WO2009081429A1

WO2009081429A1 - Method and device for the localization and mobility control of persons or things

Info

Publication number: WO2009081429A1
Application number: PCT/IT2007/000906
Authority: WO
Inventors: Demir Rakanovic; Amela Rakanovic
Original assignee: Neonseven Spa
Priority date: 2007-12-21
Filing date: 2007-12-21
Publication date: 2009-07-02
Also published as: US20100311440A1; US9110151B2

Abstract

Method for the localization and mobility control of persons or things applicable to a mobile radio terminal (12) associated with a telephone network (10), having a plurality of base radio stations (11). The method comprises a first step in which the mobile radio terminal (12) receives first service signals associated with each base radio station (11) within radio visibility. The method also comprises a second step in which, by means of processing means (16), the mobile radio terminal (12) detects the relative temporal delays, calculated with respect to a predetermined time reference, with which are received the service signals of each base radio station (11) from which the mobile radio terminal (12) received a corresponding first service signal.

Description

"METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE LOCALIZATION AND MOBILITY

CONTROL OF PERSONS OR THINGS"

* * * * *

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns a method for localization and mobility control, and the device that implements it, used to identify the position and/or to control the variations in position of persons or things in a pre-defined geographical context served by a mobile cellular telephone network.

In particular the present invention is applicable to mobile communication terminals such as cell phones and radio modems based on GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS technology, to support surfing and personal mobility services, remote monitoring and/or range-finding, positioning alarms and/or remote control, as an auxiliary for public transport and other similar applications, for tracing goods, animals or things, and to manage fleets of vehicles and similar applications. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The development of the radio-mobile telecommunications market and the ever more wide-spread use of personal communication devices and communication between machines, known as M2M (Machine-to-Machine), make the supply of services for mobility control more and more economical. Furthermore, the introduction of packet transmission services such as those provided by the radio- mobile network of the GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS type, by ensuring constant connectivity to the communication network, at the same time makes the tracing and localization services more and more efficient and accessible.

A first known category of localization and mobility control methods consists of "network based" methods. These methods provide to process measurements made on predetermined physical values of the radio electric signal, detected by a mobile radio terminal and by the mobile telephone network. E-OTD (Enhanced Observed Time Difference), TDOA (Time Difference of Arrival) and Cell-ID all belong to this first category. In particular, E-OTD is based on the accurate measurement of the delay in propagation of a specific signal transmitted by a constellation of base radio. stations, also known as cells, and received by the mobile radio terminal, the position of which is calculated by triangulation. TDOA is also based on a triangulation calculation: in this case the measurement is made on the delay with which the signal transmitted by the mobile radio terminal is received by at least three base radio stations.

Cell-ID, on the contrary, is based on a parameter of the mobile radio network transmitted by each base radio station in order to allow the univocal identification of a determinate geographical area. In this case the geographical localization is indicative of the area covered by the base radio station.

One disadvantage of network-based methods is that the localization service is carried out by the company that manages the mobile telephone network, and that it implies a rather considerable use of radio resources. For example, the impact of the localization service traffic may not be negligible compared with the normal network traffic. This requires an increase in the network resources in order to maintain the desired quality of service at predetermined levels, and a consequent increase in the costs of managing the network infrastructure. On the contrary there may also be a deterioration of the localization service, especially when the service is widely diffused and in highly urbanized areas. Furthermore, these localization methods are guaranteed in a specific national area, whereas they may not be usable abroad, since they are connected to specific services supplied by particular network operators. There is a second category of localization and mobility control methods called mobile-based methods. These are substantially autonomous from the network in calculating position. One method is based on GNSS technology (Global Navigation Satellite System) of which GPS (Global Position System) is the most widespread. GNSS is based on a triangulation principle which, measuring the difference in the propagation delay of a signal emitted by a constellation of satellites orbiting the Earth, and received by a generic device, calculates with great precision the geographical coordinates thereof.

One disadvantage of mobile-based methods is that the availability of the localization service is not always guaranteed, since the system is managed by State bodies and the signal transmitted by the constellation of satellites may be interrupted or artificially degraded in its accuracy, without any prior warning. Another disadvantage is that the cover is not constant, since, while the cover of the signal is substantially guaranteed in the open, such as in the countryside or at sea, it fails in areas inside houses and in highly urbanized areas, where the presence of tall buildings makes it impossible to see the minimum number of satellites needed to calculate triangulation. Another disadvantage is that the mobile terminal for cell phones needs substantial modifications to both hardware and software in order to be able to integrate GNSS technology. Furthermore, a GNSS receiver is somewhat costly compared with the cost of a mobile phone terminal.

Another disadvantage is due to the high electric consumption of the GNSS receiver, which is in any case higher than the electric consumption of a mobile terminal in inactive condition. This entails a considerable decrease in the operating autonomy of the batteries.

One purpose of the present invention is to achieve a localization and mobility control method, applicable to a mobile radio terminal served by a mobile telephone network, which allows the absolute or relative localization of the terminal, or a person or object associated with said terminal, in an autonomous manner and without the network being aware.

Another purpose is to achieve a localization and mobility control method, which allows localization even in conditions where the GNSS systems are not able to detect the signal of a sufficient number of satellites.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, a method for the localization and mobility control of persons or things according to the present invention is applicable for the localization and/or mobility control of a mobile radio terminal associated with at least a mobile phone communication network comprising a plurality of base radio stations.

Each base radio station transmits periodically, at predetermined and constant intervals, a service signal suitable to synchronize the transmissions and receptions for each mobile radio terminal disposed in its cover area.

The method according to the present invention comprises a first step in which the mobile radio terminal receives a first service signal from a predetermined set of base radio stations within radio visibility, and assumes as a time reference its own internal high-precision time reference, such as for example a hardware timer, or the service signal of a predetermined reference base radio station, for example the base radio station which serves the mobile radio terminal.

According to a characteristic feature of the present invention, the method comprises a second step in which, by means of processing means, the mobile radio terminal detects the relative delay of the service signal of each base radio station from which it has received a first service signal. This detection occurs according to the delay estimated with respect to said time reference with which the first service signals of each base radio station were received. According to another characteristic feature, the method comprises a third step in which, in memorization means of the mobile radio terminal, the values of the delays relating to the reception of the signal of each base radio station calculated in the second step are memorized.

According to another characteristic feature, the method comprises a fourth step in which the mobile radio terminal effects an update of the detection of the relative delays of the signal of each base radio station. The update occurs according to the delay, with respect to its own time reference, with which the subsequent service signals of each base radio station were received.

The method also comprises a fifth step in which, by means of the processing means, a comparison is made between each relative delay associated with a predetermined base radio station calculated in the second step and the corresponding relative delay associated with the same base radio station and calculated in the fourth step.

In a preferential embodiment, if in this comparison at least a difference in the relative delay associated with a base radio station is found, a signal is given regarding the variation in position of the mobile radio terminal.

In this way it is possible to control the mobility of the mobile radio terminal served by the mobile telephone network in a totally autonomous manner and without the network being aware, since the normal service signals which are necessary to maintain synchronization with the network are used.

According to a variant, this signal also comprises a data communication sent from the mobile radio terminal through the mobile communication network such as for example a text message or a voice call or data call to a predetermined number or also sending alarm data by means of the packet radio services.

According to a variant of the present invention, in the second step, by means of position detection means associated with the mobile radio terminal and suitable to detect the absolute geographical position occupied by the mobile radio terminal, the absolute geographical position is also calculated of the set of base radio stations from which the mobile radio terminal has received a corresponding first service signal. The absolute geographical positions of the base radio stations are calculated, as will be explained in detail hereafter, by calculating the delay with respect to its own time reference with which the first service signals of each base radio station were received. The delays are then correlated to the indications of absolute geographical position of the mobile radio terminal supplied by the position detection means.

According to this variant the method comprises a third step in which, in the memorization means of the mobile radio terminal, the absolute geographical positions of each base radio station detected in the second step are memorized.

In this way it is possible to create and memorize in the mobile radio terminal a map of the absolute positions of a predetermined set of base radio stations from which at least one service signal has been received.

The method according to this variant also comprises a fourth step in which the geographical position occupied by the mobile radio terminal is detected, both according to the map of the base radio stations memorized in the memorization means and also according to the temporal delays with which the service signals of each base radio station of the predetermined set of base radio stations are received by the mobile radio terminal, with respect to the time reference of the mobile radio terminal itself.

One advantage of this method is that, with the initial aid of a precision localization device such as for example a GNSS receiver, it allows^" a mobile radio terminal to maintain the knowledge of its own position in a predetermined geographical context served by the mobile radio network even in the absence of further indications by the precision device. Therefore, the method according to the invention allows the localization of its own position, in an autonomous manner and without the mobile telephone network being aware, even in those situations in which the precision mobile-based localization means is not able to operate correctly, such as for example in darkened areas, highly urbanized areas or in the presence of tall buildings. Indeed, to this end the service signals needed to manage access to the mobile telephone network and to maintain the connection between the mobile radio terminal and the network itself are used. Another advantage of this method is that it is independent from the operators who manage the mobile radio telephone service, and therefore allows to control mobility and/or localization irrespective of the particular geographical context, for example national or abroad, wherever the mobile radio terminal may be found. A further advantage is that it has no impact on the normal running costs of the mobile radio terminal, since the method according to the invention does not provided the transmission and reception of data that is subject to pricing by the mobile telephone network companies.

A further advantage of this method is that it is possible to effect the localization of the mobile radio terminal without using, except for an initial geographical localization of the base radio stations, precision localization means, the electric consumption of which is comparable with the electric consumption of the mobile radio terminal. In this way it is possible to considerably reduce the electric consumption of the mobile radio terminal, at the same time providing an advanced service and allowing to increase the operating autonomy of the feed means of the mobile radio terminal, which are typically batteries. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some preferential forms of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a schematic view of a device according to the present invention;

- fig. 2 is a flow chart showing some steps of the method according to the present invention; - fig. 3 is a flow chart of the method according to the present invention showing some steps following those shown in fig. 2;

- fig. 4 is a schematic view of a step of the method according to the present invention; - fig. 5 is a time chart of a reference signal;

- fig. 6 is a schematic view of a variant of the device in fig. 1;

- fig. 7 is a schematic view of a step of the method first according to a first variant;

- fig. 8 is a schematic representation of the concept of estimated position of a base radio station in the variant in fig. 7;

- fig. 9 is a flow chart showing the step in fig. 7;

- fig. 10 is a flow chart showing steps after that shown in fig. 9;

- fig. 11 is a schematic view of the steps in fig. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF EMBODIMENT

With reference to fig. 1, a localization and mobility control method according to the present invention can be used to identify the position or variation in position with respect to a reference position of a mobile radio terminal for voice and data telecommunications connected to a cellular telephone network 10 of a known type. The telephone network 10 comprises a plurality of fixed Base Transceiver Stations 11 (BTS), each suitable for the radio cover of a predetermined geographical area in order to supply a voice and data telephone service. It is understood that by cellular telephone network 10 we mean a cellular communication network comprising all the mobile telephone networks of different companies providing mobile phone services.

In this case the mobile radio terminal is a GSM phone 12, but it is understood that the method is also applicable for mobile radio terminals with access protocols to cellular telephone networks 10 of GPRS/EDGE, UMTS or similar types. Access by a GPRS/EDGE, UMTS phone 12 to the radio resources of a predetermined BTS 11 occurs in FD-TDMA mode (Frequency Division - Time Division Multiple Access). In this method, a set of radiofrequency carriers, emitted by each BTS 11 on different frequencies and with a predetermined bandwidth, is suitable for division into regular time intervals, or slots, according to which the transmission of different users are multiplexed over time.

Each slot is divided into a guard interval, which compensates the time lags of the signals due to the movement of the users, and into a usable signal interval called burst. Eight slots make up a TDMA frame 34 or access frame to time multiplexing, each identified by means of a progressive number FN (Frame Number) by the BTS 11. Each TDMA frame 34 constitutes the minimum period based on which the traffic and control information, whether dedicated or common to several users, is multiplexed according to known and periodic patterns. The patterns of use of the physical channels for the transmission of coherent information are called logic channels.

In particular, each BTS 11 broadcasts a radio synchronization signal suitable to transport logic and synchronization information necessary to the GSM terminals 12 to receive and decode the setting messages transmitted by each BTS 11 on a carrier channel BCCH (Broadcast Control Channel), in order to configure and access the voice and/or data traffic channels. The signal is transmitted in radio frequency by each BTS 11 periodically and with a repetition pattern known in advance, so as to achieve a logic synchronization channel called SCH (Synchronization Channel). Every radio frequency transmission of the logic channel SCH (fig. 5), defined Synchronization Burst or SB 38, comprises, encoded inside the current FN and the BSIC code (Base Station Identity Code), which together with the ARFCN value (Absolute Radio Frequency Channel) allows the univocal identification of each BTS 11 inside the mobile telephone network 10. In order to be able to receive and decode the logic channels transmitted by the BTS 11, the GSM terminal 12 synchronizes its own internal time reference with the TDMA frame 34 structure of the signal received. As time reference 32 inside the GSM phone 12 a timer device of a known type is used, not shown in the drawings, high precision and suitable to provide a temporal measurement of the TDMA frames 34. The temporal duration of each individual TFMA frame 34 is 4.615 milliseconds. Moreover, the internal timer device, in order to perform desired time alignments and to manage the transmission and reception of the radiofrequency bursts, divides every TDMA frame 34 into 10,000 parts called Octal Bits or OB, each of 0.4615 microseconds.

The method according to the present invention comprises a first step in which the GSM phone 12 is disposed in an arbitrary geographical position PO (fig. 4) at a distance rO from the server BTS 11 and at distances rl, r2 and r3 from three adjacent BTS 11, the service areas of which are able to cover the position PO. In fig. 4 the adjacent BTS 11 are indicated as BTSl, BTS2 and BTS3. It is understood that the number of adjacent stations can be more or less with respect to the number of stations described here.

In order to connect to the telephone network 10 and/or to maintain the connection under conditions of mobility, in this first step, during the reception of the synchronization signals, the GSM phone 12 detects, in a known manner and not described in this description, some parameters as listed below.

A first parameter is the level of power of the carrier channel BCCH received by each adjacent BTS 11. A second parameter is the Frame Number Delay or FND, that is, the relative temporal delay with which a TDMA frame 34 of a first adjacent BTS 11 is received with respect to a TDMA frame 34 of a second adjacent BTS 11 and taken as a reference BTS, for example the server BTS 11.

A third parameter is the Octal Bit Delay or OBD 36 (fig. 5), that is, the relative delay with which an SB 38 of an adjacent BTS 11 is received with respect to the internal time reference 32 of the GSM phone 12.

Finally, a fourth parameter is the identification code BSIC received by each adjacent BTS 11 consisting of an alphanumerical code, in this case of the hexadecimal type. According to a characteristic feature of the present invention, in a second step the GSM phone 12, by means of a processing unit 16, detects the delay times, or Observed Time Differences OTD (fig. 2 and fig. 4) with which the synchronization signals SB are received, associated with each of the adjacent BTS 11 with respect to the synchronization signal of the server BTS 11 and identified by means of the BSIC and ARFCN codes.

The radio waves emitted by each BTS 1 1 are propagated in spherical form and with a speed which in the case examined may be considered constant. In this case it is possible to consider the propagation of the radio waves on one plane and consider the wave fronts 30 as circular. Therefore the wave fronts 30 of the signals transmitted by each BTS 11 are received in the position PO after having traveled the corresponding distances rθ, rl, r2 and r3. Since the speed of propagation of the electromagnetic waves with which the synchronization signals are transmitted in this case can be considered constant and equal to the speed of light, the delay between the wave fronts 30 emitted by the adjacent BTS 11 and received in the position PO is directly proportionate to the distance traveled, and therefore to the distance of the GSM phone 12 from the corresponding BTS 11.

The method also comprises a third step in which the delay times OTD detected in the second step are memorized in a memory 18 and associated with each adjacent BTS 11 by memorizing the corresponding BSIC and ARCN codes.

The method also comprises a fourth step in which the delays OTD of the signals SB 38 of the synchronization channel SCH associated with the adjacent BTS 11 are periodically detected. The method also comprises a fifth step (fig. 3), in which each delay OTD of the associated signal SB 38 of the synchronization channel SCH of a BTS 11 and memorized in the memory 18 is compared with the delay OTD of the associated synchronization signal SB of the same BTS 11 detected in the fourth step.

A variation in at least one of these detections indicates a displacement of the GSM phone 12 with respect to the position PO in which the measurements of the delays OTD memorized in the memory 18 were made. The variation in position may be signaled by the device by means of an alarm that can be sent through the telephone network 10, such as for example a text message, a call, a GPRS data communication, or by sending a file or an e-mail. Since the duration of an OB is 0.4615 microseconds, the minimum relative distance detectable by the method is in the region of about 138 meters. According to a preferential embodiment the method provides that the comparison made in the fifth step is based on pre-definable reference thresholds. One criterion for defining said thresholds is for example to supply the alarm signal of the variation if the displacement detected of the point PO is greater than a predetermined reference, therefore allowing the mobility of the GSM phone.12 . inside a predefined area and localized around the position PO.

According to a variant of the present invention, in the second step, by means of a geographical position detector 20 of a known type (figs. 6 and 7), for example a GNSS/GPS receiver, associated with the GSM phone 12 and suitable to detect the geographical position occupied by the GSM phone 12, the absolute geographical position of the adjacent BTS 1 1 is calculated, in the manner described hereafter, from which BTS 11 the GSM phone 12 can receive a corresponding synchronization signal.

In particular, the absolute geographical position of a determinate BTS 11 is calculated according to the detected delays OBD of the synchronization signal SCH transmitted thereby, with respect to the internal time reference 32 of the GSM phone 12 generated according to the signal SCH of a reference BTS, for example the serving BTS 11. The delays OBD are correlated to the detections, made by means of the geographical position detector 20, in the corresponding positions occupied by the GSM phone 12 in said second step.

In fact, with reference to fig. 7 we consider a GSM phone 12 in movement according to a non-rectilinear trajectory 42, passing at different moments of time through three different geographical positions Pl, P2 and P3. In each of these three positions, by means of the position detector 20, detections of the geographical position are made, identifying the absolute coordinates of each position. The coordinates are advantageously referred in a reference system for example of the Cartesian type. Each position occupied by the GSM phone 12 is associated with respective coordinates Pl(xl,yl), P2(x2,y2), P3(x3,y3).

Simultaneously with the detection of the geographical coordinates of the terminal by means of GNSS/GPS, in each of said three positions, detections are made of the delays OBD with which the synchronization signals SCH are received [with respect to the internal time reference of the GSM phone 12], transmitted by the BTS 11 whose absolute geographical position is to be calculated. In this way it is possible to calculate the distances dl and d2 corresponding to the variations in the radius between the circumferences constructed at the moments when the signal emitted by each BTS 11 arrives respectively in positions Pl, P2 and P3. In order to determine the position of each BTS 11 a system of equations is constructed, where. the unknown factors are the coordinates of the BTS 11 in the reference system considered, indicated by BTS (p,q), and the distance r of the point Pl from the BTS 11. Indicating by rl and r2 the unknown radiuses of the circumferences of the wave fronts 30 respectively at points P2 and P3, the following equations may be written: r,=r+d, (1) r₂=r+ d₂ Furthermore, considering the equation of the generic circumference of radius r and center in the position occupied by the BTS 11 of coordinates (p,q), we obtain the following equation:

Furthermore, considering the equations of the circumferences of radius respectively rl and r2 and center in the position occupied by the BTS 11 of coordinates (p, q) we can set the following system:

(r+d₂)²= (X₃-P)² +(ys-q)² Developing the system (3) operating by reciprocal subtraction, the quadratic terms cancel each other out and the system becomes linear. Since the terms xl, yl, x2, y2, x3, y3, dl and d2 are known, it is possible to calculate the unknown factors r, p and q.

The resolution of the system (3) can be calculated according to an analytical method or a known numerical method.

For low performance GSM phones 12, a numerical method is used, most suitable to the calculation resources of the processing unit 16.

Given the limited minimum precision that is intrinsic in measuring distances and due to errors in measurement, it is preferable to consider several measurements in order to determine the position of the BTS 11.

Therefore, according to a preferential embodiment, the position of a predetermined BTS 11 is determined by operating repeatedly on a sequence of detections and finally by calculating a function of probability in two dimensions that provides an estimated position of the BTS 11 in said reference system. A graphical representation of an example of this probability function in two dimensions is shown in fig. 8. .

In the third step of the method, according to this variant, the geographical positions of the BTS 11 are memorized (fig. 9) in the memory 18, so as to generate a map of the BTS 11 visible by the phone 12.

During the normal functioning of the GSM phone 12, a list of adjacent BTS 11 is constantly updated, called BTSl, ...BTSn, with a chosen methodology based on the power received by the GSM phone 12 and/or on the fact that it belongs to a particular network operator.

With a predefined repetition cadence, the delays OTD are measured by estimating the delays in reception of the synchronization signals SB 38 of the channel SCH of the individual BTS 11 and simultaneously the detections of position with the position detector 20 are made, in order to update the position table of the adjacent stations BTSl, ..., BTSn.

The map of BTS 11 to be observed BTSl, ..., BTSn is kept updated over time and while the BTS 11 with a better signal received from the GSM phone 12 are included in the table, the weaker ones are discarded.

Advantageously the criterion of choice in discarding the particular BTS 11 from the map also depends on the particular geographical configuration of the area where the GSM phone 12 is to be found. It is the task of the processing unit 16 to select as significant the BTS 11 that ensure the best geometric configuration in order to minimize the errors in precision of the detections of geographical position. The method according to the variant also comprises a fourth step in which, based on known geographical positions of the adjacent BTS 11, by detecting the delay times OBD with which the corresponding synchronization signals SB 38 of said BTS 11 are received and by comparing them with the values of delay times OBD detected in the previous positions of known coordinates, the coordinates of the current position occupied by the GSM phone 12 are calculated, as shown in figs. 10 and 11 and as will be explained in more detail hereafter.

The calculation of the coordinates of the position occupied by the GSM phone 12 is based, in this preferential form of embodiment, on the measurement of the OBD and FND values with which the synchronization signals SB 38 of the corresponding BTS 11 are received.

By comparing the values of predetermined detections of the temporal delays at the points of known geographical position Pl, ..., Pn with those made in the unknown position Px, the measurements of the distances of the position Px from the last known position Pn are calculated (fig. 11). Subsequently, with a calculation analogous to that already described for calculating the position of the BTS 11, a system of equations is constructed which represent the circumferences of the wave fronts 30 having as radius the distances measured by the various BTS 11 BTSl, ..., BTSn, of which there must be three or more.

The resolution of the system supplies the coordinates of the unknown geographical position Px occupied by the GSM phone 12 as a point of intersection of the circumferences having a radius equal to the distances rxl, rx2, rx3 measured by the corresponding stations BTSl, BTS2 and BTS3. To ensure perfect reception of the signal of the server BTS 11, the GSM phone 12 makes continuous corrections to its own time reference 32 in order to compensate the delays of the signal due to displacements with respect to the base. The corrections are called timing offset or Toff. Therefore, the delay values OBD measured for the adjacent BTS 11 are compensated to be on each occasion comparable with the time reference at the moment of observation. This is possible by adding or subtracting on each occasion the adequate time corrections in order to remain synchronized to the BTS 11 taken as reference.

The entity of the delays of the signal received for each adjacent cell BTSl, ...,

BTSn therefore depends on the Toff corrections of the internal time reference 32, the OBD values measured and the FND delays, according to a random rule that depends on each occasion on the radio electric propagation conditions and the travel made by the mobile terminal.

Therefore, the real delay time Trit with which the synchronization signal SCH of an adjacent BTS 11 is detected by the GSM phone 12, is calculated again every time the internal time reference 32 of the GSM phone 12 is modified. As a result, by means of the processing unit 16, the detections measured are updated over time, compensating them for the absolute corrections to which the internal time reference 32 is subjected.

If the GSM phone 12 makes a reselection towards a new server BTS 11, or makes a handover during a telephone or data conversation, all the OTD detections made based on the time reference of the old server BTS 11 must be updated to the new time reference associated with the new server BTS 11.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts and/or steps may be made to the method for the localization and mobility control of persons and things as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

For example, it comes within the field of the present invention to use the parameter TA or Timing Advance. It is known that the serving BTS 11 communicates with the GSM phone 12 engaged in a dedicated connection or packet to compensate the delay in propagation by bringing forward or delaying the transmission of the current radio frequency signal with respect to its own internal time reference 32. The entity of this bringing forward, calculated by the BTS 11 and communicated to the GSM phone 12 is therefore directly proportional to the distance of the GSM phone 12 from the server BTS 11, and constitutes a measurement usable for the purposes of calculating the variation in the geographical position of the GSM phone 12. The TA measurement is available every time the mobile is engaged in a dedicated communication, for example in a voice call, during the sending of a text message, during a Location Update procedure or during the transmission of packet data.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of method and device for the localization and mobility control of persons and things, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

1. Method for the localization and mobility control of persons or things applicable to a mobile radio terminal (12) associated with a telephone network (10), having a plurality of base radio stations (11), comprising a first step in which the mobile radio terminal (12) receives first service signals associated with each base radio station (11) within radio visibility, characterized in that it comprises a second step in which, by means of processing means (16), the mobile radio terminal (12) detects the relative temporal delays, calculated with respect to a predetermined time reference, with which are received the service signals of each base radio station (11) from which said mobile radio terminal (12) received a corresponding first service signal.

2. Method as in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a third step in which said relative temporal delays with which the service signals arriving from each base radio station (11) are received, are memorized in memorization means (18) of the mobile radio terminal (12).

3. Method as in claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a fourth step in which the mobile radio terminal (12), by means of said processing means (16), updates the detection of the relative temporal delays associated with said service signals arriving from each base radio station (11).

4. Method as in claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a fifth step in which the mobile radio terminal (12), by means of the processing means (16), effects a comparison between the relative temporal delays associated with a predetermined base radio station (11) calculated in the second step and the corresponding relative temporal delays associated with the same base radio station (11), calculated in the fourth step, in order to detect at least a difference in the relative temporal delay associated with an adjacent base radio station (11), and indicative of the variation in position of the mobile radio terminal (12).

5. Method as in claim 4, characterized in that the detection of at least one difference in the relative temporal delay is associated with a signal effected by the mobile radio terminal (12).

6. Method as in claim 5, characterized in that said signal comprises a data communication sent by the mobile radio terminal (12) through the telephone network (10).

7. Method as in claim 1, characterized in that in said second step, by means of position detection means (20) associated with the mobile radio terminal (12) and able to detect the absolute geographical position occupied by the mobile radio terminal (12), the absolute geographical position of each of said base radio stations (11) is calculated.

8. Method as in claim 7, characterized in that each of said absolute geographical positions of said base radio stations (11) is calculated according to said relative temporal delays, wherein said relative temporal delays are associated with the absolute geographical position of the mobile radio terminal (12) as detected by the position detection means (20).

9. Method as in claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a third step in which, by means of said memorization means (18) of the mobile radio terminal (12), the absolute geographical positions of each base radio station (11) detected in said second step are memorized.

10. Method as in claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a fourth step in which the absolute geographical position occupied by the mobile radio terminal (12) is detected both according to the absolute geographical positions of each of said base radio stations (11) and memorized in said memorization means (18), and also according to the relative temporal delays with which the service signals of each base radio station (11) are received with respect to the time reference of the mobile radio terminal (12).

11. Method as in claim 8, characterized in that said position detection means (20) comprises a GNSS/GPS receiver.

12. Method as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said telephone network (10) is of the GSM and/or EDGE/GPRS and/or UMTS and/or HSDPA and/or HSUPA type.

13. Method as in claim 12, characterized in that said service signal comprises a synchronization carrier channel called BCCH.

14. Method as in claim 13, characterized in that said relative temporal delays are calculated according to the delay in reception of synchronization information

Synchronization Burst (38), comprised in said carrier channel, BCCH received by., each base radio station (11) with respect to the reference base radio station (11).

15. Method as in claim 13, characterized in that said temporal delays are calculated according to the reception of information of the TA or Timing Advance type, and received by the server base radio station (11).

16. Method as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said time reference of the mobile radio terminal (12) is a hardware timer of desired precision and connected or included in said processing means (16).

17. Method as in any claim from 1 to 15, characterized in that said time reference of the mobile radio terminal (12) is a first service signal of a predetermined reference base radio station (11).

18. Method as in claim 17, characterized in that said reference base radio station (11) is the base radio station (11) serving the mobile radio terminal (12).

19. Device for the localization and mobility control of persons or things comprising a mobile radio terminal (12) associated with a reference base radio station (11) of a telephone network (10), having a plurality of base radio stations (11), each emitting a predetermined service signal, characterized in that it comprises processing means (16) able to detect the relative temporal delays, with respect to a predetermined time reference, with which said mobile radio terminal (12) receives the service signals of each base radio station (11) within radio visibility, and memorization means (18) able to memorize said relative temporal delays.

20. Device as in claim 19, characterized in that said processing means (16) is also able to make a comparison between each relative temporal delay, associated with each adjacent base radio station (11), and the relative temporal delay associated with the same adjacent base radio station (11), and detected in at least a subsequent moment, in order to detect at least a difference in one of said relative temporal delays.

21. Device as in claim 20, characterized in that it comprises position detection means (20) able to detect the absolute geographical position occupied by the mobile radio terminal (12).

22. Device as in claim 21, characterized in that said processing means (16) is also able to calculate the absolute geographical position of a predetermined set of adjacent base radio stations (11), from which the mobile radio terminal (.12) has received a corresponding first service signal, according to the absolute geographical position of the mobile terminal (12), as detected by the position detection means (12), and according to the relative temporal delays with which said service signals are received by the mobile radio terminal (12) with respect to said time reference.

23. Device as in claim 22, characterized in that said processing means (16) is also able to calculate the absolute geographical position of the mobile radio terminal

(12), according to the relative temporal delays, with respect to said time reference, with which the service signals of each adjacent base radio station (11) are received by the mobile radio terminal (12) and according to the absolute geographical positions of the predetermined set of adjacent base radio stations (11) memorized in said memorization means (18).

24. Device as in any claim from 19 to 23, characterized in that it comprises a hardware timer of desired precision, connected to or included with said processing means (16), in order to generate said time reference.