First responder positioning apparatus
First Claim
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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;
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; and
wherein;
the primary enabler includes a stationary detector configured to provide a stationary override to cause certain new position information to be ignored for determination of said first location when said stationary detector detects the primary enabler is stationary.
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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.
64 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining location of a personnel badge, comprising:
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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; 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; and
wherein;the primary enabler includes a stationary detector configured to provide a stationary override to cause certain new position information to be ignored for determination of said first location when said stationary detector detects the primary enabler is stationary. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for determining location of a personnel badge, comprising:
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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; 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; and a stationary detector for providing a stationary override when GPS position information indicates the primary enabler is stationary; and
wherein;the primary enabler includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver for providing said 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; andsaid 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.
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8. A method for determining location of a personnel badge, comprising:
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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; detecting when said first location is stationary for providing a stationary override; and causing certain new position information to be ignored in response to said stationary override for determination of said first location. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for determining location of a personnel badge, comprising:
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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; determining said badge location from positioning information derived using said first and second locations and said first and second round trip times; 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; combining said GPS position information, said DR position information, and said map matching position information for the determination of said first location; 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.
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Specification