Location system with swept digital beacon

• US 7,256,736 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2005
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Johnson, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US11/201,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20070035443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 342/386, 342/457, 342463-465, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/456.6, 455/457
• US Class Current: 342/386
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/66 Superimposing direction-indicating intelligence signals, e.g. speech, Morse

Abstract

A detection system includes a fixed-position transmitter and a mobile unit. The transmitter digitally transmits a data packet including angle information associated with the transmitter, and the mobile unit includes a receiver for receiving the transmitted data packet. The mobile unit is configured to detect a plurality of data packets from a single transmitter, the plurality of data packets including non-identical angle information. The mobile also determines new angle information from the non-identical angle information in the plurality of data packets and determines a location of the mobile unit relative to the transmitter using the new angle information. Also, the mobile unit is configured to indicate information associated with the determined location to a user.

Claims

1. A detection system, comprising:

a fixed-position transmitter for digitally transmitting a data packet including angle information associated with the transmitter; and

a mobile unit including a receiver for receiving the transmitted data packet, wherein

the mobile unit is configured to

detect a plurality of data packets from a single transmitter, the plurality of data packets including non-identical angle information,

determine new angle information from the non-identical angle information in the plurality of data packets, and

determine a location of the mobile unit relative to the transmitter using the new angle information.

2. The detection system according to claim 1, wherein detection system includes a plurality of fixed-position transmitters, each of the plurality of transmitters digitally transmitting a respective data packet including angle information.

3. The detection system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile unit is configured to calculate a three-dimensional location of the mobile unit relative to the plurality of transmitters.

4. The detection system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile unit is configured to indicate information associated with the determined location to a user.

5. The detection system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits the data packet within a broadcast angle.

6. The detection system according to claim 5, wherein the transmitter sequentially steps the broadcast angle by a stepping angle.

7. The detection system according to claim 6, wherein the stepping angle is less than or equal to one-half the broadcast angle.

8. A mobile unit for receiving a transmitted data packet including angle information from a fixed-position transmitter, wherein

the mobile unit is configured to

detect a plurality of data packets from a single transmitter, the plurality of data packets including non-identical angle information associated with the single transmitter,

determine new angle information from the non-identical angle information in the plurality of data packets, and

determine a location of the mobile unit relative to the transmitter using the new angle information.

9. The mobile unit according to claim 8, wherein the mobile unit is configured to calculate a three-dimensional location of the mobile unit relative to a plurality of fixed-position transmitters.

10. The mobile unit according to claim 8, wherein the mobile unit is configured to indicate information associated with the determined location to a user.

11. The mobile unit according to claim 8, wherein the transmitter transmits the data packet within a broadcast angle.

12. A method for determining a location of a mobile unit, comprising the steps of:

receiving a transmitted data packet including angle information from a fixed-position transmitter and associated with the transmitter;

detecting a plurality of data packets from a single transmitter, the plurality of data packets including non-identical angle information associated with the single transmitter,

determining new angle information from the non-identical angle information in the plurality of data packets, and

determining a location of the mobile unit relative to the transmitter using the new angle information.

13. The mobile unit according to claim 12, wherein the mobile unit is configured to calculate a three-dimensional location of the mobile unit relative to a plurality of fixed-position transmitters.

14. The mobile unit according to claim 12, wherein the mobile unit is configured to indicate information associated with the determined location to a user.

15. The mobile unit according to claim 12, wherein the transmitter transmits the data packet within a broadcast angle.

16. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes a location system to determine a location of a mobile unit, comprising the steps of:

receiving a transmitted data packet including angle information from a fixed-position transmitter and associated with the transmitter;

detecting a plurality of data packets from a single transmitter, the plurality of data packets including non-identical angle information,

determining new angle information from the non-identical angle information in the plurality of data packets, and

determining a location of the mobile unit relative to the transmitter using the new angle information.

17. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein the mobile unit is configured to calculate a three-dimensional location of the mobile unit relative to a plurality of fixed-position transmitters.

18. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein the mobile unit is configured to indicate information associated with the determined location to a user.

19. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein the transmitter transmits the data packet within a broadcast angle.