METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DERIVING LOCATION INFORMATION FROM UTILITY LINES

• US 20080079631A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Inventors: Boyce, C.O. Lee, Lo, Sherman Chih, Alexeev, Nicolai V., Enge, Per, Boneh, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 8,120,533 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/175
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/245 Details of receivers cooperating therewith, e.g. determining positive zero crossing of third cycle in LORAN-C
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/06 using intensity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/45 by combining measurements of signals from the satellite radio beacon positioning system with a supplementary measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/466 by Trilateration, i.e. two antennas or two sensors determine separately the distance to a target, whereby with the knowledge of the baseline length, i.e. the distance between the antennas or sensors, the position data of the target is determined

Abstract

Location systems and methods are implemented using a variety of arrangements and methods. Using one such system location information is provided in response to a utility-line arrangement propagating signals that represent a wireless radio-frequency (RF) communication originating from one or more remote transmitters. The system includes a receiver circuit communicatively coupled and responsive to the utility-line arrangement. The system also includes a signal-processing logic circuit, communicatively coupled and responsive to the utility-line arrangement. The signal processing logic circuit is arranged to derive location information from characteristics of the signals that are indicative of a location of the receiver circuit relative to the remote transmitters.

Claims

1. A system for providing location information in response to a utility-line arrangement propagating signals that represent a wireless radio-frequency (RF) communication originating from one or more remote transmitters, the system comprising:

a receiver circuit communicatively coupled and responsive to the utility-line arrangement; and

a signal-processing logic circuit, communicatively coupled and responsive to the utility-line arrangement, to derive location information from characteristics of the signals, the characteristics being indicative of a location of the receiver circuit relative to said one or more remote transmitters.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless RF communication is a Long Range Navigation (LORAN) communication.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal-processing logic circuit derives location information by one or more of range, angle, time of arrival, time difference of arrival and signal strength.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver circuit is coupled to the utility-line arrangement via a power outlet located within a structure and the location information is indicative of a latitude and longitude corresponding to the structure.

5. The system of claim 4, further including a tracking circuit arranged to provide the location information to a remote device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver circuit includes a filter circuit to remove noise from the utility-line arrangement using a low-pass filter circuit as an anti-aliasing filter for an analog to digital converter.

7. The system of claim 1, further including a transmitter arranged to inject a local signal on the utility-line arrangement, wherein the signal-processing logic circuit derives location information responsive to a reflection of the local signal

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the receiver circuit is coupled to the utility-line arrangement via a power outlet located within a structure and location information responsive to a reflection of the local signal provides an indication of a location of the power outlet within the structure.

9. The system of claim 1, further including a control arrangement used to limit access to a device connected to the system in response to the location information.

10. The system of claim 9, further including a power circuit to provide power from the utility-line arrangement to the device, wherein the control circuit limits access by controlling the power provided to the device.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein limiting access to the device includes restricting access to one or more software applications

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the system is arranged to send the location information to a remote device and to limit access to the device until the remote device indicates that location information is acceptable.

13. The system of claim 1, further including a processor that implements a software application that determines whether to provide the location information in response to a query from a remote server over the Internet.

14. A method for providing location information in response to a utility-line arrangement propagating signals that represent a wireless radio-frequency (RF) communication originating from one or more remote transmitters, the method comprising:

receiving the signals at a receiving location; and

deriving the location information from characteristics of the signals, the characteristics being indicative of the receiving location relative to said one or more remote transmitters.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the wireless RF communication is a Long Range Navigation (LORAN) communication.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of receiving the signals is via a power outlet that is communicatively coupled to the utility line arrangement and that is located within a structure.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the location information is indicative of latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to the structure.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the location information corresponds to a street address of the structure.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the street address is used by emergency services in connection with a telephone call.

20. A system for providing location information in response to a utility-line arrangement propagating signals that represent a wireless radio-frequency (RF) communication originating from one or more remote transmitters, the system comprising:

a receiver circuit communicatively coupled and responsive to the utility-line arrangement; and

a signal-processing logic circuit, communicatively coupled and responsive to the utility-line arrangement, to;

derive location information from characteristics of the signals, the characteristics being indicative of a location of the receiver circuit relative to said one or more remote transmitters, and

derive location information from an input other than the utility-line arrangement.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the signal-processing logic circuit uses a Global Positioning System (GPS) signal from the input to derive location information.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the signal-processing logic circuit uses a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) signal from the input to derive location information.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the input is a wireless Ethernet receiver that provides location information derived from a wireless access point and the system is integrated into a motherboard of a computer.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the receiver circuit is coupled to the utility-line arrangement via a power outlet located within a structure and the location information is indicative of a latitude and longitude corresponding to the structure.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein information indicative of the location of the power outlet within the structure is provided using the input.