Swisscom Ag

Interdigital Ce Patent Holdings, Sas

Ernst Versteeg

Eric Taillard

Maxence Laurent

Patrick Bailly

Systems and methods are provided for determining location area of mobile user devices. In a mobile device, a first area probability as a likelihood that the mobile device is located within a first area and a second area probability indicative of the mobile device being located within a second area may be determined, with the first area probability determined based on a first probability and a second probability, and the second area probability determined based on a third probability and a fourth probability. The first probability, second probability, third probability, and fourth probability are determined based on assessing strength received in the respective area from a first base station or a second base station. A determination of whether the mobile device is located in the first area or the second area is made based on the first area probability and the second area probability.

System and method for determining a location area of a mobile user

A computer system determines location probabilities for defined sub-areas () of a geographical area (), e.g. for squares arranged in a grid (), based on field strengths expected in the small sub-areas () from the antennas (A, AA, A), and based on the antenna used by the mobile communication terminal. The location probabilities indicate for a sub-area () the probability that the mobile communication terminal is located in the respective sub-area (). The computer system determines at least one ellipse defining the location area, based on the location probabilities of the sub-areas (). The location probabilities make it possible to determine elliptical location areas of mobile users much smaller than the area each antenna does cover physically, but without the need for measuring at the mobile communication terminal signal properties such as signal strength or observed time differences.

Methods and systems are provided for adaptively determining location of a mobile device. Antenna probabilities for a plurality of antennas in an area covered by a mobile radio network may be determined, with the antenna probabilities being determined based on expected field strengths for the plurality of antennas in each of a plurality of sub-areas of the area; and with the antenna probabilities indicate for each antenna, in each of the plurality of sub-areas, the probability that a mobile communication terminal uses that antenna when located in that sub-area. A location area for a user using a mobile communication terminal may then be determined based on the antenna probabilities and a determination of one or more antennas used by the mobile communication termination, wherein the location area is determined without measuring signal properties at the mobile communication terminal.

Systems and methods are provided for determining a location area of a user using a mobile communication terminal in a geographical area covered by a mobile radio network. Antenna probabilities, corresponding to a plurality of antennas located in the geographical area, may be determined for a plurality of sub-areas of the geographical area. The antenna probabilities may be determined based on expected field strengths for the plurality of antennas in each of the plurality of sub-areas, and may indicate for each particular antenna, in each of the plurality of sub-areas, the probability that a mobile communication terminal uses that particular antenna when located in that sub-area. The location area for the user may be determined based on the antenna probabilities and determination of one or more antennas used by the mobile communication termination the user is using, without requiring measuring signal properties at the particular mobile communication terminal.

Methods and systems are provided for determining signal source probabilities. Signal source probabilities, for a plurality of sub-areas of a geographic area covered by a plurality of signal sources, may be determined. For each one of the plurality of sub-areas, the signal source probabilities may be determined based on probable field strengths of the plurality of signal sources for the one of the plurality of sub-areas, and the signal source probabilities for that one of the plurality of sub-areas indicate the probability that a mobile device, located in that one of the plurality of sub-areas, is operable to detect a particular signal source for communicating. Determining signal source probabilities may comprise calculating expected field strengths in the plurality of sub-areas. Determining signal source probabilities may comprise obtaining power information indicating a detected power of respective signals received by the mobile device from multiple transmitters.

System and method for determining antenna probabilities in sub-areas of a geographical area

A system and a method for determining a location area of a user using a mobile communication terminal in a geographical area covered by a mobile radio network, based on location probabilities for defined sub-areas of the geographical area. The location probabilities may be determined based on, e.g., field strengths expected in the sub-areas from antennas and based on the antenna used by the mobile communication terminal. The location probabilities may indicate, for a sub-area, the probability that the mobile communication terminal is located in the respective sub-area. At least one ellipse defining the location area may be determined, such as based on the location probabilities. The location probabilities may enable determining elliptical location areas of mobile users much smaller than the area each antenna does cover physically, but without the need for measuring at the mobile communication terminal signal properties such as signal strength or observed time differences.

Methods and systems are provided for determining signal source probabilities. For example, signal source probabilities for a plurality of sub-areas of a geographic area covered by a plurality of signal sources may be determined. The signal source probabilities may indicate for each of the plurality of sub-areas probable field strength of the plurality of signal sources, and the signal source probabilities may indicate the probability that a mobile device, located in a respective sub-area, is operable to detect the particular signal source for communicating. Determining signal source probabilities may comprise calculating expected field strengths in the plurality of sub-areas. Determining signal source probabilities may comprise obtaining power information indicating a detected power of respective signals received by the mobile device from multiple transmitters. A probability model, including the signal source probabilities, may be determined. The probability model may be a three dimensional model.

A system and method are provided for determining antenna probabilities for a plurality of sub-areas of a geographic area covered by a plurality of antennas. In this regard, the antenna probabilities may indicate for each of the plurality of sub-areas a probability that in a respective sub-area a field strength of a particular antenna is higher than a field strength of at least one other of the plurality of antennas, and may indicate the probability that a mobile communication terminal, located in the respective sub-area, uses the particular antenna for communicating. The antenna probabilities may be determined based on field strengths. The antenna probabilities for the plurality of sub-areas may be determined based on normal distributions of field strengths. In this regard, expected field strengths for antenna(s) in each sub-area may be calculated. The real field strengths may be measured, such as by use of mobile terminals.

A method, and corresponding system, for locating mobile communication terminals associated with a mobile radio network covering a geographical area. Antenna probabilities for a plurality of sub-areas of the geographical area are determined and stored, and locations of mobile communication terminals are estimated based on antennas used by the mobile communication terminals and the antenna probabilities for the sub-areas. The antenna probabilities are determined based on expected field strength. In this regard, the antenna probabilities indicate for at least some of the antennas the probability that in a respective sub-area the field strength of the corresponding antenna is higher than the field strength of other antennas, and the antenna probabilities indicate the probability that the mobile communication terminal, located in the respective sub-area, uses the corresponding antenna for at least one of registering or communicating with the mobile radio network.

System and method for locating a mobile communication terminal in a geographical area

A computer system determines and stores antenna probabilities for defined sub-areas () of a geographical area (), e.g. for squares arranged in a grid (), based on field strengths expected in the small sub-areas () from the antennas (A, AA, A). The antenna probabilities indicate for the antennas (A, AA, A) of a mobile radio network the probability that a mobile communication terminal uses a respective antenna (A, AA, A) when located in a particular sub-area (). The computer system determines the current location of the mobile communication terminal based on the antenna probabilities associated with the antenna used by the mobile communication terminal. The antenna probabilities make it possible to locate the mobile communication terminal in the geographical area () in a location area much smaller than the area each antenna covers physically, but without the need for measuring at the mobile communication terminal signal properties such as signal strength or observed time differences.

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Bern, Switzerland

Ernst Versteeg