Method and apparatus for determining the position of a wireless terminal based on propagation delay taps of base stations

A method for wireless positioning measuring locations of terminals, comprising:

• acquiring synchronization with base stations;
• collecting a plurality of propagation delay taps for the base stations;
• determining a final propagation delay tap among the plurality of propagation delay taps;
• calculating a time difference of arrival (TDOA) value using the final propagation delay tap;
• and
• deriving locations of the terminals using the calculated TDOA value,
• wherein the plurality of propagation delay taps include a first valid propagation tap, a maximum signal intensity tap, and an intermediate valid propagation tap,
• the first valid propagation tap is a first received propagation delay tap among the valid propagation delay taps having signal intensity of valid propagation threshold or more,
• the maximum signal intensity tap is a propagation delay tap having maximum signal intensity among the valid propagation delay taps, and
• the intermediate valid propagation tap is a propagation delay tap received between receiving timing of the first valid propagation tap and receiving timing of the maximum signal intensity tap, among the valid propagation delay taps, wherein the valid propagation threshold is changed according to at least one of the current propagation environment and time.

An apparatus for wireless positioning measuring locations of terminals, comprising:

• a synchronous acquiring unit acquiring synchronization with base stations;
• a propagation delay tap collecting unit setting a valid propagation threshold value and collecting a plurality of propagation delay taps for the base stations;
• a final propagation delay tap determining unit determining a final propagation delay tap among the plurality of propagation delay taps;
• and
• a position calculating unit calculating a time difference of arrival (TDOA) value using the final propagation delay tap and deriving locations of the terminals using the calculated TDOA value,
• wherein the plurality of propagation delay taps include a first valid propagation tap, a maximum signal intensity tap, and an intermediate valid propagation tap,
• the first valid propagation tap is a first received propagation delay tap among the valid propagation delay taps having signal intensity of the set valid propagation threshold value or more,
• the maximum signal intensity tap is a propagation delay tap having maximum signal intensity among the valid propagation delay taps, and
• the intermediate valid propagation taps is a propagation delay tap received between receiving timing of the first valid propagation tap and receiving timing of the maximum signal intensity tap, among the valid propagation delay taps.