Method for locating mobile terminals, system and components therefor

A system for locating a mobile terminal within a mobile communication network comprising at least one base station, the system comprising at least a locating module configured to measure a set of physical dimensions that identify according to respective functions location co-ordinates of said mobile terminal, the set of physical dimensions comprising any combination of physical dimensions selected from the group comprising

• signal power received by the mobile terminal starting from the base station,
• timing advance,
• observed time differences, and
• time of arrival,
• said locating module being configured to:
• generate, starting from said set of physical dimensions and respective functions, a global locating error function which allows a minimum for values of said locating co-ordinates corresponding with the position occupied by said mobile terminal,
• seek the minimum of said error function varying at least one of said locating co-ordinates, and
• locate said mobile terminal in correspondence with the value of said at least one locating co-ordinate corresponding to said minimum.

A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus to perform:

• measuring a set of physical dimensions that identify, according to respective functions, locating coordinates of a mobile terminal, the set of physical dimensions comprising any combination of physical dimensions selected from the group comprising
• signal power received by the mobile terminal starting from the base station,
• timing advance,
• observed time differences, and
• time of arrival,
• generating, starting from said set of physical dimensions and respective functions, a global locating error function which has a minimum for values of said locating co-ordinates corresponding with the position occupied by said mobile terminal,
• seeking the minimum of said error function by varying at least one of said locating co-ordinates, and
• locating said mobile terminal in correspondence with the value of said at least one locating co-ordinate corresponding to said minimum.