AOA – Angle of Arrival

Calculating the line-of-sight path from the transmitter to receiver, AOA (Angle of Arrival) provides location services in areas of sparse cell site density, or where cell sites are arranged linearly, for example, along a stretch of highway.

AOA "At-A-Glance"

• AOA (Angle of Arrival) uses multiple receivers (2 or more) to locate a phone
• AOA yield is 99%
• Accuracy varies, but can get sub-100 meters
• Speed and direction of travel is available
• AOA (Angle of Arrival) functions for any phone

The Angle of Arrival (AOA) method uses an antenna containing a multiple element array in which the exact location of each AOA (Angle of Arrival) element is known precisely. Each element is small and capable of receiving a separate signal. By measuring signal strength, time of arrival, and phase at each element of the array, it is possible to calculate the line-of-sight path from transmitter to receiver. Placing another receiver with the same antenna configuration in a different location allows you to repeat the process. The intersection point of the two line-of-sight paths represents the location of the transmitting mobile phone.

Such conditions arise typically in areas of sparse cell site density, or where cell sites are arranged linearly, for example, along a stretch of highway. In such cases one or two sectors (of a sectored antenna) will need AOA (Angle of Arrival) enhancement.

Like U-TDOA, AOA (Angle of Arrival) requires specialized receivers at the base stations in addition to the construction of directional antenna arrays on the existing cell tower.