Communicating direction information

• US 7,460,011 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rallypoint, Rally Point Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rally Point Inc.
• Inventors: Eng, Tony, Liau, Forrest
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phung
• Application Number:
  US11/154,081
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/995.24, 340/995.17, 340/539.15, 701/300, 342/147, 342/357.14
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/30 the synchronised signals being continuous waves or intermittent trains of continuous waves, the intermittency not being for the purpose of determining direction or position line and the transit times being compared by measuring the phase difference

Abstract

Communicating direction information includes determining direction information with respect to a first frame of reference, and transmitting from an originating entity to one or more receiving entities intermediate information based at least in part on the direction information. For each of at least some of the receiving entities, information based at least in part on the intermediate information and a relationship between the first frame of reference and a second frame of reference associated with the respective receiving entity is presented.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining direction information with respect to a first frame of reference comprising an orientation associated with an originating entity;

transmitting from the originating entity to one or more receiving entities intermediate information comprising the direction information translated into an absolute frame of reference according to the orientation associated with the originating entity; and

for each of at least some of the receiving entities, presenting information based at least in part on the intermediate information and a relationship between the first frame of reference and a second frame of reference associated with the respective receiving entity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the intermediate information further comprises information identifying one or more of the receiving entities.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the intermediate information further comprises a message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the message comprises a command associated with the direction information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the originating entity and the one or more receiving entities comprises a machine.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining direction information comprises capturing the direction information from one or more sensors.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more sensors are worn by or affixed to the originating entity.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a plurality of sensors in an article of clothing worn by the originating entity.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining respective direction information from each of a plurality of originating entities, and transmitting intermediate information from each of the plurality of originating entities.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the intermediate information comprises transmitting the intermediate information over a wireless link.

11. A communication system, comprising:

an originator system configured to

determine direction information with respect to a first frame of reference comprising an orientation associated with the originator system; and

transmit a signal including intermediate information comprising the direction information translated into an absolute frame of reference according to the orientation associated with the originator system; and

a receiver system configured to present information based at least in part on the intermediate information and a relationship between the first frame of reference and a second frame of reference associated with the receiver system.

12. A communication system, comprising:

means for determining direction information with respect to a first frame of reference comprising an orientation associated with an originating entity;

means for transmitting from the originating entity to one or more receiving entities intermediate information comprising the direction information translated into an absolute frame of reference according to the orientation associated with the originating entity; and

means for presenting, for each of at least some of the receiving entities, information based at least in part on the intermediate information and a relationship between the first frame of reference and a second frame of reference associated with the respective receiving entity.

13. A method, comprising:

determining direction information with respect to a first frame of reference;

transmitting from an originating entity to one or more receiving entities intermediate information; and

for each of at least some of the receiving entities, presenting information based at least in part on the intermediate information and a relationship between the first frame of reference and a second frame of reference associated with the respective receiving entity;

wherein the intermediate information comprises the direction information translated according to the relationship between the first frame of reference and the second frame of reference.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting from each receiving entity to the originating entity, respective orientation information indicating each second frame of reference associated with each respective receiving entity.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising remotely determining each second frame of reference associated with each respective receiving entity.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the intermediate information further comprises information identifying one or more of the receiving entities.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the intermediate information further comprises a message.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the message comprises a command associated with the direction information.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the originating entity and the one or more receiving entities comprises a machine.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein determining direction information comprises capturing the direction information from one or more sensors.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the one or more sensors are worn by or affixed to the originating entity.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a plurality of sensors in an article of clothing worn by the originating entity.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining respective direction information from each of a plurality of originating entities, and transmitting intermediate information from each of the plurality of originating entities.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein transmitting the intermediate information comprises transmitting the intermediate information over a wireless link.

25. A communication system, comprising:

an originator system configured to

determine direction information with respect to a first frame of reference; and

transmit a signal including intermediate information; and

a receiver system configured to present information based at least in part on the intermediate information and a relationship between the first frame of reference and a second frame of reference associated with the receiver system;

wherein the intermediate information comprises the direction information translated according to the relationship between the first frame of reference and the second frame of reference.

26. A communication system, comprising:

means for determining direction information with respect to a first frame of reference;

means for transmitting from an originating entity to one or more receiving entities intermediate information; and

means for presenting, for each of at least some of the receiving entities, information based at least in part on the intermediate information and a relationship between the first frame of reference and a second frame of reference associated with the respective receiving entity;

wherein the intermediate information comprises the direction information translated according to the relationship between the first frame of reference and the second frame of reference.

27. A method, comprising:

determining direction information with respect to a first frame of reference;

transmitting from an originating entity to one or more receiving entities intermediate information, wherein the intermediate information is based at least in part on the direction information and the intermediate information further comprises additional information from the originating entity; and

for each of at least some of the receiving entities, presenting information based at least in part on the intermediate information and a relationship between the first frame of reference and a second frame of reference associated with the respective receiving entity.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the intermediate information comprises the direction information and an orientation associated with the originating entity.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the additional information comprises a position of the originating entity.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the additional information comprises an identity of the originating entity.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the intermediate information further comprises information identifying one or more of the receiving entities.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the intermediate information further comprises a message.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the message comprises a command associated with the direction information.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one of the originating entity and the one or more receiving entities comprises a machine.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein determining direction information comprises capturing the direction information from one or more sensors.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the one or more sensors are worn by or affixed to the originating entity.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a plurality of sensors in an article of clothing worn by the originating entity.

38. The method of claim 27, further comprising determining respective direction information from each of a plurality of originating entities, and transmitting intermediate information from each of the plurality of originating entities.

39. The method of claim 27, wherein transmitting the intermediate information comprises transmitting the intermediate information over a wireless link.

40. A communication system, comprising:

an originator system configured to

determine direction information with respect to a first frame of reference; and

transmit a signal including intermediate information, wherein the intermediate information is based at least in part on the direction information and the intermediate information further comprises additional information from the originating entity; and

a receiver system configured to present information based at least in part on the intermediate information and a relationship between the first frame of reference and a second frame of reference associated with the receiver system.

41. A communication system, comprising:

means for determining direction information with respect to a first frame of reference;

means for transmitting from an originating entity to one or more receiving entities intermediate information, wherein the intermediate information is based at least in part on the direction information and the intermediate information further comprises additional information from the originating entity; and

means for presenting, for each of at least some of the receiving entities, information based at least in part on the intermediate information and a relationship between the first frame of reference and a second frame of reference associated with the respective receiving entity.