Apparatus and method for estimating a location of a mobile station in a wireless local area network

A method of estimating a location of a mobile station in a wireless LAN (local area network), the method comprising:

• receiving a position request signal from an AP (access point) after synchronizing with the AP;
• calculating a ToA (time of arrival) of a signal between the mobile station and the AP based on a departure time included in the position request signal;
• calculating at least one of a first location of the mobile station and a first distance between the mobile station and the AP based on the calculated ToA;
• transmitting a position response signal including first position information including the calculated ToA, at least one of the first location of the mobile station and the first distance, and a departure time information of the position response signal to the AP;
• and
• receiving second position information including a second location of the mobile station from the AP.

A method of estimating a location of a mobile station in a wireless LAN (local area network), the method comprising:

• transmitting a position request signal to an AP (access point) after synchronizing with the AP;
• receiving a position response signal including a departure time information of the position response signal from the AP in response to the position request signal;
• calculating a ToA (time of arrival) of a signal between the mobile station and the AP based on a departure time of the position response signal;
• calculating at least one of a first location of the mobile station and a first distance between the mobile station and the AP based on the calculated ToA;
• transmitting first position information including the calculated ToA and at least one the first location of the mobile station or the first distance to the AP;
• and
• receiving second position information including a second location of the mobile station from the AP.

A mobile station of estimating a location in a wireless LAN (local area network), the mobile station comprising:

• a transmitter configured to transmit a position request signal including at least one of departure time information of the position request signal and an identifier of the mobile station to an AP (access point) by synchronizing with the AP;
• a receiver configured to receive first position information including at least one of a calculated first location of the mobile station and a calculated first distance between the mobile station and the AP and departure time information of a position response signal from the AP in response to a transmission of the position request signal;
• and
• a processor configured to calculate a ToA (time of arrival) of a signal between the mobile station and the AP based on the received departure time information of the position response signal, the processor configured to calculate at least one of a second distance between the mobile station and the AP and a second location of the mobile station using the calculated ToA, the processor configured to determine a final location of the mobile station based on the first position information and at least one the second distance or the second location of the mobile station.

A mobile station of estimating a location in a wireless LAN (local area network), the mobile station comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a position request signal from an AP (access point) after synchronizing with the AP;
• a processor configured to calculate a ToA (time of arrival) of a signal between the mobile station and the AP based on a departure time included in the position request signal, the processor configured to calculate at least one of a first location of the mobile station and a first distance between the mobile station and the AP based on the calculated ToA;
• and
• a transmitter configured to transmit a position response signal including a first position information including the calculated ToA, at least one of the first location of the mobile station and the first distance, and a departure time information of the position response signal to the AP,
• wherein the receiver is further configured to receive second position information including a second location of the mobile station from the AP.

A mobile station of estimating a location in a wireless LAN (local area network), the mobile station comprising:

• a transmitter configured to transmit a position request signal to an AP (access point) after synchronizing with the AP;
• a receiver configured to receive a position response signal including departure time information of the position response signal from the AP in response to the position request signal;
• and
• a processor configured to calculate a ToA (time of arrival) of a signal between the mobile station and the AP based on a departure time of the position response signal, the processor configured to calculate at least one of a first location of the mobile station and a first distance between the mobile station and the AP based on the calculated ToA,
• wherein the transmitter is configured to further transmit a first position information including the calculated ToA and at least one the first location of the mobile station or the first distance to the AP, and
• wherein the receiver is further configured to further receive second position information including a second location of the mobile station from the AP.