Mobile location estimation in a wireless communication system

An apparatus for estimating mobile station location in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

• a primary base station for communicating with the mobile station, the primary base station transmitting a message signal directing the mobile station to transmit a location signal, the primary base station detecting the location signal to generate a first path delay measurement, wherein the message signal comprises a channel assignment message generated in the primary base station in response to receipt of an access request signal from the mobile station;
• the primary base station operating so as to increase a transmit power level of the location signal as necessary to facilitate detection of the location signal in the primary base station by intentionally delaying transmission of a first acknowledgment signal to the mobile station in response to receipt of the access request signal from the mobile station, such that the mobile station thereby increases a transmit power level of the location signal;
• and
• a primary location processor associated with the primary base station, the primary location processor receiving the first path delay measurement, receiving additional path delay measurements generated by a plurality of secondary base stations which have detected the location signal, and utilizing the first and additional delay measurements to estimate the location of the mobile station;
• wherein the primary base station intentionally delays transmission of a second acknowledgment signal to the mobile station in response to receipt of the location signal in the primary base station, such that the mobile station continues to transmit the location signal for a period of time sufficient to permit the plurality of secondary base stations to detect the location signal.

An apparatus for estimating mobile station location in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

• a mobile station operative to receive a message signal from a primary base station of the system, wherein the message signal comprises a channel assignment message generated in the primary base station in response to receipt of an access request signal from the mobile station;
• wherein the location signal is detected in the primary base station and a plurality of secondary base stations in order to generate path delay measurements which can be processed to estimate the location of the mobile station;
• the primary base station operating so as to increase a transmit power level of the location signal as necessary to facilitate detection of the location signal in the primary base station by intentionally delaying transmission of a first acknowledgment signal to the mobile station in response to receipt of the access request signal from the mobile station, such that the mobile station thereby increases a transmit power level of the location signal;
• and
• wherein the primary base station intentionally delays transmission of a second acknowledgment signal to the mobile station in response to receipt of the location signal in the primary base station, such that the mobile station continues to transmit the location signal for a period of time sufficient to permit the plurality of secondary base stations to detect the location signal.