Systems and methods for indoor positioning

• US 8,457,180 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2011
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nant Holdings IP, LLC (NantWorks, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Adeptence, LLC
• Inventors: Lakkis, Ismail, Law, Hock
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, SIU M
• Application Number:
  US13/151,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20120002702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 375/316, 375/295, 375/219, 375/220, 375/222, 375/354, 375/356, 375/359, 375/362, 375/363, 375/364, 375/365, 375/366, 375/367, 375/368
• US Class Current: 375/219
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/20 using a comparison of transit time of synchronised signals transmitted from non-directional antennas or antenna systems spaced apart, i.e. path-difference systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0226 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/10 Position of receiver fixed by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements , e.g. omega or decca systemsG01S5/12 takes precedence ; beacons and receivers cooperating therewith G01S1/306, G01S1/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/69 Spread spectrum techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/00 Modulated-carrier systems

Abstract

A positioning system comprises a plurality of controllers, each controller comprising a wideband receiver and a narrow band transmitter, the each controller configured to receive a wideband positioning frame using the wideband receiver from one or more devices and to transmit acknowledgement frames using the narrow band transmitter that include timing and control data for use by the devices to establish timing for transmission of the positioning frame; and at least one device comprising a wideband transmitter and a narrow band receiver, the device configured to transmit a positioning frame to the plurality of controllers using the wideband transmitter and to receive an acknowledgement frame from one or more controllers using the narrow band receiver, extract timing and control information from the frame, and adjust the timing and synchronization of the wideband transmitter using the timing and control information.

Claims

1. A positioning system comprising:

a plurality of controllers, each controller comprising a wideband receiver and a narrow band transmitter, the each controller configured to receive a wideband positioning frame using the wideband receiver from one or more devices and to transmit acknowledgement frames using the narrow band transmitter that include timing and control data for use by the devices to establish timing for transmission of the positioning frame; and

at least one device comprising a wideband transmitter and a narrow band receiver, the device configured to transmit the positioning frame to the plurality of controllers using the wideband transmitter and to receive the acknowledgement frame from one or more controllers using the narrow band receiver, extract timing and control information from the acknowledgement frame, and adjust a timing and synchronization of the wideband transmitter using the timing and control information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the narrow band transmitter and the narrow band receiver are configured to operate in the Industrial Scientific and Medical (ISM) band.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the narrow band transmitter and the narrow band receiver are configured to operate at about 2.45 GHz.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the wideband receiver and the wideband transmitter are configured to operate in the Ultra Wideband (UWB) spectrum.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of controllers is configured to transmit, using the narrow band transmitter, the timing and control information for the wideband transmitter operation.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the device is configured to receive the timing and control information, synchronize the wideband transmitter and transmit the positioning frame.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of controllers are configured to receive the positioning frame and send information included in the positioning frame to a server.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the positioning frame includes a time stamp, and wherein the plurality of controllers that receive the positioning frame are configured to determine the time the positioning frame was received.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the server is configured to use triangulation to determine a position of the device.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the device uses a superframe to communicate with the controllers via the wideband transmitter, and wherein the timing and control information includes superframe information including a start time of the superframe.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to turn on the wideband transmitter for a short duration in order to transmit the positioning frame and then turn the transmitter off.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the device is further configured to then turn the narrow band receiver on for a short period in order to receive the acknowledgement frame form one or more of the controllers and then turn the receiver off.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the device is configured to attempt re-transmission of the positioning frame when it does not receive an acknowledgement in a certain period of time.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a server interfaced with the plurality of controllers, the server configured to maintain synchronization between the plurality of controllers.

15. A positioning system comprising:

a plurality of controllers, each controller comprising a wideband receiver and a narrow band transmitter, the each controller configured to receive a wideband positioning frame using the wideband receiver from one or more devices and to transmit acknowledgement frames using the narrow band transmitter that include timing and control data for use by the devices to establish timing for transmission of the positioning frame;

at least one device comprising a wideband transmitter and a narrow band receiver, the device configured to transmit the positioning frame to the plurality of controllers using the wideband transmitter and to receive the acknowledgement frame from one or more controllers using the narrow band receiver, extract timing and control information from the acknowledgement frame, and adjust a timing and synchronization of the wideband transmitter using the timing and control information; and

a server interfaced with the plurality of controllers, the server configured to maintain synchronization between the plurality of controllers.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the narrow band transmitter and the narrow band receiver are configured to operate in the Industrial Scientific and Medical (ISM) band.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the narrow band transmitter and the narrow band receiver are configured to operate at about 2.45 GHz.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the wideband receiver and the wideband transmitter are configured to operate in the Ultra Wideband (UWB) spectrum.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of controllers is configured to transmit, using the narrow band transmitter, the timing and control information for the wideband transmitter operation.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the device is configured to receive the timing and control information, synchronize the wideband transmitter and transmit the positioning frame.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the plurality of controllers are configured to receive the positioning frame and send information included in the positioning frame to the server.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the positioning frame includes a time stamp, and wherein the plurality of controllers that receive the positioning frame are configured to determine the time the positioning frame was received.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the server is configured to use triangulation to determine the position of the device.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the device uses a superframe to communicate with the controllers via the wideband transmitter, and wherein the timing and control information includes superframe information including a start time of the superframe.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the device is configured to turn on the wideband transmitter for a short duration in order to transmit the positioning frame and then turn the transmitter off.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the device is further configured to then turn the narrow band receiver on for a short period in order to receive the acknowledgement frame form one or more of the controllers and then turn the receiver off.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the device is configured to attempt re-transmission of the positioning frame when it does not receive an acknowledgement in a certain period of time.