LOCATING THE SOURCE OF A WIRELESS SIGNAL

摘要

In some aspects, a wireless-signal source locator system includes wireless sensor devices distributed at distinct locations over a geographic region. The wireless sensor devices are configured to passively monitor wireless communication network signals in the geographic region. Each wireless sensor device is configured to receive a source signal wirelessly transmitted by a source (e.g., a mobile device, etc.) and a reference signal (e.g., from a synchronization source). The wireless sensor devices can generate arrival-time data based on the source signal and the reference signal. The wireless-signal source locator system further includes a data analysis system configured to receive the arrival-time data from the wireless sensor devices and to identify a location of the source based on analyzing the arrival-time data generated by three or more of the wireless sensor devices.

主权项

1. A wireless-signal source locator system comprising:
wireless sensor devices distributed at distinct locations over a geographic region and configured to passively monitor wireless communication network signals in the geographic region, each wireless sensor device configured to:
receive a base station signal transmitted by a base station, the base station signal formatted by the base station for transmission to one or more mobile devices according to a cellular network standard;receive a device signal from a mobile device in the geographic region, the device signal formatted by the mobile device for transmission to the base station according to the cellular network standard;generate arrival-time data based on the device signal and the base station signal; andtransmit, from the wireless sensor device, the arrival-time data; and a data analysis system configured to receive the arrival-time data and to identify a location of the mobile device based on solving a system of n equations using the arrival-time data generated by three or more of the wireless sensor devices, each of the n equations comprising:
a time-difference identified by a respective one of the three or more wireless sensor devices;a location of the respective wireless sensor device that identified the time-difference; anda location of the base station.