A Novel Mobile Positioning Algorithm Based on Environment Estimation

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a novel mobile positioning algorithm based on estimation of radio propagation environment in cellular networks. Accurate and effective mobile positioning is imperative for successful location based services (LBS). Since radio propagation characteristics vary in different environments, knowing the environment of the mobile user is essential for accurate location estimation. The key feature of our algorithm is its capability to estimate the environment of the mobile user and utilize this information for enhancing Received Signal Strength (RSS) based distance calculations. The proposed algorithm has been evaluated using field measurements collected from a GSM network in diverse geographic locations. Typical examples and measurements statistics are provided. The proposed algorithm turns out to be significantly successful, achieving high estimation accuracy, and thereby enabling high-performance mobile positioning.