Distance estimation

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for estimating the distance between a transmitter and a receiver. A method comprising obtaining a signal from a receiver; determining whether the signal more likely propagated through a line-of-sight (LOS) radio channel or a non lme-of-sight (NLOS) radio channel; using a model including parameters selected according to the radio channel to estimate the distance between the receiver and a transmitter which sent the signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 obtaining a signal from antenna elements of a multi-antenna receiver; and 
 determining whether the signal is more likely associated with propagation from a transmitter via a line-of-sight (LOS) radio channel or a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) radio channel by performing one or more selected from the group comprising:
 (1) determining the angular power spectrum of the signal and comparing the angular power spectrum of the signal with known angular power spectrums of LOS and/or NLOS signals; and 
 (2) determining the power variance of the signal and comparing the power variance of the signal with known power variance values of LOS and/or NLOS signals; 
 
 
       wherein the method further comprises:
 using a model including parameters selected according to whether the signal is more likely associated with an LOS or an NLOS radio channel to estimate the distance between the receiver and the transmitter. 
 
     
     
       2. A computer program product comprising program code means stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the program code means being adapted to perform the steps of  claim 1  when the program is run on a processor. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus comprising
 a receiver configured to obtain a signal from antenna elements of a multi-antenna receiver; 
 processing circuitry configured to:
 determine whether the signal is more likely associated with propagation from a transmitter via a line-of-sight (LOS) radio channel or a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) radio channel by being configured to perform one or more selected from the group comprising:
 (1) determine the angular power spectrum of the signal and compare the angular power spectrum of the signal with known angular power spectrums of LOS and/or NLOS signals; and 
 (2) determine the power variance of the signal and compare the power variance of the signal with known power variance values of LOS and/or NLOS signals; 
 
 
 wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 use a model including parameters selected according to whether the signal is more likely associated with an LOS or an NLOS radio channel to estimate the distance between the receiver and the transmitter. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine the radio channel by identifying characteristics of the received signal and comparing the identified characteristics to characteristics typical of LOS or NLOS signal in order to determine whether the signal is more likely associated with propagation from the transmitter via a line-of-sight (LOS) radio channel or a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) radio channel to determine the radio channel between the transmitter and the receiver. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the characteristics include any one or more of fading characteristics, power delay profile, Doppler spectrum characteristics. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the radio channel by performing spatial signal processing on the signal obtained from the multi-antenna receiver. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the radio channel by identifying fading characteristics of the signal and comparing the fading characteristics to known fading characteristics of LOS and/or NLOS signals. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine that the radio channel is more likely to be an NLOS channel than an LOS channel in response to a depth of a fade meeting a predetermined threshold, and to determine that the radio channel is more likely to be an LOS channel than an NLOS channel in response to a depth of a fade not meeting the predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
 determine that the radio channel is more likely to be an NLOS channel than an LOS channel in response to identifying Rayleigh-type fading characteristics in the signal; and 
 determine that the radio channel is more likely to be an LOS channel than an NLOS channel in response to identifying Rice-type fading characteristics in the signal. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the angular power spectrum of the received signal and compare the angular power spectrum of the received signal with typical angular power spectrums of LOS and/or NLOS signals by:
 calculating a ratio of the values of the highest intensity peak to the second highest intensity peak in the angular power spectrum of the signal; 
 comparing the ratio to a predetermined threshold; and 
 determining that the radio channel is more likely to be an LOS channel than an NLOS channel in response to the ratio meeting the predetermined threshold; and 
 determining that the radio channel is more likely to be an NLOS channel than an LOS channel in response to the ratio not meeting the predetermined threshold. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the radio channel by determining a power delay profile of the signal and comparing the profile to known power delay profiles of LOS and/or NLOS signals. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured:
 to compare the power level of a first tap to the power levels of one or more other taps in the power delay profile; 
 to determine that the radio channel is more likely to be an LOS channel than an NLOS channel in response to the first tap having the highest power level; and 
 to determine that the radio channel is more likely to be an NLOS channel than an LOS channel in response to the first tap not having the highest power level. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured:
 to compare the fading characteristics of a first tap to the known fading characteristics of LOS and/or NLOS signal; 
 to determine that the radio channel is more likely to be an NLOS channel than an LOS channel in response to identifying Rayleigh-type fading characteristics in the first tap; and 
 to determine that the radio channel is more likely to be an LOS channel than an NLOS channel in response to identifying Rice-type fading characteristics in the first tap. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry is arranged to:
 determine Doppler spectrum of the signal; and 
 compare the Doppler spectrum to known Doppler spectrums of LOS and/or NLOS signal in order to determine whether the received signal is more likely associated with propagation from the transmitter via a line-of-sight (LOS) radio channel or a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) radio channel. 
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
 determine that the radio channel is more likely to be an LOS channel than an NLOS channel in response to detecting a dominant peak in the Doppler spectrum; and 
 determine that the radio channel is more likely to be an NLOS channel than an LOS channel in response to detecting the absence of a dominant peak in the Doppler spectrum. 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to select an appropriate pathloss model as the model to estimate the distance between the receiver and the transmitter. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to use the following pathloss model to estimate the distance between the receiver and the transmitter:
   PL=−10·γ·log 10 (r)+PL 0  
 
 
       where:
 PL represents pathloss; 
 r represents the distance between the transmitter and the receiver; 
 γ represents a pathloss exponent; and 
 PL 0  represents the pathloss at a given distance. 
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to select different values for the constants γ and PL 0  in accordance with the determined radio channel. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to use an average value of the signal for the PL parameter. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine whether the signal is more likely associated with propagation from the transmitter via a line-of-sight (LOS) radio channel or a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) radio channel by averaging the determined angular power spectrum and/or determined power variance. 
     
     
       21. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code,   the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:   obtain a signal from antenna elements of a multi-antenna receiver; and   determine whether the signal is more likely associated with propagation from a transmitter via a line-of-sight (LOS) radio channel or a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) radio channel by performing one or more selected from the group comprising:
 (1) determine the angular power spectrum of the signal and compare the angular power spectrum of the signal with known angular power spectrums of LOS and/or NLOS signals; and 
 (2) determine the power variance of the signal and compare the power variance of the signal with known power variance values of LOS and/or NLOS signals; 
   and wherein the apparatus is further configured to:   use a model including parameters selected according to whether the signal is more likely associated with an LOS or an NLOS radio channel to estimate the distance between the receiver and the transmitter.    
     
     
       22. A method comprising:
 obtaining respective signals from antenna elements of a multi-antenna receiver; and   determining whether the respective signals are more likely associated with propagation from a transmitter via a line-of-sight (LOS) radio channel or a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) radio channel by performing one or more selected from the group comprising:
 (1) determining the angular power spectrum of the respective signals and comparing the angular power spectrum of the respective signals with known angular power spectrums of LOS and/or NLOS signals to determine whether the respective signals are more likely associated with propagation from a transmitter via a line-of-sight (LOS) radio channel or a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) radio channel; and 
 (2) determining the power variance of the respective signals and comparing the power variance of the respective signals with known power variance values of LOS and/or NLOS signals to determine whether the respective signals are more likely associated with propagation from a transmitter via a line-of-sight (LOS) radio channel or a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) radio channel; 
   wherein the method further comprises:   estimating the distance between the receiver and the transmitter using a model including parameters selected according to the determined radio channel between the receiver and the transmitter.    
     
     
       23. An apparatus comprising
 a receiver configured to obtain respective signals from antenna elements of a multi-antenna receiver;   processing circuitry configured to:   determine whether the respective signals are more likely associated with propagation from a transmitter via a line-of-sight (LOS) radio channel or a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) radio channel by being configured to perform one or more selected from the group comprising:
 (1) determine the angular power spectrum of the respective signals and compare the angular power spectrum of the respective signals with known angular power spectrums of LOS and/or NLOS signals to determine whether the respective signals are more likely associated with propagation from a transmitter via a line-of-sight (LOS) radio channel or a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) radio channel; and 
 (2) determine the power variance of the respective signals and compare the power variance of the respective signals with known power variance values of LOS and/or NLOS signals to determine whether the respective signals are more likely associated with propagation from a transmitter via a line-of-sight (LOS) radio channel or a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) radio channel; 
   wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:   use a model including parameters selected according to the determined radio channel to estimate the distance between the receiver and the transmitter.    
     
     
       24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine the radio channel by identifying characteristics of the received respective signals and comparing the identified characteristics to characteristics typical of LOS or NLOS signals in order to determine whether the respective signals are more likely associated with propagation from the transmitter via a line-of-sight (LOS) radio channel or a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) radio channel to determine the radio channel between the transmitter and the receiver.  
     
     
       25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the characteristics include any one or more of fading characteristics, power delay profile, Doppler spectrum characteristics.  
     
     
       26. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the radio channel by performing spatial signal processing on the respective signals obtained from the multi-antenna receiver.  
     
     
       27. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the radio channel by identifying fading characteristics of the respective signals and comparing the fading characteristics to known fading characteristics of LOS and/or NLOS signals.  
     
     
       28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine that the radio channel is more likely to be an NLOS channel than an LOS channel in response to a depth of a fade meeting a predetermined threshold, and to determine that the radio channel is more likely to be an LOS channel than an NLOS channel in response to a depth of a fade not meeting the predetermined threshold.  
     
     
       29. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
 determine that the radio channel is more likely to be an NLOS channel than an LOS channel in response to identifying Rayleigh-type fading characteristics in the respective signals; and   determine that the radio channel is more likely to be an LOS channel than an NLOS channel in response to identifying Rice-type fading characteristics in the respective signals.    
     
     
       30. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the angular power spectrum of the respective signals and compare the angular power spectrum of the respective signals with typical angular power spectrums of LOS and/or NLOS signals by:
 calculating a ratio of the values of the highest intensity peak to the second highest intensity peak in the angular power spectrum of the respective signals;   comparing the ratio to a predetermined threshold;   determining that the radio channel is more likely to be an LOS channel than an NLOS channel in response to the ratio meeting the predetermined threshold; and   determining that the radio channel is more likely to be an NLOS channel than an LOS channel in response to the ratio not meeting the predetermined threshold.    
     
     
       31. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the radio channel by determining a power delay profile of the respective signals and comparing the profile to known power delay profiles of LOS and/or NLOS signals.  
     
     
       32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the processing circuitry is configured:
 to compare the power level of a first tap to the power levels of one or more other taps in the power delay profile;   to determine that the radio channel is more likely to be an LOS channel than an NLOS channel in response to the first tap having the highest power level; and   to determine that the radio channel is more likely to be an NLOS channel than an LOS channel in response to the first tap not having the highest power level.    
     
     
       33. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the processing circuitry is configured:
 to compare the fading characteristics of a first tap to the known fading characteristics of LOS and/or NLOS signals;   to determine that the radio channel is more likely to be an NLOS channel than an LOS channel in response to identifying Rayleigh-type fading characteristics in the first tap; and   to determine that the radio channel is more likely to be an LOS channel than an NLOS channel in response to identifying Rice-type fading characteristics in the first tap.    
     
     
       34. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processing circuitry is arranged to:
 determine a Doppler spectrum of the respective signals; and   compare the Doppler spectrum to known Doppler spectrums of LOS and/or NLOS signals in order to determine whether the respective signals are more likely associated with propagation from the transmitter via a line-of-sight (LOS) radio channel or a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) radio channel.    
     
     
       35. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
 determine that the radio channel is more likely to be an LOS channel than an NLOS channel in response to detecting a dominant peak in the Doppler spectrum; and   determine that the radio channel is more likely to be an NLOS channel than an LOS channel in response to detecting the absence of a dominant peak in the Doppler spectrum.    
     
     
       36. A computer program product comprising program code means stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the program code means being adapted to perform the steps of claim 22 when the program is run on a processor.  
     
     
       37. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to select an appropriate pathloss model as the model to estimate the distance between the receiver and the transmitter.  
     
     
       38. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to use the following pathloss model to estimate the distance between the receiver and the transmitter:
   PL=−10·γ·log 10 (r)+PL 0  
   
       where: PL represents pathloss;
 r represents the distance between the transmitter and the receiver; 
 γ represents a pathloss exponent; and 
 PL 0  represents the pathloss at a given distance.  
 
     
     
       39. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to select different values for the constants γ and PL 0  in accordance with the determined radio channel.  
     
     
       40. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to use an average value of the respective signals for the PL parameter.  
     
     
       41. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine whether the respective signals are more likely associated with propagation from the transmitter via a line-of-sight (LOS) radio channel or a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) radio channel by averaging the determined angular power spectrum and/or determined power variance.  
     
     
       42. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code,   the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:   obtain respective signals from antenna elements of a multi-antenna receiver; and   determine whether the respective signals are more likely associated with propagation from a transmitter via a line-of-sight (LOS) radio channel or a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) radio channel by performing one or more selected from the group comprising:
 (1) determine the angular power spectrum of the respective signals and compare the angular power spectrum of the respective signals with known angular power spectrums of LOS and/or NLOS signals to determine whether the respective signals are more likely associated with propagation from a transmitter via a line-of-sight (LOS) radio channel or a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) radio channel; and 
 (2) determine the power variance of the respective signals and compare the power variance of the respective signals with known power variance values of LOS and/or NLOS signals to determine whether the respective signals are more likely associated with propagation from a transmitter via a line-of-sight (LOS) radio channel or a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) radio channel; 
   and wherein the apparatus is further configured to:   estimate the distance between the receiver and the transmitter using a model including parameters selected according to the determined radio channel between the receiver and the transmitter.