Cellco Partnership

Westell, Inc.

Philip Ziegler

William J Crilly, Jr

The system and method uses a one or more pilot beacons to more accurately locate the position of an indoor mobile device. Modulation and level control of the co-pilot beacons provides a third dimension, z-axis, of positioning. An augmented Position Determining Entity ('aPDE') can be used which does not modify the existing PDE in the network, and facilitates and ensures high-integrity information during a 2D to 3D positioning upgrade.

Pilot beacon system for indoor positioning

A method for improving location determination for a mobile device location of which precludes it from sufficiently accurate determination by a standard position determination mechanism is disclosed. The method includes a step of receiving, at a server and from a mobile device, an indication that the mobile device detects a supplemental position determination signal not associated with an overhead channel set that is transmitted in support of traffic channels required to support voice or data communications. The method also includes steps of referencing a database to identify one or more criteria associated with the supplemental position determination signal; determining that the one or more criteria associated with the supplemental position determination signal indicates that a source generating the supplemental position determination signal is within a close proximity of the mobile device; and identifying the location of the source generating the supplemental position determination signal. The method also includes a step of using the location of the source generating the supplemental position determination signal as the location of the mobile device.

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Montville, NJ, United States of America

Philip Ziegler