Multi-path mitigation in rangefinding and tracking objects using reduced attenuation RF technology
An autonomous system with no Customer Network Investment is described, wherein the system is configurable to operate on in a band in addition to the LTE band. Such system allows the definition of hybrid operations to accommodate the positioning reference signals (PRS) of LTE and already existing reference signals. The system can operate with PRS, with other reference signals such as cell-specific reference signals (CRS), or with both signal types. As such, the system provides the advantage of allowing network operator(s) to dynamically choose between modes of operation depending on circumstances, such as network throughput and compatibility. The system further enables information collected at a network device to be processed at a locate server without involving any processing at the network device.
1. A method for tracking and locating a wireless network device in communication with a network, comprising:
receiving at a locate server unit information collected at a wireless network device in the network, wherein the collected information includes a reference signal or a plurality of known signal samples; and
without processing the collected information for location purposes at the wireless network device, calculating at the locate server unit a location of the wireless network device based on the collected information.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of known signal samples are in a digital format in one of time domain, as in-phase and quadrature (I/Q) samples, or frequency domain, as resource elements.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network includes a plurality of wireless network nodes, wherein each wireless network node includes one or more antennas, wherein the wireless network device includes a single antenna in communication with the network, and wherein the single antenna of the wireless network device is within receive range of at least two or more wireless network nodes among the plurality of wireless network nodes, further comprising:
based on signal parameters within each signal sample among the plurality of signal samples collected during a time interval, identifying second reference signals or known signals within the multiple RF signals received at the single antenna of the wireless network device from each of the one or more antennas of the in range wireless network nodes;
determining a time of arrival (TOA) or a time of flight (TOF) of each second reference signal or known signal received at the single antenna;
utilizing each of the determined TOAs or TOFs to determine an angle of arrival (AOA) and a time difference of arrival (TDOA) of each second reference signal or known signals received at the single antenna; and
utilizing one or more of the determined AOA and the determined TDOA to calculate a position of the wireless network device.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second reference signals or known signals are used as ranging signals.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the location calculation includes utilizing one or more of the determined TDOA and RTT (Round Trip Time) measurements between each in range wireless network node antenna, including each serving cell antenna among the in range wireless network node antennas.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second reference signals are known in advance.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein utilizing one or more of the determined AOA and the determined TDOA includes utilizing two or more of the determined TOAs or TOFs to perform TDOA ranging calculations, and wherein the position calculation is based on a multilateration technique.
8. The method of claim 4 , wherein utilizing one or more of the determined AOA and the determined TDOA includes utilizing two or more of the determined AOA to perform AOA ranging calculations, and wherein the position calculation is based on an AOA Angulation technique.
9. The method of claim 4 , wherein utilizing one or more of the determined AOA and the determined TDOA includes utilizing two or more of the determined AOA and the determined TDOA to perform the position calculation, and wherein the position calculation includes a multilateration technique and an AOA angulation technique.
10. The method of claim 4 , wherein the location calculation includes utilizing one or more of the determined AOA and RTT (Round Trip Time) measurements between each in range wireless network node antenna, including each serving cell antenna among the in range wireless network node antennas.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network includes a plurality of wireless network nodes, wherein each wireless network node includes one or more antennas, wherein the wireless network device includes at least two antennas in communication with the network, and wherein the at least two antennas are within receive range of the one or more antennas of two or more wireless network nodes, further comprising:
based on signal parameters within each signal sample among the plurality of signal samples collected during a time interval, identifying second reference signals or known signals within the multiple RF signals received at the at least two antennas of the wireless network device from each of the one or more antennas of the in range wireless network nodes;
determining a time of arrival (TOA) or a time of flight (TOF) of each second reference signal or known signal received at the at least two antennas;
utilizing each of the determined TOAs or TOFs to determine an angle of arrival (AOA) and a time difference of arrival (TDOA) of each second reference signal or known signals received at the at least two antennas; and
utilizing one or more of the determined AOA and the determined TDOA to calculate a position of the wireless network device.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second reference signals or known signals are used as ranging signals.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the location calculation includes utilizing one or more of the determined TDOA and RTT (Round Trip Time) measurements between each in range wireless network node antenna, including each serving cell antenna among the in range wireless network node antennas.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second reference signals are known in advance.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein utilizing one or more of the determined AOA and the determined TDOA includes utilizing two or more of the determined TOAs or TOFs to perform TDOA ranging calculations, and wherein the position calculation is based on a multilateration technique.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein utilizing one or more of the determined AOA and the determined TDOA includes utilizing two or more of the determined AOA to perform AOA ranging calculations, and wherein the position calculation is based on an AOA Angulation technique.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein utilizing one or more of the determined AOA and the determined TDOA includes utilizing two or more of the determined AOA and the determined TDOA to perform the position calculation, and wherein the position calculation includes a multilateration technique and an AOA angulation technique.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the location calculation includes utilizing one or more of the determined AOA and RTT (Round Trip Time) measurements between each in range wireless network node antenna, including each serving cell antenna among the in range wireless network node antennas.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference signal is one or more of a cell-specific reference signal (CRS) and a positioning reference signal (PRS), wherein when the reference signal is the CRS a list of identifications includes CRS configuration information, wherein when the reference signal is the PRS the list of identification includes PRS configuration information, and wherein when the reference signal is the PRS a signal schedule includes a PRS schedule for each in range wireless network node and the signal schedule includes the PRS configuration information.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the network includes a plurality of wireless network nodes, and wherein the list of identifications includes configuration information for the in range wireless network nodes.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the network includes a plurality of wireless network nodes, and wherein the signal schedule includes configuration information for the in range wireless network nodes.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference signal is one or more of a cell-specific reference signal (CRS) and a positioning reference signals (PRS), wherein when the reference signal is the CRS the plurality of known signal samples are CRS samples in one of in time domain or frequency domain, and wherein when the reference signal is the PRS the plurality of known signal samples are PRS samples in one of time domain or frequency domain.
23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network includes a plurality of wireless network nodes, and wherein the wireless network nodes are part of a wireless access point.
24. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network includes a plurality of wireless network nodes, and wherein the wireless network nodes are part of a distributed antenna system.
25. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network includes a plurality of wireless network nodes, and wherein the wireless network nodes are part of one of a macro cell, mini cell, femto cell, pico cell and small cell.
26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network is based on a long-term evolution (LTE) standard.
27. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network includes a plurality of wireless network nodes, and wherein the collected information further includes a plurality of time stamps based on multiple RF signals received from each wireless network node in the network within the reference signal or the plurality of known signal samples in receiving range of the wireless network device.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein the collected information further includes a list of identifications for each in range wireless network node.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the collected information further includes a signal schedule with an identification for each in receiving range wireless network node.