Andrew Corporation

Commscope Technologies LLC

George Maher

John Peter Carlson

Martin C Alles

Selcuk Mazlum

Ananth Kalenahalli

A system and method modifies calibration data used to geo-locate a mobile station. Calibration data measured via a calibration data collection device may contain errors due to the physical limitations of the collection device and/or the collection process. Any data collection device may produce some degree of signal degradation or drop-out. Dead reckoning provides a remedy for signal drop-out, however, it often produces data results that may be unsatisfactory to perform an accurate location estimate. To ensure the integrity of the collected calibration data, a data modification and/or data replacement algorithm may be implemented to enhance the accuracy of the collected data. In addition, current collection procedures used to generate a calibration database may be laborious, time-consuming and expensive. Simplifying the test and measurement equipment needed, and the procedures for obtaining calibration data may save time and expenses.

System and method to collect and modify calibration data

A method of modifying calibration data used to geo-locate a mobile station located in an indoor environment is disclosed. When a mobile station is located indoors, the signal strength of signals received and/or transmitted by the mobile station have the tendency to be lower than the strength of the signals received by a mobile station located outdoors. As a result of these lower signal strengths, geo-location efforts which rely on signal strengths may result in unsatisfactory location accuracy. Modifying pre-existing calibration data obtained outdoors may provide a way to simulate indoor calibration data characteristics.

Method to modify calibration data used to locate a mobile unit

A system and method selects secondary base stations to task that provide geo-location information used to geo-locate a mobile station. A network overlay location system may be co-located at base station sites of a wireless communications network. The location measurement units of the network overlay system provide location information of the mobile station, which may be determined via one or more geo-location techniques, for example: time of arrival (TOA), time difference of arrival (TDOA), uplink time difference of arrival (UTDOA), angle of arrival (AOA), signal power, radio fingerprinting etc. Selecting secondary base stations to task using various selection criteria may provide optimum results when geo-locating a mobile station.

Method and apparatus to select an optimum site and/or sector to provide geo-location data

The location of a wireless mobile device may be estimated using, at least in part, one or more pre-existing Network Measurement Reports ('NMRs') which include calibration data for a number of locations within a geographic region. The calibration data for these locations is gathered and analyzed so that particular grid points within the geographic region can be determined and associated with a particular set or sets of calibration data from, for example, one or more NMRs. Sets of grid points may be evaluated as a function of parameters of the calibration data, and a set of grid points may be selected as a function of a predetermined criteria. The location of a mobile device in the geographic region may then be determined as a function of the predetermined criteria.

System and method for generating a location estimate using uniform and non-uniform grid points

The location of a wireless mobile device may be estimated using, at least in part, one or more pre-existing Network Measurement Reports ('NMRs') which include calibration data for a number of locations within a geographic region. The calibration data for these locations is gathered and analyzed so that particular grid points within the geographic region can be determined and associated with a particular set or sets of calibration data from, for example, one or more NMRs. Regions may be defined as a function of any number of parameters and respective predetermined ranges thereof in the NMRs. An intersection of these defined regions may be determined and the location of a mobile device may be estimated as a function of the intersection.

System and method for generating a location estimate using a method of intersections

A method and apparatus for estimating a location of a device. For each of a plurality of locations of a device, a set of positional data is determined from signals received from a plurality of satellites. The positional data is filtered and compared with data from a road network database. This comparison may be a function of a distance from at least one point defined by a set of the filtered positional data to a road in the road network database and an angle between a line representing a best fit for plural points defined by corresponding plural sets of the filtered positional data to a line defined by a road in the road network database.

System and method for determining the geographic location of a device

A system and method of determining calibration data at non-calibrated location points is disclosed. A mobile station may be geo-located at most locations, if not all locations, within communication range of one or more serving and/or neighboring base stations of a mobile network. Calibration data may be collected and stored in memory via a data collection procedure. Known calibration data for locations proximate to the mobile station may be necessary when attempting to geo-locate the mobile station. A geographical region may be calibrated via a standard calibration data collection procedure, however, various obstacles, such as, buildings, mountains, ponds etc. may inevitably create deficiencies in the calibration data for one or more areas of the region. Certain techniques may be applied to estimate the calibration data of areas that have not been properly calibrated.

System and method to obtain calibration data using estimation techniques

The location of a wireless mobile device may be estimated using, at least in part, one or more pre-existing Network Measurement Reports ('NMRs') which include calibration data for a number of locations within a geographic region. The calibration data for these locations is gathered and analyzed so that particular grid points within the geographic region can be determined and associated with a particular set or sets of calibration data from, for example, one or more NMRs. Embodiments of the present subject matter also provide a method of improving a location estimate of a mobile device. Received signal level measurements reported by a mobile device for which a location estimate is to be determined may be evaluated and/or compared with the characteristics associated with the various grid points to estimate the location of the mobile device.

System and method for optimizing location estimate of mobile unit

The location of a wireless mobile device may be estimated using, at least in part, one or more pre-existing Network Measurement Reports ('NMRs') which include calibration data for a number of locations within a geographic region. The calibration data for these locations is gathered and analyzed so that particular calibration points within the geographic region can be determined and associated with a particular set or sets of calibration data from, for example, one or more NMRs. Sets of calibration points may be evaluated as a function of parameters of the calibration data, and a set of calibration points may be selected as a function of a predetermined criteria. Signal reception in the region may be estimated as a function of mobile device location in the region and an approximate statistical accuracy of a signal strength pattern determined as a function of the estimated signal reception. An expected accuracy of a location system may then be modeled in the region as a function of system configuration information and determined approximate statistical accuracy.

System and method for predicting location accuracy of a mobile unit

A system and method to re-calibrate an area of a wireless communications network that has been exposed to one or more network configuration changes is disclosed. When one or more attributes of the wireless network undergo a change which impairs the geo-location capability to locate a mobile station, it can be detrimental to the safety and well being of the network users. Geo-location calculations rely on accurate and updated calibration data to correctly locate a mobile station. In some instances, it may be necessary to update the calibration data for areas of the network that have been exposed to network configuration changes. Modifying previously collected calibration data to account for changes that have occurred in the network may increase the accuracy of mobile station location estimation.

System and method to modify wireless network calibration data

The location of a wireless mobile device may be estimated using, at least in part, one or more pre-existing Network Measurement Reports ('NMRs') which include calibration data for a number of locations within a geographic region. The calibration data for these locations is gathered and analyzed so that particular grid points within the geographic region can be determined and associated with a particular set or sets of calibration data from, for example, one or more NMRs. Received signal level measurements reported by a mobile device for which a location estimate is to be determined may be compared with the data associated with the various grid points to estimate the location of the mobile device.

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Herndon, VA, United States of America

George Maher