WHIPPANY, N.J.-Bell Labs researchers say they have developed a wireless location system that is accurate to within 15 feet when users are outdoors, and to 100 feet when they are indoors.
Using the Bell Labs technology, wireless networks would be equipped with global positioning system units that keep track of GPS satellites and pass key information, including estimated time of the signal’s arrival, to nearby wireless handsets. The handsets would be equipped with scaled-down GPS units.
The caller’s location is calculated based on the time difference between when the network’s GPS units and the handset receives signals from the satellites.
Bell Labs also said it has enhanced its geolocation approach by developing a method to estimate handset location, which shortens the amount of time it takes for the handset initially to fix on a satellite signal.
