Location system using a first signal to gate a second signal

• US 20050140508A1
• Filed: 10/20/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Consortium P Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Radianse Incorporated (Airpointe Corp.)
• Inventors: Lathrop, Olin, Tessier, Paul, Dempsey, Michael K., Gaudet, Phil
• Granted Patent: US 7,403,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.130
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/68 Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/7032 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves

Abstract

A location system comprises a location determining module adapted to receive a first signal and a second signal. The location determining module is adapted to associate one of the signals with the other signal provided the first and second signals are received within a selected time period of each other.

Claims

1. A location system comprising a location determining module adapted to receive a first signal and a second signal, the location determining module being adapted to associate one of the signals with the other signal provided the first and second signals are received within a selected time period of each other.

2. The location system of claim 1, wherein the first and second signals are electromagnetic signals.

3. The location system of claim 1, wherein the first signal is unique and the second signal is not unique.

4. The location system of claim 1, wherein the first signal is an RF signal and the second signal is an IR signal.

5. The location system of claim 1, wherein the first signal is a non line-of-sight signal and the second signal is a line-of-sight signal.

6. The location system of claim 1, wherein the first signal is selected from the group consisting of an RF, IR, and US signal and the second signal is selected from the group consisting of an RF, IR, and US signal.

7. The location system of claim 6, wherein the first signal does not match the second signal.

8. The location system of claim 1, wherein the first signal and the second signal are used to determine a location of an object.

9. The location system of claim 1, wherein information about the second signal is derived from the first signal.

10. The location system of claim 1, wherein the location system is an indoor positioning system.

11. The location system of claim 1, wherein the location determining module comprises a receiver for receiving the first and second signals.

12. The location system of claim 1, wherein the location determining module comprises a network.

13. The location system of claim 1, wherein the location determining module comprises a network connection element.

14. The location system of claim 1, wherein the location determining module comprises a database.

15. The location system of claim 1, wherein the location determining module comprises a fixed location identifier.

16. The location system of claim 1, wherein the location determining module comprises a location resolver for determining a location of an object from the first and second signals.

17. The location system of claim 1, wherein the location determining module comprises a fixed location identifier, a network connection element, and a location resolver adapted for communication with each other by way of a network;

wherein the location resolver is adapted to determine the location of an object from the first and second signals.

18. The location system of claim 1, wherein the first and second signals are associated if the second signal is received following the receipt of the first signal.

19. The location system o claim 1, wherein the first and second signals are associated if the second signal is received preceding the receipt of the first signal.

20. A location system, comprising:

one or more object identifiers adapted to transmit a first signal and a second signal; and

a location determining module adapted to receive the first signal and the second signal for determining a location of the one or more object identifiers from the first signal and the second signal, wherein the location detection module is adapted to associate the first signal with the second signal provided the signals are received within a selected time period of each other.

21. The location system of claim 20, wherein the first and second signals are electromagnetic signals.

22. The location system of claim 20, wherein the first signal is unique and the second signal is not unique.

23. The location system of claim 20, wherein the first signal is an RF signal and the second signal is an IR signal.

24. The location system of claim 20, wherein the first signal is selected from the group consisting of an RF, IR, and US signal and the second signal is selected from the group consisting of an RF, IR, and US signal.

25. The location system of claim 24, wherein the first signal does not match the second signal.

26. The location system of claim 20, wherein the first signal and the second signal are used to determine a location of an object.

27. The location system of claim 20, wherein information about the second signal is derived from the first signal.

28. The location system of claim 20, wherein the location system is an indoor positioning system.

29. The location system of claim 20, wherein the location determining module comprises a receiver for receiving the first and second signals.

30. The location system of claim 20, wherein the location determining module comprises a network.

31. The location system of claim 20, wherein the location determining module comprises a network connection element.

32. The location system of claim 20, wherein the location determining module comprises a database.

33. The location system of claim 20, wherein the location determining module comprises a fixed location identifier.

34. The location system of claim 20, wherein the location determining module comprises a location resolver for determining a location of an object from the first and second signals.

35. The location system of claim 20, wherein the location determining module comprises a fixed location identifier, a network connection element, and a location resolver adapted for communication with each other by way of a network;

wherein the location resolver is adapted to determine the location of an object from the first and second signals.

36. The location system of claim 20, wherein the first and second signals are associated if the second signal is received following the receipt of the first signal.

37. The location system o claim 20, wherein the first and second signals are associated if the second signal is received preceding the receipt of the first signal.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the first signal and the second signal are transmitted from an object identifier.

38. A method of signal association, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first signal and a second signal at a location determining module; and

determining if there is an association between the first signal and the second signal based on whether the first signal and the second signal were received within a selected time period of each other.

40. A location system, comprising:

an object identifier adapted to transmit a RF signal and a IR signal; and

a location determining module adapted to receive the RF signal and the IR signal for determining a location of the object identifier from the RF signal and the IR signal, wherein the location detection module is adapted to associate the RF signal with the IR signal provided the signals are received within a selected time period of each other.

41. A method of signal association, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a RF signal and a IR signal from an object identifier;

receiving the RF signal and the IR signal at a location determining module; and

determining if there is an association between the RF signal and the IR signal based on whether the RF signal and the IR signal were received within a selected time period of each other.

42. A method of determining location, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first signal and a second signal from an object identifier;

receiving the first signal and the second signal at a location determining module;

determining if there is an association between the first signal and the second signal based on whether the first signal and the second signal were received within a selected time period of each other; and

determining a location of the object identifier based on receipt of the first signal and the second signal.

43. A method of determining location, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a RF signal and a IR signal from an object identifier;

receiving the RF signal and the IR signal at a location determining module;

determining if there is an association between the RF signal and the IR signal based on whether the RF signal and the IR signal were received within a selected time period of each other; and

determining a location of the object identifier based on receipt of the RF signal and the IR signal.