Database correlation for positioning of mobile terminals in cellular networks using wave propagation models

Many new services for mobile radio networks rely on a precise location of the mobile terminal. Especially in urban environments, multipath propagation leads to very complex scenarios without line-of-sight between the mobile and the different base stations. In these situations, a location technique based on simple delay evaluations and/or GPS is not accurate enough or not applicable. In this paper, a database correlation method for the positioning of mobile terminals is presented which yields precise results in urban environments. The approach is based on propagation models utilized for the planning of mobile radio networks. The results of the propagation models during the planning process define a look-up-table. By evaluating the measured path losses and available propagation times between the mobile terminal and several base stations, the positions of mobile terminals in urban environments can reliably be predicted.