Beacon device automatic identity recognition method

• US 9,546,875 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2015
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited (Cal-Comp Electronics Public Company Limited), Kinpo Electronics Incorporated (Cal-Comp Electronics Public Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited (Cal-Comp Electronics Public Company Limited), Kinpo Electronics Incorporated (Cal-Comp Electronics Public Company Limited)
• Inventors: Hsieh, Tung-Yun, Lin, Chuan-Kai
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIGE, TYLER D
• Application Number:
  US14/793,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20160341556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 701/23, 700/258, 180/169
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/028 using a RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

An automatic identity recognition method used for a robot and a plurality of beacon devices is disclosed. The robot has a tag device. After the robot is started, the tag device enters into a discovery mode and broadcasts a blinking message externally. Each of the plurality of beacon devices respectively replies an initial message including its own anchor ID to the tag device if receiving the blinking message. After receiving the initial message, the tag device records the anchor ID of the initial message into a configuration list, and replies a control command to the beacon device who replies the initial message, so as to control the beacon device not to reply the initial message continually.

Claims

1. A beacon device automatic identity recognition method used among a robot and a plurality of beacon devices, the robot being disposed with a tag device and the automatic identity recognition method comprising:

a) entering a discovery mode and sending a blinking message outwardly by the tag device;

b) receiving an initial message replied from one of the plurality of beacon devices after the beacon device received the blinking message, wherein the initial message comprises an anchor identification (ID) of the corresponding beacon device;

c) recording the anchor ID in a configuration list when the configuration list not including the anchor ID;

d) replying a control command to the beacon device that sends the initial message to control the beacon device stopping sending the initial message;

e) executing the step b) to step d) repeatedly within a first time period; and

f) exiting the discovery mode after the first time period being passed or the number of the anchor IDs recorded in the configuration list reaching a threshold number.

2. The beacon device automatic identity recognition method of claim 1, wherein the step c) comprising:

c1) determining whether the configuration list recording the anchor ID corresponding to the initial message;

c2) dropping the anchor ID if the configuration list already recording the anchor ID; and

c3) recording the anchor ID in the configuration list when the configuration list not recording the anchor ID.

3. The beacon device automatic identity recognition method of claim 1, wherein the threshold number is a minimal number required for the robot to perform an indoor navigation process.

4. The beacon device automatic identity recognition method of claim 3, wherein the number of the threshold number is three.

5. The beacon device automatic identity recognition method of claim 1, further comprising following steps after the step d):

d01) determining whether the control command being received by the beacon device; and

d02) entering a sleep mode within a second time period based on the control command after receiving the control command.

6. The beacon device automatic identity recognition method of claim 5, wherein the second time period is equal to the first time period.

7. The beacon device automatic identity recognition method of claim 5, wherein the first time period and the second time period are smaller or equal to one second.

8. The beacon device automatic identity recognition method of claim 1, wherein in step a), the tag device sends the blinking message outwardly via a broadcasting technology.

9. The beacon device automatic identity recognition method of claim 1, further comprising the following steps after the step f):

g) determining whether a waiting time period being passed when the number of the anchor IDs recorded in the configuration list not reaching the threshold number;

h) following the step g), repeatedly executing the step a) to the step f) when the waiting time period being passed;

i) entering a ranging phase when the number of the anchor IDs of the configuration list reaching the threshold number;

j) following the step i, separately performing a ranging procedure with the plurality of beacon devices corresponding to the plurality of anchor IDs recorded in the configuration list to obtain the location of each beacon device; and

k) controlling the robot to move and navigating via the corresponding beacon devices.

10. The beacon device automatic identity recognition method of claim 9, further comprising the following steps after the step k):

l) determining whether the waiting time period being passed when the number of the anchor IDs in the configuration list not reaching a predetermined number;

m) following the step l, repeatedly performing the step a) to the step f) after the waiting time being passed; and

n) stopping counting the waiting time period and stopping sending the blinking message when the number of the anchor IDs in the configuration list reaching the predetermined number.