Wireless 911 emergency location
US5873040A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 13, 1996 |
| Grant date | Feb 16, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 13, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S2205/008
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system arrangement and method are disclosed for determining location of a wireless mobile unit involved in a call for public emergency assistance (e.g. a "911" call). The system is cost-effective in that it makes extensive use of existing telecommunication infrastructures, and does not require either special hardware or software at either the mobile unit site or the emergency assistance center handling a call. The system features shared use of a computer and specially defined database among a plurality of mobile switching offices serving a larger plurality of mobile base stations, the latter serving an even larger plurality of antenna and transceiving sites within predefined cellular regions. Signal strength measurements at the base stations are passed through the switching offices to a shared computer, and the latter uses the measurements to calculate a small area for which it would be practical to conduct a search if the mobile unit user requiring assistance is unable to help in determining his/her location. The calculated area and database are used to furnish the emergency assistance center handling the call with a detailed mapping of the calculated area, highlighting specific…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.