Method and apparatus for enhancing signal-to-noise ratio of position location measurements

A method of determining position in a time division multiplexed communication system, the method comprising:

• receiving a slot having an identifier indicating the slot includes position location information;
• determining from a first sub-slot in the slot, a first position location signal corresponding to a first position location signal source;
• determining from a second sub-slot in the slot, a second position location signal corresponding to a second position location signal source;
• and
• determining a timing related to position based on the first and second position location signals.

An apparatus for transmitting position location signals in a time multiplex communication system, the apparatus comprising:

• a ranging data module configured to generate a position location signal;
• a slot processor configured to generate a position location slot having an address field and a plurality of sub-slots, at least a first sub-slot assigned to the position location signal and at least a second sub-slot distinct from the first sub-slot containing null data, and the address field configured to an address reserved for position location slots;
• and
• an RF transceiver configured to transmit the position location slot at a predetermined time.

An apparatus for extracting position location signals from a time multiplex communication signal, the apparatus comprising:

• an RF frontend configured to receive a composite position location slot having sub-slot information transmitted by a plurality of distinct signal sources;
• an address decoder configured to decode an address within the composite position location slot;
• and
• a timing module configured to extract a plurality of position location signals from the composite position location slot, each position location signal extracted from a sub-slot corresponding to a one of the plurality of distinct signal sources.

An apparatus for extracting position location signals from a time multiplex communication signal, the apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving a composite position location slot having sub-slot information transmitted by a plurality of distinct signal sources;
• means for decoding an address contained in the composite position location slot;
• and
• means for extracting a plurality of position location signals from the composite position location slot, each position location signal extracted from a sub-slot corresponding to a one of the plurality of distinct signal sources.