US 2009/0156230 A1 · SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCATING A MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL IN A GEOGRAPHICAL AREA

Abstract

A computer system determines and stores antenna probabilities for defined sub-areas (41, 43) of a geographical area (4), e.g. for squares arranged in a grid (40), based on field strengths expected in the small sub-areas (41, 43) from the antennas (A1, A2 A3, A4). The antenna probabilities indicate for the antennas (A1, A2 A3, A4) of a mobile radio network the probability that a mobile communication terminal uses a respective antenna (A1, A2 A3, A4) when located in a particular sub-area (41, 43). The computer system determines the current location of the mobile communication terminal based on the antenna probabilities associated with the antenna used by the mobile communication terminal. The antenna probabilities make it possible to locate the mobile communication terminal in the geographical area (4) in a location area much smaller than the area each antenna covers physically, but without the need for measuring at the mobile communication terminal signal properties such as signal strength or observed time differences.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method of locating a mobile communication terminal (1) associated with a mobile radio network (2) covering a geographical area (4), the method comprising:

dividing (S11) the geographical area (4) into a plurality of sub-areas (41, 43);
determining of antenna probabilities (S13) for the sub-areas (41, 43) based on field strengths expected in the sub-areas (41, 43) for antennas (A1, A2, A3, A4) located in the geographical area (4), the antenna probabilities indicating for at least some of the antennas (A1, A2, A3, A4) the probability that the mobile communication terminal (1), located in a particular sub-area (41, 43), uses the respective antenna (A1, A2, A3, A4);
determining the antenna used (S21) by the mobile communication terminal (1);
and
determining for the sub-areas (41, 43) location probabilities (S22), each location probability indicating the probability that the mobile communication terminal (1) is located in the respective sub-area (41, 43), based on the antenna probabilities associated with the antenna used.

2 more elements

A computer system (3) for locating a mobile communication terminal (1) associated with a mobile radio network (2) covering a geographical area (4), the system (3) comprising:

a sub-area definition module (31) configured to divide the geographical area (4) into a plurality of sub-areas (41, 43);
an antenna probability calculation module (33) configured to determine antenna probabilities for the sub-areas (41, 43) based on field strengths expected in the sub-areas (41, 43) for antennas (A1, A2, A3, A4) located in the geographical area (4), the antenna probabilities indicating for at least some of the antennas (A1, A2, A3, A4) the probability that the mobile communication terminal (1), located in a particular sub-area (41, 43), uses the respective antenna (A1, A2, A3, A4);
an antenna determination module (34) configured to determine the antenna used by the mobile communication terminal (1);
and
a location determination module (36) configured to determine for the sub-areas (41, 43) location probabilities, each location probability indicating the probability that the mobile communication terminal (1) is located in the respective sub-area (41, 43), based on the antenna probabilities associated with the antenna used.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for locating a mobile communication terminal in a geographical area

Life of this patent

System and method for locating a mobile communication terminal in a geographical area

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16