Abstract: Weighted ridge regression (WRR) processing is applied to three or more distance measurements to determine the location of a terminal. For example, in an integrated satellite-based navigation system/wireless network, the location of a mobile unit can be determined by applying WRR processing to at least three distance measurements, where one or more of the distance measurements are satellite-based distance measurements (e.g., GPS pseudorange measurements) and one or more are wireless network-based distance measurements (e.g., round-trip delay or pilot phase offset measurements). WRR processing provides improved accuracy in the determination of mobile unit position over conventional least mean square techniques.

Abstract: In the method of performing a predetermined action on wireless calls, a determination of whether a received wireless call falls within a defined area is made. If the received wireless call falls within the defined area, then the predetermined action, such as screening, is performed on the call. For example, the call is connected with an audio message.

Abstract: A cost-effective technique for inserting a switching module into a line pair of a local telecommunications network is disclosed. In particular, the illustrative embodiment does not replace a punch-down block at a cross-connect, but rather inserts the switching module between the modular connectors that are usually co-located with the punch-down block and that connect the cable pairs to the punch-down block. In other words, the illustrative embodiment provides for a technician to disconnect a pair of modular connectors and to insert a switching module between them, wherein the switching modules inputs and outputs are provided via modular connectors.

Abstract: A cost-effective technique for inserting a switching module into a line pair of a local telecommunications network is disclosed. In particular, the illustrative embodiment does not replace a punch-down block at a cross-connect, but rather inserts the switching module between the modular connectors that are usually co-located with the punch-down block and that connect the cable pairs to the punch-down block. In other words, the illustrative embodiment provides for a technician to disconnect a pair of modular connectors and to insert a switching module between them, wherein the switching modules inputs and outputs are provided via modular connectors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating the location of a mobile terminal. The method estimates the locations by: a) using at least one forward-link geo-location technique without using any reverse-link geo-location techniques, this being performed when there are enough base stations visible to the mobile terminal to be able to use the forward-link geo-location technique without using any reverse-link geo-location techniques to estimate the location, and b) using at least one reverse-link geo-location technique when there are not enough base stations visible to the mobile terminal to be able to use the forward-link geo-location technique without also concurrently using any reverse-link geo-location techniques to estimate the location. The forward-link geo-location techniques can be used either alone or in combination with each other, and include such known geo-location techniques as a time-difference-of-arrival technique and angle-difference-of-arrival technique.

Abstract: A wireless telecommunications system uses location or position information of a wireless mobile unit to initiate the sending of location-specific information to travelers. As position information is received, it is compared to prestored position information of a remote location, such as an airport. As the traveler approaches the remote location, and gets within a certain distance the remote location, information such as airline arrival information is retrieved and sent to the wireless mobile unit of the traveler. Thus, useful information tied to the position of the wireless mobile unit, such as airline or traffic information for example, is obtained.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards a method for estimating a PRN synchronization and Doppler shift of a satellite signal at a reference location within a cell and sector of where a wireless terminal or WAG client is located. The estimates are based on information conveyed by a GPS signal acquired by an auxiliary system or WAG server, which may be at a location different from the wireless terminal or WAG client. The PRN synchronization and Doppler shift estimates are also based on some reference time, which is a time that is sufficiently far into the future to allow the WAG client to demodulate and decode the PRN synchronization and Doppler shift estimates from an assisting message transmitted by the WAG server and to use such estimates to acquire GPS signals, wherein the assisting message indicates the PRN synchronization and Doppler shift estimates.

Abstract: Weighted ridge regression (WRR) processing is applied to three or more distance measurements to determine the location of a terminal. For example, in an integrated satellite-based navigation system/wireless network, the location of a mobile unit can be determined by applying WRR processing to at least three distance measurements, where one or more of the distance measurements are satellite-based distance measurements (e.g., GPS pseudorange measurements) and one or more are wireless network-based distance measurements (e.g., round-trip delay or pilot phase offset measurements). WRR processing provides improved accuracy in the determination of mobile unit position over conventional least mean square techniques.

Abstract: In the method of performing a predetermined action on wireless calls, a determination of whether a received wireless call falls within a defined area is made. If the received wireless call falls within the defined area, then the predetermined action, such as screening, is performed on the call. For example, the call is connected with an audio message.

Abstract: A wireless telecommunications system uses location or position information to initiate actions on behalf of travelers. As position information of a wireless mobile unit is received, it is compared to stored position information of a remote location, such as a home. As the traveler approaches his home, and gets within a certain distance of home, a signal is then sent to a controller within his home to perform an action or instruct the performance of an action.

Abstract: A wireless terminal and auxiliary system are disclosed that enable the wireless terminal to determine its location based on signals transmitted from navigation satellites. In particular, the tasks of signal acquisition and signal processing required of a wireless terminal in the prior art are divided between the wireless terminal and the auxiliary system in accordance with the illustrative embodiment. The auxiliary system assists the wireless terminal by acquiring information about the satellites' ephemerides, by partially processing it and by transmitting the partially processed information to the wireless terminal in a form that is useful to the wireless terminal. The wireless terminal then uses the partially processed information from the auxiliary system to assist the wireless terminal in acquiring the ranging signals from the navigation satellites quickly and when they are weak.

Abstract: A wireless telecommunications system is disclosed that provides both telecommunications service and navigational assistance to travelers. In particular, the present invention addresses three common navigation problems. First, to aid a traveler who takes the same trip infrequently, the present invention records the movement of the traveler during one trip and, thereafter, provides navigational assistance on how to recreate the trip again at a later time. Second, to aid a traveler in making the homeward portion of a trip, the present invention records the outward-bound portion of the trip and, thereafter, provides navigational assistance on how to get home. And third, to aid a traveler who is trying to recreate the trip of another traveler, the present invention records the movement of one traveler when taking a trip and, thereafter, provides navigational assistance to other travelers on how to recreate the trip taken by the first. In general, the present invention performs two distinct steps.

Abstract: A wireless terminal and auxiliary system are disclosed that enable the wireless terminal to determine its location based on signals transmitted from navigation satellites. In particular, the tasks of signal acquisition and signal processing required of a wireless terminal in the prior art are divided between the wireless terminal and the auxiliary system in accordance with the illustrative embodiment. The auxiliary system assists the wireless terminal by acquiring information about the satellites' ephemerides, by partially processing it and by transmitting the partially processed information to the wireless terminal in a form that is useful to the wireless terminal. The wireless terminal then uses the partially processed information from the auxiliary system to assist the wireless terminal in acquiring the ranging signals from the navigation satellites quickly and when they are weak.

Abstract: The present invention is a wireless location messaging system and method for determining the location of a mobile-telephone in a home or roaming wireless communication system, and in a multitude of call states using an audit signal and a confirmation signal that provides enhanced location accuracy. In one embodiment, the present invention wireless location messaging system is implemented in a wireless communication system comprising a base station for transmitting an audit signal, receiving a confirmation signal transmitted by a mobile-telephone in response to the audit signal and time stamping when the confirmation signal was received, and a location system for determining a location of the mobile-telephone using the receive times of the confirmation signal. The audit signal and the confirmation signal are transmitted using a communication channel that depends on the current call state of the mobile-telephone.