An information processing apparatus includes: an acquisition unit configured to acquire pieces of information on position of the information processing apparatus; a receiving unit configured to receive radio waves from a search target apparatus; a calculation unit configured to calculate the position of the search target apparatus using the pieces of information on position of the information processing apparatus acquired at plural points by the acquisition unit and using a distance between the information processing apparatus and the search target apparatus estimated from an intensity of the radio waves received by the receiving unit at each of the plural points; and a notification unit configured to send notification to guide a searcher to the position of the search target apparatus calculated by the calculation unit.

An illustrative embodiment disclosed herein is a satellite including a transceiver, a first antenna, a second antenna, and a switch to enable only the first antenna by electrically coupling the first antenna to the transceiver responsive to a satellite constellation having less than a threshold number of satellites and enable only the second antenna by electrically coupling the second antenna to the transceiver responsive to the satellite constellation having greater than the threshold number of satellites.

The described geolocation techniques determine a location of an earth-based vehicle using a non-geostationary satellite. For instance, the non-geostationary satellite receives signals transmitted by the earth-based vehicle, determines the arrival times of the signals, and the position information of the satellite corresponding to the arrival times of the signals. The arrival times and position information of the satellite are sent to a signal processing unit to determine a location of the vehicle.

A communications device includes: a receiver configured to receive signals including at least one positioning reference signal transmitted in each of a plurality of time units, at least one antenna connected to the receiver; a motion detector configured to determine a relative local position of the communications device; and a controller configured to generate a measurement data set including plural measurement samples of at least a phase of the positioning reference signal according to a sampling rate, and a location of the communications device at which the phase of the positioning reference signal was determined. The controller is configured to estimate a relative angle of arrival of the received radio signals, used to determine an estimation of a location of the communications device, wherein the controller is configured to adapt at the rate of sampling to generate the measurement data set in accordance with predetermined conditions.

A method, apparatus and computer readable storage medium are provided to determine motion information associated with a mobile device. A plurality of signal propagation time parameters are obtained or determined. Each signal propagation time parameter is associated with a respective observation position of the mobile device and a respective installation position a radio device. Each signal propagation time parameter is representative of a respective signal propagation time value of radio signal(s) traveling between the respective observation position and the respective installation position. For each of the installation positions of the radio devices, respective point coordinates are determined that represent the respective installation position of the respective radio device, at least partially based on the signal propagation time parameters. Motion information associated with the mobile device is determined at least partially based on the signal propagation time parameters and the point coordinates that have been determined.

An observation satellite is used for obtaining information about electromagnetic energy emitted from the earth. The observation satellite orbits the earth in an orbit having an inclination larger than 90 and smaller than 270. Further, the observation satellite comprises at least one receiving antenna, the at least one receiving antenna having a receiving pattern directed towards the earth, and suitable for receiving electromagnetic energy in the radio frequency range as the observation satellite is orbiting relative to the surface of the earth. The observation satellite also comprises a transmitter configured for at least one of: (i) retransmitting, to a relay spacecraft, the received electromagnetic energy, (ii) transmitting, to the relay spacecraft, information representing the received electromagnetic energy, and (iii) transmitting, to the relay spacecraft, information derived from the received electromagnetic energy. The invention also relates to systems and methods therefor.

This application describes methods and system for positioning pico remote radio units. Drive test information on a terminal side and drive test information on a network management system side are recorded when a drive test is performed, and pico remote radio unit position information and a pico remote radio unit identifier are automatically associated and bound based on the drive test information on the terminal side and the drive test information on the network management system side, to facilitate positioning of a pico remote radio unit, and to ensure efficient system operation and maintenance.

A method for calculating a position of an object of interest in an environment. The method includes: predicting a position and an orientation of the object of interest in the environment; selecting a subset of base stations among a set of base stations located within the environment, by using the predicted position and orientation, and a radiation pattern of a system including the object of interest and a mobile transponder attached to the object of interest; and calculating an actual position of the object of interest, using time of arrival or time difference of arrival measurements between the base stations of the subset and the mobile transponder.

A method for locating a terrestrial transmitting source of an unknown signal that is transmitted via satellite to a terrestrial receiver, wherein the method includes comparing a power fluctuation of the unknown signal with a power fluctuation of at least one known signal allocated to a terrestrial transmitting source and determining a degree of similarity between the power fluctuation of the unknown signal and the power fluctuation of the at least one known signal.

Disclosed is a signal source estimation method and apparatus performing the same, the signal source estimation method including acquiring first reception signals received by first receivers, among signals radiated from signal sources, selecting second receivers receiving reception signals to be used to estimate the signal sources, from among the first receivers based on the first reception signals, and detecting the number of signal sources based on second reception signals received by the second receivers.