Computer workstation tool for displaying performance estimate of tagged object geo-location system for proposed geometry layout of tag transmission readers
First Claim
1. A method of operating a computer workstation to configure a system for locating objects within a monitored environment, wherein transmissions from tags with said objects are to be detected at a plurality of spaced apart tag transmission readers for said monitored environment, and outputs of said tag transmission readers are processed by an object location processor to locate a tag and thereby its object within said monitored environment, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) displaying on said computer workstation a map of said monitored environment;
(b) identifying on the map displayed in step (a) potential locations of a plurality of said tag transmission readers;
(c) generating a mathematical model of said system using said potential locations of said plurality of said tag transmission readers identified on said map in step (b);
(d) characterizing, on said map of said monitored environment, the ability of a system represented by said mathematical model generated in step (c) to identify locations of objects within said monitored environment;
measuring the geo-location performance of said system represented by said mathematical model generated in step (c) in terms of a geometric dilution of precision (gdop); and
visually characterizing gdop accuracy as an estimate of performance of the system model.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reader geometry visualization tool for a geo-location system technician'"'"'s personal computer is operative to display a map of an asset management environment. The technician interactively places and manipulates a distribution of tag transmission readers and any potential impairments to RF transmissions on the map. The locations of the readers (and any impairments) are coupled as input parameters to a mathematical model of a tag-based geo-location system. The performance of the map-parameterized geo-location system model is then computed as a geometric dilution of precision (gdop) value for the intended object coverage area. The computed (gdop) performance is visually characterized on the displayed map, as by way of different colors to indicate how accurately the proposed reader geometry will enable the system to locate objects anywhere in the coverage area.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of operating a computer workstation to configure a system for locating objects within a monitored environment, wherein transmissions from tags with said objects are to be detected at a plurality of spaced apart tag transmission readers for said monitored environment, and outputs of said tag transmission readers are processed by an object location processor to locate a tag and thereby its object within said monitored environment, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) displaying on said computer workstation a map of said monitored environment;
(b) identifying on the map displayed in step (a) potential locations of a plurality of said tag transmission readers;
(c) generating a mathematical model of said system using said potential locations of said plurality of said tag transmission readers identified on said map in step (b);
(d) characterizing, on said map of said monitored environment, the ability of a system represented by said mathematical model generated in step (c) to identify locations of objects within said monitored environment;
measuring the geo-location performance of said system represented by said mathematical model generated in step (c) in terms of a geometric dilution of precision (gdop); and
visually characterizing gdop accuracy as an estimate of performance of the system model. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
(e) evaluating cost of deployment of the system represented by the mathematical model generated in step (c); and
(f) selectively modifying said potential locations of tag transmission readers in step (b) in dependence upon the cost of deployment evaluation carried out in step (e), and repeating out steps (c), (d), (e) and (f) based upon the modified potential locations of tag transmission readers.
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10. A method of enabling an object location system designer to specify where, relative to a monitored environment, a plurality of spaced apart tag transmission readers of said object location system for identifying locations of objects in said monitored environment are to be placed, wherein transmissions from tags coupled with said objects are to be detected at said plurality of spaced apart tag transmission readers, and outputs of said tag, transmission readers processed by an object location processor to locate a tag and associated its object within said monitored environment, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) causing a computer to display a map of said monitored environment;
(b) operating a computer input/output device to identify potential locations of tag transmission readers on said displayed map;
(c) causing said computer to measure the performance of a mathematical model of said object location system using said potential locations of tag transmission readers identified on said map in step (b);
(d) indicating, on said displayed map of said monitored environment, the ability of said object location system as represented by said mathematical model generated in step (c), to identify locations of objects within said monitored environment; and
measuring the geo-location performance of said system represented by said mathematical model in terms of a geometric dilution of precision (gdop), and wherein step (d) comprises visually characterizing gdop accuracy to which said object location system as represented by said mathematical model generated in step (c) is able to identify locations of objects within said monitored environment and estimate performance of the system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for enabling an object location system designer to place, relative to a monitored environment, a plurality of spaced apart tag transmission readers for identifying locations of objects in said monitored environment, wherein transmissions from tags coupled with said objects are to be detected at said plurality of spaced apart tag transmission readers, and outputs of said tag transmission readers processed by an object location processor to locate a tag and associated its object within said monitored environment, said system comprising:
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a computer that is controllably operative to display a map of said monitored environment; and
an input/output device operation of which by said object location system designer causes said computer to display potential locations of tag transmission readers on said map; and
whereinsaid computer contains a program that is operative to measure the performance of a mathematical model of said object location system using said potential locations of tag transmission readers, and to visually characterize on said displayed map of said monitored environment, the ability of said object location system as represented by said mathematical model to identify locations of objects within said monitored environment; and
wherein said program is operative to measure geo-location performance of said system represented by said mathematical model in terms of a geometric dilution of precision (gdop), and to cause said computer to visually characterize gdop accuracy to which said object location system as represented by said mathematical model generated is able to identify locations of objects within said monitored environment. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification