In-building navigation system

• US 20030125868A1
• Filed: 12/27/2001
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Giannopoulos, Demetri, Wacyk, Ihor Terence
• Granted Patent: US 6,807,478 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3896 Transmission of map data from central databases
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/7034 Mounting or deployment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2201/025 Indoor pedestrian positioning

Abstract

A navigation system is disclosed including a light source having a driver and an encoder. The driver and the encoder are coupled to the light source so that the light source produces a modulated light signal in accordance with a predetermined signature. The system also includes a receiver having a photosensitive detector capable of detecting the modulated light signal and a decoder capable of decoding the predetermined signature. A controller is communicatively coupled to the receiver, a memory and output device. The controller is arranged to receive the decoded predetermined signature, based upon the decoded predetermined signature, obtain at least one navigation instruction stored in the memory, and output the navigation instruction using the output device.

Claims

1. A navigation system comprising:

at least one light source including a driver and an encoder, the driver and the encoder coupled to the light source so that the light source produces a modulated light signal in accordance with a predetermined signature;

a receiver including a photosensitive detector capable of detecting the modulated light signal and a decoder capable of decoding the predetermined signature;

a memory;

a controller communicatively coupled to the receiver and the memory; and

an output device coupled to the controller,

wherein the controller is arranged to receive the decoded predetermined signature, based upon the decoded predetermined signature, obtain at least one navigation instruction stored in the memory, and output the navigation instruction using the output device.

2. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined signature comprises a unique binary code.

3. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the navigation system is located within a building.

4. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the output device comprises an audio device or an image device.

5. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the memory also includes a digital map used to provide the navigation instruction.

6. The navigation system according to claim 5, wherein the memory is integrated with the receiver, the controller and the output device.

7. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the memory is accessed by the controller via a communication network.

8. The navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising an input device.

9. The navigation system according to claim 8, wherein the modulated light signal is provided when a predetermined input is received by the input device.

10. The navigation system according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined signature is programmable using the input device.

11. The navigation system according to claim 8, where in the input device comprises a keyboard, push buttons, a touch pad, a mouse or a voice recognition unit.

12. A receiver comprising:

a photosensitive detector capable of detecting a modulated light signal;

a decoder capable of decoding a predetermined code from the modulated light signal;

a memory;

a controller communicatively coupled to the receiver and the memory; and

an output device coupled to the controller,

wherein the controller is arranged to receive the decoded predetermined signature, based upon the decoded predetermined signature, obtain at least one navigation instruction stored in the memory, and output the navigation instruction using the output device.

13. The receiver according to claim 12, wherein the memory is integrated with the controller and the output device.

14. The receiver according to claim 12, wherein the memory is accessed by the controller via a communication network.

15. The receiver according to claim 12, further comprising an input device.

16. The receiver according to claim 15, wherein the memory includes a digital map used to provide the navigation instruction.

17. A navigation system comprising:

means for producing at least one light signal having a signature;

means for decoding the signature from the light signal;

means for providing a navigation instruction in accordance with the signature.