Patent ID: 9609619
Date: 2017-03-28
CPC Classifications: H04L,H04W

Claim:
1. A method for determining information regarding a physical location of a target, the method comprising the steps of: sending a signal from a first device in a network to the target; measuring a total flight time delay in the network in response to the signal; determining, based on the total flight time delay, first information associated with the physical location of the target comprising a maximum distance of the physical location of the target from the first device based at least in part on the total flight time delay multiplied by an actual or presumed flight speed of the signal whereby a total possible area for the physical location of the target is established; identifying a medial node through which the signal propagated from the first device to the target wherein the medial node has a known location; determining a flight time delay from the first device to the medial node based at least in part on the known location of the medial node and the actual or presumed flight speed; determining, based on the known location of the medial node and the total flight time delay, a maximum distance of the target from the medial node based at least in part on the total flight time delay less the flight time delay from the first device to the medial node to establish a medial node flight time delay whereby a reduced possible area for the physical location of the target is established; identifying a second medial node through which the signal propagated from the first medial node to the target wherein the second medial node has a known location; and determining, based on the known location of the second medial node, the total flight time delay, and the medial node flight time delay, a distance of the target from the second medial node based on the total flight time delay less the flight time delay from the first device to the medial node and the medial node flight time delay to establish a second medial node flight time delay and a further reduced possible area for the physical location of the target.