System and method for information assimilation and functionality control based on positioning information obtained by impulse radio means

• US 7,170,408 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2005
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Plus Location Systems Pty. Limited
• Original Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Finn, James S., Taylor, Elise H.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/151,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20050254354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/539.15, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 340/573.4, 340/686.1, 342/457, 342/458, 342/463, 342/464, 455/522
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/765 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7163 using impulse radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/6908 using time hopping

Abstract

A system and method for information assimilation and functionality control based on positioning information obtained by impulse radio techniques, which utilizes the position information and communication abilities inherent in impulse radio technology to correlate position information of an entrant into a predetermined area with information about the entrant to accomplish a multitude of functionalities and assimilate information.

Claims

1. A system of correlating information related to an entrant within a predetermined area defined by a plurality of fixed ultra wideband impulse radios, comprising:

an ultra wideband impulse radio device; and

an interface with a controller, said controller obtaining said information relating to the entrant within said predetermined area and correlating said information about the entrant to at least one position of the entrant determined using ultra wideband impulse radio position determination techniques.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an interface with a communicating device, said communicating device providing a warning based upon said correlated information and predetermined parameters.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein correlating comprises associating an ultra wideband impulse radio device with the entrant, wherein said position of the entrant is determined using said information about the entrant and a position of the ultra wideband impulse radio device determined by ultra wideband impulse radio position determination techniques.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of fixed ultra wideband impulse radios use Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) techniques for communicating with each other.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said ultra wideband impulse radio position determination techniques comprise synchronous ultra wideband impulse radio position determination techniques.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said predetermined area comprises one of:

a theme park;

a shopping mall;

an office building;

a prison;

a parking garage,

a convention center;

a restaurant;

a zoo; and

a museum.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an interface to at least one output device, said at least one output device conveying at least one of said obtained information, said correlated information, and said at least one position of the entrant.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said at least one output device comprises at least one of a visual display device and an audio device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one position of the entrant indicates movement of the entrant.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller automatically obtains said information relating to the entrant within said predetermined area based upon the at least one position of the entrant.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said information is determined prior to said entrant entering said predetermined area.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an interface to a device that is to be controlled, said device being controlled based upon said correlated information about the entrant and said at least one position of the entrant.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is a microprocessor.

14. A method of controlling functions, comprising the steps of:

determining position information using ultra wideband impulse radio position determination techniques; and

controlling a function based upon said position information, a predetermined area defined by a plurality of fixed ultra wideband impulse radios, and at least one predetermined position parameter.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said controlling a function comprises activating an alarm when an entrant is at a particular position within a predetermined area.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said plurality of fixed ultra wideband impulse radios use TDMA techniques for communicating with each other.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said controlling a function comprises activating a device.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said ultra wideband impulse radio position determination techniques comprise synchronous ultra wideband impulse radio position determination techniques.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said ultra wideband impulse radio position determination techniques comprise asynchronous ultra wideband impulse radio position determination techniques.

20. A method of controlling a function, comprising:

determining a position of an ultra wideband impulse radio using a plurality of fixed ultra wideband impulse radios corresponding to a predetermined area defined using said plurality of fixed ultra wideband impulse radios, said position being determined using ultra wideband impulse radio position determination techniques; and

controlling said function based upon said determined position relative to said predetermined area.