Signal comparison-based location determining method
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of determining whether a portable RF communications device is present at a device-specific target location, the method comprising:
- with the portable RF communications device automatically;
(a) receiving a first plurality of communications signals, each received from one of a first plurality of antenna stations within range of the portable RF communications device, wherein the antenna stations are fixed-location service-area antenna stations and are substantially continuously operating;
(b) causing a determination of whether the portable RF communications device is within proximity of the device-specific target location by electronically comparing at least one number based on signal strengths of each of the first plurality of communications signals with at least one number based on corresponding signal strengths of each of a second plurality of communication signals from a second plurality of antenna stations that have been identified as being within range of the same location as the device-specific target location, which signal strengths have been determined for the same location as the device-specific target location; and
(c) as a result of the determination that the portable RF communications device is within proximity of the device-specific target location, initiating, on the portable RF communications device, a location-based action associated with the device-specific target location.
1 Assignment
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
At least one portable RF communications device in conjunction with at least two fixed-location service-area antenna stations respectively capable of RF communication with the at least one device performs the steps of: (I) using a portable device at a selected location to measure RF communications signals from the plurality of local fixed-location service-area antenna stations and electronically storing at least two of the respective reception signal strength measurements; and (II) monitoring a portable device location by causing the device to measure reception signal strength associated with local fixed-location service-area antenna stations signals, and to electronically compare these measurements with the stored at least two measurements.
36 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of determining whether a portable RF communications device is present at a device-specific target location, the method comprising:
with the portable RF communications device automatically; (a) receiving a first plurality of communications signals, each received from one of a first plurality of antenna stations within range of the portable RF communications device, wherein the antenna stations are fixed-location service-area antenna stations and are substantially continuously operating; (b) causing a determination of whether the portable RF communications device is within proximity of the device-specific target location by electronically comparing at least one number based on signal strengths of each of the first plurality of communications signals with at least one number based on corresponding signal strengths of each of a second plurality of communication signals from a second plurality of antenna stations that have been identified as being within range of the same location as the device-specific target location, which signal strengths have been determined for the same location as the device-specific target location; and (c) as a result of the determination that the portable RF communications device is within proximity of the device-specific target location, initiating, on the portable RF communications device, a location-based action associated with the device-specific target location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A portable RF communications device comprising an antenna, a user interface, and a storage device, wherein the storage device contains computer program code that, when executed by the portable device, controls the portable device to cause the portable device to perform a location-determining method, the method comprising automatically:
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(a) receiving a first plurality of communications signals, each received from one of a first plurality of antenna stations within range of the portable RF communications device, wherein the antenna stations are fixed-location service-area antenna stations and are substantially continuously operating; (b) causing a determination of whether the portable RF communications device is within proximity of the device-specific target location by electronically comparing at least one number based on signal strengths of each of the first plurality of communications signals with at least one number based on corresponding signal strengths of each of a second plurality of communication signals from a second plurality of antenna stations that have been identified as being within range of the same location as the device-specific target location, which signal strengths have been determined for the same location as the device-specific target location; and (c) as a result of the determination that the portable RF communications device is within proximity of the device-specific target location, initiating, on the portable RF communications device, a location-based action associated with the device-specific target location. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification