Estimating information about an antenna system, based on propagation-time measurements that are provided by wireless terminals

摘要

A location engine that accounts for propagation-time components in an antenna system disposed between i) the base station that serves a wireless terminal and ii) the airwaves over which electromagnetic signals propagate between the antenna elements and wireless terminal. By considering and accounting for these propagation components, the location engine is able to estimate information about the antenna system, such as i) whether the antenna system is a distributed antenna system and ii) the configuration of the antenna system. Based on this estimated information, the location engine is also able to estimate adjustments that can be made to location-related measurements, and, with these adjustments, estimate the location of one or more wireless terminals.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a server computer, a plurality of propagation-time measurements of first signals transmitted between i) one or more wireless terminals and ii) a base station, wherein the first signals propagate through at least a portion of an antenna system that is communicatively coupled to the base station; generating a statistic, by the server computer, by applying a predetermined statistical algorithm to a data set, wherein the data set comprises data points that are based on the plurality of propagation-time measurements; estimating, by the server computer, a first characteristic of the antenna system based on the statistic; and transmitting the first characteristic, by the server computer, to an application engine.