Localization of a mobile device in distributed antenna communications system
First Claim
1. A method for locating a mobile communications device in a distributed antenna system in which plural distributed antennas are communicatively coupled to a hub and in which the mobile device is communicatively coupled to the hub via one or more of the antennas, the method comprising:
- receiving at the hub communication signals from the plural distributed antennas;
combining the received communication signals to produce a combined signal;
forwarding the combined signal to a base station, wherein the mobile device is communicatively coupled to the base station via the hub;
receiving a message at the hub that identifies the mobile device to be located;
discriminating, at the hub, among communications signals received from each of the distributed antennas using a channel and a spreading code to identify a signal from the mobile device; and
determining which of the antennas is closest to the mobile device to be located by monitoring received signal strength of the identified signal.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for localization of a mobile device in a distributed antenna communications system. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a distributed antenna system includes a plurality of distributed antennas that are communicatively coupled to a hub. A mobile communications device to be located is communicatively coupled to the hub via one or more of the antennas. The method for locating the mobile device comprises: receiving a message at the hub that identifies the mobile device to be located; discriminating among communications signals received from each of the distributed antennas using a channel and a spreading code to identify a signal from the mobile device; identifying messages from the mobile device to be located; and determining which of the antennas is closest to the mobile device to be located by monitoring received signal strength of the identified signal.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for locating a mobile communications device in a distributed antenna system in which plural distributed antennas are communicatively coupled to a hub and in which the mobile device is communicatively coupled to the hub via one or more of the antennas, the method comprising:
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receiving at the hub communication signals from the plural distributed antennas; combining the received communication signals to produce a combined signal; forwarding the combined signal to a base station, wherein the mobile device is communicatively coupled to the base station via the hub; receiving a message at the hub that identifies the mobile device to be located; discriminating, at the hub, among communications signals received from each of the distributed antennas using a channel and a spreading code to identify a signal from the mobile device; and determining which of the antennas is closest to the mobile device to be located by monitoring received signal strength of the identified signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 35)
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11. A distributed antenna system comprising:
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a base station configured for communication with a telecommunications network; a multi-port hub connected to the base station that receives communication signals on a plurality of ports of the multi-port hub from a plurality of distributed antennas and combines the received communication signals for forwarding a combined signal to the base station, wherein the multi-port hub is configured to receive a message at the multi-port hub that identifies the mobile device to be located, and wherein the multi-port hub comprises; a de-spreader that uses a spreading code to identify a signal from a mobile communications device to be located; and a controller that determines which of the antennas is closest to the mobile device to be located by monitoring received signal strength of the identified signal.
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12. A method for locating a mobile device in a distributed antenna system in which plural distributed antennas are communicatively coupled to a hub and in which the mobile device is communicatively coupled to the hub via one or more of the antennas, the method comprising:
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receiving at the hub communication signals from the plural distributed antennas; combining at the hub the received communication signals to produce a combined signal; forwarding the combined signal from the hub to a base station, wherein the mobile device is communicatively coupled to the base station via the hub; receiving an indication at the hub that notifies the hub of commencement of locating the mobile device; instructingin connection with the mobile device to modulatemodulating its output power;
for locating the mobile device;identifying, at the hub, a received signal from the mobile device having modulated output power; and identifying a particular antenna unit among the plurality having a highest received power level for the received signal from the mobile device having modulated output power. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 36)
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23. A distributed antenna system comprising:
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a base station configured for communication with a telecommunications network; and a multi-port hub connected to the base station that receives communication signals on a plurality of ports of the multi-port hub from a plurality of distributed antennas and combines the received communication signals for forwarding a combined signal to the base station, wherein the multi-port hub determines which of the antennas is closest to a mobile device to be located by the base station by instructing in connection with the mobile device to modulate modulating its output power, by the hub identifying a received signal from the mobile device by its modulated output power, and identifying a particular antenna unit among the plurality having a highest received power level for received signal from the mobile device by its modulated output power.
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24. A method for locating a mobile communications device in a distributed antenna system in which plural distributed antennas are communicatively coupled to a hub and in which the mobile device is communicatively coupled to the hub via one or more of the antennas, the method comprising:
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receiving at the hub communication signals from the plural distributed antennas; combining at the hub the received communication signals to produce a combined signal; forwarding the combined signal from the hub to a base station, wherein the mobile device is communicatively coupled to the base station via the hub; receiving a message at the hub that identifies the mobile device to be located; identifying, at the hub, a received signal from the mobile device in a frequency channel and timeslot of the mobile device; and determining which of the antennas is closest to the mobile device to be located by monitoring received signal strength of the identified signal. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 37)
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34. A distributed antenna system comprising:
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a base station configured for communication with a telecommunications network; and a multi-port hub connected to the base station that receives communication signals on a plurality of ports of the multi-port hub from a plurality of distributed antennas and combines the received communication signals for forwarding a combined signal to the base station, wherein the multi-port hub determines which of the antennas is closest to a mobile device to be located by identifying a received signal from the mobile device by its frequency channel and timeslot, and identifying a particular antenna unit among the plurality having a highest received power level for the received signal from the mobile device.
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Specification