초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for determining the location of a mobile telephone within the serving area of a mobile telephone system are disclosed. A mobile switching center analyzes the calling mobile telephone number and called telephone number to determine if a location function is required. Upon initi

A method and apparatus for determining the location of a mobile telephone within the serving area of a mobile telephone system are disclosed. A mobile switching center analyzes the calling mobile telephone number and called telephone number to determine if a location function is required. Upon initiation of the location function by the mobile switching center, a mobile location module calculates a location estimate of the mobile telephone. The mobile location module receives a list of signal strengths received by the mobile telephone from cell site antennas within the serving area. The distance between the mobile telephone and a plurality of cell site antennas is calculated using a technique which reduces the error component of the calculated distances. These reduced error distances are used to geometrically determine an estimate of the location area within the sewing area of a mobile telephone system.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A method for locating a mobile telephone within the geographic serving area of a mobile telephone system, wherein said mobile telephone is capable of sending signals to and receiving signals from antennas located in cells within the geographic serving area, the method comprising the

[ I claim:] [1.] A method for locating a mobile telephone within the geographic serving area of a mobile telephone system, wherein said mobile telephone is capable of sending signals to and receiving signals from antennas located in cells within the geographic serving area, the method comprising the steps of:a) receiving signal strength data representing the signal strengths of signals being received by the mobile telephone from a first plurality of antennas, each of said signal strengths being dependent, at least in part, on a cell propagation characteristic;b) calculating the distances between the mobile telephone and each of a second plurality of antennas using said signal strength data and an estimated cell propagation characteristic value, wherein each of said calculated distances contains an error component which depends upon the estimated cell propagation characteristic value;c) repeating step b) while varying the estimated cell propagation characteristic values to reduce said error components; andd) calculating the location of the mobile telephone using the calculated distances having reduced error components.