Geo-location in a wireless communication network

Abstract

A method for geo-location of a wireless communication unit ( 410 ) is provided. The communication unit ( 410 ) communicates with a wireless communication network ( 430 ) of a wireless communication system ( 400 ). A probability density function is derived for the location of the wireless communication unit ( 410 ), from measured information and/or information about the wireless communication network ( 430 ). The probability density function is sampled to provide spatial and probability information about each of at least two possible locations for the wireless communication unit ( 410 ). A wireless communication system ( 400 ) and a method of selecting enhancements to a wireless communication system ( 400 ) are also provided.

1 . A method of selecting enhancements to a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system comprising wireless communication units and a wireless communication network, each wireless communication unit being connectable via a wireless communication link to the wireless communication network, the method comprising:
 (a) deriving a probability density function for a location of a wireless communication unit, from at least one of the group of:
 (i) measurement information from the wireless communication unit; 
 (ii) network information about the wireless communication network; 
   (b) sampling the probability density function to provide output information, the output information comprising spatial information and probability information about the location of the wireless communication unit;   (c) deriving a quality rating for the wireless communication link between the wireless communication unit and the wireless communication network; and   (d) using the output information and the quality rating in a decision on enhancements to the wireless communication system.   
     
     
         2 . A method of selecting enhancements to a wireless communication system as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 output information and quality ratings derived from many wireless communication units and/or many wireless communication links are used in the decision on enhancements to the wireless communication system.   
     
     
         3 . A method of selecting enhancements to a wireless communication system as in  claim 1 , wherein: the decision on enhancements to the wireless communication system comprises at least one from the group of:
 deciding to re-direct an antenna in a base station of the wireless communication network;   deciding to upgrade an antenna in a base station of the wireless communication network;   or deciding to change the transmission power level of an antenna in a base station of the wireless communication network.   
     
     
         4 . A method of selecting enhancements to a wireless communication system as in  claim 1 , wherein: the decision on enhancements to the wireless communication system comprises at least one from the group of:
 choosing a site for an additional base station in the wireless communication network;   re-locating an existing base station to a new site; or moving a mobile or temporary base station.   
     
     
         5 . A method of selecting enhancements to a wireless communication system as in  claim 1 , wherein: the quality rating is derived from at least one from the group of:
 data about the number of times when it was not possible to establish a communication link, and/or data about the number of times that the communication link breaks;   data about the number of times when it was not possible to place a call and/or data about the rate of calls being dropped during the call;   one or more received signal powers recorded by the wireless communication unit from network sectors of the wireless communication network; or one or more measurements of the received signal-to-noise ratio recorded by the wireless communication unit from network sectors of the wireless communication network.   
     
     
         6 . A method of selecting enhancements to a wireless communications system as in  claim 1 , where the method is adapted to perform on a wireless communication unit. 
     
     
         7 . A wireless communication system, the wireless communication system comprising wireless communication units and a wireless communication network, each wireless communication unit being connectable via a wireless communication link to the wireless communication network, the wireless communication system comprising:
 (a) a processor adapted to derive a probability density function for a location of a wireless communication unit, from at least one of the group of:   (i) measurement information from the wireless communication unit;   (ii) network information about the wireless communication network;   (b) a prediction module adapted to sample the probability density function to provide output information, the output information comprising spatial information and probability information about the location of the wireless communication unit;   (c) a quality rating module, adapted to rate the quality of the wireless communication link between the wireless communication unit and the wireless communication network, thereby providing a quality rating; and   (d) a decision module adapted to select enhancements to the wireless communication system on the basis of the output information and the quality rating.