Method and system for determining the position of mobile radio terminals

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of said network controller directing said mobile radio terminal to increase transmission power during said uplink TOA measurements.

Claim 4

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of inter-base station handing off said mobile radio terminal to a more distant serving base station.

Claim 5

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of intra-base station handing off said mobile radio terminal to a second traffic channel if, in a distant base station performing a TOA measurement, a signal-to-noise ratio of said traffic channel is less than a predetermined value, said second traffic channel having a signal-to-noise ratio greater than said predetermined value.

Claim 6

The method according to claim 1, wherein said uplink TOA measuring unit comprises a ModRX.

Claim 7

The method according to claim 1, wherein said directing step comprises setting up a call to said mobile radio terminal.

Claim 8

The method according to claim 1, wherein said directing step comprises activating said mobile radio terminal to transmit if said mobile radio terminal is a discontinuous transmission type and inactive.

Claim 9

The method according to claim 1, wherein said directing step comprises conveying information to an analog mobile radio terminal, said information directing said analog mobile radio terminal to respond uplink with digital information.

Claim 10

The method according to claim 1, wherein said directing step comprises conveying information to a packet terminal, said information directing said packet terminal to respond uplink.

Claim 11

A network controller for determining a position of a mobile radio terminal, comprising: means for directing said mobile radio terminal to transmit digital signals uplink on a traffic channel if said mobile radio terminal is transmitting either analog signals or no signals; means for directing at least one radio base station to perform TOA measurements on said traffic channel; means for translating a channel identity to an identity of said mobile radio terminal; and means for conveying said TOA measurements and said identity of said mobile radio terminal to a service node for use in calculating said position of said mobile radio terminal.

Claim 12

A network controller for determining a position of a mobile radio terminal, comprising: means for directing said mobile radio terminal to transmit digital signals uplink on a traffic channel if said mobile radio terminal is transmitting either analog signals or no signals; means for directing at least one radio base station to perform TOA measurements on said traffic channel; means for translating a channel identity to an identity of said mobile radio terminal; and means for conveying said TOA measurements and said identity of said mobile radio terminal to a service node for use in calculating said position of said mobile radio terminal.

Claim 13

A service node for use in calculating mobile terminal position information in a cellular mobile radio network, comprising: means for receiving position information requests; means for requesting a mobile radio terminal to transmit digital signals uplink on a traffic channel if said mobile radio terminal is transmitting either analog signals or no signals; means for storing known radio base station position information for use in said calculating said mobile terminal position information; and means for calculating said mobile terminal position information using TOA information associated with said mobile terminal, and said known radio base station position information.

Claim 14

A service node for use in calculating mobile terminal position information in a cellular mobile radio network, comprising: means for receiving position information requests; means for requesting a mobile radio terminal to transmit digital signals uplink on a traffic channel if said mobile radio terminal is transmitting either analog signals or no signals; means for storing known radio base station position information for use in said calculating said mobile terminal position information; and means for calculating said mobile terminal position information using TOA information associated with said mobile terminal, and said known radio base station position information.

Claim 15

A mobile radio system capable of determining the geographical position of a mobile radio terminal located in said mobile radio system, comprising: a network controller; at least three radio base stations, each of said at least three radio base stations including uplink TOA measuring equipment operable to communicate with said network controller, and a time reference unit operable to provide timing signals to said uplink TOA measuring equipment; and a service node operable to store known position information about said at least three radio base stations, said mobile radio system operable to determine said geographical position of said mobile radio terminal, by receiving a request to determine said geographical position of said mobile radio terminal, directing said mobile radio terminal to transmit digital signals uplink on a traffic channel if said mobile radio terminal is transmitting analog signals or no signals, measuring TOA in the uplink TOA measuring equipment in at least three radio base stations uplink on said traffic channel, receiving from said at least three radio base stations said TOA measurement information in said network controller and a reference to said traffic channel, translating an identity of said traffic channel to an identity of said mobile radio terminal, conveying said uplink TOA measurement information and identity to said service node, and calculating in said service node the geographical position of said mobile radio terminal using said known position information of said at least three radio base stations and said uplink TOA measurement information.

Claim 16

A mobile radio system capable of determining the geographical position of a mobile radio terminal located in said mobile radio system, comprising: a network controller; at least three radio base stations, each of said at least three radio base stations including uplink TOA measuring equipment operable to communicate with said network controller, and a time reference unit operable to provide timing signals to said uplink TOA measuring equipment; and a service node operable to store known position information about said at least three radio base stations, said mobile radio system operable to determine said geographical position of said mobile radio terminal, by receiving a request to determine said geographical position of said mobile radio terminal, directing said mobile radio terminal to transmit digital signals uplink on a traffic channel if said mobile radio terminal is transmitting analog signals or no signals, measuring TOA in the uplink TOA measuring equipment in at least three radio base stations uplink on said traffic channel, receiving from said at least three radio base stations said TOA measurement information in said network controller and a reference to said traffic channel, translating an identity of said traffic channel to an identity of said mobile radio terminal, conveying said uplink TOA measurement information and identity to said service node, and calculating in said service node the geographical position of said mobile radio terminal using said known position information of said at least three radio base stations and said uplink TOA measurement information.

Claim 17

The mobile radio system according to claim 12, wherein said directing operation comprises setting up a call to said mobile radio terminal.

Claim 18

The mobile radio system according to claim 12, wherein said directing operation comprises activating said mobile radio terminal to transmit if said mobile radio terminal is inactive and a discontinuous transmission type.

Claim 19

The mobile radio system according to claim 12, wherein said directing operation comprises conveying information to an analog mobile radio terminal that directs said mobile radio terminal to respond on said uplink with digital information.

Claim 20

The mobile radio system according to claim 12, wherein said directing operation comprises conveying information to a packet terminal that directs said packet terminal to respond on said uplink.

Claim 21

The mobile radio system according to claim 12, wherein said uplink TOA measuring equipment includes a DOA meter.

Claim 22

A measuring unit used in a mobile radio system for determining a TOA measurement of a mobile radio terminal, said measuring unit comprising: at least one radio receiver section further including: a receiver for receiving a digital uplink signal from said mobile radio terminal where said mobile radio terminal is directed to transmit the digital uplink signal on a traffic channel if the mobile radio terminal is transmitting either analog signals or no signals; a demodulator, coupled to said receiver, for demodulating the digital uplink signal; and at least one metering section, coupled to said at least one radio receiver section, further including: a sync-word section for receiving an identity of the traffic channel; an equalizer, coupled to said sync-word section, for using said identity of the traffic channel to receive the digital uplink signal; a symbol detector for receiving the digital uplink signal from said equalizer; and a TOA meter, coupled to said symbol detector, for receiving the digital uplink signal and making the TOA measurement of the mobile radio terminal using a time reference signal.

Claim 23

A measuring unit used in a mobile radio system for determining a TOA measurement of a mobile radio terminal, said measuring unit comprising: at least one radio receiver section further including: a receiver for receiving a digital uplink signal from said mobile radio terminal where said mobile radio terminal is directed to transmit the digital uplink signal on a traffic channel if the mobile radio terminal is transmitting either analog signals or no signals; a demodulator, coupled to said receiver, for demodulating the digital uplink signal; and at least one metering section, coupled to said at least one radio receiver section, further including: a sync-word section for receiving an identity of the traffic channel; an equalizer, coupled to said sync-word section, for using said identity of the traffic channel to receive the digital uplink signal; a symbol detector for receiving the digital uplink signal from said equalizer; and a TOA meter, coupled to said symbol detector, for receiving the digital uplink signal and making the TOA measurement of the mobile radio terminal using a time reference signal.

Claim 24

The measuring unit of claim 18, wherein said at least one radio receiver further includes a frequency synthesizer, coupled to said demodulator, for enabling position determination using said traffic channel configured as a frequency hopping traffic channel.

Claim 25

The measuring unit of claim 18, wherein said at least one metering section further includes a DOA meter.

Claim 26

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of performing a handover before measuring said uplink TOA measurements.

Claim 27

The mobile radio system according to claim 12, further comprising means for performing a handover before measuring said uplink TOA measurements.

Claim 30

A mobile radio system capable of determining a geographical position of a mobile radio terminal located in said mobile radio system, comprising: a network controller; a radio base station including a plurality of uplink TOA measuring units each located at a different location with respect to one another and each operable to communicate with said network controller, and a time reference unit operable to provide timing signals to each uplink TOA measuring unit; and a service node operable to store known positions of said plurality of uplink TOA measuring units, said mobile radio system operable to determine said geographical position of said mobile radio terminal, by receiving a request to determine said geographical position of said mobile radio terminal, directing said mobile radio terminal to transmit digital signals uplink on a traffic channel if said mobile radio terminal is transmitting analog signals or no signals, measuring TOA information on said traffic channel in each uplink TOA measuring unit, receiving from each uplink TOA measuring unit said TOA measurement information in said network controller and a reference to said traffic channel, translating an identity of said traffic channel to an identity of said mobile radio terminal, conveying said uplink TOA measurement information and identity to said service node, and calculating in said service node the geographical position of said mobile radio terminal using said known position information of said plurality of uplink TOA measuring units and said uplink TOA measurement information.

Claim 31

A mobile radio system capable of determining a geographical position of a mobile radio terminal located in said mobile radio system, comprising: a network controller; a radio base station including a plurality of uplink TOA measuring units each located at a different location with respect to one another and each operable to communicate with said network controller, and a time reference unit operable to provide timing signals to each uplink TOA measuring unit; and a service node operable to store known positions of said plurality of uplink TOA measuring units, said mobile radio system operable to determine said geographical position of said mobile radio terminal, by receiving a request to determine said geographical position of said mobile radio terminal, directing said mobile radio terminal to transmit digital signals uplink on a traffic channel if said mobile radio terminal is transmitting analog signals or no signals, measuring TOA information on said traffic channel in each uplink TOA measuring unit, receiving from each uplink TOA measuring unit said TOA measurement information in said network controller and a reference to said traffic channel, translating an identity of said traffic channel to an identity of said mobile radio terminal, conveying said uplink TOA measurement information and identity to said service node, and calculating in said service node the geographical position of said mobile radio terminal using said known position information of said plurality of uplink TOA measuring units and said uplink TOA measurement information.

Claim 34

A mobile radio system capable of determining a geographical position of a mobile radio terminal located in said mobile radio system, comprising: a network controller; a radio base station including an uplink measuring equipment operable to communicate with said network controller, and a time reference unit operable to provide timing signals to said uplink measuring equipment; and a service node operable to store known position information about said radio base station, said mobile radio system operable to determine said geographical position of said mobile radio terminal, by receiving a request to determine said geographical position of said mobile radio terminal, directing said mobile radio terminal to transmit digital signals uplink on a traffic channel if said mobile radio terminal is transmitting analog signals or no signals, measuring on said traffic channel a TOA measurement and a DOA measurement in the uplink measuring equipment, receiving from said radio base station said TOA measurement and said DOA measurement in said network controller and a reference to said traffic channel, translating an identity of said traffic channel to an identity of said mobile radio terminal, conveying said TOA measurement, said DOA measurement and the identity to said service node, and calculating in said service node the geographical position of said mobile radio terminal using said known position information of said radio base station, said TOA measurement, and said DOA measurement.

Claim 35

A mobile radio system capable of determining a geographical position of a mobile radio terminal located in said mobile radio system, comprising: a network controller; a radio base station including an uplink measuring equipment operable to communicate with said network controller, and a time reference unit operable to provide timing signals to said uplink measuring equipment; and a service node operable to store known position information about said radio base station, said mobile radio system operable to determine said geographical position of said mobile radio terminal, by receiving a request to determine said geographical position of said mobile radio terminal, directing said mobile radio terminal to transmit digital signals uplink on a traffic channel if said mobile radio terminal is transmitting analog signals or no signals, measuring on said traffic channel a TOA measurement and a DOA measurement in the uplink measuring equipment, receiving from said radio base station said TOA measurement and said DOA measurement in said network controller and a reference to said traffic channel, translating an identity of said traffic channel to an identity of said mobile radio terminal, conveying said TOA measurement, said DOA measurement and the identity to said service node, and calculating in said service node the geographical position of said mobile radio terminal using said known position information of said radio base station, said TOA measurement, and said DOA measurement.