Method and apparatus for determining path loss by combining geolocation with interference suppression

A method for determining a path loss value between a wireless mobile device at a first location and each of a plurality of receivers where each receiver is sited at a location different from the other receivers and different from the first location, comprising the steps of:

• geolocating the mobile device at the first location;
• at each of the plurality of receivers:
• receiving a first signal transmitted by the mobile device at the first location;
• receiving a second signal transmitted by the mobile device at the first location, the second signal comprising data from which a transmitted signal attribute of the mobile device at the first location can be determined;
• and
• sending to a central node a first reference signal representative of a signal attribute of the first signal;
• determining at the central node a primary receiver and sending to the plurality of receivers a second reference signal representative of the first reference signal from the primary receiver;
• and
• at each of the plurality of receivers determining from a received signal level of the first signal or from the second reference signal the path loss value between the receiver and the mobile device at the first location.

A method for determining a path loss value between a wireless mobile device at a first location and each of a plurality of receivers where each receiver is sited at a location different from the other receivers and different from the first location, comprising the steps of:

• at each of the plurality of receivers:
• receiving a first signal transmitted by the mobile device at the first location;
• receiving a second signal transmitted by the mobile device at the first location, the second signal comprising data from which a transmitted first signal attribute of the mobile device at the first location can be determined;
• and
• sending to a central node a first reference signal representative of a first signal attribute of the first signal;
• at the central node:
• receiving the first reference signals from the plurality of receivers;
• determining a primary receiver from the first reference signals;
• and
• sending to the plurality of receivers a second reference signal representative of the first reference signal from the primary receiver;
• receiving at a wireless location sensor a third signal from the mobile device and determining the geolocation of the mobile device at the first location as a function of either a second attribute of the third signal or information contained in the third signal;
• and
• at each of the plurality of receivers:
• receiving the second reference signal;
• determining from a signal level of the third signal and from the second reference signal the path loss value between the receiver and the mobile device at the first location.

A system for determining a path loss value between a wireless mobile device at a first location and each of a plurality of receivers where each receiver is sited at a location different from the other receivers and different from the first location, the system comprising:

• circuitry including a microprocessor for locating the mobile device at the first location;
• at least one of the plurality of receivers comprising:
• means for receiving a first signal transmitted by the wireless mobile device at the first location;
• first circuitry for determining an attribute of the first signal;
• means for sending a first reference signal to a central node,
• the first reference signal representing the attribute of the first signal;
• means for receiving a second signal from the central node;
• circuitry for determining the path loss value between the wireless mobile device and the receiver as a function of the location of the mobile device and a signal level of the second signal;
• the central node comprising:
• means for selecting a primary receiver from the plurality of receivers as a function of the first reference signal;
• means for sending to each of the plurality of receivers the second signal representative of the first reference signal received from the primary receiver.

A system for determining a path loss value between a wireless mobile device at a first location and each of a plurality of receivers where each receiver is sited at a location different from the other receivers and different from the first location, the system comprising:

• at least one of the plurality of receivers comprising:
• means for receiving a first signal transmitted by the wireless
• mobile device at the first location;
• first circuitry for determining an attribute of the first signal;
• means for sending a first reference signal to a central node,
• the first reference signal representing the attribute of the first signal;
• means for receiving a second reference signal from the central node;
• circuitry for determining the path loss value between the wireless mobile device and the receiver as a function of the location of the mobile device and the second reference signal;
• the central node comprising:
• means for selecting a primary receiver from the plurality of receivers as a function of the first reference signal received from each receiver;
• means for sending to each of the plurality of receivers the second signal representative of the first reference signal received from the primary receiver;
• a location sensor comprising:
• circuitry for determining the location of the wireless mobile device as a function of an attribute of a third signal received from the wireless mobile device;
• means for communicating the location of the wireless mobile device to at least one of the plurality of receivers.