ULTRASOUND-BASED LOCALIZATION OF CLIENT DEVICES IN DISTRIBUTED COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, AND RELATED DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS
First Claim
1. An ultrasound beacon for facilitating client devices determining their location in a distributed communications system, comprising:
- a controller;
an ultrasound emitter coupled to the controller, the ultrasound emitter configured to emit ultrasound pulses over at least one speaker; and
a radio-frequency (RF) receiver coupled to the controller, the RF receiver configured to receive RF synchronization signals comprising synchronization information;
the controller configured to;
synchronize an internal clock based on the received synchronization information; and
cause the ultrasound emitter to emit ultrasound pulses in synchronization based on the synchronization information with other ultrasound beacons among an ultrasound beacon cluster, to client devices located in the distributed communications system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plurality of spatially located ultrasound beacons are provided in known locations within a distributed communications system. Each of the ultrasound beacons is configured to emit ultrasound pulses that can be received by client devices in ultrasound communication range of the ultrasound beacons. The client devices are configured to analyze the received ultrasound pulses from the beacons to determine their time-difference of arrival and as a result, their location in the distributed communications systems. Use of ultrasound pulses can provide greater resolution in location determination of client devices since ultrasound waves experience strong attenuation in building walls, ceilings, and floors, thus avoiding detection of ultrasound waves from other ultrasound beacons not located in proximity to the client devices.
42 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An ultrasound beacon for facilitating client devices determining their location in a distributed communications system, comprising:
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a controller; an ultrasound emitter coupled to the controller, the ultrasound emitter configured to emit ultrasound pulses over at least one speaker; and a radio-frequency (RF) receiver coupled to the controller, the RF receiver configured to receive RF synchronization signals comprising synchronization information; the controller configured to; synchronize an internal clock based on the received synchronization information; and cause the ultrasound emitter to emit ultrasound pulses in synchronization based on the synchronization information with other ultrasound beacons among an ultrasound beacon cluster, to client devices located in the distributed communications system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A distributed communications system, comprising:
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an ultrasound beacon cluster comprised of; a master ultrasound beacon; and a plurality of non-master ultrasound beacons; the master ultrasound beacon and the plurality of non-master ultrasound beacons each configured to; receive RF synchronization signals comprising synchronization information; emit ultrasound pulses to client devices located in the distributed communications system in synchronization with the other ultrasound beacons in the ultrasound beacon cluster based on the synchronization information; and the master ultrasound beacon further configured to periodically encode location information of the master ultrasound beacon and the plurality of non-master ultrasound beacons in the ultrasound pulses emitted to the client devices. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21-56. -56. (canceled)
Specification