Automatic mode change in ultrasonic locationing
First Claim
1. A method for automatically changing modes for ultrasonic locationing of a mobile device within an environment, the method comprising:
- transmitting ultrasonic pulses to be used for locationing of mobile communication devices within the environment in accordance with a transmit schedule by a plurality of fixed ultrasonic devices within the environment;
determining when a fixed access point within the environment begins serving a newly registered mobile communication device;
instructing only those ultrasonic devices proximal to the serving access point to deactivate their transmit mode and switch to a receive mode to listen for an ultrasonic acoustic tone from the newly registered mobile communication device;
directing the newly registered mobile communication device to emit the ultrasonic acoustic tone;
establishing an initial location of the newly registered mobile communication device using measurements of the ultrasonic acoustic tone at each proximal ultrasonic device;
adapting the transmit schedule to accommodate the newly registered mobile communication device at the initial location; and
returning the proximal ultrasonic devices to transmit mode using the adapted transmit schedule.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for changing modes for ultrasonic locationing of a mobile device includes transmitting ultrasonic pulses using a transmit schedule by fixed ultrasonic emitters. When a fixed access point begins serving a new mobile device, those ultrasonic emitters proximal to the access point are deactivated and associated microphones are activated to receive an acoustic tone from the new mobile device. This acoustic tone is used to establish an initial location of the new mobile device using measurements of the received acoustic tone at each proximal microphone. The transmit schedule is adapted to accommodate the new mobile device at the initial location, and the proximal ultrasonic emitters are returned to transmit mode. In this way, an accurate starting position of the new mobile device is established without greatly interrupting other mobile devices that are currently being located.
18 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for automatically changing modes for ultrasonic locationing of a mobile device within an environment, the method comprising:
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transmitting ultrasonic pulses to be used for locationing of mobile communication devices within the environment in accordance with a transmit schedule by a plurality of fixed ultrasonic devices within the environment; determining when a fixed access point within the environment begins serving a newly registered mobile communication device; instructing only those ultrasonic devices proximal to the serving access point to deactivate their transmit mode and switch to a receive mode to listen for an ultrasonic acoustic tone from the newly registered mobile communication device; directing the newly registered mobile communication device to emit the ultrasonic acoustic tone; establishing an initial location of the newly registered mobile communication device using measurements of the ultrasonic acoustic tone at each proximal ultrasonic device; adapting the transmit schedule to accommodate the newly registered mobile communication device at the initial location; and returning the proximal ultrasonic devices to transmit mode using the adapted transmit schedule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for automatically changing modes for ultrasonic locationing of a mobile device within an environment, the system comprising:
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a plurality of fixed ultrasonic devices within the environment, the ultrasonic devices each including an ultrasonic emitter and microphone, the ultrasonic emitters operable, in a transmit mode, to transmit ultrasonic pulses to be used for locationing of mobile communication devices within the environment in accordance with a transmit schedule; a plurality of fixed access points within the environment and operable on a communication network; at least one mobile communication device operable to register with one of the access points; and a backend controller coupled to the access points and the ultrasonic devices, the backend controller operable to; determine when an access point begins serving a newly registered mobile communication device, instructing only those ultrasonic devices proximal to the serving access point to switch to a receive mode that activates their associated microphones and deactivates their associated emitters, directing, via the serving access points, the newly registered mobile communication device to emit an ultrasonic acoustic tone, establishing an initial location of the newly registered mobile communication device using measurements of the ultrasonic acoustic tone at each proximal ultrasonic device, adapting the transmit schedule to accommodate the newly registered mobile communication device at the initial location, and returning the proximal ultrasonic devices to transmit mode using the adapted transmit schedule. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification