Phase-Comparison Positioning Using Multi-Frequency Wireless Signals
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) face challenges in accuracy and availability, particularly in dense urban environments and indoors, where satellite signals are unreliable, and there is a need for a positioning system that can provide greater coverage and precision.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing phase information from wireless signals transmitted at different frequencies from multiple sources to assist in determining position and time, allowing for increased coverage and precision by combining terrestrial and satellite signals, and enabling the use of signals from airborne transmitters to improve vertical positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional GNSS trilateration is used, then positioning can be achieved, but positioning accuracy and availability are insufficient in dense urban environments and indoors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines satellite signals and terrestrial signals (such as cellular base station signals) into a unified positioning system. By merging these different signal sources, the system can provide continuous positioning coverage both outdoors and in dense urban environments or indoors where satellite signals alone are insufficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning system is designed to work with multiple types of signals from different sources (satellites and terrestrial transmitters). This multi-functional approach allows the same positioning methodology to be applied regardless of whether signals come from space-based or ground-based transmitters, increasing overall system reliability and coverage.
2Measurement precision
If signals from multiple sources at different frequencies are used, then positioning precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes signals at different frequencies from multiple transmitters and measures phase differences between these signals. By changing the frequency parameter and measuring phase relationships, the system achieves higher positioning precision through interferometric methods while managing complexity through consistent processing algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
Two wireless signals are received from transmitters in different locations transmitting at different frequencies. Phase information from the two signals is gathered for use in positioning and/or timing calculations. Calibration information is preferably also gathered to support the calculations. Information about the rate of change of phase may be gathered for use in velocity and timing drift calculations. The transmitters may be stations in a wireless infrastructure network. Assistance information may be gathered and shared to support the interception of uplink/downlink signals from the stations. Also disclosed are User Equipment, Base Stations, remote supporting services, elliptic hyperbolic relationships for interpreting and using the spatial variation of the phase difference, and positioning engines for use in the system.