Patent · US Expired

Method of enabling low tier location applications

US8050686B1 · kind B1 · utility

21Cited by
15References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 29, 2000
Grant dateNov 1, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 29, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S5/12
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In a wireless communication network having remote receivers (subscriber units) communicating through base units in a service area, each of the base units servicing a cell area encompasses one or more identifiable zones which can be occupied by receivers. According to the invention, at least one measure of the spatial size of the cell is reported to a receiver communicating with a base station, for use in location specific applications. The measure can be a size category, an average diameter or another measure, such as a shape and orientation of the cell, a boundary apex, and a boundary line of the cell. The base station coordinates are conventionally available to the receiver. By providing a measure of size, the receiver can resolve its zone or location to a coarse or low level of resolution. The zone occupied by the receiver is at least within the cell and the size of the cell and location of the base station are now known. According to additional embodiments, the resolved zone known to be occupied by the receiver is refined to an area within the defined cell area. The size of the cell or service area of the location transmitter can be appended to the identification code of the ba…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.