Position determination of mobile stations in a wireless network

• US 9,763,043 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2013
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Larsen, James David
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHWARTZ, JOSHUA L
• Application Number:
  US14/096,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20140241189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 370338, 4554561
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0226 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 one node acting as a reference for the others
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/14 between corresponding nodes

Abstract

The invention relates to a network, and a method of operating a network. The network includes a plurality of stations each able to transmit and receive data so that the network can transmit data between stations via at least one selected intermediate station. Each station transmits probe signals in broadcast fashion to other stations to gather a list of neighbor stations. The stations transmit position data and/or position determining data in at least some of the probe signals. The position data includes data indicative of the absolute or relative position of a station transmitting a probe signal, and the position determining data includes data usable by a station receiving a probe signal to determine the absolute or relative position of the station and/or other stations. Each station maintains position data and/or position determining data received from selected probing stations, and utilizes the data to determine the absolute or relative position of itself and/or other stations. The stations can determine the relative or absolute position of other stations in direct communication with themselves, and also of other stations not in direct communication with themselves.

Claims

1. A method of operating a first station in an Opportunity Driven Multiple Access (ODMA) network, the method comprising:

transmitting outgoing probe signals from the first station, wherein the outgoing probe signals indicate availability of the first station to receive or relay data, wherein transmission of a first of the outgoing probe signals increases in power relative to at least a second of the outgoing probe signals until at least one connected neighbor station has replied;

transmitting position identifying data in at least one of the outgoing probe signals, wherein the position identifying data in the at least one of the outgoing probe signals indicates a position of the first station;

receiving position identifying data from at least one incoming probe signal from the at least one connected neighbor station, wherein the position identifying data from the at least one incoming probe signal indicates a position of the at least one connected neighbor station;

determining a position of the first station using the incoming probe signals;

determining a position of at least one intermediate station in the ODMA network;

determining an optimized route along which to send network data from the first station through the at least one intermediate station to the at least one connected neighbor station, the optimized route based on the positions of the first station, the at least one connected neighbor station, and the at least one intermediate station, and a minimum power requirement for sending the network data from the first station through the at least one intermediate station to the at least one connected neighbor station; and

transmitting the network data on the optimized route.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the position of the first station is performed using signal timing analysis.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the network data is used to update a clock in the at least one connected neighbor station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the position of the first station is performed using arrival analysis.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the network data is used to update a clock in the first station.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the position of the first station is performed using radio propagation analysis.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein there are at least two connected neighbor stations which receive probe signals from the first station.

8. A mobile handset, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive position identifying data from at least one incoming probe signal from at least one neighbor station, wherein the at least one incoming probe signal indicates a position of the at least one neighbor station;

at least one transmitter configured to transmit outgoing probe signals that indicate availability of the mobile handset to receive or relay data, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmits-a position data that provides an indication of a position of the mobile handset, wherein transmission of a first one of the outgoing probe signals increases in power relative to at least a second of the outgoing probe signals until the at least one neighbor station has replied; and

a processor configured to determine the position of the mobile handset and a position of the at least one neighbor station by monitoring the at least one incoming probe signal and update the position data to account for movement of the mobile handset, the processor further configured to determine a position of at least one intermediate station and determine an optimized route along which to send network data from the mobile handset through the at least one intermediate station to the at least one neighbor station, the optimized route based on the positions of the mobile handset, the at least one neighbor station, and the at least one intermediate station, and a minimum power requirement for sending the network data from the mobile handset through the at least one intermediate station to the at least one neighbor station, wherein the at least one transmitter is further configured to transmit network data on the optimized route.

9. The handset of claim 8, wherein the determination of the position of the mobile handset and the position of the at least one neighbor station is performed using signal timing analysis.

10. The handset of claim 9, wherein the network data is used to update a clock in the at least one neighbor station.

11. The handset of claim 8, wherein the determination of the position of the mobile handset and the position of the at least one neighbor station is performed using arrival analysis.

12. The handset of claim 11, wherein the network data is used to update a clock in the mobile handset.

13. The handset of claim 8, wherein the determination of the position of the mobile handset and the position of the at least one neighbor station is performed using radio propagation analysis.

14. The handset of claim 13, wherein there are at least two neighbor stations which receive probe signals from the mobile handset.

15. A mobile handset for operating in an Opportunity Driven Multiple Access (ODMA) network, the mobile handset comprising:

a receiver configured to receive position identifying data from a first incoming probe signal from a first connected neighbor station and a second incoming probe signal from a second connected neighbor station, wherein each of the probe signals indicates a position of the respective connected neighbor station;

a transmitter configured to transmit outgoing probe signals that indicate availability of the mobile handset to receive or relay data and transmit position data that indicates a position of the mobile handset, wherein transmission of a first one of the outgoing probe signals increases in power relative to at least a second of the outgoing probe signals until the first connected neighbor station and the second connected neighbor station have both replied;

a processor configured to determine a position of the mobile handset by monitoring the incoming probe signals and triangulating the position of the mobile handset based upon the incoming probe signals, and update position to account for movement of the mobile handset, the processor further configured to determine a position of the first connected neighbor station and a position of the second connected neighbor station and determine an optimized route along which to send network data from the mobile handset through the first connected neighbor station to the second connected neighbor station, the optimized route based on the positions of the mobile handset, the first connected neighbor station, and the second connected neighbor station, and a minimum power requirement for sending the network data from the mobile handset through the first connected neighbor station to the second connected neighbor station; and

at least one network interface configured to transmit network data on the optimized route.

16. The handset of claim 15, wherein the determination of the position of the mobile handset is performed using signal timing analysis.

17. The handset of claim 16, wherein the network data is used to update a clock in at least one of the first and second connected neighbor stations.

18. The handset of claim 15, wherein the determination of the position of the mobile handset is performed using arrival analysis.

19. The handset of claim 18, wherein the network data is used to update a clock in the handset.

20. The handset of claim 15, wherein the determination of the position of the mobile handset is performed using radio propagation analysis.