Staged Antenna Utilization for Multilateration Locationing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the location of mobile communication devices within cellular networks are limited in accuracy and efficiency, particularly in mixed communication environments with multiple signal pathways, which hinders the provision of precise location-based services.
Innovation Solution
A communication network employing a multilateration technique using multiple receiving antennas to estimate both coarse and fine locations of mobile devices by analyzing communication signals over various signal pathways, refining the location estimation through different antenna groupings and signal characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple receiving antennas are used for location estimation, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna array into multiple sub-arrays or groups, where each sub-array can independently perform location estimation. This segmentation allows the system to process signals from different antenna groups separately, improving location accuracy through multiple measurement perspectives while managing complexity by breaking down the overall system into manageable segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes spatial dimensionality by arranging multiple receiving antennas in specific geometric configurations (e.g., arrays, grids). By exploiting the spatial relationships between antennas in different dimensions, the system achieves improved location estimation accuracy through multi-dimensional signal analysis without proportionally increasing processing complexity.
2Measurement precision
If multiple signal pathways are analyzed, then location estimation accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing of signals from multiple pathways by pre-calculating signal characteristics, correlation values, or intermediate results before final location estimation. This preliminary action reduces the computational burden during real-time processing, allowing accurate location estimation through multiple pathways without excessive processing time delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous signal processing across multiple pathways by maintaining ongoing correlation and analysis operations. Rather than processing each pathway separately and sequentially, the system continuously processes multiple signal pathways in parallel, ensuring that location estimation accuracy is improved while minimizing additional processing time through efficient continuous operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication network of the present disclosure can determine a location of a communication device, such as a mobile communication device, a wireless access point, and/or a base station to provide some examples, within its geographic coverage area based upon one or more communication signals that are communicated within the communication network and/or between the communication network and another communication network. The communication network can implement a multilateration technique to determine the location of the communication device based upon the one or more communication signals as received over various signal pathways. In an embodiment, the communication device can include multiple receiving antennas for receiving the one or more communication signals over multiple first signal pathways. The multilateration technique can use the one or more communication signals as received over the multiple first signal pathways to estimate a coarse location of the mobile communication device. Thereafter, the multilateration technique can, optionally, be used to effectively refine the coarse location based upon the one or more communication signals as received over multiple second signal pathways within the communication network to estimate a fine location of the mobile communication device.