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US6097336A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for improving the accuracy of a wireless location system

Assignee: Qualcomm Inc
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Filing: 1999-01-12
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Granted: 2000-08-01
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Expires: 2019-01-12
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Abstract

Abstract A method for locating a mobile transmitter comprises the steps of (a) making a first estimate of the location of the mobile transmitter on the basis of a first transmission from the mobile transmitter; (b) causing the mobile transmitter to emit a second transmission; (c) making a second estimate of the location of the mobile transmitter on the basis of the second transmission; and (d) combining at least the first and second estimates to obtain an improved, more accurate estimate of the location of the mobile transmitter. Step (b) may comprise auditing the mobile transmitter to elicit an audit response, or terminating the call (hanging up) and then initiating another call by paging the mobile transmitter to elicit a page response. Step (d) preferably comprises averaging a plurality of statistically-independent location estimates.

Inventors

  • 👤 Louis A. Stilp

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 05:40
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/02; G01S5/10; H; H04; H04W; H04W64/00; G01S5/0205; G01S5/021; G01S5/0284; G01S5/06; G01S1/00; G01S1/02; G01S1/022; G01S1/026; G01S2205/00; G01S2205/001; G01S2205/006; G01S2205/008; G01S2205/01; G01S2205/06; G01S5/0215; G01S5/0218; G01S5/0221; G01S5/02213; G01S5/02216; G01S5/0244; G01S5/0246; G01S5/0252; G01S5/02521; G01S5/0257; G01S5/0268; H04W4/00; H04W4/90; H04W76/00; H04W76/50; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D30/00; Y02D30/70

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 93 words
A method for use in a Wireless Location System in locating a mobile transmitter, comprising the steps of: (a) making a first estimate of the location of said mobile transmitter, said first estimate being made on the basis of a first reverse transmission from the mobile transmitter; (b) causing the mobile transmitter to emit a second transmission; (c) making a second estimate of the location of the mobile transmitter; and (d) combining at least said first and second estimates to obtain an improved, more accurate estimate of the location of the mobile transmitter.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 93 words
A method for use in a Wireless Location System in locating a mobile transmitter, comprising the steps of: (a) making a first estimate of the location of said mobile transmitter, said first estimate being made on the basis of a first reverse transmission from the mobile transmitter; (b) causing the mobile transmitter to emit a second transmission; (c) making a second estimate of the location of the mobile transmitter; and (d) combining at least said first and second estimates to obtain an improved, more accurate estimate of the location of the mobile transmitter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises auditing the mobile transmitter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises terminating the call with the mobile transmitter, and then initiating another call by paging the mobile transmitter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises averaging a plurality of statistically-independent location estimates.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 59 words
A method for locating a mobile transmitter, comprising the step of averaging a plurality of statistically-independent location estimates to obtain an improved, more accurate estimate of the location of the mobile transmitter, wherein at least one of said plurality of statistically-independent location estimates is obtained by causing the mobile transmitter to emit a responsive signal of a predetermined type.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 59 words
A method for locating a mobile transmitter, comprising the step of averaging a plurality of statistically-independent location estimates to obtain an improved, more accurate estimate of the location of the mobile transmitter, wherein at least one of said plurality of statistically-independent location estimates is obtained by causing the mobile transmitter to emit a responsive signal of a predetermined type.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said responsive signal comprises an audit response.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said responsive signal comprises a page response.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 112 words
A method for locating a mobile transmitter, comprising the steps of: (a) making a first estimate of the location of said mobile transmitter, said first estimate being made on the basis of a first reverse transmission from the mobile transmitter; (b) auditing the mobile transmitter to thereby cause it to emit an audit response signal; (c) making a second estimate of the location of the mobile transmitter on the basis of said audit response signal, said second estimate being statistically-independent of said first estimate; and (d) averaging at least the first and second, statistically-independent location estimates to obtain a third location estimate which is more accurate than said first or second estimates.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 112 words
A method for locating a mobile transmitter, comprising the steps of: (a) making a first estimate of the location of said mobile transmitter, said first estimate being made on the basis of a first reverse transmission from the mobile transmitter; (b) auditing the mobile transmitter to thereby cause it to emit an audit response signal; (c) making a second estimate of the location of the mobile transmitter on the basis of said audit response signal, said second estimate being statistically-independent of said first estimate; and (d) averaging at least the first and second, statistically-independent location estimates to obtain a third location estimate which is more accurate than said first or second estimates.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 69 words
A method for use in a Wireless Location System for locating a mobile transmitter, comprising: making a first estimate of the mobile transmitter's location based upon first reverse channel transmissions from the mobile transmitter; monitoring the mobile transmitter for a second transmission; making a second location estimate based on the second transmission; and combining the first and second estimates to obtain an improved estimate of the mobile transmitter's location.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 69 words
A method for use in a Wireless Location System for locating a mobile transmitter, comprising: making a first estimate of the mobile transmitter's location based upon first reverse channel transmissions from the mobile transmitter; monitoring the mobile transmitter for a second transmission; making a second location estimate based on the second transmission; and combining the first and second estimates to obtain an improved estimate of the mobile transmitter's location.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the Wireless Location System causes the mobile transmitter to make the second transmission.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 18 words
A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the mobile transmitter is audited to elicit the second transmission.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method as recited in claim 10, comprising terminating the call with the mobile transmitter and then initiating another call by paging the mobile transmitter, whereby the second transmission is elicited.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method as recited in claim 9, comprising averaging a plurality of statistically independent location estimates.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 39 words
A method of locating a mobile transmitter, comprising averaging a plurality of statistically independent location estimates to obtain an improved estimate, wherein at least one estimate is obtained by causing the mobile transmitter to transmit a predetermined response signal.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 39 words
A method of locating a mobile transmitter, comprising averaging a plurality of statistically independent location estimates to obtain an improved estimate, wherein at least one estimate is obtained by causing the mobile transmitter to transmit a predetermined response signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the response signal comprises an audit response.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the response signal comprises a page response.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 53 words
A method for locating a mobile transmitter, comprising making a first location estimate based upon a first reverse transmission, auditing the mobile transmitter to cause it to emit an audit response, making a second location estimate based upon the audit response, and averaging the first and second estimates to obtain a third estimate.
Claim 23
Independent Claim 53 words
A method for locating a mobile transmitter, comprising making a first location estimate based upon a first reverse transmission, auditing the mobile transmitter to cause it to emit an audit response, making a second location estimate based upon the audit response, and averaging the first and second estimates to obtain a third estimate.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4728958A Cited
US5526357A Cited
US5490073A Cited
US5327144A Cited
US5608410A Cited
US5515062A Cited
US5890068A Cited
US5786790A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-08-01 2004-01-31 2004-08-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-08-01 2008-01-31 2008-08-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-08-01 2012-01-31 2012-08-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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