United S ta tes P a tent

US 006597906B1
( 12 ) ( 10) P a tent N 0. : US 6, 597, 906 B1
Va n Leeuwen et a l . ( 4 5) Da te o f P a tent: J ul . 2 2 , 2 003
( 54 ) MOBILE CLIEN T-BAS ED S TATION 5, 2 57, 4 06 A * 10/1993 Ito . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 55/56. 1
COMMUN ICATION BAS ED ON RELATIVE 5, 568, 654 A * 10/1996 Fuka wa . . . . . . . 4 55/33. 1
GEOGRAP HICAL P OS ITION IN FORMATION 5, 835, 377 A 11/1998 Bus h . . . . . . . . . . . 364 /4 68. 01
6, 005, 84 8 A * 12 /1999 Grube et a 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370/2 66
Invento rs : Geo rge Va n Leeuwen, A * S chipper 618. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . Ro ches ter, MN ( US ) ; Go rdo n J a mes * Cited by exa miner
S mith, Ro ches ter, MN ( US )
P rima ry Exa minerLes ter G. K inca id
( 73) As s ignee: Interna tio na l Bus ines s Ma chines As s is ta nt Exa minerN a ghrneh Mehrpo ur
Co rpo ra tio n, Armo nk, N Y ( US ) ( 74 ) Atto rney, Agent, o r FirmChris to pher H. Lynt;
Ma tthew J . Bus s a n; J a mes R. N o ck
( * ) N o tice: S ubj ect to a ny dis cl a imer, the term o f this
pa tent is extended o r a dj us ted under 35 ( 57) ABS TRACT
U' S ' C' 154 ( k) ) by 0 da ys Mo bil e cl ient ba s ed W irel es s co mmunica tio n is enha nced by
us ing geo gra phica l po s itio n inf o rma tio n o f a res pective
. . : , ' '
( 2 1) Appl N 0 09/2 39 854 mo bil e chent rel a tive to o ne o r mo re co mmunica tio n dea d
. _ Zo nes . W hen a mo bil e cl ient is a ppro a ching a dea d Zo ne,
( 2 2 ) Fl l ed' J a n' 2 9 1999 da ta co mmunica tio ns ca n be del a yed until the dea d Zo ne is
51 Int. Cl . 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H04 7 2 0 tra vers ed, 0r ivena hi her rio rit to 6X edite tra ns mis s io n ( ) Q / g g p y p
( 52 ) US . Cl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 55/4 2 2 ; 4 55/4 36 Co mpl etio n bef o re dea d Zo ne entry A mo bil e Cl ient Co m
( 58) Fiel d o f S ea rch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 55/4 2 2 4 36 munica tes its po s itio n inf o rma tio n to the ba s e S ta tio m W here
4 55/4 38 4 39 4 4 2 4 4 0 4 4 1 4 4 3 4 4 4 this po s itio n inf o rma tio n ca n be co mpa red W ith the l o ca tio ns
4 5, 6 63 o f res pective dea d Zo nes . The ba s e s ta tio n ca n determine a nd
co mmunica te to a mo bil e unit, a n es tima ted time bef o re the
( 56) Ref erences Cited mo bil e unit W il l enter a dea d Zo ne. The mo bil e unit ca n us e
this inf o rma tio n to determine W hether s uf f icient time
US P ATEN T DOCUMEN TS rema ins bef o re entering the dea d Zo ne to tra ns mit o ne o r
4 , 814 , 711 A * 3/1989 Ol s en et a 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 4 /331 mo re bl o cks o f da ta f o r l ns ta nce
5, 189, 734 A * 2 /1993 Ba il ey et a 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 55/33. 2
5, 2 35, 633 A * 8/1993 Dennis o n et a 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379/60 18 Cl a ims , 7 Dra wing S heets
513 513 513 S ATELLITES
BAS E S TATION
f \
HOBI LE UN IT\ / 501T
/
GP S ( 508
TRAN S CVR \
RCVR $\ TRAN S CVR
512 P RUCES S OR
\510
MAP DATA
P ROCES S OR
BAS E
\505
516
DATA
S OURCE
\514
A \500 TELN ET/
52 0 S ATN ET
U. S . P a tent J ul . 2 2 , 2 003 S heet 1 0f 7 US 6, 597, 906 B1
two -dimens io na l s impl if ica tio n o f s cena rio o f mo bil e
( : 1 ient. dea d Zo ne, a nd ba s e s ta tio n.
v
Dea d Zo ne
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l
y1' i_ ' " | ' _ _ |
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U. S . P a tent J ul . 2 2 , 2 003 S heet 2 0f 7 US 6, 597, 906 B1
Fra cta l ref inement f o r the bo unda ry o f dea d zo ne a s mo bil e
cl l ent a ppro a ches .
V
A
Dea d Zo ne
l
1 Mo bil e Cl ient
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FIG. 2
U. S . P a tent J ul . 2 2 , 2 003 S heet 3 0f 7
US 6, 597, 906 B1
Fl o w Cha rt s ho wing pro ces s o f tra cking a nd a nticipa ting
Mo bil e Cl ient pro ximity to a Dea d
Zo ne.
S TART: Mo bil e Cl ient Iden300
Dea d Zo ne.
Ba s ed o n GP S da ta
f ro m Mo bil e Cl ient,
determine cl o s es t
r302
time= t
S a mpl e GP $f ro m
Mo bil e Cl ient a t
until bo unda ry o f
Dea d Zo ne wil l be
rea ched ( M9) .
time= t+At a nd ca l cul a te
tf El J GCtOFY a nd time
l s At9( At
I? ,
critica l
, /308
FIG. 3A
U. S . P a tent J ul . 2 2 , 2 003 S heet 4 o f 7 US 6, 597, 906 B1
Ba s e S ta tio n s ends new
bo unda ries o f cl o s es t
' Dea d Zo ne a nd #316
, Ate to Mo bil e Cl ient
l
P erf o rm neces s a ry 31
no tif ica tio ns a nd /
da ta tra ns ml s s l o ns
1
Ref ine es tima te o f
bo unda ries f o r Dea d t/? z
Zo ne ( f ra cta l ) .
310
Is
Mo bil e Cl ient
in Dea d
Zo ne
Yes
Ba s ed o n Dea d_ Zo ne s ize
a nd_ Mo b1l e_ Cl l ent tra j ecto ry. 318
es tima te time until Dea d
Zo ne is exited ( AtEXIT) .
l
. /32 0
l s
co nmunica tio n
rees ta 2 l 1s hed
FIG. 3B
U. S . P a tent J ul . 2 2 , 2 003 S heet 5 o f 7
US 6, 597, 906 B1
Exa mpl e o f new pa cket pro to co l us ed by this inventio n.
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1
MOBILE CLIEN T-BAS ED S TATION
COMMUN ICATION BAS ED ON RELATIVE
GEOGRAP HICAL P OS ITION IN FORMATION
BACK GROUN D OF THE IN VEN TION
1. Fiel d o f the Inventio n
The inventio n rel a tes to the ? el d o f tel eco mmunica tio ns ,
a nd in pa rticul a r, to W irel es s mo bil e tel eco mmunica tio ns
tra ns mis s io n/receptio n co ntro l ba s ed o n rel a tive geo gra phi
ca l po s itio n inf o rma tio n.
2 . Ba ckgro und Inf o rma tio n
Mo bil e co mmunica tio n, e. g. , cel l ul a r tel epho ne
co mmunica tio n, us ua l l y invo l ves the excha nge o f ra dio
tra ns mis s io n s igna l s betW een a mo bil e unit ( mo bil e cl ient)
a nd a ba s e s ta tio n. W ith gro und-ba s ed mo bil e units , thes e
ra dio tra ns mis s io n s igna l s a re o f ten s ubj ect to a number o f
pheno mena W hich ca n l imit co mmunica tio n, incl uding na tu
ra l l y o ccurring va ria tio ns in geo gra phy, s uch a s hil l s a nd
va l l eys . This is beca us e mo bil e co mmunica tio ns is o f ten
ba s ed o n a po int-to -po int, l ine-o f -s ight tra ns mis s io n pa th
betW een the mo bil e unit a nd the ba s e s ta tio n. Terra in
va ria tio ns , ma n-ma de o bs ta cl es , a nd the l ike, ca n interf ere
W ith the co mmunica tio ns , res ul ting in W ha t a re ca l l ed dea d
Zo nes .
Dea d Zo nes a re geo gra phica l a rea s W here co mmunica
tio ns s igna l s do no t penetra te o r a re to o W ea k to pro vide f o r
rel ia bl e co mmunica tio ns . S uch Zo nes ca n be ca us ed by ra dio
s igna l s ha do W ing, e. g. , a s o ccur W hen a mo bil e unit tra vel s
behind a hil l , under a bridge o r thro ugh a tunnel , o r they ca n
be due to s igna l re? ectio ns /ima ges in ra dio s igna l pa tterns
ca us ed by the s igna l s bo uncing o f f ra dio -re? ective o bj ects ,
s uch a s buil dings , etc. An a bs o rptio n o f s igna l s ca n a l s o
o ccur under certa in circums ta nces res ul ting in a dea d Zo ne.
Fo r exa mpl e, s o me no n-re? ective ( % W a vel ength) co a tings
a re kno W n W hich a re genera l l y a bs o rptive o f pa rticul a r ra dio
s igna l s , a nd s uch a pheno mena ca n o ccur na tura l l y a s W el l .
Even tho ugh the ca us e o f the dea d Zo nes ma y no t cha nge
po s itio n, the phys ica l extent o f thes e dea d Zo nes ca n cha nge
o ver the co urs e o f a da y due to a tmo s pheric co nditio n
cha nges , f o r exa mpl e, a nd they ma y even ha ve a dif f erent
phys ica l extent f ro m o ne s ea s o n to the next. To pro vide
rel ia bl e a nd ef f icient co mmunica tio ns W ith mo bil e units in
co mmunica tio n a rea s W here dea d Zo nes a re pres ent,
a ttempts a re s o metimes ma de to minimiZe their ef f ects . Fo r
exa mpl e, a dditio na l a ntenna e ma y be pl a ced to co ver the
a rea s a f f ected. Ho W ever, beca us e o f co s t a nd o ther
co ns idera tio ns , it is virtua l l y impo s s ibl e to el imina te a l l dea d
Zo nes .
W ith the a dvent o f enha nced mo bil e pers o na l co mmuni
ca tio ns eq uipment beyo nd the s impl e vo ice cel l -pho ne to
rel a tivel y mo re co mpl ex mo bil e da ta tra ns mis s io n a nd
receiving devices , dea d Zo nes ha ve beco me mo re tha n j us t
a s impl e a nno ying interruptio n o f a tel epho ne co nvers a tio n.
S o me exa mpl es o f the types o f co mmunica tio ns tha t a re
being co ns idered, devel o ped a nd/o r impl emented incl ude
tra f ? c inf o rma tio n upda tes , s ta tic a nd dyna mic po int-to
po int ro uting, remo te dia gno s tics , us er co mf o rt s ettings , a nd
regio na l ra dio s ta tio n detectio n a nd s el ectio n. A Co ncept Ca r
W a s s ho W n a t the 1997 COMDEX s ho W in La s Vega s , W hich
inco rpo ra tes s o -ca l l ed tel ema tics . Tel ema tics ca n incl ude
in ca r co mmunica tio n W ith the Internet f o r a cces s ing e-ma il ,
W eb pa ges , pers o na l pref erence items ( s to cks , W ea ther,
s po rts , etc) , memo s , na viga tio n, ca r s ecurity/s a f ety ( 911) , a s
W el l a s being expa nded f o r video /mo vies f o r the pa s s engers ,
15
2 5
35
4 5
55
65
2
f o r exa mpl e. Al o ng W ith thes e pers o na l co mmunica tio ns
to o l s , if a ppro pria te, a n interf a ce to the o n-bo a rd vehicl e
co ntro l a nd dia gno s tic co mputer bus thro ugh a n engine
co mpa rtment ? reW a l l co ul d be pro vided s o tha t the us er o r
remo te ? eet ma na gement s ys tem ( f o r trucks ) ca n run dia g
no s tics o n the a uto mo bil e engine, a s W el l a s mo nito r vehicl e
pro gres s o n a ro ute.
It s ho ul d be a ppa rent tha t, s ho ul d a mo bil e unit enter a
dea d Zo ne during a da ta tra ns mis s io n, s ubs ta ntia l time a nd
ba ndW idth ma y be W a s ted a ttempting a co mpl ete retra ns
mis s io n o f the da ta W hen co mmunica tio n is impo s s ibl e.
Mo re s erio us co ns eq uences co ul d res ul t due to a pa rtia l l y
ga rbl ed a nd/o r del a yed tra ns mis s io n. Fo r exa mpl e, a n inves
to r might be a ttempting to co nduct a n o n-l ine tra de in the
s to ck ma rket W here a del a y o f even a f eW minutes co ul d
mea n the dif f erence betW een a pro ? ta bl e tra de a nd a mis s ed
o ppo rtunity.
It ca n f urther be a pprecia ted by tho s e s kil l ed in the a rt tha t
mo bil e co mmunica tio ns netW o rks genera l l y ha ve to ha ndl e
a l a rge number o f s imul ta neo us mo bil e units a ttempting to
co mmunica te W ith a ba s e s ta tio n a t a ny given time. To
a cco mmo da te the units , mul tipl exing techniq ues a re us ed
W here, f o r exa mpl e, the l imited ba s e s ta tio n ba ndW idth is
divided into time s l o ts a nd the units a re time-divis io n
mul tipl exed. Genera l l y, there is no prio ritiZing o f tra ns mis
s io n s l o t s ha ring a nd the res o urces a re divided eq ua l l y
a mo ng units req ues ting tra ns mis s io n.
The pres ent invento rs rea l iZed tha t it W o ul d be a dva nta
geo us to kno W exa ctl y W here the dea d Zo nes a re rel a tive to
the mo bil e units in a co mmunica tio n s ys tem s o tha t s uch
pro bl ems co ul d be a nticipa ted a nd a ppro pria te mea s ures
ta ken.
Acco rding to a co pending a ppl ica tio n a s s igned to the
s a me a s s ignee a s the pres ent a ppl ica tio n, W hich beca me
kno W n to the pres ent invento rs s ubs eq uent to ma king their
inventio n, S er. N o . 09/133, 64 9, ? l ed Aug. 13, 1998, entitl ed
ERROR CORRECTION FOR W IRELES S N ETW ORK S
( a tto rney do cket YO998167) : metho ds , devices a nd s ys
tems a re pres ented f o r pro viding s ervice pro viders a nd/o r
end us ers o f mo bil e s ta tio ns to mo nito r a nd/o r repo rt regio ns
W ith high erro r ra tes a nd/o r dea d Zo nes . . . ea ch mo bil e
s ta tio n perio dica l l y co mpa res its current l o ca tio n W ith the
da ta ba s e [ o f l o ca tio ns W ith erro rs ] . . . [ T] he res ul ts o f this
co mpa ris o n ena bl es the mo bil e unit to a nticipa te co nnectio n
pro bl ems ( Abs tra ct, s ee a l s o pa ge 2 0, l ine 16 to pa ge 2 1,
l ine 18) . The mo bil e unit us es a n o n-bo a rd GP S ( gl o ba l
po s itio ning s a tel l ite s ys tem) to get its current l o ca tio n ( s ee
pa ge 8, l ines 4 to 2 0) .
Further, a cco rding to the co pending a ppl ica tio n, the
mo bil e units incl ude a n erro r ra te mo nito r to mo nito r a
receptio n erro r ra te, a nd a mes s a ge pro ces s o r to s end a n
erro r mes s a ge to a ba s e s ta tio n W hen the erro r ra te ris es
a bo ve a pres et thres ho l d ( pa ge 2 1, l ine 19 to pa ge 2 2 , l ine 8) .
A da ta ba s e tha t co nta ins reco rds o f a l l erro r mes s a ges ma y
be ma inta ined, us ed to ma p a rea s o f receptio n dea d Zo nes ,
a nd q ueried by a mo bil e us er to determine if the us er is
entering a dea d Zo nethe ba s e s ta tio n ma y then inf o rm the
mo bil e us er o f a n a ppro pria te s tep to ta ke to ma inta in
co nnectivity ( pa ge 2 2 , l ine 15 to pa ge 2 3, l ine 2 ) . Acco rding
to the co pending a ppl ica tio n, a us er ma y be given a ro ute to
a vo id dea d Zo nes , a nd/o r given a W a rning s igna l tha t the us er
is a ppro a ching a dea d Zo ne ( pa ge 2 3, l ines 12 to 17) .
Ho W ever, s o metimes ta king s teps to ma inta in co nnectiv
ity ma y no t be co nvenient o r even po s s ibl e. Fo r exa mpl e, if
the mo bil e unit is a l a rge truck o r even a pa s s enger ca r, it
ma y be tha t there is no pl a ce to pul l o ver the mo bil e unit,
US 6, 597, 906 B1
3
turn a ro und o r o therwis e ta ke a no ther ro ute to a vo id a dea d
Zo ne. In s o me a rea s , s uch a s the US . Ea s t Co a s t Inters ta te
95 N o rth-S o uth co rrido r, a l terna tive ro utes a re either l imited
o r no n-exis tent.
In vieW o f the a bo ve dis cus s io n, it is a ppa rent tha t a need
exis ts f o r a dditio na l W a ys to o verco me the pro bl ems o f
po tentia l da ta tra ns mis s io n l o s s es a nd del a ys ca us ed by
unexpected o r expected entries into dea d Zo nes .
A netW o rk pro ces s ing s ys tem W hich ens ures pro ces s ing
co ntinuity by ho l ding da ta received f ro m a netW o rk a cces
s ibl e a ppl ica tio n f o r tra ns mis s io n to a mo bil e unit o nl y W hen
the mo bil e unit is in a ctua l W irel es s co mmunica tio n W ith the
netW o rk is kno W n ( s ee, e. g. , US . P a t. N o . 5, 564 , 070) .
A hiera rchica l co mmunica tio n s ys tem W hich pro vides
a da ptive da ta ra te s el ectio n ba s ed o n the detected q ua l ity o f
co mmunica tio n, a nd W hich pro vides f o r res o l ving co n? icts
a mo ng co mpeting co mmunica tio ns pro to co l s o n a prio rity
ba s is , is kno W n ( s ee, e. g. , U. S . P a t. N o . 5, 696, 903) .
AW a y o f l o ca ting mo bil e end us ers o f a co mmunica tio ns
s ys tem a nd ro uting mes s a ges to the end us ers a s they ro a m
betW een co mmunica tio n netW o rks ha ving l o ca l s ervicing
o f ? ces is kno W n. This is ba s ed o n us er s peci? c inf o rma tio n
W hich is s to red by the l o ca l s ervicing o f f ices , a nd ca n be
us ed to tra ck the end us ers . S to red mes s a ges a nd da ta ca n
then be ro uted a nd f o rW a rded to the end us ers ( s ee, e. g. , US .
P a t. N o . 5, 659, 596) .
Ametho d o f co ntro l l ing co mmunica tio n s ervices ba s ed o n
geo gra phica l inf o rma tio n is kno W n. Co mmunica tio n is
res tricted if the unit req ues ting co mmunica tio ns s ervices is
W ithin a res tricted geo gra phica l l o ca tio n, s uch a s in pro x
imity to a ho s pita l ha ving s ens itive RF ( ra dio f req uency)
medica l devices , o r gra nted if the unit is no t W ithin a
res tricted l o ca tio n ( s ee U. S . P a t. N o . 5, 778, 304 ) .
A gl o ba l po s itio ning s ys tem ( GP S ) is kno W n in W hich a
mo bil e o r s ta tio na ry unit ca n a s certa in its pres ent l o ca tio n,
l a titude, l o ngitude a nd a l titude, by the detectio n a nd pro
ces s ing o f s igna l s f ro m geo -s ynchro no us s a tel l ites . S uch
s ys tems a re us ed to na viga te a ircra f t a s W el l a s gro und ba s ed
vehicl es ( s ee, e. g. , US . P a t. N o . 5, 606, 506) a nd ha ve been
us ed to tra ck mo bil e s ta tio ns ( s ee, e. g. , US . P a t. N o .
5, 564 , 079) . A GP S s ys tem ha s been integra ted W ith a n
inertia l na viga tio n s ys tem ( s ee, e. g. , US . P a t. N o . 5, 606,
506) .
The GP S ha s been us ed in co nj unctio n W ith tel epho ny to
co mbine l o ca tio n identi? ca tio n W ith tel epho ne number iden
ti? ca tio n s o tha t the geo gra phica l l o ca tio n o f a pa rticul a r
tel epho ne number us er ca n be a s certa ined ( s ee, e. g. , US .
P a t. N o . 5, 72 7, 057) .
The GP S ha s a l s o been us ed in co mmunica tio n co n? g
uring o f digita l eq uipment ba s ed o n its l o ca tio n us ing
co n? gura tio n da ta s to red in the digita l eq uipment ( s ee, e. g. ,
US . P a t. N o s . 5, 635, 94 0 a nd 5, 581, 2 61) .
Ano ther mo bil e co mmunica tio ns tra cking s ys tem W hich
do es no t rel y o n GP S but ins tea d us es s igna l s excha nged
W ith nea rby cel l s is a l s o kno W n ( s ee, e. g. , US . P a t. N o .
5, 767, 788) .
Ho W ever, des pite thes e previo us s ys tems , there s til l
exis ted a need f o r a n impro ved mo bil e co mmunica tio n
s ys tem. In prio r s ys tems , the tra ns mitter o f inf o rma tio n ma y
be no ti? ed by the receiver tha t s o me tra ns mitted inf o rma tio n
W a s no t received. The da ta ma y then be retra ns mitted o r a
time del a y bef o re retra ns mis s io n ma y be us ed. In either ca s e,
if the rea s o n f o r the l a ck o f receptio n is due to the rel a tive
l o ca tio n o f tra ns mitter a nd receiver, i. e. , rel a tive to a dea d
Zo ne, this inf o rma tio n is no t kno W n by the tra ns mitter o r
10
15
2 0
2 5
30
35
4 0
4 5
55
60
65
4
receiver. W a s ted time a nd ba ndW idth ma y o ccur, if f o r
exa mpl e, a tra ns mitter tries to repea t a tra ns mis s io n W hen
the receiver is to ta l l y inca pa bl e o f receiving the inf o rma tio n.
This might o ccur, f o r exa mpl e, it the receiver is in a vehicl e
a nd the vehicl e is ins ide o f a tunnel W hich is na tura l l y
s hiel ded f ro m ra dio tra ns mis s io ns .
S UMMARY OF THE IN VEN TION
It is , theref o re, a principl e o bj ect o f this inventio n to
pro vide a metho d a nd a ppa ra tus f o r mo bil e cl ient-ba s ed
s ta tio n co mmunica tio n ba s ed o n po s itio n inf o rma tio n.
It is a no ther o bj ect o f the inventio n to pro vide a metho d
a nd a ppa ra tus tha t s o l ves the a bo ve mentio ned pro bl ems s o
tha t mo bil e co mmunica tio ns ca n be a cco mpl is hed mo re
ef f ectivel y.
Thes e a nd o ther o bj ects o f the pres ent inventio n a re
a cco mpl is hed by the metho d a nd a ppa ra tus dis cl o s ed herein.
Co ns idering the s ta te o f the a rt, the invento rs reco gniZed
tha t da ta l o s s co ul d be a vo ided if a co mmunica tio ns s ys tem
ga ve prio rity to a mo bil e unit tra ns mitting o r receiving da ta
W hich W a s a ppro a ching a dea d Zo ne. Further, if the mo bil e
unit kneW o f the a ppro a ch o f a dea d Zo ne, da ta tra ns mis s io n,
either to o r f ro m the mo bil e unit in q ues tio n, co ul d be
expedited o r del a yed. If the s ys tem co ul d predict W hen a
mo bil e unit W o ul d exit a dea d Zo ne, mo re ef f icient us e o f
co mmunica tio ns res o urces co ul d be a cco mpl is hed. Da ta to
be tra ns mitted to the mo bil e unit f ro m the ba s e s ta tio n co ul d
be s to red in a nticipa tio n o f dea d Zo ne exit. Likewis e, the
mo bil e unit co ul d buf f er da ta tra ns mis s io n to the ba s e s ta tio n
W hil e in the dea d Zo ne in the s a me W a y.
Theref o re, a cco rding to a n a s pect o f the inventio n, s ched
ul ing o f tra ns mis s io ns o ver a ny W irel es s s ys tem ba s ed o n
kno W l edge o f the po s itio n o f a mo bil e cl ient ( mo bil e unit) by
a no ther s ys tem is pro vided.
Acco rding to a no ther a s pect o f the inventio n, the mo bil e
cl ient po s itio n inf o rma tio n ca n be us ed to gether W ith s to red
po s itio n inf o rma tio n a bo ut o ne o r mo re dea d Zo nes to
prio ritiZe the tra ns mis s io n o f da ta betW een a ba s e s ta tio n a nd
the mo bil e cl ient. Fo r exa mpl e, the po s itio n inf o rma tio n
a l l o W s the s chedul ing o f da ta excha nges s o tha t da ta tra ns
mis s io ns a re s ure to be co mpl eted bef o re a dea d Zo ne is
entered. The type o f da ta to be tra ns mitted ca n be co ns idered
in the prio ritiZa tio n.
Acco rding to a n a s pect o f the inventio n, f ro m the geo
gra phica l po s itio n inf o rma tio n, da ta tra ns f er betW een a
mo bil e cl ient a nd ba s e s ta tio n ma y be W ithhel d until a mo re
f a vo ra bl e geo gra phic l o ca tio n beco mes a va il a bl e. The da ta
to be tra ns mitted ca n be s to red a nd tra ns mis s io n del a yed
until a f ter a dea d Zo ne is exited, f o r exa mpl e.
Acco rding to a no ther a s pect o f the inventio n, f ro m s uc
ces s ive po s itio n rea dings , a tra j ecto ry o f the mo bil e cl ient
ca n be determined. Ba s ed o n the tra j ecto ry o f the mo bil e
cl ient, a predictio n o f W hen mo re f a vo ra bl e tra ns mis s io n
co nditio ns W il l exis t ca n be determined a nd us ed to prio ritiZe
co mmunica tio ns in a n ef ? cient ma nner.
Acco rding to a no ther a s pect o f the inventio n, the l o ca tio n
o f a mo bil e cl ient rel a tive to a ba s e s ta tio n ca n be pro vided
by a po s itio ning s ys tem, s uch a s a Gl o ba l P o s itio ning
S a tel l ite/S ys tem ( GP S ) , Do ppl er ra da r, vis ua l co nta ct,
tria ngul a tio n, a n inertia l guida nce s ys tem ( IGS ) , o r a ny o ther
eq uiva l ent geo -po s itio ning s ys tem.
Acco rding to a no ther a s pect o f the inventio n, in the ba s e
s ta tio n, the res pective l o ca tio ns o f a pl ura l ity o f dea d Zo nes
a re s to red. Fo r a gro und-ba s ed mo bil e unit, the l o ca tio n o f
a dea d Zo ne ca n be s to red, f o r exa mpl e, a s a tW o dimens io na l
US 6, 597, 906 B1
5
s impl i? ca tio n us ing a s eq uence o f ( xi-j , yij ) co o rdina tes
W here i= 1, . . . N a nd N is cho s en to be a s uita bl y l a rge
integer s o tha t ea ch j 1 dea d Zo ne is repres ented f a ithf ul l y.
Fo r the purpo s es o f es tima ting the a va il a bl e tra ns mis s io n
time bef o re the mo bil e cl ient enters a dea d Zo ne, the
bo unda ries o f the dea d Zo ne a re pro gres s ivel y re? ned a s the
mo bil e cl ient a ppro a ches us ing a f ra cta l -type metho do l o gy,
minimizing the co mputa tio ns req uired to be perf o rmed by a
pro ces s o r a t the ba s e s ta tio n, mo bil e cl ient, o r bo th.
Acco rding to a no ther a s pect o f the inventio n, mo bil e
cl ient po s itio n inf o rma tio n is co mmunica ted to the ba s e
s ta tio n a nd inf o rma tio n a bo ut the es tima ted time until the
mo bil e cl ient enters a dea d Zo ne is pro vided by the ba s e
s ta tio n to the mo bil e cl ient, impl ementing a tW o -W a y pro
to co l .
Acco rding to a no ther a s pect o f the inventio n, W hen the
mo bil e cl ient is in the dea d Zo ne, it us es inf o rma tio n a bo ut
the extent o f the dea d Zo ne pro vided the ba s e s ta tio n to
es tima te the time W hen co mmunica tio n W ith the ba s e s ta tio n
W il l a ga in be po s s ibl e.
Acco rding to a no ther a s pect o f the inventio n, inf o rma tio n
a bo ut the bo unda ries o f a dea d Zo ne, W hich ma y be dyna mic,
a re incl uded in the tra ns mis s io ns betW een the mo bil e unit
a nd the ba s e s ta tio n a f ter the mo bil e cl ient ha s exited the
dea d Zo ne. The ba s e s ta tio n us es this inf o rma tio n to dyna mi
ca l l y upda te a da ta ba s e co nta ining the l o ca tio n a nd extent o f
dea d Zo nes .
Acco rding to a no ther a s pect o f the inventio n, a n itera tive
re? nement o f a n es tima te o f a n exa ct interceptio n po int W ith
the dea d Zo ne co ntinues up until the mo bil e cl ient a ctua l l y
enters the dea d Zo ne. This re? nement pro ces s a f ra cta l -type
pro ces s a nd the s ca l e o f the dea d Zo ne bo unda ry is co n
s ta ntl y impro ved, i. e. , W ith increa s ing ma gni? ca tio n, a s the
mo bil e cl ient a ppro a ches the dea d Zo ne.
Acco rding to a no ther a s pect o f the inventio n, even tho ugh
W hen the mo bil e cl ient is in the dea d Zo ne there is no f urther
co mmunica tio n po s s ibl e W ith the ba s e s ta tio n ( by
de? nitio n) , the mo bil e cl ient is s til l a W a re o f its po s itio n
thro ugh o ther mea ns , tha t is , f ro m geo -po s itio ning da ta f ro m
a s a tel l ite s ys tem, e. g. , GP S , o r f ro m s o me o ther s ys tem,
e. g. , a n interna l inertia l guida nce s ys tem. Bef o re entering the
dea d Zo ne, the ba s e s ta tio n ma y ha ve s ent rel eva nt dea d Zo ne
co o rdina tes f o r the bo unda ry a t W hich po int the mo bil e
cl ient is expected to exit the dea d Zo ne ba s ed o n current
tra j ecto ry, a nd Ca l cul a tio ns ca n then be perf o rmed by a
pro ces s o r in the mo bil e cl ient to a nticipa te dea d Zo ne exit.
Al terna tivel y, bef o re the mo bil e cl ient entered the dea d
Zo ne, inf o rma tio n co ncerning the expected time W hen the
dea d Zo ne W il l be exited ca n be s ent f ro m the ba s e s ta tio n
a nd the mo bil e cl ient ca n a nticipa te dea d Zo ne exit ba s ed o n
time mea s urements . W hen there is a dif f erence betW een the
expected a nd a ctua l dea d Zo ne exit time/co o rdina tes , thes e
dif f erences ca n be us ed to a dj us t s to red dea d Zo ne bo und
a ries .
Acco rding to a no ther a s pect o f the inventio n, under s o me
circums ta nces , the mo bil e cl ient W il l beco me immo bil e f o r
a n extended perio d o f time. Fo r exa mpl e, a mo bil e cl ient
ma y enco unter a n unexpected del a y. W hen the ba s e s ta tio n
a nd/o r mo bil e cl ient do es no t es ta bl is h co mmunica tio n
W ithin s o me to l era nce s urro unding the expected time o f
emergence f ro m a dea d Zo ne, the co mmunica tio n is pl a ced
in a ho l d q ueue. W hen co mmunica tio n is a ga in po s s ibl e, the
mo bil e cl ient pro vides its po s itio n inf o rma tio n to the ba s e
s ta tio n a nd the co mmunica tio n l ink is remo ved f ro m the
ho l d q ueue.
Acco rding to a no ther a s pect o f the inventio n, the
excha nge o f po s itio n inf o rma tio n is f a cil ita ted by us e o f a
10
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6
da ta tra ns mis s io n pro to co l tha t a cco mmo da tes po s itio n
inf o rma tio n, f o r exa mpl e, GP S da ta o r o ther s ys tem po s itio n
inf o rma tio n. As s uming pa cket tra ns mis s io n ( W hich is o pti
ma l in genera l f o r mo bil e co mmunica tio n) , s o me pa ckets
incl ude the po s itio n inf o rma tio n ( e. g. , GP S da ta ) .
Additio na l l y, s o me pa ckets ca n incl ude the es tima ted time
bef o re a mo bil e cl ient W il l enter a dea d Zo ne a nd/o r ho W
l o ng co mmunica tio n W il l be interrupted. This inf o rma tio n
ca n be us ed to s chedul e tra ns mis s io ns betW een ba s e s ta tio n
a nd mo bil e cl ient.
Acco rding to a no ther a s pect o f the inventio n, the a bo ve
mentio ned pro bl ems a re s o l ved by co ns idering s to red geo
gra phica l inf o rma tio n W hen a cl ient/s erver co mmunica tio n
is nego tia ted.
Acco rding to a no ther a s pect o f the inventio n, kno W n dea d
Zo ne l o ca tio n inf o rma tio n is us ed to s chedul e co mmunica
tio n W ith a mo bil e unit, a nd dyna mic upda ting o f the s to red
dea d Zo ne l o ca tio n inf o rma tio n ba s ed o n detectio n o f
cha nged dea d Zo ne bo unda ries is a l s o ena bl ed.
The a bo ve-mentio ned a s pects o f the inventio n, a nd o ther
a dva nta ges a nd bene? ts o f the inventio n W hich ? o W na tu
ra l l y theref ro m, s o l ve a number o f pro bl ems a nd o verco me
a number o f l imita tio ns rel a ted to da ta co mmunica tio n o ver
a W irel es s mo bil e co mmunica tio n s ys tem, s uch a s ra dio o r
o ptica l , W hich is na tura l l y interrupted by ma ny o bs ta cl es in
a tra ns mis s io n pa th.
Acco rding to a n a s pect o f the inventio n, via a GP S , o r
o ther po s itio ning s ys tem, f o r exa mpl e, Do ppl er ra da r, iner
tia l guida nce, o r a no ther po s itio n device, l o ca ted a t a tra ns
mitter ( s erver) a nd/o r receiver ( cl ient) , the tra ns mis s io n o f
da ta is bia s ed to W a rds tho s e receivers W hich a re currentl y in
a cl ea r receptio n pa th, i. e. , no t in a dea d Zo ne. This l o ca tio n
kno W l edge permits a tra ns mitter to decide W hen a nd to
W hich mo bil e cl ient inf o rma tio n is s ent, a nd thereby a vo id
W a s ted tra ns mis s io n res o urces .
Acco rding to a no ther a s pect o f the inventio n, da ta l o s s is
a vo ided beca us e the co mmunica tio ns s ys tem ca n gra nt pri
o rity to a unit tra ns mitting/receiving da ta a s it a ppro a ches a
dea d Zo ne. In prio r s ys tems , genera l l y there is no prio ritiZing
o f tra ns mis s io n s l o t s ha ring a nd the res o urces a re divided
eq ua l l y a mo ng units req ues ting tra ns mis s io n in mul tipl exed
mo bil e co mmunica tio ns .
Acco rding to a no ther a s pect o f the inventio n, da ta tra ns
mis s io n ca n be del a yed a nd the da ta s to red in a ho l d q ueue
W hen a mo bil e unit is a ppro a ching o r is ins ide a dea d Zo ne,
to be l a ter tra ns mitted a f ter the mo bil e unit l ea ves the dea d
Zo ne.
Acco rding to a no ther a s pect o f the inventio n, s ucces s ive
mo bil e unit po s itio ns ca n be us ed to determine a ra te a nd
directio n o f tra vel o f the mo bil e unit, a nd the ra te a nd
directio n o f tra vel ( tra j ecto ry) ca n be us ed to predict W hen
the mo bil e unit W il l enter a nd l ea ve a pa rticul a r dea d Zo ne
s o tha t co mmunica tio n ca n be co o rdina ted thereW ith.
Thes e a nd o ther a s pects o f the inventio n W il l beco me
a ppa rent f ro m the deta il ed des criptio n s et f o rth bel o W .
BRIEF DES CRIP TION OF THE DRAW IN GS
FIG. 1 il l us tra tes a tW o -dimens io na l s impl i? ca tio n o f a
mo bil e cl ient, dea d Zo ne a nd ba s e s ta tio n s cena rio f o r
expl a ining a metho d a cco rding to a n exempl a ry embo diment
o f the pres ent inventio n.
FIG. 2 il l us tra tes a f ra cta l re? nement pro ces s f o r the
bo unda ry o f a dea d Zo ne a s a mo bil e cl ient a ppro a ches
a cco rding to a n exempl a ry embo diment o f the inventio n.
FIG. 3 il l us tra tes a Ho w cha rt o f a pro ces s o f tra cking a nd
a nticipa ting mo bil e cl ient pro ximity to a dea d Zo ne a cco rd
ing to a n exempl a ry embo diment o f the inventio n.
US 6, 597, 906 B1
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FIG. 4 il l us tra tes a pa cket pro to co l a cco rding to a n
exempl a ry embo diment o f the inventio n.
FIG. 5 il l us tra tes a co mmunica tio ns s ys tem a cco rding to
a n exempl a ry embo diment o f the inventio n.
FIG. 6 il l us tra tes a f ra cta l re? nement o f a dea d Zo ne
bo unda ry ba s ed o n pro ximity a nd es tima ted time to co nta ct
a cco rding to a n exempl a ry embo diment o f the inventio n.
DETAILED DES CRIP TION OF THE
P REFERRED EMBODIMEN T( S )
The inventio n W il l no W be des cribed in mo re deta il by
W a y o f exa mpl e W ith ref erence to the embo diment( s ) s ho W n
in the a cco mpa nying ? gures . It s ho ul d be kept in mind tha t
the f o l l o W ing des cribed embo diment( s ) is /a re o nl y pres ented
by W a y o f exa mpl e a nd s ho ul d no t be co ns trued a s l imiting
the inventive co ncept to a ny pa rticul a r phys ica l co n? gura
tio n.
FIG. 1 il l us tra tes a tW o -dimens io na l s impl i? ca tio n o f a
mo bil e cl ient, dea d Zo ne a nd ba s e s ta tio n s cena rio f o r
expl a ining a metho d a cco rding to a n exempl a ry embo diment
o f the pres ent inventio n.
The inventio n a ddres s es the pro bl em o f prio ritiZing the
tra ns a ctio n o f da ta betW een a ba s e s ta tio n a nd mo bil e cl ient.
In pa rticul a r, the inventio n pro vides enha nced s chedul ing o f
da ta tra ns mis s io ns o ver a ny W irel es s mea ns ba s ed o n kno W l
edge o f the po s itio n o f a mo bil e cl ient by a no ther s ys tem.
The integra tio n o f geo gra phica l /gl o ba l po s itio n inf o rma tio n
a l l o W s the s chedul ing o f da ta excha nge ba s ed o n s uch
f a cto rs a s ra dio s igna l s ha do W ing ( e. g. , under bridges , in
tunnel s ) , kno W n re? ectio n/ima ges in ra dio s igna l pa tterns ,
etc. Fro m the geo gra phica l po s itio n inf o rma tio n, da ta tra ns
f er between a mo bil e cl ient a nd ba s e s ta tio n ma y be W ithhel d
until a mo re f a vo ra bl e geo gra phic l o ca tio n beco mes a va il
a bl e. Ba s ed o n the tra j ecto ry o f the mo bil e cl ient, the
a nticipa tio n o f W hen mo re f a vo ra bl e co nditio ns W il l exis t
ca n be determined a nd us ed to prio ritiZe co mmunica tio ns
betW een cl ients a nd s ervers in the mo s t ef ? cient ma nner.
The l o ca tio n o f a mo bil e cl ient rel a tive to a ba s e s ta tio n
ca n be pro vided by a Gl o ba l P o s itio ning S a tel l ite ( GP S )
s ys tem, Do ppl er ra da r, a n inertia l guida nce s ys tem, vis ua l
co nta ct, tria ngul a tio n, o r o ther mea ns . Fo r indo o r s ys tems ,
embedded s ens o rs co ul d be pro vided, a s W o ul d be a ppa rent
to o ne s kil l ed in the a rt. The excha nge o f this inf o rma tio n
betW een ba s e s ta tio n a nd mo bil e cl ient a cco rding to a no ther
a s pect o f the inventio n is des cribed l a ter.
Co ns ider the s impl e ca s e depicted in FIG. 1, f o r a s ingl e
mo bil e cl ient a nd a s ingl e dea d Zo ne. In rea l ity, there co ul d
be a ny number o f mo bil e cl ients a nd dea d Zo nes , but the
principl es des cribed bel o W f o r the s impl e ca s e ca n ea s il y be
extended to thes e W ith the a dditio n o f s o me prio rity
pro cedure, tha t is , W here a prio rity f o r tra ns mis s io n a nd
receptio n o f inf o rma tio n is ba s ed o n ho W cl o s e a given
mo bil e unit is to a given dea d Zo ne, ho W much ba ndW idth is
us ed by a given mo bil e unit, the urgency o f the tra ns mis s io n,
etc.
In the s impl e ca s e o f FIG. 1, the ba s e s ta tio n is a s s umed
to be the o rigin o f a 2 -dimens io na l co o rdina te s ys tem W hich
ca n ea s il y a ppro xima te the s urf a ce o f the ea rth o ver s o me
l o ca l regio n s erved by the ba s e s ta tio n. N o te tha t the l o ca tio n
o f the ba s e s ta tio n a t ( 0, 0) is purel y f o r il l us tra tio n purpo s es
a nd ca n ea s il y be s hif ted to be a ny geo gra phica l po s itio n
des ired in l o ngitude a nd l a titude, f o r exa mpl e.
In the ba s e s ta tio n, the res pective co o rdina tes o f a pl u
ra l ity o f dea d Zo nes a re s to red. S uch co o rdina tes ma y be
ref erred to s o metimes herein a s s impl y dea d Zo ne l o ca tio ns .
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8
Onl y o ne s uch dea d Zo ne is s ho W n a l tho ugh there co ul d be
ma ny s uch Zo nes in a geo gra phica l a rea co vered by the ba s e
s ta tio n.
A dea d Zo ne l o ca tio n ca n be s to red a s a s eq uence o f ( xi-j ,
y ) co o rdina tes W here the index ref erring to a pa rticul a r x, y
co o rdina te pa ir i= 1, . . . N . S o tha t ea ch j th dea d Zo ne is
repres ented f a ithf ul l y, N is cho s en to be a s uita bl y l a rge
integer. This is , o f co urs e a tW o -dimens io na l s impl i? ca tio n
o f the three-dimens io na l genera l ca s e W hich is perf ectl y
a ccepta bl e f o r a gro und-ba s ed mo bil e unit s ince a ny gro und
po s itio n W il l ha ve a ? xed a l titude. Ho W ever, f o r a no n
gro und-ba s ed mo bil e unit, s uch a s a n a ircra f t o r s pa cecra f t,
the dea d-Zo ne third dimens io n W o ul d be ta ken into a cco unt.
The inventio n is a ppl ica bl e to the genera l three-dimens io na l
ca s e by extens io n, the tW o -dimens io na l s impl i? ca tio n being
pres ented f o r purpo s es o f expl a na tio n. As is kno W n, the GP S
s ys tem, f o r exa mpl e, pro vides l a titude, l o ngitude a nd a l ti
tude da ta .
It s ho ul d a l s o be no ted tha t W hen hyper-dimens io na l
tra vel ( tra vel in grea ter tha n three-dimens io ns , i. e. , thro ugh
hyper-s pa ce) is a chieved, a s s uming tha t co mmunica tio ns
thro ugh hyper-s pa ce a re po s s ibl e a nd tha t dea d Zo nes exis t
in hyper-s pa ce, a dditio na l dea d Zo ne dimens io ns W o ul d be
co ns idered a s req uired, a cco rding to the inventio n.
It W il l be demo ns tra ted tha t f o r the purpo s es o f es tima ting
the time rema ining bef o re the mo bil e cl ient enters a dea d
Zo ne, the bo unda ries o f the dea d Zo ne a re pro gres s ivel y
re? ned a s the mo bil e cl ient a ppro a ches . This is a f ra cta l -type
metho do l o gy tha t a dva nta geo us l y minimiZes the req uired
co mputa tio ns tha t need to be perf o rmed by either a pro ces
s o r a t the ba s e s ta tio n o r mo bil e cl ient o r bo th. This co ul d be
impl emented by ha ving the ba s e s ta tio n s erver pro ces s o r, f o r
exa mpl e, s to re dea d Zo ne bo unda ries in a f ra cta l f o rm s o tha t
deta il s o f a bo unda ry ca n be ma de pro gres s ivel y mo re
deta il ed a s a mo bil e unit a ppro a ches the dea d Zo ne.
As is kno W n, the term f ra cta l is derived f ro m f ra ctio na l
geo metry. S impl y put, a f ra cta l is a s el f -s imil a r thing tha t
ha s a f ra ctio na l dimens io n. Fo r exa mpl e, a co mpl ex, tW is t
ing co a s tl ine o r the o utl ine o f a tree s bra nch s tructure, is
s o mething W hich theo retica l l y ha s a n in? nite l ength a nd ca n
be co ns idered mo re tha n j us t a o ne-dimens io na l l ine but l es s
tha n a tW o -dimens io na l pl a ne. A W el l kno W n f ra cta l is the
K o ch curve, W hich is a 1. 2 618-dimens io na l o bj ect, tha t is ,
a n o bj ect ha ving a f ra ctio na l dimens io n. Ima gine a s tra ight
l ine, W hich is a o ne-dimens io na l o bj ect. N o W , put a kink in
the l ine, ma king it mo re co mpl ex tha n a s tra ight l ine, but no t
yet a pl a ne. N ext put a kink in ea ch l ine s egment f o rmed by
the ? rs t kink, a nd s o o n. The res ul t is the K o ch curve. The
kinks ha ve ca us ed the o ne-dimens io na l l ine to gro W to W a rds
beco ming a tW o -dimens io na l pl a ne, s ince the o rigina l l ine
expa nds in the height directio n, ho W ever, it is no t a
tW o -dimens io na l o bj ect, l ike a pl a ne, beca us e it is no t a
cl o s ed curve. Ano ther exa mpl e is the s o -ca l l ed S ierpins ki s
tria ngl e ( o r ga s ket) . To f o rm this o bj ect, o ne s ta rts W ith a
tW o -dimens io na l ? l l ed tria ngl e, a nd then remo ve the middl e
tria ngl e o f the ? l l ed tria ngl e, W hich l ea ves behind ins ide the
o rigina l tria ngl e, three s ma l l er ? l l ed tria ngl es . The pro ces s is
repea ted f o r the s ma l l er tria ngl es , a nd s o o n a n in? nite
number o f times . The res ul t is s o mething dimens io na l l y l es s
tha n the o rigina l tW o -dimens io na l tria ngl e, but mo re tha n
s impl y a o ne-dimens io na l l ine, i. e. , a n o bj ect s a id to be
a ppro xima tel y 1. 5850-dimens io na l .
Returning to FIG. 1, W hen the mo bil e cl ient is f a r f ro m the
il l us tra ted dea d Zo ne, the bo unda ries o f the dea d Zo ne a re
a ppro xima ted by its co rners z ( X1, Y1) a nd ( X2 , Y2 ) . Tha t
is , a t s o me dis ta nce, the dea d Zo ne ca n be a ppro xima ted a s
US 6, 597, 906 B1
9
a l inea r regio n between po ints ( X1, Y1) a nd ( X2 , Y2 ) , i. e. , a
o ne-dimens io na l l ine. Fo r the purpo s es o f this a na l ys is , it
ca n be a s s umed tha t the terra in betW een the dea d Zo ne a nd
the l a nd-ba s ed mo bil e unit ( cl ient) is ? a t s o tha t the height
o f the dea d Zo ne ca n be dis rega rded. ( At a s uf f icientl y l a rge
dis ta nce, the dea d Zo ne co ul d be a ppro xima ted a s a Zero
dimens io na l po int. )
As the mo bil e cl ient a ppro a ches the dea d Zo ne, the dea d
Zo ne bo unda ry is mo re co mpl ex tha n the s impl e o ne
dimens io na l l ine, but s o mething l es s tha n a tW o -dimens io na l
pl a ne, i. e. , a f ra cta l -type bo unda ry. Fo r the purpo s es o f
determining a n a ppro xima te time bef o re the mo bil e cl ient
rea ches the dea d Zo ne bo unda ry, a s the mo bil e cl ient gets
cl o s er, the a ppro xima tio n s ho ul d a nd ca n be re? ned to be
mo re a ccura te. W hen the dis ta nce is grea t, a ro ugh es tima te
is a ccepta bl e s ince the time bef o re the mo bil e cl ient rea ches
the dea d Zo ne bo unda ry ma y be o n the o rder o f ha l f a n ho ur,
f o r exa mpl e, giving a mpl e time to prepa re f o r dea d Zo ne
entry. Ho W ever, a s the dis ta nce gro W s s ma l l er, a nd the time
s ca l e is reduced to minutes , a mo re precis e es tima te o f the
time is cl ea rl y req uired. As a l rea dy mentio ned, this co ul d be
impl emented by ha ving the ba s e s ta tio n s erver pro ces s o r
s to re dea d Zo ne bo unda ries in a f ra cta l f o rm s o tha t deta il s
o f a bo unda ry ca n be ma de pro gres s ivel y mo re deta il ed a s a
mo bil e unit a ppro a ches the dea d Zo ne.
As ca n be a pprecia ted, l ike o ther rea l -W o rl d pheno mena ,
s uch a s tree-bra nch s tructures , the bo unda ry o f a dea d Zo ne
do es no t a dhere to purel y Eucl idea n geo metry, i. e. , it is
pro ba bl y no t a perf ectl y s mo o th curve o r bo unda ry l ine.
Ho W ever, this do es no t mea n tha t it is immune to ma th
ema tica l mo del ing. A co mpl ex, even ra ndo ml y irregul a r
o bj ect, s uch a s the dea d Zo ne bo unda ry the inventio n is
dea l ing W ith, ca n be mo del ed a ppro xima tel y us ing a f ra cta l
a ppro a ch, a s W il l no W be expl a ined us ing the co ncept o f
itera tive f unctio n s ys tems ( IFS s ) .
An itera tive f unctio n s ys tem ( IFS ) is es s entia l l y a s ys tem
o f ma ppings f ro m o ne co o rdina te s ys tem to a no ther. In
pa rticul a r, it is a s ys tem o f f unctio ns , e. g. , a f f ine
tra ns f o rma tio ns , tha t is itera ted ma ny times . An a f ? ne tra ns
f o rma tio n ca n be repres ented by co mbina tio n o f a ro ta tio n,
a re? ectio n, a nd a tra ns l a tio n. As a s impl e exa mpl e, a
ra ndo m metho d W il l be des cribed. It begins W ith a n o bj ect
de? ned by a bo unda ry o r bo unding f ra me, a nd s ubdivided
it into s o me number o f f ra mes W ithin the bo unding f ra me,
ha ving a s iZe a nd o rienta tio n W ith res pect to the bo unding
f ra me W hich W il l de? ne the re? ectio n, ro ta tio n a nd tra ns l a
tio n ( the a f f ine tra ns f o rma tio n) in the res ul t. Then the
metho d picks a ny po int ins ide the bo unding f ra me, a nd ma ps
it to a ra ndo ml y s el ected s ubdividing f ra me W ithin the
bo unding f ra me. By ma p is mea nt pl a cing a neW po int
W ithin the ra ndo ml y s el ected s ubdividing f ra me po s itio ned
rel a tive to the s ubdividing f ra me j us t a s the o rigina l po int
W a s po s itio ned rel a tive to the bo unding f ra me. Tha t is , if the
o rigina l po int W a s in the middl e o f the bo unding f ra me, then
the neW po int W o ul d be po s itio ned in the middl e o f the
ra ndo ml y s el ected s ubdividing f ra me. This neW po int W il l
ha ve a dif f erent po s itio n rel a tive to the bo unding f ra me tha n
the o rigina l po int. The neW po int is then ma pped into a no ther
ra ndo ml y s el ected s ubdividing f ra me, a nd s o o n. The res ul t
o f thes e repetitive a f ? ne tra ns f o rma tio ns co nverges o n a
f ra cta l . The ra ndo m IFS metho d o f genera ting f ra cta l s do es
no t pro duce perf ect f ra cta l s , ho W ever it is co mputa tio na l l y
undema nding. It W a s ra ndo m beca us e the s ubdividing
f ra me W a s s el ected ra ndo ml y. There is a l s o a determinis tic
IFS metho d. In the determinis tic metho d, every po int in the
bo unding f ra me is ? rs t ma pped into ea ch o f the s ubdividing
f ra mes . The ea ch s ubdividing f ra me is s ubdivided its el f into
10
15
2 5
35
4 5
55
65
10
the s a me number o f o rigina l s ubdividing f ra mes . Tha t is , if
there W ere o rigina l l y f o ur s ubdividing f ra mes , ea ch W o ul d
be divided into f o ur f ra mes , f o r a to ta l o f s ixteen f ra mes . The
ma pping o f ea ch po int in the o rigina l f o ur s ubdividing
f ra mes into their res pective f o ur f ra mes is then perf o rmed,
a nd s o o n.
Other f ra cta l metho ds a re kno W n, f o r exa mpl e a rel a tivel y
neW er f ra cta l metho d ( circa 1968) is ca l l ed the L-s ys tem
f ra cta l metho d a f ter its des igner, Aris trid Lindenma yer. One
cha ra cteris tic o f f ra cta l s W hich bea rs mentio ning is their
s o -ca l l ed s el f -s imil a rity. Tha t is , reduced vers io ns o f the
f ra cta l a ppea r thro ugho ut the f ra cta l . W hen a po rtio n o f a
f ra cta l is ma gni? ed, the ma gni? ed po rtio n repl ica tes the
o vera l l f ra cta l . Further, a f ra cta l ca n be us ed to des cribe a ny
pro ces s o r ima ge o r o bj ect tha t exhibits this s el f -s imil a rity
cha ra cteris tic. Interes tingl y, l a s er genera ted ho l o gra phs
exhibit this cha ra cteris tic, a s do ma ny na tura l l y o ccurring
pheno mena . AW el l -kno W n f ra cta l geo metry is the s o -ca l l ed
Ma ndel bro t s et, na med f o r IBM ma thema ticia n, Beno it B.
Ma ndel bro t, W ho is credited W ith co ining the term f ra cta l .
The Ma ndel bro t s et is in? nitel y co mpl ex, yet ca n be f ul l y
des cribed W ith a 10-l ine co mputer pro gra m.
A f ra cta l mo del o f the dea d Zo ne bo unda ry is us ef ul
beca us e o f the s el f -s imil a rity cha ra cteris tic des cribed a bo ve.
Appro a ching the dea d Zo ne bo unda ry is a na l o go us to enl a rg
ing a f ra cta l edge, tha t is , increa s ing the ma gni? ca tio n o f the
f ra cta l . As mentio ned a bo ve, reduced vers io ns o f the f ra cta l
a ppea r thro ugho ut the f ra cta l no ma tter W ha t the s ca l e, i. e. ,
ma gni? ca tio n. Appl ying a f ra cta l mo del to the dea d Zo ne
bo unda ry s impl y mea ns tha t a n itera tive f ra cta l -l ike meth
o do l o gy is us ed to re? ne the time es tima te a s the mo bil e unit
gets cl o s er to the bo unda ry.
The mo bil e cl ient is s ho W n in FIG. 1 l o ca ted a t co o rdi
na tes ( XM( t) , YM( t) ) . The t indica tes tha t the po s itio n o f
the mo bil e cl ient is a f unctio n o f time, i. e. , the po s itio n o f the
mo bil e cl ient W il l cha nge o ver time a s the mo bil e cl ient
mo ves . As the mo bil e cl ient ins ta nta neo us po s itio n cha nges
o ver time, a tra j ecto ry, i. e. , a directio n o f tra vel , a nd a ra te
o f tra vel ca n be s urmis ed. An ins ta nta neo us po s itio n ( current
po s itio n) , a directio n o f tra vel , a nd a ra te o f tra vel , a t a given
po int in time, is ref erred to herein a po s itio n inf o rma tio n.
This ins ta nta neo us l o ca tio n a nd tra j ecto ry, i. e. , po s itio n
inf o rma tio n, is perio dica l l y co mmunica ted to the ba s e s ta
tio n a cco rding to a no ther a s pect o f the inventio n, in
pa rticul a r, us ing a no vel pa cket pro to co l W hich is des cribed
bel o W .
Ba s ed o n the po s itio n inf o rma tio n received by the ba s e
s ta tio n a nd pre-s to red dea d Zo ne l o ca tio n inf o rma tio n s to red
a t the ba s e s ta tio n, inf o rma tio n a bo ut the es tima ted time
until the mo bil e cl ient enters a pa rticul a r dea d Zo ne ca n be
determined by the ba s e s ta tio n a nd co mmunica ted to the
mo bil e cl ient. This tW o -W a y excha nge o f inf o rma tio n is
a no ther a dva nta geo us a s pect o f the inventio n. Co mputa
tio na l po W er ca n be a dva nta geo us l y l o ca ted a t the ba s e
s ta tio n, a cco mpl is hing the enha nced f unctio na l ity, W hil e
keeping the req uired s iZe a nd co mpl exity o f the mo bil e unit
a t a n a ccepta bl e l evel .
Further, W hen the mo bil e cl ient ha s entered a dea d Zo ne,
it ca n us e inf o rma tio n a bo ut the extent o f the dea d Zo ne
previo us l y pro vided by the ba s e s ta tio n to es tima te the time
W hen co mmunica tio n W ith the ba s e s ta tio n W il l a ga in be
po s s ibl e. This is yet a no ther a dva nta geo us f ea ture o f the
inventio n. The mo bil e cl ient ca n a vo id a dis a dva nta geo us
W a s te o f res o urces trying to co mmunica te W ith the ba s e
s ta tio n W hen in the dea d Zo ne. Al s o , the ins ta nt tha t co m
munica tio n is a ga in po s s ibl e, the mo bil e cl ient ca n be rea dy
US 6, 597, 906 B1
11
to begin tra ns mis s io n, ha ving a nticipa ted dea d Zo ne exit
time. W hil e tra vers ing the dea d Zo ne, the mo bil e cl ient co ul d
go into a s l eep mo de to co ns erve energy W ith a timer s et to
W a ke it up a t the a nticipa ted dea d Zo ne exit time.
Al terna tivel y, the mo bil e unit co ul d perio dica l l y ping the
ba s e s ta tio n to s ee if co mmunica tio ns ca n be rees ta bl is hed.
The l a tter W o ul d be us ef ul f o r s itua tio ns W here dea d Zo nes ,
o r a rea s W ithin a dea d Zo ne, a re kno W n to cha nge dyna mi
ca l l y a nd/o r a ppa rentl y ra ndo ml y, i. e. , there ma y be times
a nd pl a ces W hen co mmunica tio ns ca n be rees ta bl is hed but
thes e mus t be tes ted f o r beca us e they a re no t W ho l l y pre
dicta bl e. Al tho ugh the tes ting us es s o me res o urces , if the
tes ting determines tha t co mmunica tio n ca n be rees ta bl is hed,
the ga in in ef f iciency ma y be W o rth the ef f o rt.
Further, neW inf o rma tio n a bo ut the bo unda ries o f a dea d
Zo ne, W hich ca n be dyna mic, ca n be incl uded in the tra ns
mis s io n f ro m the mo bil e cl ient to the ba s e s ta tio n a f ter
exiting the dea d Zo ne, f o r exa mpl e. The ba s e s ta tio n ca n
a dva nta geo us l y us e this dea d Zo ne inf o rma tio n to upda te the
da ta ba s e co nta ining the l o ca tio n a nd extent o f dea d Zo nes , if
a ppro pria te. This co ul d be impl emented by, f o r exa mpl e, a t
s o me time prio r to the a nticipa ted entry o f a dea d Zo ne,
s ending a tes t s igna l f ro m the ba s e s ta tio n to the mo bil e
cl ient s uch tha t a t the mo ment the tes t s igna l is l o s t,
indica ting a dea d Zo ne entry po int, ins ta nta neo us l o ca tio n
inf o rma tio n ca n be s to red in the mo bil e unit f o r l a ter
tra ns mis s io n to the ba s e s ta tio n. S imil a rl y, j us t prio r to
a nticipa ted exit o f the dea d Zo ne, the mo bil e unit co ul d begin
tra ns mis s io n o f po s itio n inf o rma tio n W hich, W hen received
by the ba s e s ta tio n, W o ul d indica te a n exit po int bo unda ry o f
the dea d Zo ne. S ho ul d a s uf ? cient s ta tis tica l l y mea ningf ul
pa ttern emerge f ro m this , f o r exa mpl e, tha t a pa rticul a r dea d
Zo ne ha s a predicta bl e extent a t a pa rticul a r time o n a
pa rticul a r da y o f the yea r, o r under o ther reco gniZed
circums ta nces , this ca n be integra ted into the da ta ba s e f o r
a dditio na l ga ins in ef ? ciency.
This a s pect o f the inventio n is a na l o go us to the inf o rma
tio n pro vided to gro und co ntro l s ta tio ns by a irl ine pil o ts
rega rding the l o ca tio n o f a ir turbul ence. Thes e upda tes a l l o W
gro und co ntro l to mo re a ccura tel y es tima te W here turbul ence
exis ts W hich bene? ts o ther a irl iners in the a rea . In a s imil a r
f a s hio n, thes e dea d Zo ne upda tes pro vided by mo bil e
cl ient( s ) ca n bene? t the ba s e s ta tio n( s ) a nd o ther mo bil e
cl ients . Co ns idering FIG. 1, a mea s ure o f the es tima ted time
until the mo bil e cl ient enters the dea d Zo ne, Ate, is given by:
( o therW is e dea d Zo ne is no t in the pa th o f mo bil e cl ient)
In ( 1) , [ XM( t) , YM( t) ] a nd [ XM( t+At) , YM( t+At) ] a re the
po s itio ns o f the mo bil e cl ient a t times t a nd t+At. Thes e
po s itio ns a re co mmunica ted f ro m the mo bil e cl ient to the
ba s e s ta tio n a nd co mbined W ith co o rdina tes ( X1, Y1) a nd X2
W hich a re a va il a bl e a t the ba s e s ta tio n. As s uming tha t the
ineq ua l ity co nditio n s ta ted in ( 1) is s a tis ? ed, the expected x
a nd y-co o rdina tes o f the intercept po int W ith the dea d Zo ne,
( x6, ye) a re given a s :
In ( 1) a nd ( 2 ) , the time dif f erence betW een s a mpl es o f the
GP S da ta pro vided by the mo bil e cl ient is At. The interva l ,
At, is cho s en s uch tha t a ny erro r in the predicted time until
a dea d Zo ne is entered, Ateis s ma l l . Fo r exa mpl e, W hen a
mo bil e cl ient is f a r f ro m a dea d Zo ne s uch tha t Ate>>At
ba s ed, f o r exa mpl e, o n the ? rs t ca l cul a tio ns in ( 1) , then the
next va l ue f o r At ca n be l a rger. If Ate>At by a s ma l l er f a cto r,
f o r exa mpl e, 10 ( ie At= 0. 1Ate) , then this ma y be idea l f o r
10
15
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35
4 5
55
65
12
mo s t s itua tio ns . W hen Ate= At, then is neces s a ry to decrea s e
At s o tha t At= 0. 1Ate.
Cha nging the po s itio n s a mpl ing time interva l , At, W hich is
eq uiva l ent to cha nging the s a mpl ing interva l f o r geo gra phic
po s itio n, As , s ince o ne ca n be es tima ted f ro m the o ther a s :
As = VAt ( W here V is the vel o city o f the mo bil e cl ient) , is
a no ther a dva nta geo us f ea ture o f the inventio n, rel a ted to the
f ra cta l metho do l o gy.
The va l ue f o r At is a dj us ted ba s ed o n the es tima ted
pro ximity o f the mo bil e cl ient to a dea d Zo ne. Fro m ( 2 ) , neW
re? ned co o rdina tes a re us ed to de? ne the bo unda ries o f the
dea d Zo ne. Tha t is , o n the ba s is o f xea nd ye, neW bo unds a re
cho s en. The neW bo unds a re cho s en a s tho s e cl o s es t to the
s to red co o rdina tes tha t de? ne the dea d Zo ne ( this inf o rma
tio n is mo s t l ikel y s to red a t the ba s e s ta tio n a s mentio ned
previo us l y) .
The neW co o rdina te pa ir bo unds , W hich a re identi? ed a s
( X3, Y3) a nd ( X4 , Y4 ) ca n be determined ba s ed o n the
minimum dis ta nce betW een ( x6, ya ) , a nd a ny tW o o ther
co o rdina te pa irs W hich des cribe the bo unda ries o f the dea d
Zo ne.
FIG. 2 il l us tra tes a f ra cta l re? nement pro ces s f o r the
bo unda ry o f a dea d Zo ne a s a mo bil e cl ient a ppro a ches
a cco rding to a n exempl a ry embo diment o f the inventio n. In
FIG. 2 , the neW bo unds f o r the edge o f the dea d Zo ne a re
s ho W n. W hen the neW po s itio n inf o rma tio n f o r the mo bil e
cl ient is received by the ba s e s ta tio n, Atein ( 1) is a ga in
ca l cul a ted W ith Y3 repl a cing Y1, a nd W ith X3, X4 repl a cing
X1 a nd X2 , res pectivel y. This is f o l l o W ed up W ith neW
es tima tes f o r xea nd yeW hich a re o bta ined f ro m
This re? nement f o r es tima tes o f the exa ct interceptio n
po int W ith the dea d Zo ne co ntinues until the mo bil e cl ient
enters the dea d Zo ne. This re? nement pro ces s is o f a f ra cta l
na ture, s ince the s ca l e o f the dea d Zo ne bo unda ry is co n
s ta ntl y impro ved ( l ike increa s ing f ra cta l ma gni? ca tio n) a s
the mo bil e cl ient a ppro a ches . This is a no ther a dva nta geo us
f ea ture o f the inventio n.
W hen the mo bil e cl ient is in the dea d Zo ne, there is no
f urther co mmunica tio n po s s ibl e W ith the ba s e s ta tio n ( by
de? nitio n) . Ho W ever, it ca n be pres umed tha t the mo bil e
cl ient is s til l a W a re o f its po s itio n either f ro m via GP S da ta
f ro m a s a tel l ite, o r f ro m s o me o ther geo -po s itio ning s ys tem,
e. g. , a n interna l inertia l guida nce s ys tem. Bef o re the mo bil e
cl ient enters the dea d Zo ne, inf o rma tio n co ncerning the
expected time W hen the dea d Zo ne W il l be exited ca n be s ent
f ro m the ba s e s ta tio n. Al terna tivel y, the ba s e s ta tio n ca n s end
rel eva nt dea d Zo ne co o rdina tes f o r the bo unda ry a t W hich
po int the mo bil e cl ient is expected to exit the dea d Zo ne.
Ca l cul a tio ns given in ( 1) a nd ( 2 ) ca n then be perf o rmed by
a pro ces s o r in the mo bil e cl ient. Deta il s a re no t given here
f o r the s a ke o f brevity, ho W ever, it s ho ul d be co ns idered
W ithin the a bil ity o f o ne s kil l ed in the a rt to extend the
no tio ns devel o ped ea rl ier to this ca s e.
TW o -W a y excha nge o f inf o rma tio n rega rding the bo und
a ry o f a dea d Zo ne is a no ther a dva nta geo us f ea ture o f the
inventio n. In s o me ca s es , the mo bil e cl ient ma y beco me
immo bil e f o r s o me extended perio d o f time. Fo r exa mpl e, a
mo bil e cl ient enters a buil ding a nd then enco unters a n
unexpected del a y.
W hen the ba s e s ta tio n a nd/o r mo bil e cl ient do es no t
es ta bl is h co mmunica tio n W ithin s o me to l era nce s urro unding
the expected time o f emergence f ro m a dea d Zo ne, the
co mmunica tio n is pl a ced o n ho l d, a nd f urther da ta to be
co mmunica ted W o ul d be pl a ced in a ho l d q ueue. W hen
co mmunica tio n is a ga in po s s ibl e, the mo bil e cl ient pro vides
its po s itio n inf o rma tio n to the ba s e s ta tio n a nd the co mmu
nica tio n da ta is remo ved f ro m the ho l d q ueue.
US 6, 597, 906 B1
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FIG. 3 il l us tra tes a Ho w cha rt o f a pro ces s o f tra cking a nd
a nticipa ting mo bil e cl ient pro ximity to a dea d Zo ne a cco rd
ing to a n exempl a ry embo diment o f the inventio n. The
co mmunica tio n pro to co l f o r s evera l s cena rio s is depicted in
FIG. 3.
In FIG. 3, the pro ces s begins W ith 300 the identi? ca tio n
o f a mo bil e cl ient. Onl y o ne mo bil e cl ient is a s s umed but the
co ncepts a re trivia l l y extendibl e to mul tipl e mo bil e cl ients
beca us e ea ch mo bil e cl ient mus t, by de? nitio n, be identi?
a bl e f o r co mmunica tio n. Af ter the mo bil e cl ient ha s been
identi? ed a t 300, Ho w pro ceeds to 302 W here GP S ( po s itio n
da ta ) is s ent to the ba s e s ta tio n a nd the ba s e s ta tio n us es the
po s itio n inf o rma tio n to determine the cl o s es t dea d Zo ne
rel a tive to the po s itio n o f the mo bil e cl ient. At this po int, it
co ul d be s a f e to igno re the dea d Zo ne ( if it is very f a r f ro m
the po s itio n o f the mo bil e cl ient) .
Ho W ever, FIG. 3 a s s umes ( 304 ) tha t it is prudent to a ga in
s a mpl e the po s itio n a t t= At, W here At might be o n the o rder
o f 1 to 10 s eco nds , f o r exa mpl e. N o W ha ving tW o po s itio n
po ints a nd At, ( 1) a nd ( 2 ) a re us ed to es tima te the time until
the dea d Zo ne is entered, Ate.
If a t 306, it is determined tha t Ateis grea ter tha n s o me
critica l time, AtCn-n-Ca l , then ? o W pro ceeds to 308 W here a n
a ppro pria te time del a y, Atdel a y, is us ed bef o re s a mpl ing the
po s itio n o f the mo bil e cl ient a ga in ( 302 304 ) .
If a t 306, it is j udged tha t Ateis l es s tha n Atm-n-ca l , a nd the
mo bil e cl ient is no t in the dea d Zo ne a s determined a t 310,
then the ba s e s ta tio n co ul d ta ke a ctio n to tra ns f er da ta a t a
higher prio rity o r inf o rm the netW o rk tha t the mo bil e cl ient
W il l s o o n be o f f -l ine . In a dditio n, the ba s e s ta tio n ca n
pro vide to the mo bil e cl ient the time to entry f o r the dea d
Zo ne a nd W el l a s its bo unda ries . In this W a y, it is no t
neces s a ry f o r the mo bil e cl ient to s to re the deta il ed
bo unda ries , f o r a l l dea d Zo nes . This s impl i? ca tio n s a ves
s to ra ge a n pro ces s ing req uirements f o r the mo bil e cl ient
ha rdW a re a nd is a no ther a dva nta geo us f ea ture o f the inven
tio n.
Ho W ever, FIG. 3 il l us tra tes a no ther f ea ture o f the inven
tio n W hen it is determined tha t the mo bil e cl ient is no t in the
dea d Zo ne a t 310. At 312 , a re? nement o f the es tima te o f the
dea d Zo ne bo unda ries is perf o rmed a cco rding to the f ra cta l
metho do l o gy des cribed ea rl ier. At 314 , the ba s e s ta tio n
no ti? es the mo bil e cl ient a nd tra ns mits neces s a ry da ta . At
316, the ba s e s ta tio n s ends neW bo unda ries o f cl o s es t dea d
Zo ne a nd Ateto the mo bil e cl ient. Ha ving do ne this , the
po s itio n o f the mo bil e cl ient is a ga in s a mpl ed a nd the
pro ces s repea ted ( 304 306) .
W hen the mo bil e cl ient is in the dea d Zo ne a s determined
a t 310, the time tha t is it expected to be o f f -l ine until it ha s
exited the dea d Zo ne, Atexit is es tima ted a t 318. If a f ter this
time Atexit ( 32 0) co mmunica tio n is no t rees ta bl is hed a s
determined a t 32 2 , a ho l d q ueue 32 4 is us ed to buf f er
co mmunica tio ns until the mo bil e cl ient is ba ck o n-l ine.
W hen co mmunica tio n is rees ta bl is hed betW een a mo bil e
cl ient a nd ba s e s ta tio n a s determined a t 32 2 , bo th the mo bil e
cl ient a nd ba s e s ta tio n W il l ha ve kno W l edge o f a ny cha nge
in the expected bo unda ry, a nd this inf o rma tio n is integra ted
into the exis ting dea d Zo ne da ta ba s e. This dyna mic Upda t
ing o f dea d Zo ne bo unda ries is yet a no ther a dva nta geo us
f ea ture o f the inventio n.
As mentio ned ea rl ier, the excha nge o f po s itio n inf o rma
tio n ca n be f a cil ita ted by us e o f a da ta tra ns mis s io n pro to co l
tha t incl udes GP S ( o r o ther type) po s itio n inf o rma tio n,
a cco rding to a n a s pect o f the inventio n.
FIG. 4 il l us tra tes a pa cket pro to co l a cco rding to a n
exempl a ry embo diment o f the inventio n. As s uming pa cket
tra ns mis s io n ( W hich is o ptima l in genera l f o r mo bil e
10
15
2 5
35
4 5
55
65
14
co mmunica tio n) , s o me pa ckets incl ude GP S inf o rma tio n
4 00 a s s ho W n in FIG. 4 . Additio na l l y, s o me pa ckets ca n
incl ude the es tima ted time bef o re a mo bil e cl ient W il l enter
a dea d Zo ne a nd/o r ho W l o ng co mmunica tio n W il l be inter
rupted. This inf o rma tio n, a s ha s been mentio ned a t the
beginning o f this inventio n dis cl o s ure, ca n be us ed to
s chedul e tra ns mis s io ns betW een ba s e s ta tio n a nd mo bil e
cl ient. The no vel GP S pa cket pro to co l is yet a no ther a dva n
ta geo us f ea ture o f the inventio n. The pro to co l is s et f o rth
bel o W a nd is s ho W n in FIG. 4 .
P rea mbl e Da ta ( e. g. 52 bytes ) GP S Da ta ECC
It s ho ul d be rea dil y a ppa rent to o ne s kil l ed in the a rt tha t
the po s itio n inf o rma tio n, e. g. , GP S da ta , co ul d be incl uded
in o ther da ta tra ns mis s io n f o rma ts a nd pro to co l s , a nd the
inventio n is no t l imited to being impl emented in a pa cket
ba s ed tra ns mis s io n s ys tem. Al tho ugh pa cket ba s ed co mmu
nica tio n s ys tems a re W ides prea d, the va rio us a s pects o f the
inventio n a re a ppl ica bl e to o ther types o f s ys tems .
FIG. 5 il l us tra tes a n exempl a ry embo diment o f a co m
munica tio ns s ys tem a cco rding to the inventio n. A mo bil e
unit co mmunica tes W ith a ba s e s ta tio n by mea ns o f a
W irel es s co mmunica tio ns medium ( a ir) . A tra ns ceiver 504 in
the mo bil e unit 500, under co ntro l o f a pro ces s o r 506,
tra ns mits a nd receives s igna l s W ith a co rres po nding tra ns
ceiver 508 a nd pro ces s o r 510 a t the ba s e s ta tio n 502 . The
mo bil e s ta tio n 500 a l s o incl udes s o me gl o ba l po s itio ning
ca pa bil ity, e. g. , a GP S receiver 512 receiving s igna l s f ro m a
pl ura l ity o f GP S s a tel l ites 513. The mo bil e unit 500 ma y
ha ve a da ta s o urce 514 , s uch a s a pers o na l co mputer, f a x
ma chine, o r the l ike, W hich s ends bl o cks o f da ta thro ugh the
pro ces s o r 506 a nd tra ns ceiver 504 to the ba s e s ta tio n 502 .
The ba s e s ta tio n 502 W o ul d o f co urs e be co nnected to a
tel epho ne netW o rk ( tel net) o r s a tel l ite co mmunica tio ns net
W o rk ( s a tnet) , o r co mbina tio n thereo f , e. g. , the Iridium
s ys tem W hich is a co mbina tio n o f terres tria l , s a tel l ite, a nd
cel l ul a r netW o rks , a s repres ented by bl o ck 52 0, a s is co n
ventio na l . A ma p da ta ba s e 516 is pro vided a t the ba s e
s ta tio n 502 a nd co nta ins a da ta ba s e o f identi? ed a rea s W here
co mmunica tio n is W ea k o r cuto f f co mpl etel y, i. e. , dea d
Zo nes , W ithin the geo gra phica l a rea s erved by the ba s e
s ta tio n 502 .
The ma p da ta ba s e 516 co ul d a l s o co nta in s o me geo
gra phica l da ta a bo ut a dj o ining a rea s s erved by o ther ba s e
s ta tio ns ( no t s ho W n) f o r tho s e s itua tio ns W here a mo bil e unit
500 is tra vel ing to W a rds s uch a n a rea . In s uch a ca s e, the
ba s e s ta tio n 502 co ul d tra ns mit l o ca tio n inf o rma tio n to the
mo bil e unit 500 co ncerning dea d Zo nes tha t a dj o in the a rea
s erved by the ba s e s ta tio n 502 . Or it co ul d be the ca s e tha t
a dea d Zo ne a ctua l l y s pa ns a rea s s erved by tW o dif f erent ba s e
s ta tio ns , a nd s uch inf o rma tio n ca n be pa s s ed to the mo bil e
unit 500.
The mo bil e unit pro ces s o r 506 pro ces s es the GP S da ta ,
a nd s ends po s itio n/directio n o f tra vel inf o rma tio n to the ba s e
s ta tio n 502 . The ba s e s ta tio n pro ces s o r 510 receives the
mo bil e unit s po s itio n/directio n o f tra vel inf o rma tio n a nd
determines the mo bil e unit s po s itio n rel a tive to kno W n dea d
Zo nes , a s des cribed ea rl ier. The pro ces s o r 510 ma y a l s o
upda te the inf o rma tio n in the ma p da ta ba s e 516 ba s ed o n the
mo bil e unit s po s itio n, a nd a ny detected tra ns mis s io n erro rs
o r s igna l W ea kening, f o r exa mpl e.
FIG. 6 il l us tra tes a f ra cta l re? nement o f a dea d Zo ne
bo unda ry ba s ed o n pro ximity a nd es tima ted time to co nta ct
a cco rding to a n exempl a ry embo diment o f the inventio n. A
US 6, 597, 906 B1
15
mo bil e unit is s ho wn a t three dif f erent po s itio ns : A-a , B-b
a nd C-c. Thes e po s itio ns co ul d be kno wn f ro m GP S , Do p
pl er ra da r, inertia l na viga tio n, o r o ther kno W n mecha nis ms ,
a s W o ul d be a ppa rent to o ne s kil l ed in the a rt. The dea d Zo ne
bo unda ry tha t is us ed to es tima te the time until a mo bil e unit
enters the dea d Zo ne depends o n the rel a tive dis ta nce
betW een the mo bil e unit a nd the dea d Zo ne. Fo r exa mpl e,
W hen the mo bil e unit is a t l o ca tio n A-a , a s tra ight l ine
a ppro xima tio n o f the bo unda ry ca n be us ed. This is s ho W n
in FIG. 6 a s the s tra ight l ine betW een po ints ( X11, Y1! ) a nd
( XM, YN j ) W hich is l a bel ed a . Here, there a re a to ta l o f N
co o rdina te pa irs tha t des cribe this j th dea d Zo ne. W hen the
mo bil e unit is a t po s itio n B-b, a better es tima te o f the
es tima ted time until entry ca n be o bta ined by f ra cta l iZing
the bo unda ry a s s ho W n by the da s hed l ine l a bel ed b . W hen
the mo bil e unit is a t l o ca tio n C-c, W hich is much cl o s er to
the dea d Zo ne bo unda ry tha n either A-a o r B-b, a f urther
re? nement o f the bo unda ry is us ed. This is s ho W n by l ine
s egments l a bel ed c . By us ing bo unda ry c ra ther tha n
either bo unda ries a o r b , a better es tima te o f the true
time until the dea d Zo ne is entered is o bta ined.
The il l us tra ted co mmunica tio n s ys tem is pres ented f o r the
purpo s es o f expl a na tio n a nd the inventio n is no t mea nt to be
l imited s trictl y thereto . Fo r exa mpl e, ins tea d o f GP S s a tel l ite
po s itio ning, the mo bil e unit might us e o ther mea ns , s uch a s
Do ppl er ra da r ( pha s e s hif t a nd s igna l time) metho do l o gy o r
inertia l na viga tio n metho do l o gy, W here a ppro pria te.
S o me exa mpl es o f ho W the va rio us a s pects o f the inven
tio n ca n bene? t W irel es s co mmunica tio ns a re s et f o rth
bel o W :
1. Amo bil e cl ient is expecting a l a rge a mo unt o f da ta f ro m
a s erver ( ba s e s ta tio n) , f o r exa mpl e, video inf o rma tio n f o r a
video dis pl a y. Ba s ed o n the tra j ecto ry ( vel o city a nd
directio n) o f the mo bil e cl ient rel a tive to the ba s e s ta tio n,
entry o f a dea d Zo ne is expected in N minutes . The ba s e
s ta tio n, theref o re, s ets the mo bil e cl ient to a higher prio rity
co mmunica tio n s o tha t s uf ? cient da ta is s ent to the mo bil e
cl ient to ena bl e uninterrupted video dis pl a y f o r the dura tio n
o f the dea d Zo ne.
2 . A mo bil e cl ient is prepa ring to s end, f o r exa mpl e, a
l a rge tra ns mis s io n, e. g. , ema il o r video , o r a critica l
tra ns mis s io n, s uch a s a s to ck buy/s el l o rder, to a ba s e s ta tio n.
Ho W ever, the mo bil e cl ient is a ppro a ching a dea d Zo ne. W ith
the kno wl edge o f the rel a tive po s itio n o f the mo bil e cl ient to
the dea d Zo ne, the tra ns mis s io n ca n ( a ) be deemed a high
prio rity co mmunica tio n by the ba s e s ta tio n a nd receptio n
a dva nced, o r ( b) be del a yed until the mo bil e cl ient exits the
dea d Zo ne. The need f o r co ns ta nt po l l ing by the ba s e s ta tio n
to s ee W hen the mo bil e cl ient is a va il a bl e f o r co mmunica tio n
ca n be virtua l l y el imina ted beca us e o f the kno W l edge o f the
mo bil e cl ient a nd dea d Zo ne l o ca tio ns .
3. W hen a ba s e s ta tio n is co mmunica ting W ith mul tipl e
mo bil e cl ients , prio ritiZa tio n o f tra ns mis s io ns ba s ed o n the
rel a tive po s itio ns o f ea ch mo bil e cl ient W ith res pect to o ne
o r mo re dea d Zo nes us es ba ndW idth mo re ef f icientl y. S uch a n
a rra ngement a dva nta geo us l y a vo ids co ns ta ntl y s ending da ta
tha t ca n never be received, o r is no t a ckno wl edged, beca us e
o ne o r mo re o f the mo bil e cl ients a re in a res pective dea d
Zo ne.
The a bo ve-mentio ned pro bl ems a re s o l ved by co ns idering
geo gra phica l inf o rma tio n W hen a cl ient/s erver, e. g. , mo bil e
cl ient/ba s e s ta tio n, co mmunica tio n is nego tia ted. K no W n
dea d Zo nes a re us ed to s chedul e co mmunica tio n. Dyna mic
upda ting ba s ed o n cha nging dea d Zo ne bo unda ries is a l s o
a dva nta geo us l y pro vided.
The a bo ve des cribed s o l utio n bene? ts da ta co mmunica
tio n o ver a W irel es s s ys tem, s uch a s ra dio , cel l ul a r tel epho ne,
10
2 5
35
4 5
55
65
16
o r o ptica l po int-to -po int, f o r exa mpl e, W hich is na tura l l y
interrupted by o bs ta cl es . P revio us l y, the tra ns mitter o f inf o r
ma tio n might be no ti? ed by the receiver tha t s o me tra ns
mitted inf o rma tio n W a s no t received. Typica l l y, the da ta
W o ul d either be retra ns mitted immedia tel y, o r a f ter a time
del a y. In either ca s e, if the rea s o n f o r the l a ck o f receptio n
is due to the rel a tive l o ca tio n o f tra ns mitter a nd receiver, i. e. ,
W ith res pect to a dea d Zo ne, this inf o rma tio n W a s no t kno W n
by the tra ns mitter o r receiver. W a s ted time a nd ba ndW idth
W o ul d o ccur, if f o r exa mpl e, a tra ns mitter tries to repea t a
tra ns mis s io n W hen the receiver is to ta l l y inca pa bl e o f receiv
ing the inf o rma tio n. This might o ccur, f o r exa mpl e, it the
receiver is in a vehicl e a nd the vehicl e is ins ide o f a tunnel
W hich is na tura l l y s hiel ded f ro m ra dio tra ns mis s io ns , i. e. , in
a dea d Zo ne.
The s o l utio n to the pro bl em, a cco rding to a s pects o f the
a bo ve exempl a ry embo diments o f the inventio n, is tha t via
a l o ca tio n device, s uch a s a GP S o r inertia l na viga tio n/
po s itio ning device l o ca ted a t the mo bil e tra ns mitter ( s erver)
a nd/o r mo bil e receiver ( cl ient) , the tra ns mis s io n o f inf o r
ma tio n ca n be bia s ed to W a rd tho s e receivers W hich a re
currentl y in a cl ea r receptio n pa th. This kno W l edge permits
a tra ns mitter to decide W hen a nd to W ho m inf o rma tio n is
s ent.
It W il l be a ppa rent to o ne s kil l ed in the a rt tha t the ma nner
o f ma king a nd us ing the cl a imed inventio n ha s been
a deq ua tel y dis cl o s ed in the a bo ve-W ritten des criptio n o f the
pref erred embo diment( s ) ta ken to gether W ith the dra W ings .
It W il l be unders to o d tha t the a bo ve des cribed pref erred
embo diment( s ) o f the pres ent inventio n a re s us ceptibl e to
va rio us mo di? ca tio ns , cha nges , a nd a da pta tio ns , a nd the
s a me a re intended to be co mprehended W ithin the mea ning
a nd ra nge o f eq uiva l ents o f the a ppended cl a ims . Fo r
exa mpl e, a l tho ugh the dis cl o s ed s ys tem a cco rding to a n
embo diment o f the inventio n us es a GP S s ys tem f o r po s i
tio ning the mo bil e unit, the inventio n is no t l imited to o nl y
this po s itio ning mecha nis m. As mentio ned a bo ve, the l o ca
tio n o f a mo bil e cl ient rel a tive to a ba s e s ta tio n ca n be
pro vided by a po s itio ning s ys tem, s uch a s a Gl o ba l P o s i
tio ning S a tel l ite/S ys tem ( GP S ) , Do ppl er ra da r, vis ua l
co nta ct, tria ngul a tio n, a n inertia l guida nce s ys tem ( IGS ) , o r
a ny o ther eq uiva l ent geo -po s itio ning s ys tem.
Further, a l tho ugh a number o f eq uiva l ent co mpo nents
ma y ha ve been mentio ned herein W hich co ul d be us ed in
pl a ce o f the co mpo nents il l us tra ted a nd des cribed W ith
ref erence to the pref erred embo diment( s ) , this is no t mea nt
to be a n exha us tive trea tment o f a l l the po s s ibl e eq uiva l ents ,
no r to l imit the inventio n de? ned by the cl a ims to a ny
pa rticul a r eq uiva l ent o r co mbina tio n thereo f . A pers o n
s kil l ed in the a rt W o ul d rea l iZe tha t there ma y be o ther
eq uiva l ent co mpo nents pres entl y kno W n, o r to be devel o ped,
W hich co ul d be us ed W ithin the s pirit a nd s co pe o f the
inventio n de? ned by the cl a ims .
W ha t is cl a imed is :
1. A metho d o f co mmunica tio n betW een a ba s e s ta tio n
ha ving a co mmunica tio n Zo ne a nd a mo bil e unit, co mpris
ing:
determining a n a ctua l l o ca tio n a nd directio n o f tra vel o f
the mo bil e unit rel a tive to a dea d Zo ne W ithin the
co mmunica tio n Zo ne by co mpa ring a pres ent l o ca tio n
a nd directio n o f tra vel o f the mo bil e unit W ith s to red
dea d Zo ne inf o rma tio n, the dea d Zo ne being a geo
gra phica l a rea s ubj ect to a t l ea s t o ne o f : s igna l s ha d
o W ing; s igna l re? ectio n; s igna l a bs o rptio n; a nd s igna l
interf erence; W herein the determining f urther co m
pris es :
determining a ra te o f tra vel o f the mo bil e unit to W a rds
a dea d Zo ne; a nd
US 6, 597, 906 B1
17
es tima ting a n a mo unt o f time bef o re the mo bil e unit
enters a dea d Zo ne ba s ed o n the ra te o f tra vel a nd
l o ca tio n o f the mo bil e unit, W herein the es tima ting
co mpris es us ing a f ra cta l -type metho do l o gy ha ving a
f req uency o f repea ting, incl uding:
repea ting the l o ca tio n a nd ra te o f tra vel determining:
repea ting the es tima ting the a mo unt o f time bef o re
the mo bil e unit enters a dea d Zo ne ba s ed o n the
repea ted determining o f the ra te o f tra vel a nd
l o ca tio n o f the mo bil e unit; a nd
increa s ing pro po rtio na l l y the f req uency o f repea ting
the l o ca tio n a nd ra te o f tra vel determining a nd the
time bef o re the mo bil e unit enters a dea d Zo ne
es tima ting, a s the l o ca tio n o f the mo bil e unit
rel a tive to the dea d Zo ne beco mes cl o s er;
W hereby the es tima te o f the a mo unt o f time bef o re
the mo bil e unit enters a dea d Zo ne is repetitivel y
re? ned; a nd
s chedul ing co mmunica tio n betW een the ba s e s ta tio n a nd
the mo bil e unit ba s ed o n the determining.
2 . A metho d o f co mmunica tio n betW een a ba s e s ta tio n
ha ving a co mmunica tio n Zo ne a nd a mo bil e unit, co mpris
ing:
determining a n a ctua l l o ca tio n a nd directio n o f tra vel o f
the mo bil e unit rel a tive to a dea d Zo ne W ithin the
co mmunica tio n Zo ne by co mpa ring a pres ent l o ca tio n
a nd directio n o f tra vel o f the mo bil e unit W ith s to red
dea d Zo ne inf o rma tio n, the dea d Zo ne being a geo
gra phica l a rea s ubj ect to a t l ea s t o ne o f : s igna l s ha d
o W ing; s igna l re? ectio n; s igna l a bs o rptio n; a nd s igna l
interf erence, W herein the determining f urther co m
pris es :
determining a ra te o f tra vel o f the mo bil e unit to W a rds
a dea d Zo ne; a nd
es tima ting a n a mo unt o f time bef o re the mo bil e unit
enters a dea d Zo ne ba s ed o n the ra te o f tra vel a nd
l o ca tio n o f the mo bil e unit, a nd
s chedul ing co mmunica tio n betW een the ba s e s ta tio n a nd
the mo bil e unit ba s ed o n the determining, W herein the
s chedul ing co mpris es :
es tima ting a n a mo unt o f time req uired to tra ns mit a
q ua ntity o f da ta ;
co mpa ring the es tima ted a mo unt o f time bef o re the
mo bil e unit enters a dea d Zo ne to the es tima ted
a mo unt o f time req uired to tra ns mit the q ua ntity o f
da ta ; a nd
if the es tima ted a mo unt o f time req uired to tra ns mit the
q ua ntity o f da ta is grea ter tha n the es tima ted time
bef o re the mo bil e unit enters a dea d Zo ne, then
del a ying tra ns mis s io n o f the q ua ntity o f da ta .
3. A metho d o f co mmunica tio n betW een a ba s e s ta tio n
ha ving a co mmunica tio n Zo ne a nd a mo bil e unit, co mpris
ing:
determining a n a ctua l l o ca tio n a nd directio n o f tra vel o f
the mo bil e unit rel a tive to a n identi? ed co mmunica tio n
a rea W ithin the co mmunica tio n Zo ne, W herein the deter
mining co mpris es :
util iZing gl o ba l po s itio ning s a tel l ites to o bta in current
geo gra phica l l o ca tio n inf o rma tio n in the mo bil e unit;
tra ns mitting the current geo gra phica l l o ca tio n inf o rma
tio n f ro m the mo bil e unit to the ba s e s ta tio n;
determining a ra te o f tra vel o f the mo bil e unit to W a rds
a dea d Zo ne;
es tima ting a n a mo unt o f time bef o re the mo bil e unit
enters a dea d Zo ne a nd a n a mo unt o f time to tra vers e
the dea d Zo ne by the mo bil e unit, ba s ed o n the
determined ra te o f tra vel , l o ca tio n a nd directio n o f
tra vel o f the mo bil e unit; a nd
10
15
2 5
35
4 5
55
65
18
prio r to entering a dea d Zo ne, es tima ting a nd tra ns mit
ting geo gra phica l co o rdina tes co rres po nding to a n
a ppro xima te dea d Zo ne eXit l o ca tio n f ro m the ba s e
s ta tio n to the mo bil e unit;
upo n the mo bil e unit entering the dea d Zo ne, cea s ing
co mmunica tio n betW een the mo bil e unit a nd the ba s e
s ta tio n;
detecting in the mo bil e unit W hen the es tima ted dea d
Zo ne eXit co o rdina tes ha ve been rea ched a nd then
a ttempting to res ume co mmunica tio n betW een the
mo bil e unit a nd the ba s e s ta tio n; a nd
rede? ning dea d Zo ne eXit co o rdina tes ba s ed o n the l o ca
tio n W here co mmunica tio n is s ucces s f ul l y res umed if
tha t l o ca tio n is dif f erent f ro m the es tima ted dea d Zo ne
eXit co o rdina tes ; a nd
s chedul ing co mmunica tio n betW een the ba s e s ta tio n a nd
the mo bil e unit ba s ed o n the determining.
4 . A metho d o f co mmunica tio n betW een a ba s e s ta tio n
ha ving a co mmunica tio n Zo ne a nd a pl ura l ity o f mo bil e
units , co mpris ing:
determining a n a ctua l l o ca tio n a nd directio n o f tra vel o f
the mo bil e unit rel a tive to a n identi? ed co mmunica tio n
a rea W ithin the co mmunica tio n Zo ne; a nd
s chedul ing co mmunica tio n betW een the ba s e s ta tio n a nd
the mo bil e unit ba s ed o n the determining, W herein the
s chedul ing co mpris es prio ritiZing mo bil e unit a nd ba s e
s ta tio n tra ns mis s io ns W hen a mo bil e unit rea ches a
l o ca tio n W ithin a predetermined dis ta nce f ro m the
co mmunica tio n a rea , a nd
W herein co mmunica tio n betW een mo bil e units a nd the
ba s e s ta tio n is ba s ed o n mul tipl exing the tra ns mis s io n
res o urces o f the ba s e s ta tio n a mo ng mo bil e units W ith
W hich the ba s e s ta tio n is co mmunica ting, a nd W herein
the prio ritiZing co mpris es :
a l l o tting a dditio na l tra ns mis s io n res o urces to a mo bil e
unit tha t ha s rea ched the l o ca tio n W ithin the prede
termined dis ta nce f ro m the co mmunica tio n a rea .
5. The metho d a cco rding to cl a im 4 , f urther co mpris ing:
s to ring inf o rma tio n f o r tra ns mis s io n to a mo bil e unit in a
ho l d q ueue W hil e the mo bil e unit is W ithin a co mmu
nica tio n a rea W hich is a dea d Zo ne.
6. A metho d o f co mmunica tio n betW een a ba s e s ta tio n
ha ving a co mmunica tio n Zo ne a nd a mo bil e unit, co mpris
ing:
determining a n a ctua l l o ca tio n a nd directio n o f tra vel o f
the mo bil e unit rel a tive to a n identi? ed co mmunica tio n
a rea W ithin the co mmunica tio n Zo ne, W herein the deter
mining co mpris es :
determining the l o ca tio n a nd directio n o f tra vel o f the
mo bil e unit W ith the mo bil e unit;
co mmunica ting the l o ca tio n a nd directio n o f tra vel o f
the mo bil e unit a s mo bil e unit po s itio n inf o rma tio n
f ro m the mo bil e unit to the ba s e s ta tio n;
co mpa ring the mo bil e unit po s itio n inf o rma tio n to
s to red co mmunica tio n a rea po s itio n inf o rma tio n
W ith the ba s e s ta tio n to determine if the mo bil e unit
is a ppro a ching a co mmunica tio n a rea ;
if the ba s e s ta tio n determines tha t the mo bil e unit is
a ppro a ching a co mmunica tio n a rea , then:
determining a n es tima ted time until the mo bil e unit
enters the co mmunica tio n a rea a s es tima ted-time
until -a rriva l inf o rma tio n; a nd
co mmunica ting the es tima ted-time-until -a rriva l
inf o rma tio n f ro m the ba s e s ta tio n to the mo bil e
unit, a nd
s chedul ing co mmunica tio n betW een the ba s e s ta tio n a nd
the mo bil e unit ba s ed o n the determining, W herein the
s chedul ing co mpris es :
US 6, 597, 906 B1
19
es tima ting a time req uired to pro ces s a nd tra ns mit a
q ua ntity o f da ta f ro m the mo bil e unit to the ba s e
s ta tio n, W ith the mo bil e unit;
co mpa ring the time es tima ted f o r pro ces s ing a nd tra ns
mis s io n o f the q ua ntity o f da ta W ith the es tima ted
time-until -a rriva l inf o rma tio n;
if the co mpa ring indica tes tha t the time es tima ted f o r
pro ces s ing a nd tra ns mis s io n o f the q ua ntity o f da ta is
grea ter tha n the es tima ted-time-until -a rriva l , then
del a ying tra ns mis s io n o f the q ua ntity o f da ta ; a nd
if the co mpa ring indica tes tha t the time es tima ted f o r
pro ces s ing a nd tra ns mis s io n o f the q ua ntity o f da ta is
no t grea ter tha n the es tima ted-time-until -a rriva l ,
then beginning a tra ns mis s io n the q ua ntity o f da ta .
7. The metho d a cco rding to cl a im 6, W herein if tra ns mis
s io n o f the q ua ntity o f da ta is del a yed, the f urther co mpris
ing:
es tima ting a time req uired f o r the mo bil e unit to tra vers e
the co mmunica tio n a rea the mo bil e unit is a ppro a ching
a s a time o f tra vers a l ;
W hen the mo bil e unit enters the co mmunica tio n a rea ,
W a iting until the time o f tra vers a l ha s el a ps ed; a nd then
a ttempting to tra ns mit the q ua ntity o f da ta W ho s e tra ns
mis s io n W a s del a yed.
8. A co mmunica tio ns s ys tem f o r f a cil ita ting W irel es s
co mmunica tio n betW een a ba s e s ta tio n ha ving a co mmuni
ca tio n Zo ne a nd a t l ea s t o ne mo bil e unit, co mpris ing:
po s itio ning mea ns in the a t l ea s t o ne mo bil e unit f o r
determining a n a ctua l ins ta nta neo us geo gra phica l po s i
tio n a nd directio n o f tra vel o f the a t l ea s t o ne mo bil e
unit;
f o rwa rding mea ns in the a t l ea s t o ne mo bil e unit f o r
f o rW a rding the ins ta nta neo us geo gra phica l po s itio n a nd
directio n o f tra vel o f the a t l ea s t o ne mo bil e unit to the
ba s e s ta tio n;
identi? ed co mmunica tio n a rea da ta ba s e mea ns in the
ba s e s ta tio n f o r s to ring a da ta ba s e o f identi? ed co m
munica tio n a rea l o ca tio ns W ithin the co mmunica tio n
Zo ne;
co mpa ring mea ns in the ba s e s ta tio n f o r co mpa ring the
f o rW a rded ins ta nta neo us geo gra phica l po s itio n a nd
directio n o f tra vel o f the a t l ea s t o ne mo bil e unit W ith
the da ta ba s e o f identi? ed co mmunica tio n a rea l o ca
tio ns W ithin the co mmunica tio n Zo ne, a nd determining
a rel a tive po s itio n o f the a t l ea s t o ne mo bil e unit W ith
res pect to the identi? ed co mmunica tio n a rea l o ca tio ns ;
a nd
s chedul ing mea ns in a t l ea s t o ne o f the ba s e s ta tio n a nd
the mo bil e unit, f o r s chedul ing co mmunica tio ns
betW een the ba s e s ta tio n a nd the mo bil e unit ba s ed o n
10
15
2 5
35
4 5
2 0
the rel a tive po s itio n o f the a t l ea s t o ne mo bil e unit W ith
res pect to the identi? ed co mmunica tio n a rea l o ca tio ns .
9. The s ys tem a cco rding to cl a im 8, W herein the po s itio n
ing mea ns co mpris es a gl o ba l po s itio ning s a tel l ite s ys tem.
10. The s ys tem a cco rding to cl a im 8, W herein the po s i
tio ning mea ns co mpris es a n inertia l na viga tio n s ys tem.
11. The s ys tem a cco rding to cl a im 8, W herein the po s i
tio ning mea ns co mpris es a co mbina tio n o f a gl o ba l po s i
tio ning s a tel l ite s ys tem a nd a n inertia l na viga tio n s ys tem.
12 . The s ys tem a cco rding to cl a im 8, W herein the po s i
tio ning mea ns co mpris es a vis ua l -ba s ed na viga tio n s ys tem.
13. The s ys tem a cco rding to cl a im 8, W herein the po s i
tio ning mea ns co mpris es a s ens o r-ba s ed na viga tio n s ys tem.
14 . The s ys tem a cco rding to cl a im 8, W herein the s ched
ul ing mea ns co mpris es es tima ting mea ns f o r es tima ting a n
a mo unt o f time bef o re the a t l ea s t o ne mo bil e unit enters a n
identi? ed co mmunica tio n a rea l o ca tio n.
15. The s ys tem a cco rding to cl a im 14 , W herein the es ti
ma ting mea ns co mpris es f ra cta l mea ns f o r re? ning the
es tima ting o f the a mo unt o f time bef o re the a t l ea s t o ne
mo bil e unit enters a n identi? ed co mmunica tio n a rea l o ca tio n
ba s ed o n the ins ta nta neo us geo gra phica l po s itio n o f the a t
l ea s t o ne mo bil e unit.
16. The s ys tem a cco rding to cl a im 15, W herein there a re
a pl ura l ity o f mo bil e units a nd a pl ura l ity o f identi? ed
co mmunica tio n a rea l o ca tio ns , a nd W herein the s chedul ing
mea ns f urther co mpris es prio ritiZing mea ns f o r prio ritiZing
co mmunica tio ns W ith the mo bil e units ba s ed o n a t l ea s t o ne
o f :
the type o f co mmunica tio n to be ma de W ith a res pective
mo bil e unit;
the res pective rel a tive po s itio n o f a mo bil e unit W ith
res pect to the identi? ed co mmunica tio n a rea l o ca tio ns ;
a nd
the res pective ba ndW idth us ed by a res pective mo bil e
unit.
17. The s ys tem a cco rding to cl a im 8, W herein the iden
ti? ed co mmunica tio n a rea l o ca tio ns W ithin the co mmunica
tio n Zo ne a re l o ca tio ns W here co mmunica tio n betW een the
ba s e s ta tio n a nd a mo bil e unit W ithin the l o ca tio n is no t
po s s ibl e, a nd W herein the s ys tem f urther co mpris es q ueue
mea ns f o r s to ring da ta W hen co mmunica tio n W ith the a t l ea s t
o ne mo bil e unit is no t po s s ibl e.
18. The s ys tem a cco rding to cl a im 17, W herein the s ched
ul ing mea ns co mpris es eXit es tima ting mea ns f o r es tima ting
a time W hen the a t l ea s t o ne mo bil e unit W il l eXit a l o ca tio n
W here co mmunica tio n betW een the ba s e s ta tio n a nd a mo bil e
unit W ithin the l o ca tio n is no t po s s ibl e.
* * * * *
UN ITED S TATES P ATEN T AN D TRADEMARK OFFICE
CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
P ATEN T N O. : 6, 597, 906 B1 P a ge 1 o f 1
DATED : J ul y 2 2 , 2 003
IN VEN TOR( S ) : Geo rge W il l a rd Va n LeeuW en et a l .
It is certif ied tha t erro r a ppea rs in the a bo ve-identi? ed pa tent a nd tha t s a id Letters P a tent is
hereby co rrected a s s ho wn bel o w:
Co l umn 8
Lines 19 thro ugh 2 4 , pa ra gra ph s ho ul d be del eted in its entirety.
S igned a nd S ea l ed this
Fo urth Da y o f N o vember, 2 003
J AMES E. ROGAN
Directo r o f the United S ta tes P a tent a nd Tra dema rk O? ice