INDOOR LOCATION USING A PACKET SYNCHRONIZED RECEIVER ARRAY
First Claim
1. A system for determining a location of a mobile device in a monitored environment, the system comprising:
- a plurality of communication nodes distributed within the monitored environment that define a communication array, wherein each communication node in the communication array is in operative communication with at least one mobile device for communication of a data communication between the communication array and the mobile device;
a central hub in operative communication with the communication array by way of a packet switched communication network, the central hub providing a synchronization communication to the communication array over the packet switched communication network including information for synchronization of each of the plurality of communication nodes of the communication array to a common time base; and
a location determination module that is operative to determine a location of the mobile device within the monitored environment relative to the communication array using at least the common time base and the data communication.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Location of one or more devices in a monitored environment based at least in part on data communications between a device and a communication array disposed relative to the monitored environment. The communication array may include a plurality of nodes, at least two of which may be in operative communication with a mobile device. The plurality of nodes may be synchronized to a common time base with communications over a packet-switched communication network (e.g., employing IP communications or the like). In turn, communications between nodes of known location and a device may be used to determine ranging values at least in part based on characteristics (e.g., time of flight) of the communication. As such, a location may be determined by, for example, multilateration of a plurality of ranging values.
23 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A system for determining a location of a mobile device in a monitored environment, the system comprising:
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a plurality of communication nodes distributed within the monitored environment that define a communication array, wherein each communication node in the communication array is in operative communication with at least one mobile device for communication of a data communication between the communication array and the mobile device; a central hub in operative communication with the communication array by way of a packet switched communication network, the central hub providing a synchronization communication to the communication array over the packet switched communication network including information for synchronization of each of the plurality of communication nodes of the communication array to a common time base; and a location determination module that is operative to determine a location of the mobile device within the monitored environment relative to the communication array using at least the common time base and the data communication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for determining a location of a mobile device in a monitored environment, the method comprising:
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synchronizing a plurality of communication nodes to a central time base maintained at a central hub, wherein the plurality of communication nodes are distributed within the monitored environment and collectively define a communication array; communicating a data communication between the communication array and the mobile device; and determining a location of the mobile device within the monitored environment using at least the common time base and the data communication. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification