The canonical height of an algebraic point on an elliptic curve

Abstract. We use elliptic divisibility sequences to describe a method for estimating the global canonical height of an algebraic point onanellipticcurve. This method requires almost no knowledge of the number eld or the curve, is simple to implement, and requires no factorization. The method is ideally suited to searching for algebraic points with small height, in connection with the elliptic Lehmer problem. The accuracy of the method is discussed