Locating the source of a wireless signal
First Claim
1. A wireless-signal source locator system comprising:
- wireless sensor devices distributed at distinct locations over a geographic region and configured to passively monitor wireless communication network signals in the geographic region, each wireless sensor device configured to;
receive a base station signal transmitted by a base station, the base station signal formatted by the base station for transmission to one or more mobile devices according to a cellular network standard;
receive a device signal from a mobile device in the geographic region, the device signal formatted by the mobile device for transmission to the base station according to the cellular network standard;
generate arrival-time data based on the device signal and the base station signal; and
transmit, from the wireless sensor device, the arrival-time data; and
a data analysis system configured to receive the arrival-time data and to identify a location of the mobile device based on solving a system of equations using the arrival-time data generated by three or more of the wireless sensor devices, the system of equations comprising n equations;
cδ
τ
i=[|{right arrow over (rs)}−
{right arrow over (rb)}|+|{right arrow over (rs)}−
{right arrow over (ri)}|]−
|{right arrow over (ri)}−
{right arrow over (rb)}|,where {right arrow over (rs)}=(xs,ys,zs) represents the location of the mobile device, {right arrow over (rb)}=(xb,yb,zb) represents a location of the base station, {right arrow over (ri)}=(xi,yi,zi) represents a location of the i-th wireless sensor device, c represents the speed of light, and δ
τ
i represents a time-difference generated by the i-th wireless sensor device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In some aspects, a wireless-signal source locator system includes wireless sensor devices distributed at distinct locations over a geographic region. The wireless sensor devices are configured to passively monitor wireless communication network signals in the geographic region. Each wireless sensor device is configured to receive a source signal wirelessly transmitted by a source (e.g., a mobile device, etc.) and a reference signal (e.g., from a synchronization source). The wireless sensor devices can generate arrival-time data based on the source signal and the reference signal. The wireless-signal source locator system further includes a data analysis system configured to receive the arrival-time data from the wireless sensor devices and to identify a location of the source based on analyzing the arrival-time data generated by three or more of the wireless sensor devices.
61 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A wireless-signal source locator system comprising:
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wireless sensor devices distributed at distinct locations over a geographic region and configured to passively monitor wireless communication network signals in the geographic region, each wireless sensor device configured to; receive a base station signal transmitted by a base station, the base station signal formatted by the base station for transmission to one or more mobile devices according to a cellular network standard; receive a device signal from a mobile device in the geographic region, the device signal formatted by the mobile device for transmission to the base station according to the cellular network standard; generate arrival-time data based on the device signal and the base station signal; and transmit, from the wireless sensor device, the arrival-time data; and a data analysis system configured to receive the arrival-time data and to identify a location of the mobile device based on solving a system of equations using the arrival-time data generated by three or more of the wireless sensor devices, the system of equations comprising n equations;
cδ
τ
i=[|{right arrow over (rs)}−
{right arrow over (rb)}|+|{right arrow over (rs)}−
{right arrow over (ri)}|]−
|{right arrow over (ri)}−
{right arrow over (rb)}|,where {right arrow over (rs)}=(xs,ys,zs) represents the location of the mobile device, {right arrow over (rb)}=(xb,yb,zb) represents a location of the base station, {right arrow over (ri)}=(xi,yi,zi) represents a location of the i-th wireless sensor device, c represents the speed of light, and δ
τ
i represents a time-difference generated by the i-th wireless sensor device.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of determining a location of a mobile device, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a data analysis system, data generated by wireless sensor devices distributed at distinct locations over a geographic region, the wireless sensor devices configured to passively monitor wireless communication network signals in the geographic region, the data comprising arrival-time information generated by each respective wireless sensor device based on; a base station signal transmitted by a base station and received by the wireless sensor device, the base station signal formatted by the base station for transmission to one or more mobile devices according to a cellular network standard; and a device signal transmitted by a mobile device in the geographic region and received by the wireless sensor device, the device signal formatted by the mobile device for transmission to the base station according to the cellular network standard; and identifying, by operation of the data analysis system, a location of the mobile device based on solving a system of equations using arrival-time information generated by three or more of the wireless sensor devices, the system of equations comprising n equations;
cδ
τ
i=[|{right arrow over (rs)}−
{right arrow over (rb)}|+|{right arrow over (rs)}−
{right arrow over (ri)}|]−
|{right arrow over (ri)}−
{right arrow over (rb)}|,where {right arrow over (rs)}=(xs,ys,zs) represents the location of the mobile device, {right arrow over (rb)}=(xb,yb,zb) represents a location of the base station, {right arrow over (ri)}=(xi,yi,zi) represents a location of the i-th wireless sensor device, c represents the speed of light, and δ
τ
i represents a time-difference generated by the i-th wireless sensor device.- View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of determining a location of a mobile device, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a data analysis system, data generated by wireless sensor devices distributed at distinct locations over a geographic region, the wireless sensor devices configured to passively monitor wireless communication network signals in the geographic region, the data comprising arrival-time information generated by each respective wireless sensor device based on; a device signal transmitted by a mobile device in the geographic region and received by the wireless sensor device, the device signal formatted by the mobile device for transmission to a base station according to a wireless communication network protocol; and a reference signal received by the wireless sensor device; and identifying, by operation of the data analysis system, a location of the mobile device based on analyzing the arrival-time information generated by three or more of the wireless sensor devices, wherein the wireless communication network protocol comprises a cellular network standard, the reference signal comprises a base station signal transmitted by the base station, the base station signal formatted by the base station for transmission to one or more mobile devices according to the cellular network standard, wherein the location of the mobile device is identified by solving a system of equations based on arrival-time information generated by n wireless sensor devices, the system of equations comprising n equations;
cδ
τ
i=[|{right arrow over (rs)}−
{right arrow over (rb)}|+|{right arrow over (rs)}−
{right arrow over (ri)}|]−
|{right arrow over (ri)}−
{right arrow over (rb)}|,where {right arrow over (rs)}=(xs,ys,zs) represents the location of the mobile device, {right arrow over (rb)}=(xb,yb,zb) represents a location of the base station, {right arrow over (ri)}=(xi,yi,zi) represents a location of the i-th wireless sensor device, c represents the speed of light, and δ
τ
i represents a time-difference generated by the i-th wireless sensor device.- View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification