Method and system for deriving location information from utility lines

US8120533B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University · US

Inventors

• Sherman C. Lo · San Mateo, US
• Per K. Enge · Mountain View, US
• C. O. Lee Boyce, Jr. · Mountain View, US
• Nicolai V. Alexeev · Redwood City, US
• Dan Boneh · Palo Alto, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 28, 2007
• Grant date: Feb 21, 2012
• Expiry date: May 13, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S2013/466
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Location systems and methods are implemented using a variety of arrangements and methods. Using one such system location information is provided in response to a utility-line arrangement propagating signals that represent a wireless radio-frequency (RF) communication originating from one or more remote transmitters. The system includes a receiver circuit communicatively coupled and responsive to the utility-line arrangement. The system also includes a signal-processing logic circuit, communicatively coupled and responsive to the utility-line arrangement. The signal processing logic circuit is arranged to derive location information from characteristics of the signals that are indicative of a location of the receiver circuit relative to the remote transmitters.