First responder positioning apparatus

• US 20070126623A1
• Filed: 12/01/2005
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Workman, Dennis
• Granted Patent: US 7,379,015 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/126
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/25 involving aiding data received from a cooperating element, e.g. assisted GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/41 Differential correction, e.g. DGPS [differential GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0018 Transmission from mobile station to base station

Abstract

A positioning system for tracking the location of a first responder emergency worker. The system includes mobile enabler units and a personnel badge having a ranging transponder. Two enabler units can use two-way ranging signals, a prescribed turn around time and differential altitude for automatically tracking the location of the badge.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining location of a personnel badge, comprising:

a personnel badge having a ranging transponder for responding automatically to base ranging signals with respective return ranging signals;

a primary enabler having a first location, the primary enabler having a first two-way ranger radio for measuring a first round trip time between transmitting a first of said base ranging signals and receiving a first of said return ranging signals;

at least one secondary enabler having a corresponding second location, the secondary enabler having a second two-way ranger radio for determining a second round trip time between transmitting a second of said base ranging signals and receiving a second of said return ranging signals; and

a badge locator constructed for determining a location of the badge from positioning information derived from said first and second locations and said first and second round trip times.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the badge includes an altimeter for determining a badge altitude;

said first return ranging signal carries information for said badge altitude;

the primary enabler includes an altimeter for determining a base altitude and providing an altitude difference between said badge altitude and said base altitude; and

the badge locator uses said altitude difference in the determination of said badge location.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the primary enabler includes an azimuth detector for determining an azimuth at which said first return ranging signal is received; and

the badge locator uses said azimuth in the determination of said badge location.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

said apparatus is constructed for determining said badge location using information for said first and second locations with no other time, distance, direction, speed, acceleration or position information except time, distance, direction, speed, acceleration or position information based on said first and second round trip times, said altitude difference and said azimuth.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a turnaround timer for controlling said ranging transponder for transmitting said first return ranging signal at a non-zero prescribed turnaround time after receiving said first base ranging signal; and

wherein;

the badge locator uses said prescribed turnaround time in the determination of said first round trip time.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the primary enabler unit includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver for providing GPS position information;

a dead reckoning (DR) navigator for providing DR position information;

a map matcher for providing map matching position information; and

a unit location computer for using said GPS position information, said DR position information, and said map matching position information in combination for determining said first location.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a stationary detector for providing a stationary override when said GPS position information indicates the primary enabler unit is stationary; and

wherein;

said unit location computer is coupled to the stationary detector for ignoring at least one of new said DR position information and new said map matching position information in the determination of said first location when said GPS stationary override is received.

8. A method for determining location of a personnel badge, comprising:

automatically responding at a badge location to base ranging signals with respective return ranging signals;

determining a first round trip time between transmitting a first of said base ranging signals and receiving a first of said return ranging signals at a first location;

determining a second round trip time between transmitting a first of said base ranging signals and receiving a second of said return ranging signals at a second location; and

determining said badge location from positioning information derived using said first and second locations and said first and second round trip times.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining an altitude at said badge location;

carrying information for said badge altitude in said first return ranging signal;

determining a base altitude at said first location;

determining an altitude difference between said badge altitude and said base altitude; and

using said altitude difference in the determination of said badge location.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining an azimuth at which said first return ranging signal is received; and

using said azimuth in the determination of said badge location.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the step of determining said badge location uses information for said first and second locations with no other time, distance, direction, speed, acceleration or position information except time, distance, direction, speed, acceleration or position information based on said first and second round trip times, said altitude difference and said azimuth.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the step of automatically responding includes transmitting said first return ranging signal at a non-zero prescribed turnaround time after receiving said first base ranging signal; and

the step of determining said first round trip time includes correcting said first round trip time with said prescribed turnaround time.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining GPS position information at said first location;

determining dead reckoning (DR) position information at said first location;

determining map matching position information at said first location; and

combining said GPS position information, said DR position information, and said map matching position information for the determination of said first location.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

using said GPS position information for determining when said first location is stationary; and

wherein;

the step combining includes ignoring at least one of new said DR position information and new said map matching position information for the determination of said first location when said first location is determined to be stationary.