Apparatus and method for constructing and utilizing a beacon location database

• US 8,188,921 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2009
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teecom
• Original Assignee: TEECOM Design Group, Co.
• Inventors: Marks, David Allen, Serriere, Alexander James
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mull, Fred H
• Application Number:
  US12/562,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20110068981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 342/451, 342/458, 342463-465
• US Class Current: 342/451
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/04 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0226 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0236 Assistance data, e.g. base station almanac
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location

Abstract

A method to support client device position discovery within a building includes ascribing building position coordinates to beacons within the building. The building position coordinates are converted to physical position coordinates. The physical position coordinates are augmented with at least one additional parameter that supports position resolution. A client device communicates with accessed beacons positioned within the building. A beacon location database characterizing the physical locations of the accessed beacons is also accessed. The physical location of the client device is computed based upon the physical locations of the accessed beacons.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

accessing a building information modeling tool that provides a three-dimensional model of a building;

ascribing building position coordinates to beacons within the building, wherein the building position coordinates express spatial relationships in the three-dimensional model of the building;

converting the building position coordinates to physical position coordinates;

augmenting the physical position coordinates with at least one additional parameter that supports position resolution; and

adding the physical position coordinates and at least one additional parameter to a database.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein converting includes utilizing polar vectors.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the physical position coordinates are expressed as latitude, longitude and altitude.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one additional parameter is selected from a beacon manufacturer, a beacon model number, a beacon antenna design parameter, a beacon radio frequency and a beacon power output parameter.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising delivering the physical position coordinates and at least one additional parameter to a client device within the building.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising computing at a server a client device position within the building.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising storing client device location information at the server.

8. A computer readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions to:

access a building information modeling tool that provides a three-dimensional model of a building;

ascribe building position coordinates to beacons within a building, wherein the building position coordinates express spatial relationships in the three-dimensional model of the building;

convert the building position coordinates to physical position coordinates;

augment the physical position coordinates with at least one additional parameter that supports position resolution; and

deliver the physical position coordinates and at least one additional parameter to a client device within the building.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the at least one additional parameter is selected from a beacon manufacturer, a beacon model number, a beacon antenna design parameter, beacon radio frequency and a beacon power output parameter.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the executable instructions to convert include executable instructions to utilize polar vectors.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein the physical position coordinates are expressed as latitude, longitude and altitude.