METHOD FOR SETTING THE GEOLOCATION OF A NON-GPS ENABLED DEVICE

• US 20120185206A1
• Filed: 01/18/2011
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Zehler, Peter J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,467,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/150
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

A method and device for setting a geolocation of a non-GPS enabled device utilizes GPS mapping technology to allow a user to select and set an exact location for a given device within a facility. The method can include obtaining a GPS map of the site where the device is deployed, obtaining a site map of the site, determining the GPS coordinates of at least one of the corners of the site map, overlaying the site map on the GPS map, aligning the at least one corner of the site map with corresponding GPS coordinates on the GPS map, calculating a grid covering the site map, selecting a location on the site map corresponding to the position of the device, and determining the geolocation of the device by calculating the latitude and longitude of said position.

Claims

1. A method for setting the geolocation of a non-GPS enabled device comprising the steps of:

obtaining a GPS map of the site where the device is deployed;

obtaining a site map of the site;

determining the GPS coordinates of at least one of the corners of the site map;

overlaying the site map on the GPS map;

aligning the at least one corner of the site map with corresponding GPS coordinates on the GPS map;

calculating a grid covering the site map; and

selecting a location on the site map corresponding to the position of the device; and

determining the geolocation of the device by calculating the latitude and longitude of said position.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising determining an altitude of the device by accessing a database having elevation information cross-referenced to GPS coordinates, and adding a height value to an elevation corresponding to the geolocation of the device.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the height value is based on a floor number on which the device is located multiplied by a constant value.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining a GPS map includes accessing an internet database containing the GPS map.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining a site map includes obtaining a floor plan of a facility.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of calculating a grid covering the site map includes calculating a grid of GPS coordinates based on the GPS coordinates of the at least one corner.

7. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for setting the geolocation of a non-GPS enabled device, the instructions being executable by a processor and comprising:

obtaining a GPS map of the site where the device is deployed;

obtaining a site map of the site;

determining the GPS coordinates of at least one of the corners of the site map;

overlaying the site map on the GPS map;

aligning the at least one corner of the site map with corresponding GPS coordinates on the GPS map;

calculating a grid covering the site map; and

selecting a location on the site map corresponding to the position of the device; and

determining the geolocation of the device by calculating the latitude and longitude of said position.

8. A computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 7 having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for setting the geolocation of a non-GPS enabled device, the instructions being executable by a processor and further comprising determining an altitude of the device by accessing a database having elevation information cross-referenced to GPS coordinates, and adding a height value to an elevation corresponding to the geolocation of the device.

9. A computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 8 having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for setting the geolocation of a non-GPS enabled device, the instructions being executable by a processor and further comprising basing the height value on a floor number on which the device is located multiplied by a constant value.

10. A computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 7 having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for setting the geolocation of a non-GPS enabled device, the instructions being executable by a processor, wherein the step of obtaining a GPS map includes accessing an internet database containing the GPS map.

11. A computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 7 having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for setting the geolocation of a non-GPS enabled device, the instructions being executable by a processor wherein the step of obtaining a site map includes obtaining a floor plan of a facility.

12. A computer-readable medium as set forth in claim 7 having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for setting the geolocation of a non-GPS enabled device, the instructions being executable by a processor wherein the step of calculating a grid covering the site map includes calculating a grid of GPS coordinates based on the GPS coordinates of the at least one corner.