Patent ID: 7427945

Claim:
A method of determining position performed by a mobile local positioning system, comprising: transmitting at least a first electromagnetic pulse having a carrier signal frequency and a first polarization from a mobile device; receiving a first return signal over a respective period of time, wherein the first return signal includes at least a first return pulse from a landmark having a known position within a radar detection area of the positioning system, and the receiving includes preferentially receiving signals having the first polarization; processing the first return signal so as to isolate the first return pulse from the first return signal; transmitting a second electromagnetic pulse having the carrier signal frequency and the first polarization from the device; receiving a second return signal over a respective period of time, wherein the second return signal includes a second return pulse from the landmark within the radar detection area of the positioning system, and the receiving includes preferentially receiving signals having a second polarization; processing the second return signal so as to isolate the second return pulse from the second return signal; determining a range to and a characteristic of the landmark in accordance with a relative signal strength of the first return pulse and the second return pulse; and determining a position of the mobile device based on the range to the landmark.