Geo-location of a WLAN device using mobile monitoring station

1. A method of determining a location of a wireless device, the method comprising:

identifying a plurality of Time of Departures (TODs) of a corresponding plurality of beacons received at a measuring station, each of the plurality of TODs indicating when the wireless device transmitted a beacon to the measuring station according to a timer associated with the wireless device;

identifying a plurality of Time of Arrivals (TOAs) corresponding to the plurality of beacons at the measuring station according to a timer associated with the measuring station;

synchronizing the timer associated with the wireless device with the timer associated with the measuring station, the synchronizing comprising:

applying a factor α for correcting the timer associated with the measuring station when the measuring station receives the plurality of beacons;

applying a factor β for correcting a ratio of timer rates between the timer associated with the wireless device and the timer associated with the measuring station; and

applying a factor γ for correcting changes in a timer rate ratio between the timer associated with the wireless device and the timer associated with the measuring station;

determining a plurality of travel times (TTs) corresponding to the plurality of beacons, the plurality of TTs based at least in part upon the plurality of TODs, the plurality of TOAs, and the synchronization of the timer associated with the wireless device and the timer associated with the measuring station, the plurality of TTs being determined according to: TT=[TSFn MS −(TSFo MS +α)]−β*(TSFn WD −TSFo WD )−γ*(TSFn WD −TSFo WD ) 2 , where, TSFn MS is a value of the timer associated with the measuring station when an nth beacon arrives at the measuring station, TSFo MS is a value of the timer associated with the measuring station when a first beacon arrives at the measuring station, TSFn WD is a value of a timer synchronization function (TSF) field in the nth beacon sent by the wireless device, and TSFo WD is a value of the TSF field in the first beacon sent by the wireless device; and

determining a location of the wireless device based at least in part on the determined plurality of TTs and the synchronization of the timer associated with the wireless device and the timer associated with the measuring station.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an alternate plurality of travel times (TT 2 ) of the plurality of beacons as determined according to: TT 2 =[TSFn MS −(TSFo MS +α)]−β*(TSFn WD −TSFo WD );

comparing TT 2 with TT; and

determining the location of the wireless device using at least in part a selected one of TT 2 and TT.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the location of the wireless device comprises:

obtaining a plurality of estimated distances Di between the wireless device and the measuring station for a plurality of geographic locations i by varying at least one of an estimated longitude of the wireless device, an estimated latitude of the wireless device and an estimated altitude of the wireless device;

calculating a lowest sum of square residuals (SSR) value according to SSR=Σi[Di−c*TTi] 2 , where c is a speed of light and TTi is a travel time of a beacon sent by the wireless device at geographic location i;

selecting a distance D of the plurality of estimated distances Di between the wireless device and the measuring station corresponding to the calculated lowest SSR value; and

determining the location of the wireless device based at least in part on the selected distance D between the wireless device and the measuring station.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of beacons includes a timer synchronization function (TSF) field containing a corresponding TOD of the plurality of TODs.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measuring station is located in one of a ground vehicle, a vessel in a body of water and an airborne vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 , where at least one of the plurality of TOAs is identified as a time when a frame check of a corresponding received beacon is completed.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of beacons are received by the measuring station as the measuring station travels in an orbit around the wireless device.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein beacons of the plurality of beacons are received at the measuring station at opposite sides of the orbit.

9. A measuring station for determining a location of a wireless device, the measuring station comprising:

an interface configured to receive a plurality of beacons from the wireless device; and

processing circuitry including a memory and a processor, the memory in communication with the processor, the memory having instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to:

identify a plurality of Time of Departures (TODs) of a corresponding plurality of beacons received at the measuring station, each of the plurality of TODs indicating when the wireless device transmitted a beacon to the measuring station according to a timer associated with the wireless device;

identify a plurality of Time of Arrivals (TOAs) corresponding to the plurality of beacons at the measuring station according to a timer associated with the measuring station;

synchronize the timer associated with the wireless device with the timer associated with the measuring station, the synchronizing comprising:

applying a factor α for correcting the timer associated with the measuring station when the measuring station receives the plurality of beacons;

applying a factor β for correcting a ratio of timer rates between the timer associated with the wireless device and the timer associated with the measuring station; and

applying a factor γ for correcting changes in a timer rate ratio between the timer associated with the wireless device and the timer associated with the measuring station;

determine a plurality of travel times (TTs) corresponding to the plurality of beacons, the plurality of TTs based at least in part upon the plurality of TODs, the plurality of TOAs, and the synchronization of the timer associated with the wireless device and the timer associated with the measuring station, the plurality of TTs being determined according to: TT=[TSFn MS −(TSFo MS +α)]−β*(TSFn WD −TSFo WD )−γ*(TSFn WD −TSFo WD ) 2 , where, TSFn MS is a value of the timer associated with the measuring station when an nth beacon arrives at the measuring station, TSFo MS is a value of the timer associated with the measuring station when a first beacon arrives at the measuring station, TSFn WD is a value of a timer synchronization function (TSF) field in the nth beacon sent by the wireless device, and TSFo WD is a value of the TSF field in the first beacon sent by the wireless device; and

determine a location of the wireless device based at least in part on the determined plurality of TTs, and the synchronization of the timer associated with the wireless device and the timer associated with the measuring station.

10. The measuring station of claim 9 , wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the processor further configure the processor to:

determine an alternate plurality of travel times (TT 2 ) of the plurality of beacons as determined according to: TT 2 =[TSFn MS −(TSFo MS +α)]−β*(TSFn WD −TSFo WD );

compare TT 2 with TT; and

determine the location of the wireless device using at least in part one of TT 2 and TT.

11. The measuring station of claim 9 , wherein determining the location of the wireless device comprises:

obtaining a plurality of estimated distances Di between the wireless device and the measuring station for a plurality of geographic locations i by varying at least one of an estimated longitude of the wireless device, an estimated latitude of the wireless device and an estimated altitude of the wireless device;

calculating a lowest sum of square residuals (SSR) value according to SSR=Σi[Di−c*TTi] 2 , where c is a speed of light and TTi is a travel time of a beacon sent by the wireless device at geographic location i;

selecting a distance D of the plurality of estimated distances Di between the wireless device and the measuring station corresponding to the lowest SSR value; and

determining the location of the wireless device based at least in part on the selected distance D between the wireless device and the measuring station.

12. The measuring station of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of beacons includes a timer synchronization function (TSF) field containing a corresponding TOD of the plurality of TODs.

13. The measuring station of claim 9 , wherein the measuring station is located in one of a ground vehicle, a vessel in a body of water, and an airborne vehicle.

14. The measuring station of claim 9 , where at least one of the plurality of TOAs is identified as a time when a frame check of a corresponding received beacon is completed.

15. The measuring station of claim 9 , wherein the interface is configured to receive the plurality of beacons as the measuring station travels in an orbit around the wireless device.

16. The measuring station of claim 15 , wherein the interface is configured to receive beacons of the plurality of beacons at opposite sides of the orbit.

17. A measuring station for determining a location of a wireless access point, the measuring station comprising:

an interface configured to receive a plurality of beacons from the wireless access point; and

processing circuitry including a memory and a processor, the memory in communication with the processor, the memory having instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to:

identify a plurality of Time of Departures (TODs) of a corresponding plurality of beacons received at the measuring station, each of the plurality of TODs indicating when the wireless access point transmitted a beacon to the measuring station according to a timer associated with the wireless access point;

identify a plurality of Time of Arrivals (TOAs) corresponding to the plurality of beacons at the measuring station according to a timer associated with the measuring station;

synchronize the timer associated with the wireless access point with the timer associated with the measuring station, the synchronizing comprising:

applying a factor α for correcting the timer associated with the measuring station when the measuring station receives the plurality of beacons;

applying a factor β for correcting a ratio of timer rates between the timer associated with the wireless access point and the timer associated with the measuring station; and

applying a factor γ for correcting changes in a timer rate ratio between the timer associated with the wireless access point and the timer associated with the measuring station;

determine a plurality of travel times (TTs) corresponding to the plurality of beacons, the plurality of TTs based at least in part upon the plurality of TODs, the plurality of TOAs, and the synchronization of the timer associated with the wireless access point and the timer associated with the measuring station, the plurality of TTs being determined according to: TT=[TSFn MS −(TSFo MS +α)]−β*(TSFn WD −TSFo WD )−γ*(TSFn WD −TSFo WD ) 2 , where, TSFn MS is a value of the timer associated with the measuring station when an nth beacon arrives at the measuring station, TSFo MS is a value of the timer associated with the measuring station when a first beacon arrives at the measuring station, TSFn WD is a value of a timer synchronization function (TSF) field in the nth beacon sent by the wireless access point, and TSFo WD is a value of the TSF in the first beacon sent by the wireless access point; and

determine a location of the wireless access point based at least in part on the determined plurality of TTs, and the synchronization of the timer associated with the wireless access point and the timer associated with the measuring station,

the determining of the location of the wireless access point comprises:

obtaining a plurality of estimated distances Di between the wireless access point and the measuring station for a plurality of geographic locations i by varying at least one of an estimated longitude of the wireless access point, an estimated latitude of the wireless access point and an estimated altitude of the wireless access point;

calculating a lowest sum of square residuals (SSR) value according to SSR=Σi [Di−c*TTi] 2 , where c is a speed of light and TTi is a travel time of a beacon sent by the wireless access point at geographic location i;

selecting a distance D of the plurality of estimated distances Di between the wireless access point and the measuring station corresponding to the lowest SSR value; and

determining the location of the wireless access point based at least in part on the selected distance D between the wireless access point and the measuring station.