Method and system for determining a location of a wireless transmitting device and guiding the search for the same

A method of determining the location of a wireless transmitting device using a movable detection station together with at least one additional detection station(s), comprising the steps of:

• obtaining the signal properties of the transmitted signals of said wireless transmitting device;
• acquiring and receiving the transmitted signals from said wireless transmitting device by said movable detection station;
• acquiring and receiving the transmitted signals from said wireless transmitting device also by said at least one additional detection station(s);
• performing signal parameter measurements at a plurality of positions of said movable detection station on the signals transmitted by said wireless transmitting device and received by said movable detection station;
• performing signal parameter measurements on said signals transmitted by said wireless transmitting device also by said at least one additional detection station(s);
• if any said at least one additional detection station(s) is movable detection station(s), determining at least one of the location and orientation of said additional movable detection station(s) at each of the positions where said signal parameter measurements are performed;
• sharing the resulting data of said signal parameter measurements obtained by said movable detection station and said at least one additional detection station(s);
• also sharing the resulting data of said determined at least one of the locations and orientations of said movable detection station and said additional movable detection station(s);
• and
• performing and refining the estimation of the location of said wireless transmitting device using said shared data.

A method of determining the location of a wireless transmitting device that communicates with at least one basestation of a wireless communication network, improving the accuracy of the determined location, and increasing the transmitting time duration for the location determination supported by a battery of said wireless transmitting device using a movable detection station that is equipped with a basestation transmitter and receiver, referred to herein as movable detection-and-base station, comprising the steps of:

• obtaining the signal properties of the transmitted signals of said wireless transmitting device;
• acquiring and receiving the transmitted signals from said wireless transmitting device by said movable detection-and-base station;
• starting transmitting by said movable detection-and-base station after said movable detection-and-base station in question has detected that the received signal quality from said wireless transmitting device is higher than a predetermined threshold;
• instructing said wireless transmitting device to hand off to said movable detection-and-base station;
• controlling the transmitted signal properties of said wireless transmitting device;
• performing signal parameter measurements at a plurality of positions of said movable detection-and-base station on the signals transmitted by said wireless transmitting device and received by said movable detection-and-base station, before and after said hand-off(s);
• coordinating said control of the transmitted signal properties with activities of said signal parameter measurements;
• determining at least one of the location and orientation of said movable detection-and-base station at each of said positions where said signal parameter measurements are performed;
• and
• performing and refining estimation of the location of said wireless transmitting device.

A method of determining the position of a target wireless transmitting device, and guiding the searching personnel(s) or searching robot(s) to physically reach said target wireless transmitting device, by making use of movable detection station(s) and movable reference wireless transmitting device(s), comprising the steps of:

• determining the site (i.e., a localized area) where the target wireless transmitting device is located;
• placing at least one said movable detection station(s) and at least one said movable reference wireless transmitting device(s) on site of or in the proximity of said target wireless transmitting device;
• transmitting wireless signals from said at least one said movable reference wireless transmitting device(s);
• obtaining the signal properties of the transmitted signals from said target wireless transmitting device and said movable reference wireless transmitting devices;
• acquiring and receiving the transmitted signals from said target wireless transmitting device and said movable reference wireless transmitting device(s) by said movable detection station(s);
• performing signal parameter measurements on the signals transmitted by said target and said reference wireless transmitting devices and received by said movable detection station(s);
• determining the position and orientation of said movable detection station(s);
• performing estimations of the positions of said target wireless transmitting device and said reference wireless transmitting device(s);
• displaying on a displaying device the position of said target wireless transmitting device relative to the position(s) of said movable reference wireless transmitting device(s), and optionally also said movable detection station(s);
• and
• moving said movable reference wireless transmitting device(s) so that the estimated and/or the displayed position of said reference wireless transmitting device relative to the estimated and/or displayed position of said target wireless transmitting device becomes closer, till said movable reference wireless transmitting device(s) physically reaches said target wireless transmitting device.

A movable detection station for determining the location of a wireless transmitting device(s), and workable with at least one reference wireless transmitting device or at least one guiding device for guiding the search for said wireless transmitting device(s), comprising:

• at least one first antenna;
• a first receiver, coupled with said at least one first antenna, for receiving signals from at least one of said wireless transmitting device(s), said reference wireless transmitting device(s) when available, said guiding device(s) when available, and producing digitized baseband signals;
• a second receiver, coupled with said at least one first antenna, for receiving signals from GPS satellites (or other similar systems), producing precise frequency reference and timing to said first receiver, and producing digitized GPS (or similar) information related to the location and orientation of the movable detection station in question;
• a transceiver coupled with said at least one first antenna, conveying information to said guiding device(s) for displaying on screen of said guiding device(s) when the guiding device(s) being in operation with the movable detection station;
• a display and user interface unit, for presenting the location and guiding information to the user and accepting user control to the movable detection station in question;
• and
• a digital signal processing unit, coupled with said first and second receivers, said transceiver, and said display and user interface unit, performing signal processing and control tasks;
• and
• whereby the movable detection station is operable to perform at least one of performing signal parameter measurements on the signals from at least one of said wireless transmitting device(s), said reference wireless transmitting device(s), and said guiding device(s);
• determining at least one of the location and orientation of said movable detection station in question;
• determining the quality of said signal parameter measurements and said determined at least one of the location and orientation;
• determining the location estimation of at least one of said wireless transmitting device(s), said reference wireless transmitting device(s), and said guiding device(s);
• refining the location estimation of at least one of said wireless transmitting device(s), said reference wireless transmitting device(s), and said guiding device(s) based on at least one of said quality and relative position changes between said wireless transmitting device and at least one of said reference wireless transmitting device(s), and said guiding device(s);
• accepting user controls through said display and user interface unit;
• and
• producing information for display on at least one of said display and user interface unit and said guiding device(s).

A movable detection station for determining the location of a wireless transmitting device that communicates to a basestation in a wireless communication network, or guiding the search for such wireless transmitting device(s), comprising of:

• at least one antenna;
• a first receiver, coupled with said at least one antenna, for receiving signals from said wireless transmitting device(s) and including basestation receiver functionalities, and producing digitized baseband signals;
• a second receiver, coupled with said at least one antenna, for receiving signals from GPS satellites (or other similar systems), producing precise frequency reference and timing to said first receiver, and producing digitized GPS (or similar) information related to the location and orientation of the movable detection station in question;
• a basestation transmitter, coupled to said at least one antenna, for performing at least one of transmitting signals to said wireless transmitting device(s), enabling the basestation capabilities to said movable detection station, allowing said wireless transmitting device(s) to hand off to said movable detection station in question, and conveying information for display;
• a display and user interface unit, for presenting the location and guiding information to the user and accepting user control to the movable detection station;
• a digital signal processing unit, coupled with said first and second receivers, said basestation transmitter, and said display and user interface unit, performing signal parameter measurements on the signals provided by the first receiver, determining at least one of the location and orientation of said movable detection station in question, determining and refining the location estimation of said wireless transmitting device(s), providing basestation signal processing functionalities, accepting user controls through said display and user interface unit, producing information for display on said display and user interface unit, and controlling all the elements within the movable detection station.

A movable detection station for determining the location of a wireless transmitting device, and guiding the search for said wireless transmitting device, comprising:

• at least one first antenna;
• a first receiver, coupled with said at least one first antenna, for receiving signals from said wireless transmitting device, and producing digitized baseband signals;
• a second receiver, coupled with said at least one first antenna, for receiving signals from GPS satellites (or other similar systems), producing precise frequency reference and timing to said first receiver, and producing digitized GPS (or similar) information related to the location and orientation of the movable detection station in question;
• a display and user interface unit, for presenting the location and guiding information to the user and accepting user control to the movable detection station in question;
• a digital signal processing unit, coupled with said first and second receivers and said display and user interface unit, performing signal parameter measurements on the signals provided by the first receiver, determining the location and orientation of said movable detection station, determining and refining the location estimation of said wireless transmitting device, accepting user controls through said display and user interface unit, producing information for display on said display and user interface unit, and controlling all the elements within the movable detection station;
• a second antenna, transmitting signals for calibrating said at least one first antenna and said first receiver, and when said wireless transmitting device communicates with a basestation in a wireless communication network, also receiving signals from same basestation;
• and
• a calibration transmitter and mobile receiver, coupled with said second antenna, also coupled with said digital signal processing unit, producing signals for calibrating said at least one first antenna and first receiver, and when said wireless transmitting device communicates with a basestation in a wireless communication network, also receiving signals from same basestation that said wireless transmitting device is communicating with to obtain signaling messages and network timing, and passing them to said digital signal processing unit.

A guiding and reference device, used to work with a detection station to determine the position of a target wireless transmitting device and guiding the search for said target wireless transmitting device, comprising of:

• at least one antenna;
• a reference transmitter, coupled to said at least one antenna, for producing signals similar to what said target wireless transmitting device produces;
• a transceiver, coupled with said at least one antenna, receiving the position and guiding information from said detection station, and transmitting protocol signaling messages to said detection station;
• a microprocessor, coupled with said reference transmitter and said transceiver, accepting and processing the position and guiding information received by said transceiver, configuring and controlling the functionalities of all the connected functional units within said guiding and reference device;
• a display and user interface unit, coupled with said microprocessor, accepting user controls for said guiding and reference device and passing them to said microprocessor, and displaying to the user the position and guiding information that is received and processed by said microprocessor;
• and
• whereby the guiding and reference device is operable to perform at least one of being configured to transmit radio signals with properties similar to that of said target wireless transmitting device;
• and
• displaying its positional information relative to that of said target wireless transmitting device.