US6741863B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for locating a wireless mobile unit
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
•
Filing: 1998-12-18
•
Granted: 2004-05-25
•
Expires: 2018-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A position locator enables the detection of an originating location of a 911 caller under various RF propagation positions. Through the use of a transceiver and global positioning unit in a portable position locator, even if only one base station receiving the 911 call can be detected, the origin of the 911 call can still be located. Utilizing information from the position locator and at least one base station, an estimated distance between the position locator and the 911 caller, as well as an estimated distance between the at least one base station and the 911 caller, can be determined utilizing TOA or TDOA techniques to enable the location of the caller. An emergency vehicle carrying the position locator can constantly monitor and move toward the location of the 911 caller calling from a wireless mobile unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Tung C. Chiang
- 👤 Byron H. Chen
- 👤 Howard Huang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W64/00; G; G01; G01S; G01S19/00; G01S19/01; G01S19/13; G01S19/14; G01S19/17; G01S19/38; G01S19/39; G01S19/42; G01S19/48; G01S5/00; G01S5/02; G01S5/06; G01S2205/00; G01S2205/001; G01S2205/006; G01S5/0009; G01S5/0081; G01S5/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of calculating a position of wireless mobile unit, comprising the steps of: determining a location of at least one base station receiving a signal from the wireless mobile unit; estimating a first distance between the wireless mobile unit and the at least one base station; determining a location of a portable unit; and calculating an originating location of the wireless mobile unit based upon the determined location of the at least one base station and movement of the portable unit toward a point, the point based on the first distance.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of calculating a position of wireless mobile unit, comprising the steps of: determining a location of at least one base station receiving a signal from the wireless mobile unit; estimating a first distance between the wireless mobile unit and the at least one base station; determining a location of a portable unit; and calculating an originating location of the wireless mobile unit based upon the determined location of the at least one base station and movement of the portable unit toward a point, the point based on the first distance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the location of the portable unit is determined by means of a position detector included within the portable unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the location of the portable unit is determined by a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein the portable unit includes a transceiver and wherein the step of determining a location of at least one base station includes receiving a signal from the at least one base station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the portable unit includes a transceiver and wherein the step of determining a location of at least one base station includes receiving a signal from the at least one base station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: estimating a second distance between the portable unit and the wireless mobile unit, wherein the second distance is used in the calculating of the originating location of the wireless unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the first distance is estimated based on a time of arrival (TOA) of a signal sent from the at least one base station and the second distance is estimated based on a time of arrival (TOA) of a signal sent from the wireless mobile unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the first distance is estimated based on a time distance of arrival (TDOA) of a signal sent from the at least one base station and the second distance is estimated based on a time distance of arrival (TDOA) of a signal sent from the wireless mobile unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising the steps of: calculating two intersecting points of two circles, respectively originating at the determined locations of the at least one base station and the portable unit and respectively radiating out by the estimated first and second distance; re-estimating the second distance upon the portable unit moving towards a randomly selected one of the two calculated intersecting points; and selecting the randomly selected one of the two calculated intersecting points as the originating location of the wireless mobile unit upon the re-estimated second distance being relatively shorter than the estimated second distance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of: selecting the other one of the two calculated intersecting points, not randomly selected, as the originating location of the wireless mobile unit upon the re-estimated second distance being relatively longer than the estimated second distance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
133 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising the steps of: calculating two intersecting points of two circles, respectively originating at the determined locations of the at least one base station and the portable unit and respectively radiating out by the estimated first and second distance; re-estimating the second distance upon the portable unit moving and redetermining the location of the portable unit; recalculating two intersecting points of two circles, respectively originating at the determined location of the at least one base station and the redetermined location of the portable unit and respectively radiating out by the estimated first distance and the re-estimated second distance; and determining the one of the two calculated intersecting points that matches one of the recalculated two intersecting points as the originating location of the wireless mobile unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: calculating a first hyperbola based upon the determined locations of the at least one base station and the portable unit; re-determining the second location of the portable unit upon the portable unit moving; calculating a second hyperbola based upon the determined location of the at least one base station and the re-determined location of the portable unit; and calculating an intersecting point of the first and second hyperbolas as the originating location of the wireless mobile unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
97 words
A position locating apparatus, comprising: a transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals to and from a wireless mobile unit; and a position detector for determining a geographic position of the position locating apparatus, wherein the determined geographic position of the position locating apparatus, an estimated distance between the position locating apparatus and the wireless mobile unit, and movement of the position detector toward a location based on the estimated distance, the estimated distance based upon signals transmitted to and received from the wireless mobile unit, are used to determine a geographic location of the wireless mobile unit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
97 words
A position locating apparatus, comprising: a transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals to and from a wireless mobile unit; and a position detector for determining a geographic position of the position locating apparatus, wherein the determined geographic position of the position locating apparatus, an estimated distance between the position locating apparatus and the wireless mobile unit, and movement of the position detector toward a location based on the estimated distance, the estimated distance based upon signals transmitted to and received from the wireless mobile unit, are used to determine a geographic location of the wireless mobile unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The position locating apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the position detector is a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The position locating apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the transceiver is further for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a base station and wherein the position of the wireless mobile unit is continuously redetermined as the position locating apparatus moves toward the wireless mobile unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
79 words
The position locating apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the determined geographic position of the position locating apparatus and the estimated distance between the position locating apparatus and the wireless mobile unit are used in combination with a determined location of at least one base station receiving a signal from the wireless mobile unit and an estimated distance between the wireless mobile unit and the at least one base station, to determine the geographic location of the wireless unit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The position locating apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the transceiver is further for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a base station and wherein the position of the wireless mobile unit is continuously redetermined as the position locating apparatus moves toward the wireless mobile unit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The position locating apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the position locating apparatus is for use in a rescue vehicle and is used in determining a geographic location of a wireless mobile unit emanating a distress call.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
107 words
A position locator system, comprising: first means for determining a first location of at least one base station receiving a signal from a wireless mobile unit and for estimating a first distance between the wireless mobile unit and the at least one base station; second means for receiving a second location of an emergency vehicle and for estimating a second distance between the emergency vehicle and the wireless mobile unit; and third means for calculating an originating location of the wireless mobile unit based on the first and second locations and movement of the emergency vehicle toward a location based on the first and second estimated distances.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
107 words
A position locator system, comprising: first means for determining a first location of at least one base station receiving a signal from a wireless mobile unit and for estimating a first distance between the wireless mobile unit and the at least one base station; second means for receiving a second location of an emergency vehicle and for estimating a second distance between the emergency vehicle and the wireless mobile unit; and third means for calculating an originating location of the wireless mobile unit based on the first and second locations and movement of the emergency vehicle toward a location based on the first and second estimated distances.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
99 words
The position locator system of claim 19 , wherein, the third means calculates two potential originating locations of the wireless mobile unit and transmits the two calculated potential originating locations to the emergency vehicle, and as the emergency vehicle travels toward one of the two calculated potential originating locations, the second means re-estimates the second distance, and wherein, upon the re-estimated second distance being relatively shorter than the estimated second distance, the third means transmits a signal indicating that the emergency vehicle is traveling toward a correct one of the two possible originating locations of the wireless mobile unit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
The position locator system of claim 20 , wherein, upon the re-estimated second distance being relatively longer than the estimated second distance, the third means transmits a signal indicating that the emergency vehicle is traveling toward an incorrect one of the two possible originating locations of the wireless mobile unit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5414432A
Cited
US5583517A
Cited
US5777580A
Cited
CA2171333A1
Cited
WO1996002007A1
Cited
US5592173A
Cited
US5680140A
Cited
US6028551A
Cited
US5583776A
Cited
US5689431A
Cited
US5917449A
Cited
US6083248A
Cited
US5926765A
Cited
CA2213979A1
Cited
US5890068A
Cited
US5784339A
Cited
US6031490A
Cited
US6054950A
Cited
US6097959A
Cited
US6014102A
Cited
US6141558A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-05-25 | 2007-11-24 | 2008-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-05-25 | 2011-11-24 | 2012-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-05-25 | 2015-11-24 | 2016-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |