Location system and methods

• US 20020198986A1
• Filed: 03/11/2002
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Consortium P Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sentinel Wireless, LLC
• Inventors: Dempsey, Michael K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,190,730 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/10 Elderly or infirm
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0081 Transmission between base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02521 using a radio-map
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02522 The radio-map containing measured values of non-radio values
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15 Active relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

In one embodiment of the invention, a location system is provided using both RF and IR signals for the determination of an object. Another embodiment of the invention provides a direct network connection for a receiver. The direct connection may be provided for connection to an Ethernet network, a telephone network, a cable TV network, a UTP network, a Universal Serial Bus (USB), a medical telemetry network or the Internet. A web server is optionally provided according to an embodiment of the invention. According to a further embodiment, a fixed location identifier is provided to receive signals from a transmitter and then transmit a signal to a receiver, which may be connected to a network. According to a further embodiment, two identifiers may be transmitted, one identifier corresponding to an object, while a second identifier identifies a group designator of the object.

Claims

1. A location system, comprising:

a first object identifier adapted to transmit an RF signal and an IR signal; and

a location determining module suitable for using said IR signal and said RF signal to determine a location of at least one of the group of said first object identifier and the location determining module.

2. The location system of claim 1, wherein said location determining module comprises a receiver adapted to receive both said RF signal and said IR signal.

3. The location system of claim 1, wherein said location determining module comprises a transmitter.

4. The location system of claim 1, wherein said location determining module comprises an electronic device.

5. The location system of claim 1, wherein said location determining module comprises a network.

6. The location system of claim 1, wherein said location determining module comprises a database.

7. The location system of claim 1, wherein said location determining module comprises a network connection element.

8. The location system of claim 1, wherein said location determining module comprises a fixed location identifier.

9. The location system of claim 1, wherein said location determining module comprises a location resolver.

10. The location system of claim 1, wherein said location determining module comprises a fixed location identifier, a network connection element and a location resolver adapted for communication with each other by way of a network.

11. The location system of claim 1, wherein said location determining module is adapted to determine a location of said first object identifier by the use of multilateration.

12. The location system of claim 1, wherein said location determining module is adapted to determine a location of said first object identifier by the use of triangulation.

13. The location system of claim 1, wherein said location determining module is adapted to determine a location of said location determining module by the use of multilateration.

14. The location system of claim 1, wherein said location determining module is adapted to determine a location of said location determining module by the use of triangulation.

15. The location system of claim 1, wherein said location determining module is adapted to initiate an event.

16. The location system of claim 15 wherein said event includes sending information.

17. The location system of claim 1, wherein said object identifier comprises a transmitter.

18. The location system of claim 1, wherein said object identifier comprises a receiver.

19. The location system of claim 1, further comprising an interface adapted to directly couple said location determining module to an Ethernet local area network.

20. The location system of claim 1, further comprising an interface adapted to directly couple said location determining module to a specialized network.

21. The location system of claim 20, wherein said interface is a modem.

22. The location system of claim 20, wherein said interface is a cable TV modulator.

23. The location system of claim 20, wherein said interface is a UTP network card.

24. The location system of claim 20, wherein said interface is a USB card.

25. The location system of claim 20, wherein said interface is a medical telemetry transmitter.

26. The location system of claim 1, wherein said location determining module further comprises an Ethernet network interface to directly couple said location determining module to an Ethernet network.

27. The location system of claim 1, wherein said location determining module further comprises a web server adapted to provide information to a network.

28. The location system of claim 1, further comprising a second object identifier adapted to transmit a second RF signal and a second IR signal;

wherein said location determining module is adapted to determine a location of said second object identifier.

29. The location system of claim 28, wherein said first object identifier does not retransmit said IR signal and said RF signal and said second object identifier does not retransmit said second IR signal and said second RF signal if said location determining module does not receive said IR signal and said RF signal and said second IR signal and said second RF signal.

30. The location system of claim 28, wherein said location determining module establishes an association between said first object identifier and said second object identifier.

31. The location system of claim 1, wherein said object identifier is adapted to transmit a first identifier corresponding to said object identifier and a second identifier corresponding to a group designator of said object identifier.

32. The location system of claim 1, wherein said location determining module comprises:

a fixed location identifier, a network connection element and a location resolver adapted for communication with each other by way of a network;

a web server adapted to provide information to a network; and

an interface adapted to directly couple said location determining module to an Ethernet local area network.

33. The location system of claim 32, wherein said object identifier is adapted to transmit a first identifier corresponding to said object identifier and a second identifier corresponding to a group designator of said object identifier.

35. The location system of claim 34, wherein said receiver further comprises a web server adapted to provide information to a network.

36. The location system of claim 34, wherein said location signal comprises a first identifier corresponding to said transmitter and a second identifier corresponding to a group designator of said transmitter.

38. The location system of claim 37, wherein said web server provides for an input to said receiver from said Internet.

39. The location system of claim 37, wherein said location signal comprises a first identifier corresponding to said transmitter and a second identifier corresponding to a group designator of said transmitter.

34. A location system, comprising:

a transmitter adapted to transmit a location signal; and

a receiver adapted to receive said location signal;

wherein said receiver includes an interface adapted to directly couple said receiver to an Ethernet network; and

wherein said location signal is used to determine a location of at least one of the group of said transmitter and said receiver.

37. A location system, comprising:

a transmitter adapted to transmit a location signal;

a receiver adapted to receive said location signal; and

wherein said receiver includes a web server adapted to provide information to a network; and

wherein said location signal is used to determine a location of at least one of the group of said transmitter and said receiver.

40. A location system, comprising:

a transmitter adapted to transmit a location signal;

a receiver adapted to receive said location signal for the determination of a location of at least one of the group of said transmitter and said receiver; and

an interface adapted to directly couple said receiver to a specialized network.

41. The location system of claim 40, wherein said interface is a modem.

42. The location system of claim 40, wherein said interface is a cable TV modulator.

43. The location system of claim 40, wherein said interface is a UTP network card.

44. The location system of claim 40, wherein said interface is a USB card interface is a medical telemetry transmitter.

45. The location system of claim 40, wherein said specialized network is a medical telemetry network.

46. The location system of claim 40, wherein said location signal comprises a first identifier corresponding to said transmitter and a second identifier corresponding to a group designator of said transmitter.

48. The location system of claim 47, wherein said first identifier is transmitted as an IR signal and said second identifier is transmitted as an RF signal.

49. The location system of claim 47, further comprising a fixed location identifier adapted to receive said first identifier and said second identifier, append a fixed location identifier, and transmit said first identifier, said second identifier and said fixed location identifier to said receiver.

47. A location system, comprising:

a transmitter adapted to transmit a first identifier corresponding to said transmitter and a second identifier corresponding to a group designator of said transmitter; and

a receiver adapted to receive said first identifier and said second identifier;

wherein said first identifier and said second identifier are used to determine a location of at least one of the group of said transmitter and said receiver.

50. A location system, comprising:

an object identifier adapted to transmit a first RF signal and a first IR signal; and

a network connection element adapted to receive said first RF signal and said first IR signal for determining a location of at least one of the group of said object identifier and said network connection element from said first RF signal and said first IR signal.

51. The location system of claim 50, further comprising a fixed location identifier adapted to receive said first RF signal and said first IR signal from said object identifier, append a fixed location identifier, and transmit a second RF signal and a second IR signal to said network connection element for the determination of a location of at least one of the group of said object identifier and said network connection element.

52. The location system of claim 51, wherein said object identifier is provided with a receiver.

53. The location system of claim 51, wherein said object identifier and said fixed location identifier are each provided with an input device.

54. The location system of claim 51, wherein said object identifier and said fixed location identifier are each provided with an indicator.

55. The location system of claim 51, wherein at least one of the group of said object identifier and said fixed location identifier transmits a corresponding identifier and a group designator identifier.

56. The location system of claim 51, wherein at least one of the group of said object identifier and said fixed location identifier transmits an RF transmission repetition rate.

57. The location system of claim 51, wherein at least one of the group of said object identifier and said fixed location identifier transmits an IR transmission repetition rate.

58. The location system of claim 51, wherein at least one of the group of said object identifier and said fixed location identifier is provided with an input device and transmits an input device status.

59. The location system of claim 50, further comprising a location resolver, wherein said location resolver comprises a network interface and a controller.

60. The location system of claim 59, wherein said location resolver is adapted to determine a location of said object identifier by the use of multilateration.

61. The location system of claim 59, wherein said location resolver is adapted to determine a location of said object identifier by the use of triangulation.

62. The location system of claim 59, wherein said location resolver is adapted to determine a location of said network connection element by the use of multilateration.

63. The location system of claim 59, wherein said location resolver is adapted to determine a location of said network connection element by the use of triangulation.

64. The location system of claim 59, wherein said location resolver is adapted to initiate an event.

65. The location system of claim 64 wherein said event includes sending information.

66. The location system of claim 59, wherein said location resolver establishes an association between a plurality of said object identifiers.

67. The location system of claim 59, further comprising an electronic device adapted to host said location resolver.

68. The location system of claim 59, wherein said location resolver is adapted to trigger events based on locations of object identifiers.

69. The location system of claim 59, wherein said location resolver further comprises an implementation interface adapted to perform at least one of the group of sending a command and receiving a command.

70. The location system of claim 59, wherein said location resolver further comprises a database interface to enable said location resolver to interact with a database.

71. The location system of claim 59, wherein said location resolver further comprises a web server adapted to provide information to a network.

72. The location system of claim 59, wherein said location resolver determines and maintains associations among a plurality of said object identifiers.

73. The location system of claim 59, wherein said location resolver determines and maintains associations among said object identifier and at least one of the group of said fixed location identifier and said network connection element.

74. The location system of claim 59, wherein said location resolver establishes a privacy status for at least one of the group of said object identifier and said network connection element.

75. The location system of claim 59, wherein said location resolver is adapted to configure at least two of the group of said object identifier, fixed location identifier, and network connection element.

76. The location system of claim 59, wherein said location resolver further comprises a database interface to enable said location resolver to interact with a database.

77. The location system of claim 50, further comprising an interface adapted to directly couple said network connection element to an Ethernet local area network.

78. The location system of claim 50, further comprising an interface adapted to directly couple said network connection element to a specialized network.

79. The location system of claim 78, wherein said interface is a modem.

80. The location system of claim 78, wherein said interface is a cable TV modulator.

81. The location system of claim 78, wherein said interface is a UTP network card.

82. The location system of claim 78, wherein said interface is a USB card interface is a medical telemetry transmitter.

83. The location system of claim 50, wherein said network connection element further comprises an Ethernet network interface to directly couple said network connection element to an Ethernet network.

84. The location system of claim 50, wherein said network connection element further comprises a web server adapted to provide information to a network.

85. The location system of claim 50, wherein said object identifier further comprises a receiver;

and said network connection element further comprises a transmitter.

86. The location system of claim 50, wherein said network connection element further comprises a transmitter.

87. The location system of claim 50, wherein said network connection element further comprises a web server adapted to provide information to a network.

88. The location system of claim 87, wherein said web server is adapted to run a configuration applet, a service applet and a debug applet.

89. The location system of claim 50, wherein said network connection element further comprises a network interface

90. The location system of claim 50, wherein said network connection element further comprises an input device.

91. The location system of claim 50, wherein said network connection element further comprises an indicator.

92. The location system of claim 50, wherein said network connection element is adapted to configure said object identifier, said fixed location identifier and another network connection element.

93. A method of determining location, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first RF signal from an object identifier;

transmitting a first IR signal from said object identifier;

receiving at least one of said first RF signal and said first IR signal;

determining a location of said object identifier based on receipt of at least one of said first RF signal and said first IR signal.

94. The method of claim 93, further comprising the step of providing a fixed location identifier adapted to receive said first RF signal and said first IR signal and transmit a second RF signal and a second IR signal;

wherein said determining step determines said location based additionally on receipt of at least one of said second RF signal and said second IR signal.

95. The method of claim 93, further comprising the step of providing a network in communication with a network connection element.

96. The method of claim 95, further comprising the step of determining said location of said object identifier by the use of a location resolver in communication with said network.

97. The method of claim 93, further comprising the step of determining said location of said object identifier by the use of a location resolver integral to a network connection element.

98. The location system of claim 93, wherein said first RF signal and said first IR signal comprise a first identifier corresponding to said object identifier and a second identifier corresponding to a group designator of said object identifier.

99. A method of determining location, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first RF signal from an object identifier;

transmitting a first IR signal from said object identifier;

receiving at least one of said first RF signal and said first IR signal at a location determining module;

determining a location of said location determining module based on receipt of at least one of said first RF signal and said first IR signal.

100. The method of claim 99, further comprising the step of providing a fixed location identifier adapted to receive said first RF signal and said first IR signal and transmit a second RF signal and a second IR signal;

wherein said determining step determines said location based additionally on receipt of at least one of said second RF signal and said second IR signal.

101. The method of claim 99, further comprising the step of providing a network in communication with a network connection element.

102. The location system of claim 99, wherein said first RF signal and said first IR signal comprise a first identifier corresponding to said object identifier and a second identifier corresponding to a group designator of said object identifier.

103. A method of determining location, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first RF signal from an object identifier;

transmitting a first IR signal from said object identifier;

receiving said first RF signal at a network connection element;

receiving said first IR signal at said network connection element; and

determining a location of said object identifier by analysis of said first RF signal and said first IR signal.

104. A method of determining location, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first RF signal from an object identifier;

transmitting a first IR signal from said object identifier;

receiving said first RF signal at a network connection element;

receiving said first IR signal at said network connection element;

receiving said first RF signal at a fixed location identifier;

receiving said first IR signal at said fixed location identifier;

transmitting a second RF signal from said fixed location identifier;

transmitting a second IR signal from said fixed location identifier; and

receiving said second RF signal at said network connection element;

receiving said second IR signal at said network connection element;

determining a location of said object identifier by analysis of said first RF signal, said first IR signal, said second RF signal and said second IR signal.

105. The method of claim 104, further comprising the step of providing a network in communication with the network connection element.

106. The method of claim 105, wherein said step of determining is performed by a location resolver in communication with said network.

107. The method of claim 104, wherein said step of determining is performed by a location resolver integral to said network connection element.

108. A method of determining location of a transmitter, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first identifier corresponding to said transmitter;

transmitting a second identifier corresponding to a group designator of said transmitter; and

receiving said first identifier and said second identifier at a receiver;

determining a location of at least one of the group of said transmitter and said receiver based on said first identifier and said second identifier.

109. The method of claim 108, further comprising the step of sending information pertaining to said location to a group corresponding to said group designator.

110. The method of claim 108, further comprising the steps of

receiving said first identifier and said second identifier at a fixed location identifier;

appending a fixed location identifier to said first identifier and said second identifier; and

transmitting a signal comprising said first identifier, said second identifier and said fixed location identifier to said receiver;

wherein said determining step includes determining said location based on said first identifier, said second identifier and said signal.

111. A method of providing location information of an object identifier, comprising the steps of:

obtaining said location information;

receiving a signal from an input device of said object identifier;

preventing dissemination of said location information as requested by said signal.

116. The method of claim 115, wherein at least one of said signals is disregarded and said information pertaining to said location of said corresponding object identifier is disseminated.

112. A method of providing location information of an object identifier, comprising the steps of:

obtaining said location information;

receiving a signal from an input device of said object identifier;

enabling dissemination of said location information as requested by said signal.

113. A method of operating a location system, comprising the steps of:

obtaining a signal from an input device of said object identifier;

preventing dissemination of information relating to a location of said object identifier as requested by said signal.

114. A method of operating a location system, comprising the steps of:

obtaining a signal from an input device of said object identifier;

enabling dissemination of information relating to a location of said object identifier as requested by said signal.

115. A method of operating a location system, comprising the steps of:

obtaining a signal from an input device of each of a plurality of object identifiers;

establishing eligibility of information dissemination of information relating to each location of each of said plurality of object identifiers as requested by each of said signals corresponding to each of said object identifiers.

117. In a location system, said location system including a medium holding computer-executable steps for a method, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first RF signal from an object identifier;

transmitting a first IR signal from said object identifier;

receiving said first RF signal at a network connection element;

receiving said first IR signal at said network connection element; and

determining a location of at least one of the group of said object identifier and said network connection element by analysis of said first RF signal and said first IR signal.

118. In a location system, said location system including a medium holding computer-executable steps for a method, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first RF signal from an object identifier;

transmitting a first IR signal from said object identifier;

receiving said first RF signal at a network connection element;

receiving said first IR signal at said network connection element;

receiving said first RF signal at a fixed location identifier;

receiving said first IR signal at said fixed location identifier;

transmitting a second RF signal from said fixed location identifier;

transmitting a second IR signal from said fixed location identifier; and

determining a location of at least one of the group of said object identifier and said network connection element by analysis of said first RF signal, said first IR signal, said second RF signal and said second IR signal.