Apple patents base station tech to pinpoint phone location for faster signal
This patent describes a method where a cell tower sends out multiple radio signals to find a phone's exact location. By analyzing how the phone reacts to these signals, the tower creates a focused beam of data that tracks the user as they move. This process helps the network maintain a strong connection without constantly searching for the device.
In the filing’s own words
A base station may transmit beams to user equipment. The user equipment may receive the beams and transmit a signal to a base station. The base station may determine signal characteristics associated with the beams based on the signal and compare the signal characteristics with predefined signal characteristics that correspond to potential locations of the user equipment. Based on this comparison, the base station may determine a position of the user equipment and transmit a targeted beam based on the position of the user equipment. The base station may also track the position of the user equipment and provide an updated targeted beam based on an updated position of the user equipment. Accordingly, the base station may efficiently form and update the targeted beam based on the predefined signal characteristics, thereby reducing an amount of time required to establish and maintain communication with the user equipment.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An electronic device, comprising: a plurality of antennas; a transmitter coupled to the plurality of antennas, the transmitter configured to transmit a plurality of beams from the plurality of antennas; and processing circuitry coupled to the transmitter, the processing circuitry configured to receive a signal characteristic of each beam of the plurality of beams, receive a signal range estimate based on the signal characteristic of each beam of the plurality of beams, and transmit, using the transmitter, a targeted beam based on the signal range estimate.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Neighboring beam assisted beamforming and beamtracking
- Patent number
- US12771417B2
- Application number
- 18917664
- Filed
- Oct 16, 2024
- Granted
- Oct 20, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04B 7/0617 Electricity & electronicsH04B 7/0619 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in Networks & wireless
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.