Method and apparatus for determining the location of a node in a wireless system
A method and apparatus for determining the path loss model of an object within a wireless communication system is provided herein. During operation, a path loss model for a node is generated based on path loss values and corresponding numbers of neighbors of the said node. The path loss model is used to determine a relationship between path loss and distance. With this relationship established, distances to known-located nodes may be obtained by obtaining a path loss to the known-located node. From these distances, a node can then be located.
1. A method for locating a node within a wireless communication system, the method comprising the steps of:
determining a plurality of path loss values to a plurality of nodes;
determining a path loss model that is a function of node density and the path loss to the plurality of nodes, wherein the node density comprises a value of nodes per unit area or volume;
determining distances to known located nodes based on the path loss model; and
locating the node based on distances to known located nodes.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the path loss model comprises the step of determining a relationship between path loss and distance.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the path loss model based on the node density comprises the step of determining the path loss model based on a number of nodes per square meter.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the path loss model based on the node density comprises the step of determining the path loss model based on a number of nodes per cubic meter.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the path loss comprises the step of determining a difference between a power a signal was received at and a power the signal was transmitted at.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the plurality of neighboring nodes comprises the step of determining the plurality of neighboring nodes form a neighbor list.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the path loss model is not based on distance to other nodes.
8. A method comprising the steps of:
determining a plurality of neighboring nodes;
determining number of neighboring nodes having a path loss less than a particular neighboring node;
determining a path loss model based on a node density and the number of nodes having the path loss less than the particular node, wherein the node density comprises a value of nodes per unit area or volume;
determining distances to known-located nodes based on the path loss model; and
determining a location based on the distances to known-located nodes.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of determining the path loss model comprises the step of determining a relationship between path loss and distance.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of determining the path loss model based on the node density comprises the step of determining the path loss model based on a number of nodes per square meter.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of determining the path loss model based on the node density comprises the step of determining the path loss model based on a number of nodes per cubic meter.
12. An apparatus comprising:
a receiver receiving signals from a plurality of nodes; and
logic circuitry analyzing the signals from the plurality of nodes to determine a number of nodes having a path loss less than a particular node, determine a path loss model based on a node density and a number of nodes having the path loss less than the particular node, determine distances to known-located nodes based on the path loss model, and determine a location based on the distances to known-located nodes, wherein the node density comprises a value of nodes per unit area or volume.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the path loss model comprises a relationship between path loss and distance.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 the node density comprises a number of nodes per square meter.
15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the node density comprises a number of nodes per cubic meter.
16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the path loss comprises a difference between a power a signal was received at and a power the signal was transmitted at.