurality of non-reference wireless transceivers having unknown positions and clocks of unknown synchronization relative to one another, the apparatus comprising:
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means for obtaining a plurality of time difference of arrival (TDOA) values comprising a plurality of unknown-unknown TDOA values, and a plurality of unknown-known TDOA values; wherein each unknown-unknown TDOA value identifies a difference between a pair of measurements made by a non-reference wireless transceiver located at an unknown position, the pair of measurements being of times of arrival of signals transmitted from unknown positions, by a corresponding pair of non-reference wireless transceivers; wherein each unknown-known TDOA value identifies a difference between another pair of measurements at said non-reference wireless transceiver, with one measurement in said another pair being of time of arrival of a signal transmitted by one of the non-reference wireless transceivers and another measurement in said another pair being of time of arrival of an additional signal transmitted by a reference wireless transceiver comprised in the wireless communication network; means, responsive to at least (a) the plurality of TDOA values and (b) a plurality of known positions of reference wireless transceivers in the wireless communication network, for solving a set of simultaneous equations, to identify at least the unknown positions of said non-reference wireless transceivers; and means for storing in a memory, identifications of said unknown positions obtained by said means for solving. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A non-transitory storage medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a machine, cause a processor to perform operations, the instructions comprising:
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instructions to obtain a plurality of time difference of arrival (TDOA) values comprising a plurality of unknown-unknown TDOA values, and a plurality of unknown-known TDOA values; wherein each unknown-unknown TDOA value identifies a difference between a pair of measurements made by a non-reference wireless transceiver located at an unknown position, the pair of measurements being of times of arrival of signals transmitted from unknown positions, by a corresponding pair of non-reference wireless transceivers; wherein each unknown-known TDOA value identifies a difference between another pair of measurements at said non-reference wireless transceiver, with one measurement in said another pair being of time of arrival of a signal transmitted by one of the non-reference wireless transceivers and another measurement in said another pair being of time of arrival of an additional signal transmitted by a reference wireless transceiver comprised in the wireless communication network; instructions, responsive to at least (a) the plurality of TDOA values and (b) a plurality of known positions of reference wireless transceivers in the wireless communication network, to solve a set of simultaneous equations, to identify at least the unknown positions of said non-reference wireless transceivers; and instructions to store in a memory, identifications of said unknown positions obtained by execution of said instructions to solve. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A wireless transceiver comprising:
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a clock to be synchronized to a wireless communication network; a network listening module to generate measurements relative to said clock to be synchronized, of a plurality of times of arrival of wireless signals from unknown position and having unknown timing and of another plurality of times of arrival of signals from known positions and having known timing; a processor coupled to the network listening module to receive said measurements; a memory coupled to the processor; wherein the memory comprises machine instructions to said processor to compute a plurality of time difference of arrival (TDOA) values, each TDOA value being a difference between a pair of measurements among said plurality of measurements; and a local area network (LAN) circuit coupled to the memory to receive therefrom the plurality of TDOA values. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A non-transitory storage medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a machine, cause a processor to perform operations, the instructions comprising:
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instructions to generate a plurality of measurements, by measuring relative to said clock to be synchronized, a plurality of times of arrival of signals from a plurality of non-reference wireless transceivers of unknown position and unknown timing and another plurality of times of arrival of signals from another plurality of reference wireless transceivers of known position and known timing; instructions to compute a plurality of time difference of arrival (TDOA) values, each TDOA value being computed as a difference between a pair of measurements among said plurality of measurements; and instructions to transmit the plurality of TDOA values. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A computer comprising a local area network (LAN) circuit coupled to one or more processors and one or more memories, the one or more memories comprising:
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data comprising a plurality of known locations of reference wireless transceivers; software comprising instructions to said one or more processors to obtain a plurality of time difference of arrival (TDOA) values comprising a plurality of unknown-unknown TDOA values and a plurality of unknown-known TDOA values; wherein each unknown-unknown TDOA value identifies a difference between a pair of measurements at a first unknown position, the pair of measurements being of times of arrival of wireless signals transmitted from a pair of additional unknown positions; wherein each unknown-known TDOA value identifies a difference between another pair of measurements, with one measurement in said another pair being of time of arrival of a wireless signal transmitted from one of the unknown positions and another measurement in said another pair being of time of arrival of an additional wireless signal transmitted from a known position; software comprising instructions to said one or more processors to solve a set of simultaneous equations, to identify at least the unknown positions, based on at least (a) the plurality of TDOA values and (b) a plurality of known positions including said known position; and software comprising instructions to said one or more processors to store in said one or more memories, identifications of said unknown positions resulting from execution of said instructions to solve. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A wireless transceiver comprising:
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means for receiving a first request; means for generating a first plurality of measurements in response to the first request, by measuring at a first unknown position, a first plurality of times of arrival of a set of wireless signals; means for transmitting the first plurality of measurements; means for receiving a second request; means for generating a second plurality of measurements in response to the second request by measuring at the first unknown position, a second plurality of times of arrival of wireless signals in a subset within said set; wherein the subset excludes a wireless signal of maximum received signal strength (RSS) in said set; and means for transmitting the second plurality of measurements. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A non-transitory storage medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a machine, cause a processor to perform operations, the instructions comprising:
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instructions to receive a first request; instructions to generate a first plurality of measurements in response to the first request, by measuring at a first unknown position, a first plurality of times of arrival of a set of wireless signals; instructions to transmit the first plurality of measurements; instructions to receive a second request; instructions to generate a second plurality of measurements in response to the second request by measuring at the first unknown position, a second plurality of times of arrival of wireless signals in a subset within said set; wherein the subset excludes a wireless signal of maximum received signal strength (RSS) in said set; and instructions to transmit the second plurality of measurements. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A computer comprising a local area network (LAN) circuit coupled to one or more processors and one or more memories, the one or more memories comprising software, the software comprising instructions to said one or more processors, the instructions comprising:
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instructions to receive a first request; instructions to generate a first plurality of measurements in response to the first request, by measuring at a first unknown position, a first plurality of times of arrival of a set of wireless signals; instructions to transmit, via the LAN circuit, the first plurality of measurements; instructions to receive a second request; instructions to generate a second plurality of measurements in response to the second request by measuring at the first unknown position, a second plurality of times of arrival of wireless signals in a subset within said set; wherein the subset excludes a wireless signal of maximum received signal strength (RSS) in said set; and instructions to transmit, via the LAN circuit, the second plurality of measurements. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A wireless transceiver comprising:
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means for measuring received signal strength (RSS) of a plurality of wireless signals, to obtain a plurality of RSS measurements; means for using the plurality of RSS measurements to identify a maximum RSS measurement therein; means for transmitting an identification of a wireless transceiver that generated the maximum RSS measurement; means for receiving a listing of wireless transceivers; means for using the listing to generate a plurality of time difference of arrival (TDOA) values comprising a plurality of unknown-unknown TDOA values, and a plurality of unknown-known TDOA values; wherein each unknown-unknown TDOA value identifies a difference between a pair of measurements at an unknown position, the pair of measurements being of times of arrival of signals transmitted from unknown positions; wherein each unknown-known TDOA value identifies a difference between another pair of measurements at said unknown position, with one measurement in said another pair being of time of arrival of a wireless signal transmitted from one of the unknown positions and another measurement in said another pair being of time of arrival of an additional wireless signal transmitted from a known position; and means for transmitting the plurality of TDOA values. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. A non-transitory storage medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a machine, cause a processor to perform operations, the instructions comprising:
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instructions to measure received signal strength (RSS) of a plurality of wireless signals, to obtain a plurality of RSS measurements; instructions to use the plurality of RSS measurements to identify a maximum RSS measurement therein; instructions to transmit an identification of a wireless transceiver that generated the maximum RSS measurement; instructions to receive a listing of wireless transceivers; instructions to use the listing to generate a plurality of time difference of arrival (TDOA) values comprising a plurality of unknown-unknown TDOA values, and a plurality of unknown-known TDOA values; wherein each unknown-unknown TDOA value identifies a difference between a pair of measurements at an unknown position, the pair of measurements being of times of arrival of signals transmitted from unknown positions; wherein each unknown-known TDOA value identifies a difference between another pair of measurements at said unknown position, with one measurement in said another pair being of time of arrival of a wireless signal transmitted from one of the unknown positions and another measurement in said another pair being of time of arrival of an additional wireless signal transmitted from a known position; and instructions to transmit the plurality of TDOA values. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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46. A computer comprising a local area network (LAN) circuit coupled to one or more processors and one or more memories, the one or more memories comprising software, the software comprising instructions to said one or more processors, the instructions comprising:
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instructions to measure received signal strength (RSS) of a plurality of wireless signals, to obtain a plurality of RSS measurements; instructions to use the plurality of RSS measurements to identify a maximum RSS measurement therein; instructions to transmit, via the LAN circuit, an identification of a wireless transceiver that generated the maximum RSS measurement; instructions to receive, via the LAN circuit, a listing of wireless transceivers; instructions to use the listing to generate a plurality of time difference of arrival (TDOA) values comprising a plurality of unknown-unknown TDOA values, and a plurality of unknown-known TDOA values; wherein each unknown-unknown TDOA value identifies a difference between a pair of measurements at an unknown position, the pair of measurements being of times of arrival of signals transmitted from unknown positions; wherein each unknown-known TDOA value identifies a difference between another pair of measurements at said unknown position, with one measurement in said another pair being of time of arrival of a wireless signal transmitted from one of the unknown positions and another measurement in said another pair being of time of arrival of an additional wireless signal transmitted from a known position; and instructions to transmit, via the LAN circuit, the plurality of TDOA values. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
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49. A wireless transceiver comprising:
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means for generating a plurality of measurements, by measuring relative to said clock to be synchronized, a plurality of times of arrival of signals from a plurality of non-reference wireless transceivers of unknown position and unknown timing and another plurality of times of arrival of signals from another plurality of reference wireless transceivers of known position and known timing; means for computing a plurality of time difference of arrival (TDOA) values, each TDOA value being computed as a difference between a pair of measurements among said plurality of measurements; and means for transmitting the plurality of TDOA values. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51)
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52. A method for a new wireless transceiver to be added to a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
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generating a plurality of measurements, by measuring relative to said clock to be synchronized, a plurality of times of arrival of signals from a plurality of non-reference wireless transceivers of unknown position and unknown timing and another plurality of times of arrival of signals from another plurality of reference wireless transceivers of known position and known timing; computing a plurality of time difference of arrival (TDOA) values, each TDOA value being computed as a difference between a pair of measurements among said plurality of measurements; and transmitting the plurality of TDOA values. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54)
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Specification