TRACKING SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR TRACKING THE POSITION OF A DEVICE

• US 20120021760A1
• Filed: 02/02/2010
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Europe Ltd (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Kovacs, Erno, Strohbach, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 8,676,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks

Abstract

For allowing a reliable and fast determination of the position of devices with a high degree of privacy preservation a tracking system for determination of the position of devices within a wireless network is claimed, wherein the tracking system is including a number of tracking stations, each tracking station being adapted for wireless communication with at least one device. The system is characterized by a management unit for control of a tracking activity of the tracking stations. Further, an according method for tracking the position of a device within a wireless network is claimed, preferably for use with the above mentioned tracking system.

Claims

1. A tracking system for determination of the position of devices within a wireless network, wherein the tracking system is comprising a number of tracking stations, each tracking station being adapted for wireless communication with at least one device, characterized by a management unit for control of a tracking activity of the tracking stations.

2. A tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the tracking stations are adapted for pinging of a device and/or for invoking an operation of a device.

3. A tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the management unit is adapted for scheduling which device shall be pinged by which tracking station, preferably within which time interval.

4. A tracking system according to claim 3, wherein the scheduling is based on previous sightings and/or on the importance of previous sightings of the respective device and/or on the necessary accuracy or QoS (Quality of Service).

5. A tracking system according to claim 3, wherein the scheduling is based on a potential walkway of the respective device.

6. A tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the tracking stations can be controlled by the management unit for immediately pinging a definable device.

7. A tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the management unit is comprising a registration module for registering a device and/or an identity and/or an access policy.

8. A tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the management unit is comprising an activation module for activation and/or deactivation of tracking of a device.

9. A tracking system according to claim 1, wherein an access policy and/or a priority and/or a definable QoS (Quality of Service) is determinable preferably as part of an activation of tracking.

10. A tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the management unit is comprising an access module for permitting access by services to a tracking information.

11. A tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the management unit is comprising a mash-up module for receiving events and/or information from and/or for communicating with other systems or sources.

12. A tracking system according to claim 11, wherein the other systems or sources are comprising a preferably GPS-based positioning system, a cell-phone and/or a calendar.

13. A tracking system according to claim 11, wherein the mash-up module is comprising an API (Application Programming Interface) with access control.

14. A tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the management unit is comprising a learning module for predicting a movement pattern or a potential walkway of a device.

15. A tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the management unit is comprising a communication module for communication with tracking stations.

16. A tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the management unit is integrated in a tracking station.

17. A tracking system according to claim 1, wherein each tracking station has several scanning queues that are scheduled with different priorities and/or timing.

18. A tracking system according to claim 1, wherein each tracking station is supporting multiple radio interfaces and/or multiple interfaces of the same technology.

19. A tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the tracking system is realized as part of a display system, an indoor navigation system or a surveillance system.

20. A method for tracking the position of a device within a wireless network, preferably for use with a tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the tracking system is comprising a number of tracking stations, each tracking station being adapted for wireless communication with at least one device, characterized by controlling of a tracking activity of the tracking stations by a management unit.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the management unit will perform high precision measurements for devices already discovered in a specific area and/or needing close monitoring, while it occasionally checks for devices coming into a definable range.

22. A method according to claim 20, wherein for tracking stations along a definable or predictable walkway of a device, the device being tracked will be added to a queue of potentially arriving devices at said tracking stations.

23. A method according to claim 20, wherein the tracking will only be started when a positioning system is providing the information that the device might come into a definable range.

24. A method according to claim 20, wherein the management unit is scheduling the time needed to perform one or more trackings of devices.