System and method for location and motion detection in a home wireless network

• US 7,099,676 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2004
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nishida, Yoshifumi, Law, Ho Kee
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ewart, James D
• Application Number:
  US10/821,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20050227707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.06, 455/66.1, 455/404.2, 455/422.1, 455/456.1, 455/456.6, 455/115.3, 455/226.2, 455/517, 455/518, 342/450, 342/458, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/456.6
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method and system for determining location and/or motion for one or more wireless devices communicating at short range (i.e. less than about 30 feet) with other wireless devices on a wireless network. Signal strength measurements are passed within communication frames between wireless devices which can be used to represent an inverse of the distance, wherefrom a distance vector is determined between wireless devices. Using multiple distance vectors from multiple wireless network devices, a 2-D or 3-D coordinate representation for position of each wireless network in 2-D or 3-D space can be calculated. These coordinates can be utilized for determining the precise traveled position of a specific wireless network device in motion and for establishing a motion sensing system. The motion sensing system can be configured as input to a user interface to control devices and systems which integrated within or connected to devices communicating on the wireless network.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a plurality of communication devices;

said communication devices configured for communication over a wireless network;

said communication devices configured for communicating signal strength information within communication frames;

said plurality of communication devices comprising a first communication device, a second communication device, and a third communication device;

said first communication device comprising a detector,

said detector configured for determining relative distance between said first communication device and said second and third communication devices in response to receiving signal strength information from said second and third communication devices;

wherein said detector is configured to determine said relative distance between said first communication device and said second and third communication devices to determine motion of said first communication device relative to said second and third communication devices; and

wherein said detector is configured for generating motion information for input to a user interface.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said detector comprises:

a computer; and

programming, executable on said computer, configured for,

communicating wirelessly between said first communication device and said second and third communication devices according to a layered protocol,

supporting a media access control layer within said layered protocol,

detecting distance between said first communication device and said second and third communication devices in response to the signal strength information, and

determining motion of said first communication device in relation to said second and third communication devices in response to detected distance between said first communication device and said second and third communication devices.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said programming is further configured for:

generating distance vectors between said first communication device and said second and third communication devices based on the signal strength information.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said detector comprises:

a signal strength estimation module configured for estimating signal strength between said first communication device and said second and third communication devices;

a vector coordinates generation module configured for generating distance vectors based on estimated signal strengths from said signal strength estimation module; and

a proximity motion sensor module for detecting relative motion of said first communication device and said second and third communication devices based on distance vectors from said vector coordinates generation module.

5. A system, comprising:

a plurality of wireless network communication devices;

said plurality of wireless network communication devices comprising a first network communication device, a second network communication device and a third network communication device;

said first network communication device configured for wirelessly communicating beacon frames which include signal strength information;

a motion monitor module, within said first network communication device, configured for monitoring proximity motion of said first network communication device and said second and third network communication devices;

a signal strength estimation module, within said first network communication device, configured for estimating signal strength information among said first network communication device and said second and third network communication devices;

a vector coordinates generation module, within said first network communication device, configured for generating distance vectors based on signal strength estimations from said signal strength estimation module; and

a proximity motion sensor module, within said first network communication device, configured for detecting relative motion of said first network communication device and said second and third network communication devices based on distance vectors from said vector coordinates generation module,

wherein said proximity motion sensor module is configured for generating motion information for use within a user interface.

6. A system as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

means for recalibrating coordinate and position information of a fourth network communication device when said fourth network communication device enters or leaves the network on which said plurality of network communication devices are operating.

7. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said vector coordinates generation module is configured for calculating a relative two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinate representation of position of each of said network communication devices.

8. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said vector coordinates generation module is configured for calculating a precise position of said first network communication device in motion with respect to said second and third network communication devices communicating on the wireless network.

9. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said vector coordinates generation module is configured for utilizing a coordinate representation of initial points and destination points to determine direction of travel of a particular wireless network communication device at a given time within the wireless network.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein said vector coordinates generation module is configured for utilizing a coordinate representation of initial points and destination points to determine distance traveled by a particular wireless network communication device at a given time.

11. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said vector coordinate generation module is configured for utilizing a coordinate representation of initial points and destination points to calculate the speed traveled by a particular wireless network devices at a given time.

12. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said vector coordinate generation module is configured for generating a relative two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinate representation of distance vectors from said plurality of network communication devices to determine relative two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinates of each of the plurality of network communication devices.

13. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein a matrix of distances between each of said plurality of communication devices communicating in the wireless network is utilized to create the two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinate representation.

14. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said signal strength estimation module is configured for sensing relative movement between said first network communication device and said second and third network communication devices communicating in the wireless network.

15. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said signal strength estimation module is configured for calculating distance changes between said network communication devices communicating in the wireless network.

16. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said signal strength estimation module is configured for continuously monitoring said beacon frames transmitted by a sending wireless network communication device to a receiving wireless network communication device communicating in said wireless network at a predetermined transmission interval.

17. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein said vector coordinates generation module is configured for generating a two-dimensional coordinate system in a two-dimensional plane in response to determining any three points and their corresponding distances based on said monitoring of beacon frames.

18. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein said vector coordinates generation module is configured for generating a three-dimensional coordinate system in a three-dimensional space in response to determining any four points and their corresponding distances based on said monitoring of beacon frames.

19. A method, comprising:

communicating signal strength information contained within communication frames among a plurality of wireless network devices over a wireless network system;

said plurality of wireless network devices comprising a first wireless network device, a second wireless network device, and a third wireless network device;

determining distance vectors between said first wireless network device within the plurality of wireless network devices in response to signal strength information

determining a relative two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinate representation for the position of each of said plurality of wireless network devices based on said distance vectors;

determining a precise distance traveled position of said first wireless network device in motion with respect to said second and third wireless network devices communicating on the wireless network in response to said coordinate representation;

generating a motion sensor output responsive to the coordinate representation of said plurality of wireless network devices for detecting the motion of said first wireless network device with respect to said second and third wireless network devices communicating on the wireless; and

inputting motion information from said motion sensor output from said first wireless network device into a user interface module to control operations of one or more devices in response to the proximity detection within said plurality of wireless network devices.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising determining distance changes between said first wireless network device relative to said second and third wireless network devices in said wireless network system.

21. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising determining direction of travel of said first wireless network device at a given time utilizing coordinate representations of initial points and destination points.

22. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising determining the distance traveled by said first wireless network device at a given time utilizing coordinate representations of initial points and destination points.

23. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising determining the speed traveled by said first wireless network device at a given time utilizing coordinate representation of initial points and destination points.

24. A method as recited in claim 23, further comprising recalibrating coordinate and position information a fourth wireless network device enters or leaves the wireless network.

25. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein determining the relative two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinate representation comprises calculating the relative two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinates utilizing multiple distance vectors.

26. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein a matrix of distances between each of the plurality of wireless network devices in the wireless network system is utilized in determining the two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinate representation.

27. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein given any three points in said matrix and corresponding distance between said points, a two-dimensional coordinate system in a two-dimensional plane is created.

28. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein given any four points in said matrix and their corresponding distance between said points, a three-dimensional coordinate system in a three-dimensional space is created.

29. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein said determining of the signal strength is performed within a selected proximity range.

30. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein said selected proximity range comprises a range which is predetermined for said wireless network.

31. A system for detecting two or three-dimensional motion of a wireless network device communicating within a wireless network, comprising:

a plurality of wireless network devices configured for wireless communication with one another and for sending signal strength information within communication frames;

p1 wherein the plurality of wireless network devices comprises a first wireless network device, a second wireless network device, and a third wireless network device, which are configured for wireless communication;

a motion monitor module configured for monitoring proximity motion of said first wireless network device relative to said second and third wireless network devices within said plurality of wireless network devices;

a signal strength estimation module configured for calculating signal strength among communicating wireless network devices within said plurality of wireless network devices;

a vector coordinates generation module is configured for generating vectors based on signal strength estimations communicated among said plurality of wireless network devices; and

a proximity motion sensor module configured for detecting the relative motion of said first wireless network device within said plurality of wireless network devices communicating on the wireless network;

wherein said vector coordinates generation module is configured for calculating distance vectors between a plurality of wireless network devices based on signal strength information contained within the communication frames;

wherein said vector coordinates generation module is configured for calculating two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinate representations for the position of each of said plurality of wireless network devices;

wherein said vector coordinates generation module is configured for determining the direction of travel, distance traveled, and speed of a particular wireless network device at a given time within the wireless network in response to coordinate representation of initial points and destination points;

wherein said vector coordinates generation module is configured for generating a relative two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinate representation of distance vectors from said plurality of wireless network devices to determine the relative two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinates of each of the plurality of wireless network devices; and

wherein said vector coordinates generation module is configured for generating relative two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinate representations in response to a matrix of distance information determined among each of said plurality of wireless network devices communicating in the wireless network.

32. A method of detecting motion of a wireless network device within a plurality of wireless network devices communicating over a wireless network system, comprising:

determining distance vectors between at least three wireless network devices within a plurality of wireless network devices in response to signal strength information retained in wireless communication frames and communicated among the plurality of wireless network devices;

determining a relative two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinate representation for the position of each of said plurality of wireless network devices;

determining a precise distance traveled position of a particular wireless network device in motion with respect to the other wireless network devices communicating on the wireless network;

determining the direction, distance and speed traveled by a particular wireless network device at a given time in response to the coordinate representation of initial points and destination points;

generating motion sensor outputs responsive to the coordinate representation of said plurality of wireless network devices for detecting the motion of any particular one of said plurality of said wireless network devices with respect to the other wireless network devices communicating on the wireless network;

wherein the motion sensor outputs are configured as input information into a user interface module to control operations of one or more devices; and

recalibrating coordinate and position information of a new wireless network device when said new wireless network device enters or leaves the wireless network.

33. A method as recited in claim 32, wherein determining the relative two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinate representation comprises utilizing multiple distance vectors from multiple wireless network devices in the wireless network to calculate the relative two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinates.

34. A method as recited in claim 33, wherein a matrix of distances between each of the plurality of wireless network devices in the wireless network system is utilized in creating the two-dimensional or three-dimensional coordinate representation.

35. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein a two-dimensional coordinate system in a two-dimensional plane is created given any three points and the corresponding distance between these points.

36. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein a three-dimensional coordinate system in a three-dimensional space is created given any four points and the corresponding distance between these points.

37. A method as recited in claim 32, wherein said motion sensor outputs are configured for communicating position information, motion information, or a combination of position and motion information to a user interface module for controlling operations of one or more devices in response to the proximity detection of the wireless network devices.