SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCATION ESTIMATION

• US 20120280863A1
• Filed: 12/16/2010
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Persson, Magnus, Karlsson, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,921,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/386
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/06 using intensity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/82 wherein continuous-type signals are transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location

Abstract

A device and method for providing location estimations. The device may be configured to estimate its location be transmitting and/or receiving signals of respective transmission ranges. The device may also be configured to transition from a client device operational mode to a location beacon operational mode once an accurate location estimation has been obtained.

Claims

1. A method for location estimation comprising:

receiving at least one signal from a location beacon, the at least one signal comprising an identification of the location beacon, a power level, and/or a respective maximum power range of the at least one signal; and

estimating a current location of a client device based on the received at least one signal.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting a plurality of location request signals, each location request signal comprising an identification of the client device, a distinct transmitted power level, and/or a respective maximum power range;

wherein the received at least one signal is an echo signal provided as a function of the plurality of location request signals; and

estimating the current location of the client device further comprises evaluating the plurality of request signals with respect to received at least one echo signal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one signal is an estimation signal proactively provided by the location beacon.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transitioning an operational mode of the client device such that the client device will function as a location beacon once the estimated current location of the client device has reached a predetermined level of accuracy.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising determining the predetermined level of accuracy based on a period of non-mobility, a type of power source, and/or a known location.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the steps of transmitting, receiving, and estimating take place in an indoor environment.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising compiling or updating a mapping of at least one surrounding device as a function of the estimating.

17. A computer readable storage medium encoded with computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by a location beacon device, perform the method of claim 1.

8. A location estimation unit comprising:

a receiver configured to receive at least one signal from a location beacon, the at least one signal comprising an identification of the location beacon, a received power level, and/or a respective maximum power range of the at least one signal; and

an estimator configured to estimate a current location of a client device based on the received at least one estimation signal.

9. The unit of claim 8 further comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a plurality of location request signals, each request signal comprising an identification of the client device, a distinct transmitted power level, and/or a respective maximum power range;

wherein the at least one signal is an echo signal and is provided as a function of the plurality of location request signals; and

the estimator is further configured to evaluate the plurality of location request signals with respect to received at least one echo signal.

10. The unit of claim 8 wherein the unit is further configured to transition to a location beacon operational mode from a client device operational mode when the location unit has reached a predetermined level of accuracy.

11. The unit of claim 10 wherein the unit is further configured to determine the predetermined level of accuracy based on a period of non-mobility, a type of power source, and/or a known location.

12. The unit of claim 8 wherein the location unit is in an indoor environment.

13. The unit of claim 8 wherein the estimator is configured to create a mapping of at least one surrounding device as a function of the estimated current location.

14. The unit of claim 8 wherein the unit is a component of a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi device.

15. The unit of claim 8 wherein the unit is a component of a multimedia device.

16. The unit of claim 8 wherein the unit is a component of a mobile phone or computer.