Plug-In Network Appliance

• US 20090174569A1
• Filed: 12/06/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Centrak Incorporated (Halma PLC)
• Original Assignee: Awarepoint Corporation
• Inventors: Nierenberg, Nicolas C, Smith, Derek M., Baker, Joseph C., Adams, James D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,041,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.490
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2832 Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A plug-in network appliance is disclosed. In one aspect, a network appliance performs a bridge between two wireless communication formats. In another aspect, a network appliance is deployed to perform position location services. In another aspect, a mesh network comprising one or more network appliances is deployed. A mesh network comprising one or more network appliances may be deployed to perform position location services. A plug-in form factor is described. A network appliance may convert power received from a plug in a first format to power in a second format for powering various components. A network appliance may connect with a wireless network and/or a network connected through a plug. A plug-in network appliance may connect to a weight-bearing outlet. Various other aspects are also presented.

Claims

1. A method for tracking at least one object within an indoor facility, the method comprising:

establishing a mesh network within the indoor facility, the mesh network comprising a plurality of network appliances and a position location engine, the mesh network established by attaching each network appliance to an electrical outlet within the indoor facility, each of the plurality of network appliances comprising;

an enclosure;

a processor positioned within the enclosure;

at least one wireless local area network interface positioned within the enclosure and in communication with the processor, the wireless local area network interface including at least one transceiver for receiving and transmitting data according to a communication format; and

a connection to an outlet of the indoor facility;

attaching a radiofrequency tag to the at least one object, the radiofrequency tag emitting a periodic signal;

receiving the periodic signal from the radiofrequency tag at least one of the plurality of network appliances;

transmitting the received periodic signal to the position location engine, and

generating at the position location engine positional location information for the at least one object based on the received periodic signal.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of objects are tracked within the indoor facility, each of the plurality of objects having an associated radiofrequency tag attached thereto, and each of the plurality of radiofrequency tags emitting a unique periodic signal.

3. A method for tracking at least one object within an indoor facility, the method comprising:

establishing a mesh network within the indoor facility, the mesh network comprising a plurality of network appliances and a position location engine, the mesh network established by attaching each network appliance to an electrical outlet within the indoor facility, each network appliance comprising;

an enclosure;

a processor positioned within the enclosure;

at least one wireless local area network interface positioned within the enclosure and in communication with the processor, the wireless local area network interface including at least one transceiver for receiving and transmitting data according to a communication format; and

an electrical and physical connection to an outlet of the indoor facility;

attaching a tag to the at least one object, the tag emitting a signal;

receiving the signal from the tag at least one of the plurality of network appliances and generating a time of flight measurement from the tag;

transmitting the generated time of flight measurement to the position location engine, and

generating at the position location engine positional location information for the at least one object based on the generated time of flight measurement.

4. The method according to claim 3 further comprising creating a model of the indoor environment, the model based on a plurality of time of flight measurements generated by the plurality of network appliances within in the indoor facility without any tags present, and

wherein generating at the position location engine positional location information of the at least one object includes comparing the generated time of flight measurement between the tag and the at least one network appliance to the model.

5. The method according to claim 3 wherein time of flight measurements are determined using Ultra Wide Band communications.

6. The method according to claim 3 further comprising synchronizing the plurality of network appliances to a master clock.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the signal emitted by the tag includes an ID associated with the tag and a current value of the tag clock (t1),

wherein receiving the signal from the tag at least one of the plurality of network appliances and generating a time of flight measurement from the tag includes the at least one plug-in network appliance, upon receipt of the signal, recording a current value of the plug-in network appliance clock (t2), and

wherein the generated the time of flight measurement is the difference between t2 and t1.

8. A system for an indoor facility, the system comprising:

a wireless mesh network including a plurality of stationary devices distributed about the indoor facility, each stationary device comprising;

an enclosure;

a processor positioned within the enclosure;

at least one wireless local area network interface positioned within the enclosure and in communication with the processor, the wireless local area network interface comprising at least one transceiver for receiving and transmitting data according to an ultra wideband communication format;

a plurality of access points, each of the plurality of access point in communication with at least one the plurality of stationary devices; and

a position location engine in communication with each of the plurality of access points; and

a plurality of mobile objects within the indoor facility, each of the plurality of mobile objects comprising a tag for emitting on a continuous periodic basis a wireless position location tracking signal for receipt by the plurality of stationary devices;

wherein the wireless position location tracking signals from each of the tags of each of the plurality of mobile objects are utilized to generate position location information for each of the plurality of mobile objects by the position location engine.

9. The system according to claim 8 wherein the position location engine utilizes time of flight measurements for each of the tags to determine position location information for each of the plurality of mobile objects.

10. The system according to claim 8 wherein the indoor facility is a hospital.