Patent attributes
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for localization of a mobile device in a distributed antenna communications system. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a distributed antenna system includes a plurality of distributed antennas that are communicatively coupled to a hub. A mobile communications device to be located is communicatively coupled to the hub via one or more of the antennas. The method for locating the mobile device comprises: receiving a message at the hub that identifies the mobile device to be located; discriminating among communications signals received from each of the distributed antennas using a channel and a spreading code to identify a signal from the mobile device; identifying messages from the mobile device to be located; and determining which of the antennas is closest to the mobile device to be located by monitoring received signal strength of the identified signal.