System for synthetic vision

• US 8,816,820 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2011
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Huseth, Steve D., Kulkarni, Amit
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Bhavin M
• Application Number:
  US13/096,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20120274446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 340/8.1, 340/539.15, 340/539.18
• US Class Current: 340/8.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/047 Displays or indicators G01S1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/046 Displays or indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0231 Emergency, distress or locator beacons

Abstract

A first mobile device includes a location processor, a communication processor, and a display, and a second mobile device includes a location processor and a communication processor. The first mobile device is configured to wirelessly communicate with the second mobile device, and the first mobile device is configured to display a superimposed icon representing a location of the second mobile device as viewed from the perspective of the first mobile device when the first mobile device is pointed in the direction of the second mobile device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first mobile device comprising a location processor, a communication processor, and a display; and

a second mobile device comprising a location processor and a communication processor;

wherein the first mobile device is configured to wirelessly communicate with the second mobile device; and

wherein the first mobile device is configured to display, in a three dimensional synthetic image of a building structure, a superimposed icon representing a location of the second mobile device as viewed from the perspective of the first mobile device when the first mobile device is pointed in the direction of the second mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mobile device is configured to display a horizontal distance and a vertical distance between the first mobile device and the second mobile device;

and wherein the icon represents one or more of the second mobile device and a person holding the second mobile device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second mobile device comprises one or more of a motion sensor, an inertial sensor, and a posture sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, comprising a central processor, the central processor configured to facilitate the wireless communication between the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mobile device is configured to:

read a database, the database comprising data relating to a topology of a building; and

display the location in the building of the second mobile device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the display comprises a three dimensional image comprising multiple floors in the building.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the display includes features of the building including one or more of an exit, a stairwell, a wall, a door, and a window.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the first mobile device is configured to display a path to the second mobile device from the first mobile device, and a path from the second mobile device to a particular area of the building.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the first mobile device is configured to interact with one or more visual signaling devices and one or more audio signaling devices, the visual signaling devices and audio signaling devices indicating the path to the second mobile device and the path from the second mobile device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mobile device is configured to display locations of a plurality of the second mobile devices.

11. A system comprising:

a computer server;

a database coupled to the computer server, the database comprising a topology of a building; and

a plurality of mobile devices, the mobile devices comprising a display unit, a communication processor, and a location processor;

wherein the server is configured to read the database and to display an image of an interior of the building on the display unit; and

wherein the server is configured to determine a location within the building of a particular mobile device, and to display on the display unit, in a three dimensional synthetic image of a building structure, a superimposed icon representing the location of the particular mobile device from the perspective of one of the plurality of mobile devices.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the location processor comprises one or more of a received signal strength indication (RSSI) processor, a plurality of identification tags and readers, an inertial guidance and location processor, and an ultra wide band radio processor.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the first mobile device is configured to determine an orientation of the first mobile device, and to orient the display of the interior of the building on the first mobile device as a function of the orientation of the first mobile device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein a mobile device comprises an image sensing device, and wherein the mobile device is configured to superimpose the icon on an image captured by the mobile device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the second mobile device comprises one or more of a motion sensor, an inertial sensor, and a posture sensor.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed by a processor execute a process comprising:

causing a first mobile device to wirelessly communicate with a second mobile device; and

causing the first mobile device to display, in a three dimensional synthetic image of a building structure, a superimposed icon representing a location of the second mobile device as viewed from the perspective of the first mobile device when the first mobile device is pointed in the direction of the second mobile device.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, comprising instructions causing the first mobile device to display a horizontal distance and a vertical distance between the first mobile device and the second mobile device;

and wherein the icon represents one or more of the second mobile device and a person holding the second mobile device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, comprising instructions to cause the first mobile device to communicate with a central processor, the central processor configured to facilitate the wireless communication between the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, comprising instructions causing the first mobile device to:

read a database, the database comprising data relating to a topology of a building; and

display the location in the building of the second mobile device.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, comprising instructions to cause the first mobile device to display a path to the second mobile device from the first mobile device, and a path from the second mobile device to a particular area of the building.