Mobile location method for WLAN-type systems

A wireless local area network or other suitable network comprising:

• a network node, point or element having one or more modules configured for providing an estimate of a mobile location of a wireless node, point or terminal therein, the estimate being based at least partly on a correlation of a radio frequency signal strength measurement and a grid point in a signal strength database or radio map;
• the signal strength database or radio map being built using a signal strength fingerprint algorithm that includes recording grid positions and signal strength measurements;
• a data structure entry for each grid point being based at least partly on an identification number for each grid point, an estimated received information at a respective grid point, a physical location of the respective grid point, and received signal strength information from a respective transmission of an access point at the respective grid point;
• and
• the signal strength fingerprint algorithm including:
• placing access points in the wireless local area network or other suitable network and recording their coordinates;
• taking signal strengths measurements in areas of interest in the wireless local area network or other suitable network;
• applying a linear regression method to estimate propagation channels;
• estimating propagation channels at each grid point;
• and
• processing the results to form the signal strength database or radio map.

A network node, point or element comprising:

• a module configured for providing an estimate of a mobile location of a wireless node, point or terminal operating in a wireless local area network or other suitable network, the estimate being based at least partly on a correlation of a radio frequency signal strength measurement and a grid point in a signal strength database or radio map;
• the signal strength database or radio map being built using a signal strength fingerprint algorithm that includes recording grid positions and signal strength measurements;
• and
• a data structure entry for each grid point being based at least partly on an identification number for each grid point, an estimated received information at a respective grid point, a physical location of the respective grid point, and received signal strength information from a respective transmission of an access point at the respective grid point;
• and
• the signal strength fingerprint algorithm including:
• placing access points in the wireless local area network or other suitable network and recording their coordinates;
• taking signal strengths measurements in areas of interest in the wireless local area network or other suitable network:
• applying a linear regression method to estimate propagation channels;
• estimating propagation channels at each grid point;
• and
• processing the results to form the signal strength database or radio map.

A computer program product with a program code, which program code is stored on a machine readable carrier, for carrying out the steps of a method comprising providing an estimate of a mobile location of a wireless node, point or terminal in a wireless local area network or other suitable network, the estimate being based on a correlation of a radio frequency signal strength measurement and a grid point in a signal strength database or radio map, the signal strength database or radio map being built using a signal strength fingerprint algorithm that includes recording grid positions and signal strength measurements;

• and a data structure entry for each grid point being based at least partly on an identification number for each grid point, an estimated received information at a respective grid point, a physical location of the respective grid point, and received signal strength information from a respective transmission of an access point at the respective grid point,;
• and the signal strength fingerprint algorithm including:
• placing access points in the wireless local area network or other suitable network and recording their coordinates;
• taking signal strengths measurements in areas of interest in the wireless local area network or other suitable network;
• applying a linear regression method to estimate propagation channels;
• estimating propagation channels at each grid point;
• and processing the results to form the signal strength database or radio map when the computer program is run in a module of either a node, point or terminal, including an Access Point or other suitable grid point, in the wireless local area network or other suitable network.

A method comprising:

• building a database using a signal strength fingerprint algorithm for use in providing an estimate of a mobile location of a wireless node, point or terminal in a wireless local area network or other suitable network arranged in a geographic location;
• placing access points or other suitable grid points in the wireless local area network or other suitable network and recording their coordinates in the geographic location;
• taking signal strengths measurements in areas of interest in the wireless local area network or other suitable network;
• applying a linear regression method to estimate propagation channels;
• estimating propagation channels at each access or other suitable grid point;
• processing the results to form the signal strength database or radio map;
• the signal strength database or radio map being built using the signal strength fingerprint algorithm that includes recording grid positions and signal strength measurements;
• a data structure entry for each grid point being based at least partly on an identification number for each grid point, an estimated received information at a respective grid point, a physical location of the respective grid point, and received signal strength information from a respective transmission of an access point at the respective grid point;
• and
• the signal strength fingerprint algorithm including:
• placing access points in the wireless local area network or other suitable network and recording their coordinates;
• taking signal strengths measurements in areas of interest in the wireless local area network or other suitable network;
• applying a linear regression method to estimate propagation channels;
• estimating propagation channels at each grid point;
• and
• processing the results to form the signal strength database or radio map.