Abstract: An example method for enabling coherent reception of a radio signal includes, in some implementations, tuning a radio receiver to a first receiver frequency, generating within the radio receiver a test signal having a first test frequency, and measuring a first phase of the test signal while the radio receiver is tuned to the first receiver frequency. The example method also includes tuning the radio receiver to a second receiver frequency, which is different from the first receiver frequency, measuring a second phase of the test signal while the radio receiver is tuned to the second receiver frequency, and calculating a phase relationship depending on the first and second phases of the test signal. A radio receiver for coherent reception of a radio signal also is disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a method for determining positions of one or more target receivers, wherein the one or more target receivers and one or more reference receivers receive a plurality of signals transmitted at unknown times from a plurality of sources that are located at unknown positions and not synchronized with each other. The method includes: obtaining times of arrival of the plurality of signals at the one or more target receivers; obtaining a plurality of times of arrival of the plurality of signals at the one or more reference receivers; and computing, based on the plurality of times of arrival of the plurality of signals at the one or more reference receivers, a plurality of reference positions of the one or more reference receivers, and the times of arrival of the plurality of signals at the one or more target receivers. The method may include determining directions of the plurality of sources.

Abstract: Provided is a method for determining positions of one or more target receivers, wherein the one or more target receivers and one or more reference receivers receive a plurality of signals transmitted at unknown times from a plurality of sources that are located at unknown positions and not synchronized with each other. The method includes: obtaining times of arrival of the plurality of signals at the one or more target receivers; obtaining a plurality of times of arrival of the plurality of signals at the one or more reference receivers; and computing, based on the plurality of times of arrival of the plurality of signals at the one or more reference receivers, a plurality of reference positions of the one or more reference receivers, and the times of arrival of the plurality of signals at the one or more target receivers. The method may include determining directions of the plurality of sources.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calculating a ranging measurement in a cellular communications network. The method comprises: receiving (710) at a receiver (910) a first signal associated with a first cell-sector of a sectorised base station in the cellular communications network; determining (712; 812) at least one first time of arrival at the receiver (910) of a portion of the first signal; receiving (711) at the receiver (910) a second signal associated with a second cell-sector of the sectorised base-station; determining (713; 813) at least one second time of arrival at the receiver (910) of a portion of the second signal; and calculating (720; 820) a ranging measurement between the base station and the receiver (910), based on a combination of the at least one first time of arrival and the at least one second time of arrival.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a drift between a local clock of a movable device and a reference clock that is used by one or more reference devices. The local clock may be calibrated at a calibration location and then the movable device may be moved to an operating location that is different from the calibration location. The drift is determined by observing one or more signals transmitted by the respective one or more reference devices, when the device is at the calibration location and when it is at the operating location. These observations are used together with a model of the signals to determine the drift.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calculating a ranging measurement in a cellular communications network. The method comprises: receiving (710) at a receiver (910) a first signal associated with a first cell-sector of a sectorised base station in the cellular communications network; determining (712; 812) at least one first time of arrival at the receiver (910) of a portion of the first signal; receiving (711) at the receiver (910) a second signal associated with a second cell-sector of the sectorised base-station; determining (713; 813) at least one second time of arrival at the receiver (910) of a portion of the second signal; and calculating (720; 820) a ranging measurement between the base station and the receiver (910), based on a combination of the at least one first time of arrival and the at least one second time of arrival.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a drift between a local clock of a movable device and a reference clock that is used by one or more reference devices. The local clock may be calibrated at a calibration location and then the movable device may be moved to an operating location that is different from the calibration location. The drift is determined by observing one or more signals transmitted by the respective one or more reference devices, when the device is at the calibration location and when it is at the operating location. These observations are used together with a model of the signals to determine the drift.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assisting the calculation of the position of a receiver device (1200), by observing a transmitted signal having a known structure. The method comprises: comparing (S220) the time of arrival, at a reference position (X1), of a first portion of the signal with the time of arrival at the receiver, at an unknown position (Y1), of a second portion of the signal; obtaining (S230) a local wave propagation model of the signal, the model comprising an estimate of the direction of propagation of the signal in the neighborhood of the reference position and unknown position; and using (S240) the direction of propagation and the result of the comparison to assist in the calculation of the unknown position relative to the reference position.

Abstract: A method of determining an indication of the position of an electronic device. The method includes: obtaining (100) information relating to a radio signal received by the device. The received radio signal are transmissions from one or more satellites of a satellite-positioning system from which information an inference can be made about the true position of the device at the time the signal was received. The method also involves obtaining (110) a plurality of hypotheses about the true position of the device; and evaluating (120, 130, 140) the plurality of hypotheses by assessing a degree of consistency between the information relating to the radio signal and the hypotheses. Using the outcome of the evaluations, the method also includes selecting (150) one or more of the hypotheses; and outputting (160) an indication of the selected one or more hypotheses.

Abstract: A method of recording satellite signals for later processing to derive position information. According to one aspect, the method comprises receiving and digitising first and second satellite signals using a first set of parameters; and receiving and digitising third and fourth satellite signals using a second set of parameters. A first time interval between the first and second satellite signals is longer than a second time interval between the reception of the third and fourth satellite signals. The first set of parameters is associated with relatively higher resource usage, while the second set of parameters is associated with relatively lower resource usage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assisting the calculation of the position of a receiver device (1200), by observing a transmitted signal having a known structure. The method comprises: comparing (S220) the time of arrival, at a reference position (X1), of a first portion of the signal with the time of arrival at the receiver, at an unknown position (Y1), of a second portion of the signal; obtaining (S230) a local wave propagation model of the signal, the model comprising an estimate of the direction of propagation of the signal in the neighbourhood of the reference position and unknown position; and using (S240) the direction of propagation and the result of the comparison to assist in the calculation of the unknown position relative to the reference position.

Abstract: A method of determining an indication of the position of an electronic device. The method comprises: obtaining (100) information relating to a radio signal received by the device, the radio signal comprising transmissions from one or more satellites of a satellite-positioning system, from which information an inference can be made about the true position of the device at the time the signal was received; obtaining (110) a plurality of hypotheses about the true position of the device; evaluating (120, 130, 140) the plurality of hypotheses, comprising assessing a degree of consistency between the information relating to the radio signal and the hypotheses; based on the outcome of the evaluations, selecting (150) one or more of the hypotheses; and outputting (160) an indication of the selected one or more hypotheses.

Abstract: A method of determining a GPS position fix. The method includes: (i) sampling received GPS signals and storing those samples; (ii) conducting preliminary processing of those GPS signal samples to determine the likelihood of being able to obtain a position fix during later, final processing of those GPS signal samples; and (iii) after step (ii), conducting final processing of those GPS signal samples to obtain a position fix.

Abstract: A method of determining a GPS position fix comprising the steps of: (i) sampling received GPS signals and storing those samples; (ii) conducting preliminary processing of those GPS signal samples to determine the likelihood of being able to obtain a position fix during later, final processing of those GPS signal samples; and (iii) after step (ii), conducting final processing of those GPS signal samples to obtain a position fix.

Abstract: An interactive system in which information read from two or more tags (10, 12 or 10, 12?) jointly determines a process to be carried out. One of the tags may identify a user by for example his/her store loyalty card number or by a personal identifying tag (or card) in a cordless RF terminal and the other of the tags may be a RF-ID tag storing details of an action to be performed such as the number of credit points to be given to the loyalty card in response to a transaction or provide promotional information to the user. The process may comprise issuing a command to an action server (28, 30) to provide, or instruct the sending of, output information to a user, by for example over a radio link to a cellular telephone apparatus (18, 34, 36) or PDA, or displayed to the user on a video display unit (38).

Abstract: A beacon (120) adapted for use in an arrangement (100) for providing an information service, comprising a storage (225) for storing data related to the information service, local communication means (220, 221, 222) for establishing a short range communication link (125) with a mobile device (130), and a processor (224) adapted for autonomously performing the service based on the data in the storage (225) with the mobile device (130) using the short range communication link (125). The arrangement (100) preferably further comprises a server (101) arranged to receive data to be used in the information service from a terminal (230) and to forward the received data to the beacon (120) over the long range communication link (127).

Abstract: A beacon (120) adapted for use in an arrangement (100) for providing an information service, comprising a storage (225) for storing data related to the information service, local communication means (220, 221, 222) for establishing a short range communication link (125) with a mobile device (130), and a processor (224) adapted for autonomously performing the service based on the data in the storage (225) with the mobile device (130) using the short range communication link (125). The arrangement (100) preferably further comprises a server (101) arranged to receive data to be used in the information service from a terminal (230) and to forward the received data to the beacon (120) over the long range communication link (127).