System and method for probabilistic WLAN positioning
AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated
InventorVesa V. Ruuska
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This disclosure is directed to a wireless network node having position determination capabilities. The position of a node is determined using range measurements to other network nodes having known locations. Probability density functions modeling uncertainty factors are incorporated in the estimation algorithms to account for the dynamic nature of wireless network, including the relative motion of a node in the network. These probabilistic estimation techniques provide a solution in the form of an expectation value for the position of the network node and a variance that can be assessed to determine the validity of the position determination.
Claims20
A method for making a position determination for a first network node within a wireless network comprising:
- obtaining position information for a plurality of network nodes, each having a known location;
- obtaining range measurements for distances between the first network node and the plurality of network nodes having known location;
- determining a single range measurement probability density function for a position of the first network node for each of the range measurements, wherein each single range measurement probability density function models a process noise uncertainty factor corresponding to movement of the first network node over time;
- determining a combined probability density function by taking a product of each of the single range measurement probability density functions;
- and
- determining an expectation value corresponding to a position of the first network node and a variance of the expectation value by integrating with respect to the combined probability density function.
A wireless network having position determination capabilities comprising a first network node, a plurality of network nodes having known location and a probabilistic positioning engine processor configured to:
- obtain position information for a plurality of network nodes, each having a known location;
- obtain range measurements for distances between the first network node and the plurality of network nodes having a known location;
- determine a single range measurement probability density function for a position of the first network node for each of the range measurements, wherein each single range measurement probability density function models a process noise uncertainty factor corresponding to movement of the first network node over time;
- determine a combined probability density function by taking a product of each of the single range measurement probability density functions;
- and
- calculate an expectation value corresponding to a position of the first network node and a variance of the expectation value by integrating with respect to the combined probability density function.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.