Multi-path mitigation in rangefinding and tracking objects using reduced attenuation RF technology

• US 9,288,623 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2013
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm Technologies Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: InvisiTrack, Inc.
• Inventors: Markhovsky, Felix, Prevatt, Truman
• Primary Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US14/043,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20150256972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/222 using random or pseudorandom pulse repetition frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/24 using frequency agility of carrier wave
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/767 Responders; Transponders teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying using reflecting targets or active targets F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/466 by Trilateration, i.e. two antennas or two sensors determine separately the distance to a target, whereby with the knowledge of the baseline length, i.e. the distance between the antennas or sensors, the position data of the target is determined
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/468 by Triangulation, i.e. two antennas or two sensors determine separately the bearing, direction or angle to a target, whereby with the knowledge of the baseline length, the position data of the target is determined
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/74 Multi-channel systems specially adapted for direction-finding, i.e. having a single antenna system capable of giving simultaneous indications of the directions of different signals systems in which the directions of different signals are determined sequentially and displayed simultaneously G01S3/04, G01S3/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/011 Identifying the radio environment
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0205 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0218 Multipath in signal reception
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0263 by combining or switching between positions derived from two or more separate positioning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0273 using multipath or indirect path propagation signals in position determination
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

An autonomous system with no Customer Network Investment is described, wherein the system is configurable to operate on in a band in addition to the LTE band. Such system allows the definition of hybrid operations to accommodate the positioning reference signals (PRS) of LTE and already existing reference signals. The system can operate with PRS, with other reference signals such as cell-specific reference signals (CRS), or with both signal types. As such, the system provides the advantage of allowing network operator(s) to dynamically choose between modes of operation depending on circumstances, such as network throughput and compatibility.

Claims

1. A system for tracking and locating one or more wireless network devices in communication with a network, comprising:

a user equipment receiver configured to receive multiple signals from each node of two or more nodes in communication with the network, the multiple signals being modulated with a code determined by an identification of each node of the two or more nodes transmitting the multiple signals, the user equipment receiver including a detector configured to detect and isolate reference signals from the multiple signals based on the identification;

wherein the multiple signals from each node of the two or more nodes are combined into a frame that includes the reference signals, and wherein the detector is further configured to estimate a course location of frame starts from each node; and

a processor configured to use the reference signals as ranging signals from each node for tracking and locating the one or more wireless network devices.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the detector is further configured to estimate the course location by correlating the reference signals with known replicas of such reference signals.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the detector is further configured to isolate the reference signals from any other signals in the frame, and wherein the detector is further configured to isolate the reference signals for each node of the two or more nodes.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is at least one multipath mitigation processor, and wherein the multipath mitigation processor is configured to receive the course location and isolated reference signals and estimate a relative time of arrival of the ranging signals from each node.

5. A system for tracking and locating one or more wireless network devices in communication with a network, comprising:

a user equipment receiver configured to receive multiple signals from each node of two or more nodes in communication with the network, the multiple signals being modulated with a code determined by an identification of each node of the two or more nodes transmitting the multiple signals, the user equipment receiver including a detector configured to detect and isolate reference signals from the multiple signals based on the identification,

wherein the multiple signals from each node of the two or more nodes are combined into a frame that includes the reference signals, and wherein the detector is further configured to estimate a course location of frame starts from each node; and

a processor configured to use the reference signals as ranging signals from each node for tracking and locating the one or more wireless network devices,

wherein the processor is at least one multipath mitigation processor.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the detector is configured to isolate the reference signals from any other signals in the frame, wherein the detector is further configured to isolate the reference signals for each node of the two or more nodes, wherein the detector is configured to pass the course location and isolated reference signals for each node to the multipath mitigation processor, and wherein the multipath mitigation processor is configured to receive the course location and isolated reference signals and estimate a relative time of arrival of the ranging signals from each node.

7. A system for tracking and locating one or more wireless network devices in communication with a network, comprising:

a user equipment receiver configured to receive multiple signals from each node of two or more nodes in communication with the network, the multiple signals being modulated with a code determined by an identification of each node of the two or more nodes transmitting the multiple signals, the user equipment receiver including a detector configured to detect and isolate reference signals from the multiple signals based on the identification,

wherein the multiple signals from each node of the two or more nodes are combined into a frame that includes the reference signals, and wherein the detector is further configured to estimate a course location of frame starts from each node

a processor configured to use the reference signals as ranging signals from each node for tracking and locating the one or more wireless network devices;

a node receiver configured to receive device signals from the one or more wireless network devices, the device signals being modulated with a device code determined by a device identification of each wireless network device of the one or more wireless network devices transmitting the device signals, the node receiver including a device detector configured to detect and isolate device reference signals from the device signals based on the device identification; and

a second processor configured to use the device reference signals as ranging signals from each wireless network device for tracking and locating the one or more wireless network devices.

8. A system for tracking and locating one or more wireless network devices in communication with a network, comprising:

a user equipment receiver configured to receive multiple signals from each node of two or more nodes in communication with the network, the multiple signals being modulated with a code determined by an identification of each node of the two or more nodes transmitting the multiple signals; and

a processor configured to detect and isolate reference signals from the multiple signals based on the identification and to use the reference signals as ranging signals from each node for tracking and locating the one or more wireless network devices,

wherein the multiple signals from each node of the two or more nodes are combined into a frame that includes the reference signals, and wherein the processor is further configured to estimate a course location of frame starts from each node.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to estimate the course location by correlating the reference signals with known replicas of the reference signals.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to estimate a relative time of arrival of the ranging signals from each node based on the course location and isolated reference signals.

11. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to isolate the reference signals from any other signals in the frame, and wherein the processor is further configured to isolate the reference signals for each node of the two or more nodes.

12. A system for tracking and locating one or more wireless network devices in communication with a network, comprising:

a detector configured to receive multiple signals from each node of two or more nodes in communication with the network, the multiple signals being modulated with a code determined by an identification of each node of the two or more nodes transmitting the multiple signals, and to detect and isolate reference signals from the multiple signals based on the identification,

wherein the multiple signals from each node of the two or more nodes are combined into a frame that includes the reference signals, and wherein the detector is further configured to estimate a course location of frame starts from each node; and

a processor configured to use the reference signals as ranging signals from each node for tracking and locating the one or more wireless network devices.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the detector is further configured to estimate the course location by correlating the reference signals with known replicas of such reference signals.

14. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the detector is further configured to isolate the reference signals from any other signals in the frame, and wherein the detector is further configured to isolate the reference signals for each node of the two or more nodes.

15. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the processor is at least one multipath mitigation processor, and wherein the multipath mitigation processor is configured to receive the course location and isolated reference signals and estimate a relative time of arrival of the ranging signals from each node.

16. A system for tracking and locating one or more wireless network devices in communication with a network, comprising:

a detector configured to receive multiple signals from each node of two or more nodes in communication with the network, the multiple signals being modulated with a code determined by an identification of each node of the two or more nodes transmitting the multiple signals, and to detect and isolate reference signals from the multiple signals based on the identification,

wherein the multiple signals from each node of the two or more nodes are combined into a frame that includes the reference signals, and wherein the detector is further configured to estimate a course location of frame starts from each node;

a processor configured to use the reference signals as ranging signals from each node for tracking and locating the one or more wireless network devices; and

wherein the processor is at least one multipath mitigation processor.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the detector is configured to isolate the reference signals from any other signals in the frame, wherein the detector is further configured to isolate the reference signals for each node of the two or more nodes, wherein the detector is configured to pass the course location and isolated reference signals for each node to the multipath mitigation processor, and wherein the multipath mitigation processor is configured to receive the course location and isolated reference signals and estimate a relative time of arrival of the ranging signals from each node.