Wireless Device Location via Base Station Signal Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the location of a wireless communication device within a wireless network are limited to the nearest base station, lacking the accuracy needed for more precise location identification, and existing solutions like GPS require additional communication beyond the initial call setup.
Innovation Solution
The method involves a wireless communication device receiving and analyzing signal strengths from multiple base stations, identifying geographically diverse ones that meet a location-determination strength threshold, and transmitting their identifiers and signal strengths to the network to enhance location estimation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS receivers are used to determine location, then location accuracy is improved, but communication overhead increases beyond initial call setup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines location determination with existing call setup communications by having the wireless device transmit base station identifiers and signal strengths during the initial call setup phase. This merges the location measurement function with the already-necessary call establishment communications, achieving accurate location determination without adding separate GPS communication overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless device uses its existing capability to measure and report base station signal strengths (which is already performed for call setup purposes) to simultaneously provide location information. The device serves its own location determination needs using resources already allocated for call establishment, eliminating the need for additional GPS-specific communications.
2Ease of operation
If only nearest base station information is used, then communication simplicity is maintained, but location accuracy deteriorates to nearest base station level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional location estimation (single nearest base station) to multi-dimensional estimation by incorporating signal strength measurements and multiple base station identifiers. This adds dimensions of signal quality and spatial distribution, enabling more accurate triangulation-based location determination while maintaining the simplicity of using existing call setup communication channels.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for augmenting call data information to determine a location of a wireless communication device. In a particular embodiment, a method provides receiving wireless signals transmitted from a plurality of base stations and determining signal strengths for at least some of the wireless signals. The method further provides identifying at least three geographically diverse ones of the base stations having signal strengths that satisfy a location-determination strength threshold. The method further provides transmitting base station identifiers and associated signal strengths for the geographically diverse base stations.