U-blox Ag

Marco Driusso

Christopher Brian Marshall

Alessandro Biason

Alessandro Pin

Roberto Rinaldo

Matteo Noschese

Fulvio Babich

A method and apparatus are provided for estimating characteristic differences between wireless signals transmitted from the same location in spaced apart frequency ranges. Also provided are a method and apparatus for estimating a combined time of arrival of the wireless signals, using the characteristic differences. A further method is provided, for identifying that two signals have been transmitted from the same location. Also disclosed is a method of maintaining a database of characteristic difference information.

Estimating and using characteristic differences between wireless signals

Disclosed are Methods and apparatuses for estimating one or more characteristics of the communications channel. The method comprises receiving a first wireless signal transmitted by a transmitter at a first set of frequencies in a first time slot; and receiving a second wireless signal transmitted by the transmitter at a second set of frequencies in a second time slot. The second set of frequencies partially overlaps with the first set of frequencies and the second time slot is different from the first time slot. The method further comprises jointly processing the first wireless signal and the second wireless signal to estimate the one or more characteristics of the communications channel. Corresponding apparatuses are configured to implement the methods.

Estimating one or more characteristics of a communications channel

Two wireless signals are received from transmitters in different locations transmitting at different frequencies. Phase information from the two signals is gathered for use in positioning and/or timing calculations. Calibration information is preferably also gathered to support the calculations. Information about the rate of change of phase may be gathered for use in velocity and timing drift calculations. The transmitters may be stations in a wireless infrastructure network. Assistance information may be gathered and shared to support the interception of uplink/downlink signals from the stations. Also disclosed are User Equipment, Base Stations, remote supporting services, elliptic hyperbolic relationships for interpreting and using the spatial variation of the phase difference, and positioning engines for use in the system.

Phase-comparison for assisting the determination of position or time

A method and apparatus for calculating a ranging measurement in a cellular communications network. The method comprises: receiving () at a receiver () a first signal associated with a first cell-sector of a sectorised base station in the cellular communications network; determining () at least one first time of arrival at the receiver () of a portion of the first signal; receiving () at the receiver () a second signal associated with a second cell-sector of the sectorised base-station; determining () at least one second time of arrival at the receiver () of a portion of the second signal; and calculating () a ranging measurement between the base station and the receiver (), based on a combination of the at least one first time of arrival and the at least one second time of arrival.

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Marco Driusso