Determining node location using a lower level node association in a wireless node network
First Claim
1. A method for location determination using one or more associations of nodes in a wireless node network and a managing network element in the wireless node network, the method comprising:
- instructing, by the managing network element, a first of the nodes to broadcast one or more first messages at a first power level, the first power level being related to a first optimal range distance when broadcasting from the first of the nodes;
identifying, by the managing network element, which of the nodes associated with the first node have known locations according to location data related with each of the nodes associated with the first node;
communicating, by the managing network element, with the identified associated nodes to determine which of the identified associated nodes received at least one of the first messages;
instructing, by the managing network element, the first node to broadcast one or more second messages at a second power level, the second power level being related to a second range distance and the second power level being incrementally smaller than the first power level;
communicating, by the managing network element, with the identified associated nodes to determine which of the identified associated nodes received at least one of the second messages; and
determining, by the managing network element, a location of the first node to be at or between the first optimal range distance and the second range distance from each of the identified associated nodes that did not receive at least one of the second messages but received at least one of the first messages.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improved methods and apparatus are described for determining node locations using one or more associations of nodes in a wireless node network. In general, a first node (such as a master node) may broadcast one or more first messages at a first anticipated range distance. The first node identifies which nodes associated with the first node received at least one of the first messages, such as by reports from associated nodes that receives such message(s). The first node then broadcasts one or more second messages at a smaller anticipated range distance (e.g., with a lower output power level), and determines a location of those associated nodes that did not receive any second messages but received at least one of the first messages. Such a location is between the first anticipated range distance from the first node and the second anticipated range distance from the first node.
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Citations
76 Claims
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1. A method for location determination using one or more associations of nodes in a wireless node network and a managing network element in the wireless node network, the method comprising:
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instructing, by the managing network element, a first of the nodes to broadcast one or more first messages at a first power level, the first power level being related to a first optimal range distance when broadcasting from the first of the nodes; identifying, by the managing network element, which of the nodes associated with the first node have known locations according to location data related with each of the nodes associated with the first node; communicating, by the managing network element, with the identified associated nodes to determine which of the identified associated nodes received at least one of the first messages; instructing, by the managing network element, the first node to broadcast one or more second messages at a second power level, the second power level being related to a second range distance and the second power level being incrementally smaller than the first power level; communicating, by the managing network element, with the identified associated nodes to determine which of the identified associated nodes received at least one of the second messages; and determining, by the managing network element, a location of the first node to be at or between the first optimal range distance and the second range distance from each of the identified associated nodes that did not receive at least one of the second messages but received at least one of the first messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions which when executed on a processor of a managing network element in a wireless node network performs a method for location determination using one or more associations of nodes in the wireless node network, the method comprising:
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instructing, by the managing network element, a first of the nodes to broadcast one or more first messages at a first power level, the first power level being related to a first optimal range distance when broadcasting from the first of the nodes; identifying, by the managing network element, which of the nodes associated with the first node have known locations according to location data related with each of the nodes associated with the first node; communicating, by the managing network element, with the identified associated nodes to determine which of the identified associated nodes received at least one of the first messages; instructing, by the managing network element, the first node to broadcast one or more second messages at a second power level, the second power level being related to a second range distance and the second power level being incrementally smaller than the first power level; communicating, by the managing network element, with the identified associated nodes to determine which of the identified associated nodes received at least one of the second messages; and determining, by the managing network element, a location of the first node to be at or between the first optimal range distance and the second range distance from each of the identified associated nodes that did not receive at least one of the second messages but received at least one of the first messages. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A node apparatus in a wireless node network that uses location determination by association, comprising:
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a node processing unit; a node volatile memory coupled to the processing unit; a node memory storage coupled to the node processing unit, the node memory storage maintaining at least a program code section, association data, and location data; and a first communication interface coupled to the processing unit and that provides access to a first communication path operatively coupling the node with a plurality of other nodes in the network; and wherein the node processing unit, when executing at least the program code section resident in the node volatile memory, is operative to communicate an instruction via the first communication interface to a first of the nodes to cause the first node to broadcast one or more first messages at a first power level, the first power level being related to a first optimal range distance when broadcasting from the first communication interface; identify which of the nodes associated with the first node have known locations according to the location data stored in the node memory storage; determine which of the identified associated nodes received at least one of the first messages based upon communications with the identified associated nodes using the first communication interface; communicate another instruction via the first communication interface to the first node to cause the first node to broadcast one or more second messages at a second power level, the second power level being related to a second range distance and the second power level being incrementally smaller than the first power level; determine which of the identified associated nodes received at least one of the second messages based upon further communications with the identified associated nodes using the first communication interface; and determine a location of the first node to be at or between the first optimal range distance and the second range distance from each of the identified associated nodes that did not receive at least one of the second messages but received at least one of the first messages. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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51. The node apparatus of 49, wherein the time value of the interval is increased from a prior value when the context data related to the first node indicates the first node is substantially stationary.
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71. A server apparatus in a wireless node network that uses location determination by association, comprising:
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a server processing unit; a server volatile memory coupled to the server processing unit; a server memory storage coupled to the server processing unit, the server memory storage maintaining at least a program code section, association data, and location data; and a communication interface coupled to the server processing unit, the communication interface providing access to a first communication path operatively coupling the server apparatus with at least a first node in the network; and wherein the server processing unit, when executing at least the program code section resident in the server volatile memory, is operative to communicate with the first node via the communication interface to cause a second node in the network to broadcast one or more first messages at a first power level at the request of the first node, the first power level being related to a first optimal range distance when broadcasting from the communication interface; identify which of the remaining nodes in the network associated with the second node have known locations according to the location data stored in the server memory storage; determine which of the identified associated nodes received at least one of the first messages based upon communications with the identified associated nodes using the communication interface; communicate with the first node via the communication interface to cause the second node to broadcast one or more second messages at a second power level at the request of the first node, the second power level being related to a second range distance and the second power level being incrementally smaller than the first power level; determine which of the identified associated nodes received at least one of the second messages based upon further communications with the identified associated nodes using the communication interface; and determine a location of the second node to be at or between the first optimal range distance and the second range distance from each of the identified associated nodes that did not receive any of the second messages but received at least one of the first messages. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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Specification