LOCATION OF MOBILE NETWORK NODES
First Claim
1. A method of determining the physical position of a movable node in a network, comprising:
- sending a first sent WiFi signal from one of an unknown node and a first reference node having a known location, and repeating the sent WiFi signal in the other of the unknown node and first reference node with a first reply WiFi signal;
deriving a distance between the unknown node and the first reference node from the time of flight of the first sent and first reply WiFi signals;
sending a second sent WiFi signal from one of the unknown node and a second fixed node having a known location, and repeating the sent second WiFi signal in the other of the unknown node and second reference node with a second reply WiFi signal;
deriving a distance between the unknown node and the second reference node from the time of flight of the second sent and second reply WiFi signals; and
determining a physical location of the unknown node based on the derived distances between the unknown node and the first and second reference nodes.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The physical position of an unknown node in a network is determined by sending a first sent WiFi signal from one of an unknown node and a first reference node having a known location, and repeating the sent WiFi signal in the other of the unknown node and first reference node with a first reply WiFi signal. A distance is derived between the unknown node and the first reference node from the time of flight of the first sent and first reply WiFi signals. A second WiFi signal is sent from one of the unknown node and a second fixed node having a known location, and repeating the sent second WiFi signal in the other of the unknown node and second reference node with a second reply WiFi signal, and A distance is derived between the unknown node and the second reference node from the time of flight of the second sent and second reply WiFi signals. A physical location of the unknown node is determined based on the derived distances between the unknown node and the first and second reference nodes.
23 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of determining the physical position of a movable node in a network, comprising:
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sending a first sent WiFi signal from one of an unknown node and a first reference node having a known location, and repeating the sent WiFi signal in the other of the unknown node and first reference node with a first reply WiFi signal; deriving a distance between the unknown node and the first reference node from the time of flight of the first sent and first reply WiFi signals; sending a second sent WiFi signal from one of the unknown node and a second fixed node having a known location, and repeating the sent second WiFi signal in the other of the unknown node and second reference node with a second reply WiFi signal; deriving a distance between the unknown node and the second reference node from the time of flight of the second sent and second reply WiFi signals; and determining a physical location of the unknown node based on the derived distances between the unknown node and the first and second reference nodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A wireless network, comprising:
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an unknown node having an unknown physical position; a first reference node, wherein one of the unknown node and the first reference node is operable to send a first sent signal, and the other of the unknown node and first reference node is operable to repeat the first sent signal by sending a first reply signal; and a second reference node, wherein one of the unknown node and the second reference node is operable to send a second sent signal, and the other of the unknown node and second reference node is operable to repeat the second sent signal by sending a second reply signal; at least one node in the wireless network further operable to derive a distance between the unknown node and the first reference node from the time of flight of the first sent and first reply signals, derive a distance between the unknown node and the second reference node from the time of flight of the second sent and second reply signals, and determine a physical location of the unknown node based on the derived distances between the unknown node and the first and second reference nodes. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A wireless network node comprising a module operable to:
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receive a first sent signal from one of an unknown node and a first reference node having a known location, and reply immediately to the node that sent the first sent signal with a first reply signal on another channel or frequency, such that the reply delay is small relative to the time of flight of the first sent signal, enabling the sending node to derive a distance between the unknown node and the first reference node from the time of flight of the first sent and first reply signals. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A wireless network node comprising a module operable to:
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send a WiFi signal to a second network node; receive an immediate reply WiFi signal; and derive a distance between the sending node and the second node from the time of flight of the sent and reply WiFi signals. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification