Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Zoned or cellular telephone system
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-01
2004-02-24
Cumming, William (Department: 2685)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Zoned or cellular telephone system
C375S341000, C342S357490
Reexamination Certificate
active
06697628
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates generally to a manner by which to determine geographical positioning of a mobile station operable in a radio communication system, such as a cellular radio communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus, and an associated method, that facilitates determination of the geographical positioning of the mobile station through the use of TOA (time-of-arrival) signaling. Large-bandwidth, low-energy signals are transmitted during pseudo-random time periods. Significantly-improved precision relative to conventional position-determination schemes is provided. The so-called ‘hearability’ problem associated with TOA-signaling schemes is reduced as the signals used by a mobile station in a position-determining procedure are more easily detected by the mobile station.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A communication system provides for the communication of data between separate locations. At a minimum, a sending station is positioned at a first location, and a receiving station is positioned at a second location. The sending and receiving stations are interconnected by way of a communication channel. Data that is to be communicated by the sending station is communicated upon the communication channel to the receiving station.
A wide variety of different types of communication systems have been developed and are regularly utilized to effectuate communication of information between the sending and receiving stations. A radio communication system is exemplary of a type of communication system. And, a mobile communication system is a type of radio communication system that permits communications to be effectuated by way of mobile stations. Generally, a mobile station is carriable by a user and is used by the user to communicate telephonically therethrough.
A mobile station is generally constructed to appear to a user to be operable in manners generally analogous to operation of a conventional, wireline telephonic station. That is to say, telephonic calls can be originated by the user of the mobile station by entering dialing digits associated with a called party. And, a telephonic call can be terminated at the mobile station in manners generally analogous to the manner by which a telephonic call is terminated at a conventional, wireline telephonic station.
One significant difference, however, relates to the use of a radio link with a mobile station, rather than a conventional wireline connection with a wireline station.
When, for instance, a call is originated at a conventional wireline telephonic station, the geographical position from which the call is originated is easily determinable. A simple mapping of the telephonic identity of the originating station with the location at which the originating station is installed provides an immediate indication of the geographical positioning of the originating telephonic station. Even if the user of the telephonic station is unable to identify the location from which the call is originated or communicate such indication during telephonic communications, the location of the telephonic station is readily ascertained.
In contrast, because of the inherent mobility of the mobile station, a call can be originated by way of the mobile station from any of many different locations, typically, from any location within a geographical area encompassed by the cellular communication system. The geographical positioning of the mobile station is therefore not easily determinable.
Determination of the location at which the call is originated is vitally important, for instance, in a request for emergency assistance. If a request for emergency assistance is made by way of a mobile station and the user of the mobile station is unable to indicate to emergency personnel the location from which the request for emergency assistance is made, timely delivery of emergency assistance might not be possible.
Several manners by which to determine the geographical positioning of a mobile station have been set forth. One manner is to make use of GPS (global positioning system) technologies. A GPS receiver is a global positioning system to detect TOA (time-of-arrival) signals generated by satellite-based transmitters. Signals transmitted by three separate satellites of the global positioning system are used by the GPS receiver to determine an accurate positioning of the GPS receiver. Incorporation of the circuitry of a GPS receiver into a mobile station permits the geographical positioning of the mobile station readily to be determined. One scheme, referred to as an A-GPS (Assisted-Global Positioning System) scheme utilizes GPS signals generated by the satellite-based transmitters, has been proposed for use in various terrestrial-cellular communication systems.
An analogous scheme determines the geographical positioning of the mobile station through the use of TOA signals generated by separate base stations of the network infrastructure of the cellular communication system. Through detection of the times of arrival of signals generated by separate ones of the base stations, positioned at known, fixed-site locations, the geographical positioning of the mobile station is analogously also determinable. One scheme, referred to as an E-OTD (Enhanced-Observed Time Difference) scheme, utilizes signals generated by three separate base transceiver stations to determine the geographical positioning of a mobile station.
Problems, however, are associated with existing A-GPS and E-EOTD schemes by which to determine the geographical positioning of a mobile station.
The precision of the position determination is lacking. That is to say, the geographical positioning cannot note the position of the mobile station with a required degree of precision to permit, for instance, emergency personnel properly to respond to a request.
And, such schemes suffer from a so-called ‘hearability’ problem.
Detection of different TOA signals to make determination of the geographical positioning of the mobile station is somewhat problematic. A signal generated by a serving base station, however, might well mask currently-generated, co-channel radio signals, including signals generated by other base stations. If signals generated by the other base stations cannot adequately be detected due to the characteristics of the signal generated by the serving base station, geographical positioning determination cannot accurately be made.
A manner is therefore needed by which better to provide for the determination of geographical positioning of a mobile station operable in a radio communication system.
It is in light of this background information related to the determination of geographical positioning of a mobile station that the significant improvements of the present invention have evolved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, accordingly, advantageously provides apparatus, and an associated method, by which to determine the geographical positioning of a mobile station operable in a radio communication system, such as a cellular radio communication system.
Through operation of an embodiment of the present invention, geographical positioning determination of the geographical positioning of the mobile station utilizing TOA signaling is facilitated.
In one aspect of the present invention, large-bandwidth, low-energy signals are transmitted during pseudo-random time periods. The so-called ‘hearability’ problem conventionally associated with TOA-signaling schemes is reduced as the signals used by a mobile station in a geographical positioning procedure are more easily detected by the mobile station. And, the precision of the position determination is significantly improved. Position-determination precision can be on the order of centimeters instead of, e.g., only dozens of meters permitted utilizing conventional schemes.
In another aspect of the present invention, the large-bandwidth, low-energy signals are generated upon channels, such as pilot channels defined in a CDMA system, together with signals, such as pilot signals, that are continuously broadcast.
Green Marilynn P.
Wang Shu-Shaw
Cumming William
Fraccaroli Federico
Nokia Corporation
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