LOCAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A local positioning system, comprising:
- at least one node configured to track a mobile tag, the at least one node configured to determine a plurality of sample values, each of the sample values indicative of a respective location of the tag relative to the at least one node and based on at least one measured time-of-flight value for at least one signal communicated with the tag, the at least one node having a filter configured to combine the sample values via a filtering algorithm thereby providing an estimate indicative of a current location of the tag, the at least one node further configured associate each of the sample values associated with a respective one of a plurality of filter parameter values, the one filter parameter value indicative of a confidence in the associated sample value,wherein the filtering algorithm is based on the filter parameter values associated with the sample values.
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Abstract
A local positioning system uses at least one node to track a location of a mobile tag. The system measures flight times of signals communicated between the node and the tag to determine values indicative of the range of the tag from the node. If desired, the values may be filtered in an effort to increase the accuracy of the range estimation. As an example, a Kalman filtering algorithm may be used. Multiple antennas are used at both the node and the tag to provide more accurate range estimates and to determine when the tag is entering a dead zone where signals are blocked or attenuated by obstacles.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A local positioning system, comprising:
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at least one node configured to track a mobile tag, the at least one node configured to determine a plurality of sample values, each of the sample values indicative of a respective location of the tag relative to the at least one node and based on at least one measured time-of-flight value for at least one signal communicated with the tag, the at least one node having a filter configured to combine the sample values via a filtering algorithm thereby providing an estimate indicative of a current location of the tag, the at least one node further configured associate each of the sample values associated with a respective one of a plurality of filter parameter values, the one filter parameter value indicative of a confidence in the associated sample value, wherein the filtering algorithm is based on the filter parameter values associated with the sample values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A local positioning method, comprising the steps of:
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determining a plurality of sample values, each of the sample values indicative of a respective location of a mobile tag and based on at least one measured time-of-flight value for at least one signal communicated with the tag; associating each of the sample values with a respective one of a plurality of filter parameter values, the one filter parameter value indicative of a confidence in the associated sample value; filtering the sample values thereby providing an estimate indicative of a current location of the tag, wherein the filtering step comprises the step of combining the sample values via a weighted filtering algorithm based on the associated filter parameter values; and storing the estimate in memory. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification