Wireless Base Station Location Estimation Using RSSI and Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
It is challenging to obtain complete information on the locations of various wireless base stations, as this information is typically restricted to mobile service providers and not readily available for geographical regions covered by different providers.
Innovation Solution
Systems and methods are developed to estimate the location of wireless base stations using data samples from mobile devices, which include carrier-related timing information and received signal strength indication (RSSI), allowing for the computation of a centroid and subsequent estimation of the base station's location through distance and direction calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS technology is used for location estimation, then location accuracy can be achieved, but the system becomes vulnerable to urban-canyon and inside-building issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses wireless base station location information as an intermediary to enable location-based services. Instead of directly relying on GPS signals that are blocked in urban canyons and inside buildings, the system uses base station location data collected from mobile devices to determine positions, thereby overcoming the limitations of GPS in these environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical GPS system with a wireless communication-based location system. By using wireless base stations and mobile device data collection, the system substitutes the satellite-based GPS mechanism with a ground-based wireless network approach that is not affected by urban-canyon or inside-building signal blockage.
2Loss of information
If base station location information is restricted to mobile service providers, then provider security and control are maintained, but complete location information is not available for geographical regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where mobile devices automatically collect and contribute base station location information to a centralized database. This allows the system to build comprehensive location information without requiring explicit permission from mobile service providers, as the data is gathered passively from devices naturally using the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a centralized database as an intermediary that aggregates location information from multiple mobile devices. This database serves as a neutral repository that collects data from devices across different service providers, enabling comprehensive location information availability while maintaining the security and control mechanisms of the underlying network infrastructure.
3Productivity
If data samples from mobile devices are collected and analyzed, then base station location estimation can be performed, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service data collection where mobile devices automatically gather base station location information as part of their normal wireless communication operations. The devices perform local analysis to determine their own positions relative to base stations, eliminating the need for complex centralized processing systems and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts essential location information from the complex data samples collected by mobile devices. By focusing on key parameters such as signal strength and timing information, the system extracts sufficient data for accurate location estimation without processing entire data streams, thereby simplifying the analysis requirements and reducing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless base station allows a mobile device to communicate with a wireless network. An estimate of the location of the wireless base station may allow a location based service to determine the location of a mobile device. In an embodiment, location may be estimated using a collection of data samples obtained from a mobile device. These data samples may contain carrier related timing information, for example GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) timing information and received signal strength indication (RSSI). Data from the GSM timing information and RSSI may be analyzed to estimate a distance of a mobile device from a wireless base station. In another embodiment, a centroid of the data samples is computed. The centroid may then be used to estimate the direction of a cell phone tower relative to the centroid. In this way, using an estimate of distance and direction, location of wireless base station may be estimated.