Abstract: A system and method in a wireless communication system having plural base stations (10a, 10b, 10c) and a MSC (45) with a network overlay geo-location system.

Abstract: A novel system and method for a network overlay geolocation system operating in a host wireless communication system with repeaters is disclosed. Embodiments of the novel system and method enable a wireless communication system to determine if signals being received by system receivers arrive directly from a target mobile appliance or if the signals are passing through or via a repeater. In an embodiment, the system's repeaters use a co-channel AM Golay Hadamard sequence multiplied by an uplink signal to watermark the repeated signal. The system uses the known AM Golay Hadamard sequences of the repeaters and the waveform of the received uplink signal to detect whether a repeater has operated on the signal and which repeater operated on the uplink signal. Embodiments of the novel system and method provide system management data and can be used to provide more accurate geolocation of mobiles served by repeater stations.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the positioning of mobile-appliance location determining sensors in a mobile-appliance communications network by estimating the positioning accuracy of the sensors.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the positioning of mobile-appliance location determining sensors in a mobile-appliance communications network by estimating the positioning accuracy of the sensors.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method are disclosed that enable geo-location of a mobile appliance (20) communicating over a frequency hopping air interface for a network overlay geolocation system having plural wireless location sensors (30). The wireless location sensors (30) include a radio receiver channel capable of receiving the forward channels of the air interface transmitted from the base station (10) to the mobile appliance (20). The network overlay geo-location system of the present disclosure monitors these forward channels and measures parameters that allow the geolocation system to synchronize with the hopping of the air interface on the reverse channel. The plurality of sensors measure an attribute of a signal on the reverse channel to thereby enable geo-location. Synchronization can also be reference to a stable system clock and the plurality of sensors may be tuned in reference to the system clock to enable measurement of the frequency hopping reverse channel.

Abstract: A method for use in a wireless communication system with a network overlay geolocation system having a sparse deployment network in which base stations of the wireless communication system may or may not have a co-located wireless location sensors (WLS). The method enables detection and measurement of a target mobile's signal independently from a primary WLS located at the base station serving the target mobile, which enable location estimated in previous “no location” areas. The method selects based on predetermined criteria from one or more of several techniques that aid in the detection and determining a location for the target mobile. The method selects from timing advance, power levels, pattern matching, EOTD, speed, and pseudo range measurements to estimate the location of the mobile. The method also uses ambiguity function processing to detect the signal and measure an attribute of the signal.

Abstract: A system and method of applying a known modification in the form of a distortion to a signal to enable a determination if a signal received by a first node is received directly from a second node or indirectly through a repeater. The repeater receives a primary signal and creates a secondary signal as a function of the primary signal and a known distortion, wherein the known distortion identifies the repeater. The primary signal is transmitted and injected with the secondary signal as the first signal to the primary receiver.

Abstract: A novel system and method for a network overlay geolocation system operating in a host wireless communication system with repeaters is disclosed. Embodiments of the novel system and method enable the geolocation system to determine if signals being received by the geolocation system arrive directly from a target mobile appliance or if the signals are passing through a repeater and therefore are subject to a known time delay. Embodiments of the novel system and method provide a more accurate geolocation of mobiles served by repeater stations than capable in the prior art.

Abstract: A novel system and method for a network overlay geolocation system operating in a host wireless communication system with repeaters (350a, 350b) is disclosed. Embodiments of the novel system and method enable the geolocation system to determine if signals being received by the geolocation system arrive directly from a target mobile appliance or if the signals are passing through a repeater (350a, 350b) and therefore are subject to a known time delay. Embodiments of the novel system and method provide a more accurate geolocation of mobiles served by repeater stations than capable in the prior art.

Abstract: A novel system and method for tasking and reporting the geolocation of a mobile appliance for a wireless communications network overlay system is disclosed. Embodiments of the novel system and method allow for geolocating a mobile appliance regardless of the wireless air interface protocol standard utilized by the mobile appliance.

Abstract: A system for monitoring each channel of the communication link (307) for protocol messages and identifying a set of channels with valid protocol messages and, monitoring the set of channels to determine the transceivers (309) served by the set of channels and associating the transciver (309) with respective channels from the set of channels.

Abstract: A method for enabling a system to enhance the accuracy of a location estimate modifies weights in a weight matrix associated with receiver station measurements in parallel with successive refinements of the location estimate. In a typical location estimation scenario, several receiving stations simultaneously derive measurements of a signal from the emitter. Any one of these measurements is in general some function of the emitter location and the receiving station location. The aggregate of these measurements is often in excess of the minimum number of measurements required to provide an estimate of the emitter location. Where such an excess exists, the method proceeds by modifying the weights associated with the measurements in parallel with successive refinements of the location estimate. The method can be implemented over various cellular protocols with a consistent and significant enhancement in the accuracy of location estimates.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an antenna and signal processing system enabling angle of arrival (AOA) determination for a frequency hopping signal, in which a calibration coefficient is determined in response to one or more calibration signals injected into the system at one or more of the frequencies in the hopping sequence and proximate in time to reception of the communication signal. The calibration coefficients are reflective of a frequency and time dependent parameter of a path between the antenna and wireless location sensor. The AOA is determined as a function of the calibration coefficient and the radio frequency energy of the received communication signal. Several embodiment of the method are illustrated.

Abstract: A method is described that enables a system to estimate the individual times of arrival of multi-path signals components in a received signal while blind to the particular angular response characteristics of an antenna array. Additionally, a system is described that estimate the impulse response of the modulation channel. The impulse response is used to generate impulse response estimates for all multi-path signal components without reference to the actual angle of arrival of the signal. The impulse response for the multi-path constituents are directly associated with the time delays on each path, providing delay estimates for each path.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an antenna and signal processing system enabling angle of arrival (AOA) determination for a frequency hopping signal, in which a calibration coefficient is determined in response to one or more calibration signals injected into the system at one or more of the frequencies in the hopping sequence and proximate in time to reception of the communication signal. The calibration coefficients are reflective of a frequency and time dependent parameter of a path between the antenna and wireless location sensor. The AOA is determined as a function of the calibration coefficient and the radio frequency energy of the received communication signal. Several embodiment of the method are illustrated.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an antenna and signal processing system enabling angle of arrival (AOA) determination for a frequency hopping signal, in which a calibration coefficient is determined in response to one or more calibration signals injected into the system at one or more of the frequencies in the hopping sequence and proximate in time to reception of the communication signal. The calibration coefficients are reflective of a frequency and time dependent parameter of a path between the antenna and wireless location sensor. The AOA is determined as a function of the calibration coefficient and the radio frequency energy of the received communication signal. Several embodiment of the method are illustrated.

Abstract: A method and system for collecting test and measurement data for a wireless communication system utilizes a network overlay geo-location system to collect the data. The wireless communication system has plural base stations defining a signal coverage area for communication with a mobile appliance and collects test and measurement data simultaneous on the forward and reverse links during standard geo-location processes. The wireless communication system also collects test and measurement data when the network overlay geolocation system is in an idle state.

Abstract: A system and method supports multiple wireless carrier mobile station location requirements with a common network overlay location system. The common network overlay location system shares geolocation assets such as location measurement units (LMU), geo-location control system (GCS), and, optionally, mobile positioning centers (MPC). The shared location assets are configured to operate with each of the sharing carrier systems. The number of sharing carriers in the same market is not limited. LMUs are configurable and switchable to measure attributes of the transmitted signal from mobile stations belonging to any of the wireless carriers which are used by the common location system to estimate the location of the mobile station using time of arrival, time difference of arrival, angle of arrival, signal power, and combinations of the same. The location of the LMUs are configured to provide an acceptable level of accuracy while minimizing a function such as the need for additional LMUs and cost.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the geolocation of autonomous mobile appliances using timing measurements from reference signals to determine position. The system and method allows the use of reference signals from disparate communication and navigation networks of which the mobile appliance may or may not be a network member. The system and method also maintains and dynamically updates its database of the location of reference signal transmitters and the reference signals emitted by the reference signal transmitters upon the detection of new reference signals or when the geolocation solution of a mobile appliance is over-determined.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the positioning of mobile-appliance location determining sensors in a mobile-appliance communications network by estimating the positioning accuracy of the sensors.