Verizon Wireless is working to improve the positioning of cellular mobiles for both E911 functionality as well as to enhance existing Location Based Services (LBS) capability. This Verizon Wireless-sponsored project is designed to conduct rigorous, transparent and reproducible testing of new technology for improving the position determination of cellular mobile terminals. The expectations are that for outdoor applications or wherever there are sufficient GPS signals, the performance is acceptable for both emergency and LBS services. But for indoor applications, where handset based GPS positioning may not be available, the systems being tested here should deliver improved location accuracy over other deployed technologies.

All of these efforts are being conducted as part of the existing Wireless Systems Lab course, TLEN5560. Students are working with preproduction industry equipment, performing tests in the licensed cellular bands, collecting data for the operator’s network infrastructure and processing this data to determine the amount of position improvement over existing technologies. When determined valid by the Verizon, these results will form the basis for deploying the technology nationwide. At least one master’s thesis is expected to result from the testing, data collection and analysis. This thesis will also serve as the final report for the project.