Overview
This report is about Position-Based Services and Systems with applications for location of mobile callers in emergency situations. Such emergency service is called E911 in the U.S. and E112 in many other countries.
The service and the E911 industry were born in response to growing the cellular subscriber base and inability traditional 911 service to support reliable caller's identification and location. Realizing the importance of this service for people in critical situations, the governments around the world, and particular in the U.S. mandate the phase approach to redefining 911 for mobile users.
The report addresses a complex of issues associated with the technologies and the markets for E911. It also provides information on the FCC activity in this area. The report consists of two major parts: 1. E911 technologies, services and regulations, and 2. E911 markets, vendors, providers. The report also contains a detailed list of terminology used in the E911 world.
In the first part, the report discusses issues associated with E911 importance, and why the governments mandated its introduction. In technology sections, the report provides analysis various approached to E911 implementation, compares such approaches and provides their benefits and limitations. In the market sections, the analysis of the E911 market is presented; portfolios of the major vendors are analyzed.
Report is written for the technical staff of organizations involved in the E911 development and planning. It is also useful for the vendors of E911 equipment who can find in it techniques comparison, information on competition and the markets.
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction 8
- 1.1 Beginning 8
- 1.2 Need 8
- 1.3 Actions 8
- 1.4 Scope and Goals 11
- 1.5 Research Methodology 12
- 1.6 Target Audience 12
2.0 Standards 14
- 2.1 Organizations 14
- 2.1.1 Location Interoperability Forum (LIF) 14
- 2.1.2 Wireless Location Industry Association (WLIA) 15
- 2.1.3 Cell Broadcast Forum 16
- 2.1.4 Open GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Consortium 16
- 2.2 Standardization Process 17
- 2.2.1 Protocols 18
3.0 Technologies 22
- 3.1 E911 PLS Network Requirements 22
- 3.1.1 Two Approaches 22
- 3.1.2 Requirements 23
- 3.2 Methods 24
- 3.2.1 Network-Based 24
- 3.2.1.1 AOA (Angle of Arrival) 25
- 3.2.1.2 U-TDOA (Uplink Time Difference of Arrival) 26
- 3.2.1.3 TOA (Time of Arrival) 28
- 3.2.1.4 E-OTD (Enhanced Observed Time Difference) 28
- 3.2.1.5 A-FLT (Advanced Forward Link Trilateration) 29
- 3.2.1.6 E-CID (Enhanced Cell Identification) 29
- 3.2.2 Local 30
- 3.2.2.1 GPS (Global Position System) 30
- 3.2.2.2 A-GPS (Assisted Global Position System) 30
- 3.2.2.3 Multipath Fingerprinting 32
- 3.2.3 Hybrid Location Systems 33
- 3.2.3.1 Commercial Success: gpsOne Hybrid Overview 34
- 3.2.1 Network-Based 24
- 3.3 E911 AND INTERNET 35
- 3.4 Parameters 37
- 3.5 Comparison 39
- 3.6 E911 Call Processing 40
4.0 Issues 43
- 4.1 PSAP Activity 43
- 4.2 Economics and Technologies: Challengies 43
5.0 Europe E112 and Other 45
6.0 Market 48
- 6.1 General: PLS Drivers 48
- 6.1.1 U.S. and Europe: Differences 48
- 6.2 E911 Market Forecast 50
- 6.2.1 Model Assumptions 50
- 6.2.2 Estimates 50
- 6.2.2.1 E911 Services 50
- 6.2.2.2 Equipment 53
- 6.2.3 Sensitivity Analysis 53
7.0 Providers 55
8.0 Vendors 57
- Andrew 57
- CPS (Cambridge Position Systems) 60
- Cell-Loc 61
- CellPoint 62
- CT Motion 63
- Ericsson 63
- GlobalLocate 64
- Intrado 65
- Lucent 66
- OpenCell 67
- Polaris Wireless 68
- Qualcomm 69
- SigmaOne 70
- SignalSoft (OpenWave) 70
- SIRF 71
- SnapTrack (Acquired by Qualcomm) 72
- Syniverse 73
- TechnoCom 74
- Tendler Cellular 74
- TruePosition 76
- Uticom 77
9.0 Conclusions 79
- Glossary 80
- 911 Telephone Terminology 86
- References 89
