FI108756B - Method and system for locating a device transmitting a signal - Google Patents

Description

108756

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE TRANSMITTER DEVICE

to locate the

The invention relates to a positioning method as defined in the preamble of claim 1 and to a positioning system as defined in the preamble of claim 7.

Several positioning methods for locating a terrestrial transmitter are known in the art. The simplest method used is positioning with one or more directional antennas based on RF technology. The location of the object can then be determined by antenna directions on the map or, alternatively, the terrain can be searched for direction itself.

Nowadays, the Global Positioning System (GPS), a global navigation and positioning system based on the determination of time and distance, is a rapidly increasing positioning method. It is made up of several orbiting satellites with an orbiting time of about 11 hours. Satellites transmit a radio signal at two frequencies. Each carrier contains updated satellite orbit information and time stamps. A positioning device compatible with the system is required to perform the positioning. · "Receiving data transmitted by satellites. On the basis of the data, · ···" determines the position coordinates of the device.

• The disadvantage of a GPS system is the high cost of the equipment and the high power consumption. The device requires a user to find out its location using the device. The device, for example, is not suitable for hidden (fixed value objects to determine their location in the event of a theft. It also has the disadvantage of limited functionality, as it must have a direct line of sight to at least *: three satellites. act as a pointing device.

>>> t; The Finnish application FI-964869 also discloses a positioning method using a cellular network in a predetermined coordinate system, which uses at least three base stations and a cellular telephone, and determines the position of the cellular telephone from different base stations when known as coordinate data. The hardware is best suited as a location indicating system for the mobile phone user. The limitation is that a connection to at least three base stations is required.

The method and system of the invention solve a nationwide rapid positioning of a small transmitter operating independently, including a hidden one, by a novel method. The method according to the invention is characterized in that the object hidden or public device transmits or is activated to transmit a signal, such as a normal call, intercepted by a communication base station network, whereby the ID information of from the administrator, and in the second step, the final location of the device is performed in the coverage area of the base station that performed the signal capture based on the bearing signal transmitted by the transmitter i belonging to the device using the bearing equipment available to the locator.

Other embodiments of the method and system of the invention. the forms are given in the subclaims.

The advantage of the method and system according to the invention is that: it utilizes two separate prior art techniques which are; · · united so that the device locates by two different methods and two different signal frequencies.

The user does not need to build any mast-mounted bearings or in-device transmitter activation networks, since the system operates wherever a mobile phone system, such as a GSM system, operates.

'* The invention is particularly suited as a safety transmitter, which can be activated in many ways and hidden in ____: due to its small size and small antenna need. The system is suitable for use by public authorities, where in the locating procedure information is directed only to a specific entity. The two separate positioning methods included in the arrangement operate independently even if either is interfered with at the frequency used by it. The RF transmitter and the GSM transmitter may be hidden as different components in the destination, allowing them to communicate wirelessly with each other.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing drawings in which

Figure 1 schematically illustrates one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the device and the base station.

Figure 1 shows an object assembly of a device according to the invention to be hidden in a car. The apparatus comprises a transmitter 1, which preferably operates in the frequency range 150-1800 MHz. Once the car burglar alarm has activated transmitter 1, it starts sending a message with the transmitter 1's own ID and a directional signal. The transmitter ID identifies the transmitter identification information, and furthermore, the car or its owner, which in this case acts as theft protection device. The bearing signal transmitted by the transmitter 1 can finally locate the car manually by performing terrain, search car, helicopter or automatic mast bearing.

Depending on the location of the transmitter, it can be activated: | | operation via a burglary system, motion detector, remote control, * such as over a telephone network or manually.

The transmitter 1 has an adapter 2 which receives the code generated by the various alarms from the transmitter 1 and activates the unit 3 (Cellular Card Phone) which cooperates with the GSM network which is still included in the device. Unit 3 · '' sends and receives messages, also transmits, if necessary, a picture in the GSM network. Message function of unit 3; ·· (CCP) is activated for the locating function, whereby it transmits alarm information via the GSM network to the agreed address via the base station 6 '·' · *. The agreed address is * * at least the phone number to which it sends the data message or message about the alarm. The GSM network operator or base station 6 adds to the message the location information or serial number 108756 4 of the GSM base station in which the unit 3 is currently located. Based on the message, the owner of the lost car, the security company or the authority 4 receives an alert, as well as information on the area of the GSM base station the object is currently located. The information is transmitted from the subject using the GSM network to one of the above-mentioned supervisors, usually within minutes.

By telephone, the alert authority 4 or the monitoring station can monitor the mobile object based on information collected through the GSM base station network throughout the country as the destination moves from base station 6 to another.

However, if the destination for any reason disappears from the area of the GSM base station network, the surveillance authority will still be informed of the last GSM base station that was used by the destination.

Precise positioning of the transmitter 1 and the target is performed, for example, by patrol 5, which is sent by the authority at a convenient time by means of directional devices to mirror the position of the target. The bearing range is approximately 3 to 20 km and the mirroring accuracy is up to 20 cm. When transmitter 1 stays in operation for example for 1-3 days. alarm, there is enough time for the task. It should be noted that the target, transmitter 1, and unit 3 may be indoors, even in basements, without significantly impairing the locating function.

The device comprising parts 1,2 and 3 may be placed in a valuables human, animal, remittances whose location is sought for various reasons. The telephone network to be utilized must be: Γ: transmit the data message and its base station network information must be available to the system. At present, the GSM network from cellular networks is the most suitable for the system according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows the communication between transmitter 1, adapter 2 and GSM unit 3. The GSM unit communicates via base station 6. The transmitter 1 may include a camera, whereby the activated system may transmit the image to the monitoring center. The devices 1, 2 and 3 may be a compact assembly or the transmitter 1 may be separate from the parts 2 and 3. Communication is then made wirelessly between the transmitter and parts 2 and 3.

I 108756 5

In another embodiment, the device is activated via a telephone network, whereby the GSM unit 3 is activated itself to make a call to the selected address and, via the adapter 2, further activates the transmitter 1 to send a directional signal.

In one embodiment, the base station 6 or the GSM operator may also include in the alert message to the control center information on the field strength detected by the GSM unit in the area of the base station 6. Further, the base station 6 can add to the message information about the second stronger base station detected by the GSM unit, which can be used to determine the location of the device in the area. Further, the base station or the operator may include in the message information on the distance of the GSM unit from the base station 6. The distance can be ascertained as is known per se, e.g., the combined time of the signal transmitted by the base station and its return. However, the final positioning of the object is done by means of a directional signal.

The device is very compact, it can be easily manufactured, for example, in the size range 10 x 50 x 120 (mm), whereby it can be hidden in objects as a safety device. Although the invention has been explained in more detail with reference to only one embodiment, many variations of the invention are possible within the scope of the claimed invention.

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Claims (10)

108756 6 1 O 8 7 b 6 such as the telephone number and the message include the location information of the device, i.e. the base station ID used by the telephone unit (3). A method for locating a signal transmitting device (1,2,3) in an area comprising communication base stations (6), wherein the device is in communication with a nearby base station (6), and from said base station positioning information is provided by the location monitoring center (4) or locator (5). operable to: - send via a telephone unit (3) included in the device a message intercepted by a network of communication base stations, final positioning of the device (1,2,3) is performed in the coverage area of the base station that performed the interception, based on the directional signal transmitted by the transmitter (1) included in the device, pag e. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication network is a cellular base station network, preferably a GSM network. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the device is located in an object which; · · Access to geographic surveillance or to targets that are: · susceptible to theft or unauthorized access and: location of the target is sought. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transmitter (1) is activated manually or by means of a burglar alarm system, a motion detector, a remote control I · ··· or a telephone unit (3). Method according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, after activation, the cellular card phone (CCP) connected to the device sends alarm information to a preset address, 7 Method according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the transmitter (1) and the telephone unit (3) (CCP) are in different locations in the object, whereby they function independently and communicate wirelessly with each other. A system for locating a signal transmitting device (1,2,3) in an area comprising a communication base station, the system comprising a transmitter (1) and a telephone unit (3) and an adapter (2) capable of communicating therewith, transmitting the transmitter (1) and the telephone unit (3) ) between the various alarm messages in at least one direction, wherein the cellular card phone (3) is activated to communicate with the base station (6) belonging to the telephone system and the telephone unit (3) is arranged to send a position alert to the monitoring center (4). information, characterized in that the system includes directional devices, such as directional antennas, for performing a more accurate positioning of the activated transmitter (1) within the coverage area of said identified base station (6) based on the directional signal transmitted by the transmitter (1). The system according to claim 7, characterized in that the communication base stations are cellular network base stations, preferably GSM network base stations. A system according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the device (1,2,3) comprises a function for receiving an activation command from a burglar alarm system, motion detector, remote control or alarm switch, for initiating a signal transmission by a transmitter (1) and / or for sending an alarm message via the telephone unit (3). System according to one of the preceding claims 7 to 8, characterized in that activation in the system takes place via a telephone network to a telephone unit (3): which further activates the transmitter (1) in the transmission mode. 108756 8