Geo-location in a wireless communication network

• US 9,462,482 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2010
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions UK Limted (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Viavi Solutions UK Limted (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Flanagan, Michael Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, JUSTIN YE
• Application Number:
  US13/144,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20110319093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,460 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/404.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 455/456.6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/06 Emergency
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0278 involving statistical or probabilistic considerations G01S5/0252, G01S5/0294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

A method for geo-location of a wireless communication unit (410) is provided. The communication unit (410) communicates with a wireless communication network (430) of a wireless communication system (400). A probability density function is derived for the location of the wireless communication unit (410), from measured information and/or information about the wireless communication network (430). The probability density function is sampled to provide spatial and probability information about each of at least two possible locations for the wireless communication unit (410). A wireless communication system (400) and a method of selecting enhancements to a wireless communication system (400) are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for geo-location of a wireless communication unit, the method comprising:

deriving, by the wireless communication unit and based on first measurement distance information associated with a directional antenna, a first probability density function for a first range of potential locations of the wireless communication unit;

deriving, by the wireless communication unit and based on second measurement distance information, a second probability density function for a second range of potential locations of the wireless communication unit;

sampling, by the wireless communication unit, the first probability density function and the second probability density function to generate output information,

the generated output information indicating, for each of at least two possible locations, spatial information for a possible location and a probability the wireless communication unit is at the possible location,

the at least two possible locations for the wireless communication unit each being located within the first range of potential locations and the second range of potential locations, and

the at least two possible locations including a first possible location served by a first lobe of the directional antenna and a second possible location served by a second lobe of the directional antenna; and

transmitting, by the wireless communication unit, the generated output information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first probability density function and the second probability density function are further based on:

network information about a wireless communication network associated with the wireless communication unit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first probability density function or the second probability density function is created by parametric modeling using one or more moments of a random variable distribution.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the spatial information includes:

an x-coordinate value and a y-coordinate value for the possible location; and

where the probability is based on the wireless communication unit being located at the x-coordinate value and the y-coordinate value.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a quantity of possible locations that fail to satisfy a threshold value; and

eliminating, using a sampling procedure, the identified quantity of possible locations as possible locations for the wireless communication unit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a quantity of possible locations, of the at least two possible locations and included in the generated output information, is selectable.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, for presentation, the generated output information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first measurement distance information or the second measurement distance information is based on at least one of:

one or more absolute distances from the wireless communication unit to one or more network sectors of a wireless communication network associated with the wireless communication unit;

one or more differential distances between the wireless communication unit and one or more pairs of network sectors of the wireless communication network;

one or more received signal powers recorded by the wireless communication unit from one or more network sectors of the wireless communication network;

or

one or more measurements of a signal-to-noise ratio recorded by the wireless communication unit from one or more network sectors of the wireless communication network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first probability density function or the second probability density function is based on network information of a wireless communication network associated with the wireless communication unit,

the network information including at least one of:

antenna location information;

base station location information;

antenna property information;

information associated with azimuthal and tilt pointing angles of a sector antenna;

or

transmitted power level information.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, for each of the at least two possible locations, the probability the wireless communication unit is at the possible location by combining the first probability density function, the second probability density function, and a third probability density function for the directional antenna,

the third probability density function being based a direction of a particular lobe of the directional antenna.

11. A wireless communication unit comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to;

derive, based on first measurement distance information associated with a directional antenna, a first probability density function for a first range of potential locations of the wireless communication unit;

derive, based on second measurement distance information, a second probability density function for a second range of potential locations of the wireless communication unit;

sample the first probability density function and the second probability density function to generate output information,

the generated output information indicating, for each of at least two possible locations, spatial information for a possible location and a probability the wireless communication unit is at the possible location,

the at least two possible locations for the wireless communication unit each being located with the first range of potential locations and the second range of potential locations, and

the at least two possible locations including a first possible location served by a first lobe of the directional antenna and a second possible location served by a second lobe of the directional antenna; and

transmit the generated output information.

12. The wireless communication unit of claim 11, wherein the first probability density function and the second probability density function are further based on:

network information about a wireless communication network associated with the wireless communication unit.

13. The wireless communication unit of claim 11, wherein the spatial information includes:

an x-coordinate value and a y-coordinate value for the possible location; and

where the probability is based on the wireless communication unit being located at the x-coordinate value and the y-coordinate value.

14. The wireless communication unit of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify a quantity of possible locations that fail to satisfy a threshold value; and

eliminate, using a sampling procedure, the identified quantity of possible locations as possible locations for the wireless communication unit.

15. The wireless communication unit of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first measurement distance information or the second measurement distance information is based on at least one of:

one or more absolute distances from the wireless communication unit to one or more network sectors of a wireless communication network associated with the wireless communication unit;

one or more differential distances between the wireless communication unit and one or more pairs of network sectors of the wireless communication network;

one or more received signal powers recorded by the wireless communication unit from one or more network sectors of the wireless communication network;

or

one or more measurements of a signal-to-noise ratio recorded by the wireless communication unit from one or more network sectors of the wireless communication network.

16. The wireless communication unit of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first probability density function or the second probability density function is based on network information of a wireless communication network associated with the wireless communication unit,

the network information including at least one of:

antenna location information;

base station location information;

antenna property information;

information associated with azimuthal and tilt pointing angles of a sector antenna;

or

transmitted power level information.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

one or more instructions which, when executed by a processor of a wireless communication unit, cause the processor to;

derive, based on first measurement distance information associated with a directional antenna, a first probability density function for a first range of potential locations of the wireless communication unit;

derive, based on second measurement distance information, a second probability density function for a second range of potential locations of the wireless communication unit;

sample the first probability density function and the second probability density function to generate output information,

the generated output information indicating, for each of at least two possible locations, spatial information for a possible location and a probability the wireless communication unit is at the possible location,

the at least two possible locations for the wireless communication unit each being located with the first range of potential locations and the second range of potential locations, and

the at least two possible locations including a first possible location served by a first lobe of the directional antenna and a second possible location served by a second lobe of the directional antenna; and

transmit the generated output information.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first probability density function and the second probability density function are further based on:

network information about a wireless communication network associated with the wireless communication unit.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the spatial information includes:

an x-coordinate value and a y-coordinate value for the possible location; and

where the probability is based on the wireless communication unit being located at the x-coordinate value and the y-coordinate value.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first measurement distance information or the second measurement distance information is based on at least one of:

one or more absolute distances from the wireless communication unit to one or more network sectors of a wireless communication network associated with the wireless communication unit;

one or more differential distances between the wireless communication unit and one or more pairs of network sectors of the wireless communication network;

one or more received signal powers recorded by the wireless communication unit from one or more network sectors of the wireless communication network;

or

one or more measurements of a signal-to-noise ratio recorded by the wireless communication unit from one or more network sectors of the wireless communication network.