Static nodes positioning in a wireless network

• US 8,639,184 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2009
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Eruchimovitch, Baruch, Bornstein, Gilad, Strauss, Nir
• Primary Examiner(s): HUANG, WEN WU
• Application Number:
  US12/604,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20100273418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/457
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/876 Combination of several spaced transponders or reflectors of known location for determining the position of a receiver G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Positions in a region serviced by a short range wireless network are established by defining a grid for the region. The grid is divided into a plurality of cells having a predetermined size. A plurality of static nodes can be placed in the cells. A network identifier that is associated with a standard protocol for the network is assigned to each of the static nodes. The identifier is assigned so as to identify the node and to represent a set of X, Y coordinates associated the cell where static node is located. The X,Y coordinate are assigned to the identifier without deviating from the standard protocol. The identifier is periodically broadcast from the static nodes. A cell of the grid within which a mobile node is located is estimated based on the identifier and an additional parameter received from one of the static nodes.

Claims

1. A method for establishing positions in a region serviced by a short range wireless network, the method comprising:

defining a grid for the region, the grid divided into a plurality of cells having a predetermined size, a plurality of static nodes associated with the short range wireless network capable of being placed within ones of the plurality of cells; and

assigning a network identifier to each one of the plurality of static nodes when placed within the ones of the plurality of cells, the network identifier associated with a standard protocol for the short range wireless network, the network identifier assigned so as to identify and to represent a set of X, Y coordinates associated with a first one of the plurality of cells where the one of the plurality of static nodes is located without deviating from the standard protocol, wherein the assigned network identifier is included in a message transmitted in accordance with the standard protocol.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

periodically broadcasting the network identifier from respective ones of the plurality of static nodes; and

estimating a second one of the plurality of cells of the grid within which a mobile node is located based on the respective network identifier and an additional parameter received from ones of the plurality of static nodes.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the additional parameter includes a received signal strength indication (RSSI).

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

receiving the respective network identifier and the additional parameter at the mobile node from at least one of the plurality of static nodes; and

deciding locally at the mobile node, the position of the mobile node relative to the first one of the plurality of cells based on the network identifier and the additional parameter.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein standard protocol for the short range wireless network includes an 802.15.4 network protocol.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

collecting information about the plurality of static nodes at a concentrator node, the information collected based on the respective network identifier associated with each of the plurality of nodes; and

transferring the collected information from the concentrator node to a destination via an internet connection.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the information is collected and transferred across an application layer associated with the standard protocol.

8. A static node for establishing positions in a region serviced by a short range wireless network, the static node comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving communications according to a standard protocol for the short range wireless network; and

a processor coupled to the transceiver, the processor configured to include a network identifier identifying the static node in accordance with the standard protocol when transmitting the communication,

wherein the network identifier represents a set of X, Y coordinates associated with a respective one of a plurality of cells of a grid into which the region is divided and in which the static node is located, each of the plurality of cells having a defined size, the X, Y coordinates provided without deviating from the standard protocol, wherein the assigned network identifier is included in a message transmitted in accordance with the standard protocol.

9. The static node according to claim 8, wherein the transceiver is configured to periodically broadcast the network identifier to receiving nodes.

10. The static node according to claim 9, wherein the transceiver is coupled to the receiving nodes through an air interface and, when the network identifier is periodically broadcast, the receiving nodes receive the network identifier and estimate a one of the plurality of cells of the grid within which respective ones thereof are located based on the network identifier and additional parameter received from the static node.

11. The static node according to claim 10, wherein the additional parameter includes a received signal strength indication (RSSI).

12. The static node according to claim 9, wherein the transceiver is coupled to a concentrator node, the concentrator node coupled to a public network, and, when the network identifier is periodically broadcast, the concentrator node collects information about the position of the static node based on the network identifier and transfers transferring the collected information from the concentrator node to a destination via the public network.

13. The static node according to claim 12, wherein the information includes alarm information associated with one of:

the static node; and

ones of the receiving nodes, the information collected and transferred via the public network using an application layer.

14. The static node according to claim 8, wherein the standard protocol for the short range wireless network includes an 802.15.4 protocol.

15. A mobile node capable of establishing a zone position in a region serviced by a short range wireless network, the mobile node comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving communications according to a standard protocol for the short range wireless network; and

a processor coupled to the transceiver, the processor configured to receive from the transceiver a network identifier in accordance with the standard protocol from at least one of a plurality of static nodes within the short range wireless network, the network identifier identifying the at least one of the plurality of static nodes,

wherein the network identifier represents a set of X, Y coordinates associated with a respective one of a plurality of zones of a grid into which the region is divided and in which the at least one of the plurality of static nodes is located, each of the plurality of zones having a defined size, the X, Y coordinates provided without deviating from the standard protocol, wherein the assigned network identifier is included in a message transmitted in accordance with the standard protocol.

16. The mobile node according to claim 15, wherein the transceiver is configured to periodically receive the network identifier from the at least one of the plurality of static nodes as it moves within the region serviced by the short range wireless network.

17. The mobile node according to claim 15, wherein the transceiver is coupled to the plurality of static nodes through an air interface and, when the network identifier is periodically received from the at least one of the plurality of static nodes, the processor is further configured to estimate a one of the plurality of zones of the grid within which the mobile node is located based on the network identifier and an additional parameter received from the at least one of the plurality of static nodes.

18. The mobile node according to claim 17, wherein the additional parameter includes a received signal strength indication (RSSI).

19. The mobile node according to claim 17, wherein the standard protocol for the short range wireless network includes an 802.15.4 protocol.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for establishing positions in a region serviced by a short range wireless network, the region defined by a grid divided into a plurality of cells having a predetermined size, a plurality of static nodes associated with the short range wireless network capable of being placed within ones of the plurality of cells, the computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon, the instructions when read and executed by a processor in one of the plurality of static nodes for causing the one to:

periodically broadcast a positioning communication; and

include a network identifier in accordance with a standard protocol of the short range wireless network when transmitting the positioning communication, the network identifier identifying a node from which the communication is transmitted,

wherein the network identifier is specifically configured to represent a set of X, Y coordinates associated with a respective one of the plurality of cells of the grid into which the region is divided, each of the plurality of cells having a defined size, the X, Y coordinates provided without deviating from the standard protocol, wherein the assigned network identifier is included in a message transmitted in accordance with the standard protocol.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 20, wherein the standard protocol for the short range wireless network includes an 802.15.4 protocol.

22. An apparatus for establishing positions in a region serviced by a short range wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting and receiving communications according to a standard protocol for the short range wireless network; and

means for including a network identifier in accordance with the standard protocol when transmitting the communications, the network identifier identifying a node from which the communications are transmitted,

wherein the network identifier represents a set of X, Y coordinates associated with a respective one of a plurality of cells of a grid into which the region is divided and in which the node is located, each of the plurality of cells having a defined size, the X, Y coordinates provided without deviating from the standard protocol, wherein the network identifier is included in a message transmitted in accordance with the standard protocol.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the means for transmitting and receiving is further for periodically broadcasting the network identifier to receiving nodes over an air interface.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the means for transmitting and receiving further transmits an additional parameter with the network identifier.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the additional parameter includes a received signal strength indication (RSSI).

26. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the standard protocol for the short range wireless network includes an 802.15.4 protocol.