System and method for location estimation in environments unsuitable for GPS technology
First Claim
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1. A method for location estimation comprising:
- broadcasting, from a client device, a plurality of location request signals, each location request signal having a different transmission power level, the respective location request signal comprising an identification of the client device and an identification of a transmission power level at which the location request signal was broadcasted or an identification of a maximum transmission range associated with the transmission power level;
receiving, at a location beacon, at least one of the broadcasted location request signalsupon receiving a location request signal, transmitting, from the location beacon, a broadcasting response signal, wherein the broadcasting response signal comprises a location of the location beacon, the identification of the client device, and the identification of the transmission power level at which the location request signal was broadcasted or the identification of the maximum transmission range associated with the transmission power level, wherein the broadcasting response signal is broadcasted using the transmission power level identified in the received location request signal or is broadcasted such that the maximum transmission range of the broadcasting response signal corresponds to the maximum transmission range identified in the received location request signal;
receiving at the client device the transmitted broadcasting response signal; and
estimating a current location of the client device based on the received broadcasting response signal.
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Abstract
A device and method for providing location estimations. The device may be configured to estimate its location by transmitting and/or receiving signals of respective transmission ranges. The device may also be configured to transition from a client device operational mode to a location beacon operational mode once an accurate location estimation has been obtained.
18 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for location estimation comprising:
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broadcasting, from a client device, a plurality of location request signals, each location request signal having a different transmission power level, the respective location request signal comprising an identification of the client device and an identification of a transmission power level at which the location request signal was broadcasted or an identification of a maximum transmission range associated with the transmission power level; receiving, at a location beacon, at least one of the broadcasted location request signals upon receiving a location request signal, transmitting, from the location beacon, a broadcasting response signal, wherein the broadcasting response signal comprises a location of the location beacon, the identification of the client device, and the identification of the transmission power level at which the location request signal was broadcasted or the identification of the maximum transmission range associated with the transmission power level, wherein the broadcasting response signal is broadcasted using the transmission power level identified in the received location request signal or is broadcasted such that the maximum transmission range of the broadcasting response signal corresponds to the maximum transmission range identified in the received location request signal; receiving at the client device the transmitted broadcasting response signal; and estimating a current location of the client device based on the received broadcasting response signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A location beacon comprising:
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a receiver configured to receive a location request signal transmitted from a client device, wherein the location request signal comprises an identification of the client device and an identification of a transmission power level at which the location request signal was broadcasted or an identification of a maximum transmission range associated with the transmission power level; a transmitter configured to broadcast a broadcasting response signal wherein the broadcasting response signal comprises a location of the location beacon, the identification of the client device, and the identification of the transmission power level at which the location request signal was broadcasted or the identification of the maximum transmission range associated with the transmission power level, wherein the transmitter is further configured to broadcast the broadcasting response signal using the transmission power level identified in the received location request signal or to broadcast the broadcasting response signal such that the maximum transmission range of the broadcasting response signal corresponds to the maximum transmission range identified in the received location request signal.
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8. A location estimation unit arranged in a client device, the local estimation unit comprising:
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a receiver configured to receive at least one location signal from a location beacon, wherein each of the at least one location signal comprises a location of the location beacon and an identification of a transmission power level at which the location request signal was broadcasted or an identification of a maximum transmission range associated with the transmission power level; and an estimator configured to estimate a current location based on the received at least one location signal and the transmission power level or maximum transmission range included in the received at least one location signal, wherein the location estimation unit is further configured to transition to a location beacon operational mode from a client device operational mode when the location unit gas reached a predetermined level of accuracy, wherein the location estimation unit is further configured to determine the predetermined level of accuracy based or a type of power source. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification