Wireless mobile indoor/outdoor tracking system

• US 7,852,262 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2008
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cybernet Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cybernet Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Jacobus, Charles J., Namineni, Pavan K., Siebert, Gary, Davey, Trevor
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIU, HARRY K
• Application Number:
  US12/192,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20090046005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.07, 342/357.28, 342/357.29
• US Class Current: 342/357.28
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/014 Identifying transitions between environments
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks

Abstract

This invention is a wireless mobile indoor/outdoor tracking system. It is designed to track the absolute position of all nodes in a network indoors and outdoors. The system uses GPS positioning when a signal is available and RF ranging when it is unavailable. When indoors, a minimum of three network nodes must receive a GPS signal to determine absolute position. A mesh network is used to make the system mobile and to create an avenue for data to be transmitted to a remote base station.

Claims

1. A indoor/outdoor positioning system, comprising:

a plurality of geo telemetry units (GTUs), each GTU containing;

a global positioning system (GPS) satellite receiver, a

a radio-frequency (RF) transceiver, and

a microcontroller (MCU) in electronic communication with the GPS receiver and RF transceiver, each MCU being operative to perform the following functions;

(a) automatically determine the absolute position of the GTU based upon GPS if GPS signals are available;

(b) if GPS signals are not available, automatically communicating with other GTUs to determine its position relative to at least three other GTUs using RF ranging; and

(c) automatically communicate its location to other GTUs, regardless of whether position was determined through GPS or RF ranging.

2. The indoor/outdoor positioning system of claim 1, wherein each GTU is a self-contained, battery-operated mobile device.

3. The indoor/outdoor positioning system of claim 1, including a GTU with a sensor module to collect and communicate data to other GTUs.

4. The indoor/outdoor positioning system of claim 1, wherein the GTUs form a mesh network.

5. The indoor/outdoor positioning system of claim 1, wherein position is determined relative to other GTUs using RF ranging based upon signal strength.