Methods and apparatus for cell tower location estimation using multiple types of data sources

摘要

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for estimating, based on data collected from multiple types of data sources, the locations of cell towers. A first source is ranked relative to a second source based on the associated accuracy of each source with respect to estimating the location of a cell tower. Data collected from the higher-ranking source is used to identify estimated locations for cell towers from which such data has been collected. Data collected from the lower-ranking source is thereafter used to identify estimated locations for cell towers from which such data has been collected, to the extent that an estimated location for the cell tower has not already been identified via the data collected from the higher-ranking source. In an example method, the higher-ranking source is associated with RF Layer 3 data and/or messages, and the lower-ranking source is associated with RF Layer 1 data and/or messages.

主权项

1. A computer implemented method for estimating locations of cell towers, the method comprising:
ranking, with a source ranker, a first data source having a first accuracy relative to a second data source having a second accuracy; identifying based on the ranking of the first data source relative to the second data source, a higher-ranking data source and a lower-ranking data source; identifying, with a location estimator, an estimated location for respective ones of the cell towers based on data collected from the higher-ranking data source; when an estimated location for respective ones of the cell towers has not been identified based on data collected from the higher-ranking data source, identifying, with the location estimator, an estimated location for respective ones of the cell towers based on data collected from the lower-ranking data source, wherein at least one of the source ranker or the location estimator includes a processor; and generating a report, the report including the identified estimated location for respective ones of the cell towers.