Geolocation Accuracy via Virtual Signal Waveform Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current geolocation methods using wireless signals, such as multilateration, face errors due to signal noise, interference, and reception errors, especially in cellular communication networks where signal range and speed variations are minimal, leading to small time differences that can be challenging to accurately determine.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a receiver with a processor and memory to capture and process radio signals, calculate time differences, and generate a virtual transmitted signal waveform to determine the time shift between transmission and reception, allowing for accurate geolocation determination relative to multiple transmitters, even without synchronized reference signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multilateration is used to determine device location using TDOA of RF signals, then geolocation capability is provided, but measurement precision deteriorates due to signal noise, interference, clock error, and reception errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual transmitted signal that is a precise copy of the expected signal waveform at the transmitter. This virtual signal serves as a reference template for correlation analysis, enabling accurate TDOA measurement even in the presence of noise and interference by comparing the received signal against this known reference pattern
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses correlation between the virtual transmitted signal and received signal to provide feedback on signal quality and timing accuracy. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust and refine TDOA measurements, compensating for errors introduced by noise, interference, and receiver clock inaccuracies
2Measurement precision
If TDOA is calculated from signals transmitted every 10 milliseconds, then geolocation is enabled, but measurement precision deteriorates because small time differences are challenging to accurately determine
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary generation of the virtual transmitted signal before correlation analysis. By pre-computing the expected signal waveform including all modulation and encoding characteristics, the system establishes a precise reference template that enables accurate time difference measurement even for small intervals between transmissions
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual transmitted signal is created as an exact digital copy of what the received signal should look like under ideal conditions. This copying approach allows the system to preserve the complete signal structure and timing characteristics, enabling precise TDOA calculation despite the 10 millisecond transmission interval
Data Source
AI summary
A system for determining a location of a receiver is disclosed. The system includes at least one transmitter transmitting one or more radio signals, respectively. The system also includes a receiver comprising a clock, a memory, and a processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions stored in the memory. The instructions makes the receiver operable to receive the radio signals, capture the radio signals as one or more received signal waveform, respectively, and store the received signal waveforms in the memory. The instructions also make the receiver operable to calculate one or more virtual transmitted waveforms based upon the received signal waveforms, respectively and determine, based upon the received signal waveforms and the virtual transmitted waveforms, a position of the receiver relative to the transmitters.