US6047192A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Robust, efficient, localization system
Assignee: Qualcomm Inc
•
Filing: 1997-05-13
•
Granted: 2000-04-04
•
Expires: 2017-05-13
Abstract
Abstract Replica correlation processing, and associated representative signal-data reduction and reconstruction techniques, are used to detect signals of interest and obtain robust measures of received-signal parameters, such as time differences of signal arrival and directional angles of arrival, that can be used to estimate the location of a cellularized-communications signal source. The new use in the present invention of signal-correlation processing for locating communications transmitters. This enables accurate and efficient extraction of parameters for a particular signal even in a frequency band that contains multiple received transmissions, such as occurs with code-division-multiple-access (CDMA) communications. Correlation processing as disclosed herein further enables extended processing integration times to facilitate the effective detection of desired communications-signal effects and replication measurement of their location-related parameters, even for the communications signals modulated to convey voice conversations or those weakened through propagation effects. Using prior, constructed, signal replicas in the correlation processing enables elimination of the inter-site communications of the signal representations that support the correlation analyses. Reduced-data representations of the modulated signals for voiced conversation, or for the variable components of data communications, are used to significantly reduce the inter-site communications that support the correlation analyses.
Inventors
- 👤 John E. Maloney
- 👤 James O. Stevenson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/02; G01S5/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
270 words
An apparatus for locating a standard, mobile-communications, radio transmitter in a cellularized communications system, comprising: at least first and second sensor stations, each sensor station having an antenna and associated signal conditioning means for receiving a signal from the mobile radio transmitter and a timing mechanism to time-tag an identified, representative instant of the received signal to produce time-tagged received signal data; at least first and second signal replica units at the first and second sensor stations, respectively, each signal replica unit providing replicated signal data, at least first and second signal correlation and measurement extraction processing units at the first and second sensor stations, respectively, each correlation and measurement extraction processing unit performing matched-replica correlation processing with the time-tagged received signal data and the replicated signal data to produce location-related signal parameters; a communications system for communicating the location-related signal parameters from the first and second sensor stations to a central site; means for estimating the position of the mobile transmitter from the location-related signal parameters produced at only the first and second sensor stations; and an output for indicating the estimated position of the mobile transmitter, wherein the signal replica unit at at least the first sensor station comprises a reduction mechanism to reduce the time-tagged received signal data, the communications system communicates the reduced time-tagged received signal data between at least the first sensor station and the second sensor station, and the signal replica unit at at least the second sensor station comprises a reconstruction mechanism to reconstruct the reduced time-tagged received signal data and to use the reconstructed time-tagged received data as the replicated signal data.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
270 words
An apparatus for locating a standard, mobile-communications, radio transmitter in a cellularized communications system, comprising: at least first and second sensor stations, each sensor station having an antenna and associated signal conditioning means for receiving a signal from the mobile radio transmitter and a timing mechanism to time-tag an identified, representative instant of the received signal to produce time-tagged received signal data; at least first and second signal replica units at the first and second sensor stations, respectively, each signal replica unit providing replicated signal data, at least first and second signal correlation and measurement extraction processing units at the first and second sensor stations, respectively, each correlation and measurement extraction processing unit performing matched-replica correlation processing with the time-tagged received signal data and the replicated signal data to produce location-related signal parameters; a communications system for communicating the location-related signal parameters from the first and second sensor stations to a central site; means for estimating the position of the mobile transmitter from the location-related signal parameters produced at only the first and second sensor stations; and an output for indicating the estimated position of the mobile transmitter, wherein the signal replica unit at at least the first sensor station comprises a reduction mechanism to reduce the time-tagged received signal data, the communications system communicates the reduced time-tagged received signal data between at least the first sensor station and the second sensor station, and the signal replica unit at at least the second sensor station comprises a reconstruction mechanism to reconstruct the reduced time-tagged received signal data and to use the reconstructed time-tagged received data as the replicated signal data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus for locating a standard, mobile-communications, radio transmitter in a cellularized communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the location-related signal parameters comprise times-of-arrival information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus for locating a standard, mobile-communications, radio transmitter in a cellularized communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the location-related signal parameters comprise time-differences-of-arrival parameters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus for locating a standard, mobile-communications, radio transmitter in a cellularized communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the location-related signal parameters comprise angle-of-arrival information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus for locating a standard, mobile-communications radio transmitter in a cellularized communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the replicated signal data comprises control information of the cellularized communications system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus for locating a standard, mobile-communications radio transmitter in a cellularized communications system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control information includes overhead information on a voice channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus for locating a standard, mobile-communications radio transmitter in a cellularized communications system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control information includes control channel data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus for locating a standard, mobile-communications, radio transmitter in a cellularized communications system as in claim 1, further comprising means for estimating motion of the mobile transmitter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus for locating a standard, mobile-communications radio transmitter in a cellularized communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal replication data is selected from among the group consisting of: prior known protocol forms of the received signal, representative signal data derived from the received signal, voice channel signals, and digital data information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the replicated signal data comprises voice related data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the replicated signal data comprises information received over a traffic channel.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
262 words
An apparatus for locating a standard, mobile-communications radio transmitter in a cellularized communications system, comprising: at least first and second sensor stations, each sensor station having an antenna and associated signal conditioning means for receiving a signal from the mobile radio transmitter and a timing mechanism to time-tag an identified, representative instant of the received signal to produce time-tagged received signal data; at least first and second signal replica units at the first and second sensor stations, respectively, each signal replica unit providing replicated signal data, at least first and second signal correlation and measurement extraction processing units at the first and second sensor stations, respectively, each correlation and measurement extraction processing unit performing matched-replica correlation processing with the time-tagged received signal data and the replicated signal data to produce location-related signal parameters; a communications system for communicating the location-related signal parameters from the first and second sensor stations to a central site; means for estimating the position of the mobile transmitter from the location-related signal parameters produced at only the first and second sensor stations; and an output for indicating the estimated position of the mobile transmitter, wherein the signal replica unit at at least one sensor station of the first and second sensor stations comprises a reduction mechanism to reduce the signal from the mobile radio transmitter and a reconstruction mechanism to reconstruct the signal from the mobile radio transmitter from a reduced data representation, and the signal correlation and measurement extraction processing unit at the at least one sensor station correlates the reconstructed signal with the replicated signal data.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
262 words
An apparatus for locating a standard, mobile-communications radio transmitter in a cellularized communications system, comprising: at least first and second sensor stations, each sensor station having an antenna and associated signal conditioning means for receiving a signal from the mobile radio transmitter and a timing mechanism to time-tag an identified, representative instant of the received signal to produce time-tagged received signal data; at least first and second signal replica units at the first and second sensor stations, respectively, each signal replica unit providing replicated signal data, at least first and second signal correlation and measurement extraction processing units at the first and second sensor stations, respectively, each correlation and measurement extraction processing unit performing matched-replica correlation processing with the time-tagged received signal data and the replicated signal data to produce location-related signal parameters; a communications system for communicating the location-related signal parameters from the first and second sensor stations to a central site; means for estimating the position of the mobile transmitter from the location-related signal parameters produced at only the first and second sensor stations; and an output for indicating the estimated position of the mobile transmitter, wherein the signal replica unit at at least one sensor station of the first and second sensor stations comprises a reduction mechanism to reduce the signal from the mobile radio transmitter and a reconstruction mechanism to reconstruct the signal from the mobile radio transmitter from a reduced data representation, and the signal correlation and measurement extraction processing unit at the at least one sensor station correlates the reconstructed signal with the replicated signal data.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
246 words
A method of locating a standard, mobile-communications, radio transmitter in a cellularized communications system, comprising: receiving a signal from the mobile radio transmitter at at least first and second sensor stations; time-tagging an identified, representative instant of the received signal to produce time-tagged received signal data; generating replicated signal data at the first and second sensor stations, performing matched-replica correlation processing with the time-tagged received signal data and the replicated signal data to produce location-related signal parameters; communicating the location-related signal parameters from the first and second sensor stations to a central site; estimating the position of the mobile transmitter from the enhanced location-related signal parameters produced by only the first and second sensor stations and obtained at the central site; and indicating the estimated position of the mobile transmitter, wherein the step of generating replicated signal data at the first and second sensor stations further comprises the steps of reducing the time-tagged received signal data at at least the first sensor station, communicating the reduced the time-tagged received signal data between at least the first sensor station and the second sensor station, and reconstructing the reduced time-tagged received signal data at at least the second sensor station, and wherein the step of performing matched-replica correlation processing with the time-tagged received signal data and the replicated signal data to produce location-related signal parameters, further comprises the step of using the reconstructed time-tagged received data as the replicated signal data at at least the second sensor station.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
246 words
A method of locating a standard, mobile-communications, radio transmitter in a cellularized communications system, comprising: receiving a signal from the mobile radio transmitter at at least first and second sensor stations; time-tagging an identified, representative instant of the received signal to produce time-tagged received signal data; generating replicated signal data at the first and second sensor stations, performing matched-replica correlation processing with the time-tagged received signal data and the replicated signal data to produce location-related signal parameters; communicating the location-related signal parameters from the first and second sensor stations to a central site; estimating the position of the mobile transmitter from the enhanced location-related signal parameters produced by only the first and second sensor stations and obtained at the central site; and indicating the estimated position of the mobile transmitter, wherein the step of generating replicated signal data at the first and second sensor stations further comprises the steps of reducing the time-tagged received signal data at at least the first sensor station, communicating the reduced the time-tagged received signal data between at least the first sensor station and the second sensor station, and reconstructing the reduced time-tagged received signal data at at least the second sensor station, and wherein the step of performing matched-replica correlation processing with the time-tagged received signal data and the replicated signal data to produce location-related signal parameters, further comprises the step of using the reconstructed time-tagged received data as the replicated signal data at at least the second sensor station.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
255 words
A system for locating a mobile radio transmitter, comprising: at least first and second sensor stations, each sensor station having an antenna for receiving a signal from the mobile radio transmitter and a timing mechanism to time-tag an identified, representative instant of the received signal to produce time-tagged received signal data; at least first and second signal replica units at the first and second sensor stations, respectively, each signal replica unit providing replicated signal data, at least first and second signal correlation and measurement extraction processing units at the first and second sensor stations, respectively, each correlation and measurement extraction processing unit performing matched-replica correlation processing with the time-tagged received signal data and the replicated signal data to produce location-related signal parameters; a communications system for communicating the location-related signal parameters from the sensor stations to a central site; means for estimating the position of the mobile transmitter from the location-related signal parameters; and an output for indicating the estimated position of the mobile transmitter, wherein the signal replica unit at at least the first sensor station comprises a reduction mechanism to reduce the time-tagged received signal data, the communications system communicates the reduced time-tagged received signal data between at least the first sensor station and the second sensor station, and the signal replica unit at at least the second sensor station comprises a reconstruction mechanism to reconstruct the reduced time-tagged received signal data and to use the reconstructed time-tagged received data as the replicated signal data, wherein the location-related signal parameters comprise angle-of-arrival information.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
255 words
A system for locating a mobile radio transmitter, comprising: at least first and second sensor stations, each sensor station having an antenna for receiving a signal from the mobile radio transmitter and a timing mechanism to time-tag an identified, representative instant of the received signal to produce time-tagged received signal data; at least first and second signal replica units at the first and second sensor stations, respectively, each signal replica unit providing replicated signal data, at least first and second signal correlation and measurement extraction processing units at the first and second sensor stations, respectively, each correlation and measurement extraction processing unit performing matched-replica correlation processing with the time-tagged received signal data and the replicated signal data to produce location-related signal parameters; a communications system for communicating the location-related signal parameters from the sensor stations to a central site; means for estimating the position of the mobile transmitter from the location-related signal parameters; and an output for indicating the estimated position of the mobile transmitter, wherein the signal replica unit at at least the first sensor station comprises a reduction mechanism to reduce the time-tagged received signal data, the communications system communicates the reduced time-tagged received signal data between at least the first sensor station and the second sensor station, and the signal replica unit at at least the second sensor station comprises a reconstruction mechanism to reconstruct the reduced time-tagged received signal data and to use the reconstructed time-tagged received data as the replicated signal data, wherein the location-related signal parameters comprise angle-of-arrival information.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
256 words
An system for locating a mobile radio transmitter, comprising: at least first and second sensor stations, each sensor station having an antenna for receiving a signal from the mobile radio transmitter and a timing mechanism to time-tag an identified, representative instant of the received signal to produce time-tagged received signal data; at least first and second signal replica units at the first and second sensor stations, respectively, each signal replica unit providing replicated signal data, at least first and second signal correlation and measurement extraction processing units at the first and second sensor stations, respectively, each correlation and measurement extraction processing unit performing matched-replica correlation processing with the time-tagged received signal data and the replicated signal data to produce location-related signal parameters; a communications system for communicating the location-related signal parameters from the sensor stations to a central site; means for estimating the position of the mobile transmitter from the location-related signal parameters; and an output for indicating the estimated position of the mobile transmitter, wherein the signal replica unit at at least the first sensor station comprises a reduction mechanism to reduce the time-tagged received signal data, the communications system communicates the reduced time-tagged received signal data between at least the first sensor station and the second sensor station, and the signal replica unit at at least the second sensor station comprises a reconstruction mechanism to reconstruct the reduced time-tagged received signal data and to use the reconstructed time-tagged received data as the replicated signal data, wherein the replicated signal data comprises voice related data.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
256 words
An system for locating a mobile radio transmitter, comprising: at least first and second sensor stations, each sensor station having an antenna for receiving a signal from the mobile radio transmitter and a timing mechanism to time-tag an identified, representative instant of the received signal to produce time-tagged received signal data; at least first and second signal replica units at the first and second sensor stations, respectively, each signal replica unit providing replicated signal data, at least first and second signal correlation and measurement extraction processing units at the first and second sensor stations, respectively, each correlation and measurement extraction processing unit performing matched-replica correlation processing with the time-tagged received signal data and the replicated signal data to produce location-related signal parameters; a communications system for communicating the location-related signal parameters from the sensor stations to a central site; means for estimating the position of the mobile transmitter from the location-related signal parameters; and an output for indicating the estimated position of the mobile transmitter, wherein the signal replica unit at at least the first sensor station comprises a reduction mechanism to reduce the time-tagged received signal data, the communications system communicates the reduced time-tagged received signal data between at least the first sensor station and the second sensor station, and the signal replica unit at at least the second sensor station comprises a reconstruction mechanism to reconstruct the reduced time-tagged received signal data and to use the reconstructed time-tagged received data as the replicated signal data, wherein the replicated signal data comprises voice related data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 15, wherein the location-related signal parameters comprise times-of-arrival information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 15, wherein the location-related signal parameters comprise time-differences-of-arrival parameters.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
An system according to claim 15, wherein the location-related signal parameters comprise angle-of-arrival information.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
241 words
A method of locating a standard, mobile-communications, radio transmitter in a cellularized communications system, comprising: receiving a signal from the mobile radio transmitter at at least first and second sensor stations; time-tagging an identified, representative instant of the received signal to produce time-tagged received signal data; generating replicated signal data at the first and second sensor stations, performing matched-replica correlation processing with the time-tagged received signal data and the replicated signal data to produce location-related signal parameters; communicating the location-related signal parameters from the sensor stations to a central site; estimating the position of the mobile transmitter from the enhanced location-related signal parameters obtained at the central site; and indicating the estimated position of the mobile transmitter, wherein the step of generating replicated signal data at the first and second sensor stations further comprises the steps of reducing the time-tagged received signal data at at least the first sensor station, communicating the reduced the time-tagged received signal data between at least the first sensor station and the second sensor station, and reconstructing the reduced time-tagged received signal data at at least the second sensor station, and wherein the step of performing matched-replica correlation processing with the time-tagged received signal data and the replicated signal data to produce location-related signal parameters, further comprises the step of using the reconstructed time-tagged received data as the replicated signal data at at least the second sensor station, wherein the location-related signal parameters comprise angle-of-arrival information.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
241 words
A method of locating a standard, mobile-communications, radio transmitter in a cellularized communications system, comprising: receiving a signal from the mobile radio transmitter at at least first and second sensor stations; time-tagging an identified, representative instant of the received signal to produce time-tagged received signal data; generating replicated signal data at the first and second sensor stations, performing matched-replica correlation processing with the time-tagged received signal data and the replicated signal data to produce location-related signal parameters; communicating the location-related signal parameters from the sensor stations to a central site; estimating the position of the mobile transmitter from the enhanced location-related signal parameters obtained at the central site; and indicating the estimated position of the mobile transmitter, wherein the step of generating replicated signal data at the first and second sensor stations further comprises the steps of reducing the time-tagged received signal data at at least the first sensor station, communicating the reduced the time-tagged received signal data between at least the first sensor station and the second sensor station, and reconstructing the reduced time-tagged received signal data at at least the second sensor station, and wherein the step of performing matched-replica correlation processing with the time-tagged received signal data and the replicated signal data to produce location-related signal parameters, further comprises the step of using the reconstructed time-tagged received data as the replicated signal data at at least the second sensor station, wherein the location-related signal parameters comprise angle-of-arrival information.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
242 words
A method of locating a standard, mobile-communications, radio transmitter in a cellularized communications system, comprising: receiving a signal from the mobile radio transmitter at at least first and second sensor stations; time-tagging an identified, representative instant of the received signal to produce time-tagged received signal data; generating replicated signal data at the first and second sensor stations, performing matched-replica correlation processing with the time-tagged received signal data and the replicated signal data to produce location-related signal parameters; communicating the location-related signal parameters from the sensor stations to a central site; estimating the position of the mobile transmitter from the enhanced location-related signal parameters obtained at the central site; and indicating the estimated position of the mobile transmitter, wherein the step of generating replicated signal data at the first and second sensor stations further comprises the steps of reducing the time-tagged received signal data at at least the first sensor station, communicating the reduced the time-tagged received signal data between at least the first sensor station and the second sensor station, and reconstructing the reduced time-tagged received signal data at at least the second sensor station, and wherein the step of performing matched-replica correlation processing with the time-tagged received signal data and the replicated signal data to produce location-related signal parameters, further comprises the step of using the reconstructed time-tagged received data as the replicated signal data at at least the second sensor station, wherein the replicated signal data comprises voice related data.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
242 words
A method of locating a standard, mobile-communications, radio transmitter in a cellularized communications system, comprising: receiving a signal from the mobile radio transmitter at at least first and second sensor stations; time-tagging an identified, representative instant of the received signal to produce time-tagged received signal data; generating replicated signal data at the first and second sensor stations, performing matched-replica correlation processing with the time-tagged received signal data and the replicated signal data to produce location-related signal parameters; communicating the location-related signal parameters from the sensor stations to a central site; estimating the position of the mobile transmitter from the enhanced location-related signal parameters obtained at the central site; and indicating the estimated position of the mobile transmitter, wherein the step of generating replicated signal data at the first and second sensor stations further comprises the steps of reducing the time-tagged received signal data at at least the first sensor station, communicating the reduced the time-tagged received signal data between at least the first sensor station and the second sensor station, and reconstructing the reduced time-tagged received signal data at at least the second sensor station, and wherein the step of performing matched-replica correlation processing with the time-tagged received signal data and the replicated signal data to produce location-related signal parameters, further comprises the step of using the reconstructed time-tagged received data as the replicated signal data at at least the second sensor station, wherein the replicated signal data comprises voice related data.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-04-04 | 2003-10-04 | 2004-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-04-04 | 2007-10-04 | 2008-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-04-04 | 2011-10-04 | 2012-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |