Sub-room-level indoor location system using power line positioning

• US 8,392,107 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Patel, Shwetak N., Abowd, Gregory D., Robertson, Thomas, Reynolds, Matthew S., Truong, Khai N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US11/824,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20080091345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,077 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/208, 701/300, 701/400, 701/408, 701/409, 701/430, 701/431, 701/433, 701/434, 701/449, 701/450, 701/469, 701/472, 701/494, 701/495, 701/445, 701/451, 455/456.1, 455/456.5, 342/450, 342/463, 342/464, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.14, 340/539.16
• US Class Current: 701/409
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02521 using a radio-map

Abstract

Disclosed is an indoor location system that uses an electrical power line, power line signal injection devices, and portable position receivers (tags) to generate location data relating to positions of the tags in a structure such as a residence or business. The indoor location system fingerprinting of multiple signals transmitted along the power line to achieve sub-room-level localization of the positioning receivers. Details regarding power line positioning are described along with how it compares favorably to other fingerprinting techniques.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining at least one location in a structure or proximate to the structure, the structure comprising an electrical power line infrastructure located in a structure, the apparatus comprising:

two or more first transmitters configured to couple to the electrical power line infrastructure, the two or more first transmitters further configured to inject at least two first electrical signals into the electrical power line infrastructure such that the electrical power line infrastructure emanates radiated energy from the at least two first electrical signals;

at least one positioning tag configured to wirelessly receive the radiated energy from the at least two first electrical signals in the electrical power line infrastructure; and

a software module configured to receive first data about the radiated energy from the at least two first electrical signals, the software module is further configured to process the first data to determine a first location proximate to the electrical power line infrastructure of the at least one positioning tag,

wherein;

the at least one positioning tag is not electrically coupled and is not physically coupled to the electrical power line infrastructure;

the at least one location comprises the first location; and

the software module is configured to run on at least one of a computer or the at least one positioning tag.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the software module is further configured to process the first data to determine a room of the structure in which the at least one positioning tag is located; and

the first location comprises the room.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the software module is further configured to process the first data to determine in a region of a room of the structure in which the at least one positioning tag is located; and

the first location comprises the region of the room.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one positioning tag is further configured to wirelessly transmit the first data to a wireless receiver.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one positioning tag is further configured to generate a signal fingerprint based upon the radiated energy from the at least two first electrical signals; and

the first data comprises the signal fingerprint.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the software module is further configured to process the signal fingerprint to determine the first location of the at least one positioning tag.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the software module is configured to process the signal fingerprint using a k-Nearest Neighbor classification to determine the first location of the at least one positioning tag.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the software module is further configured to associate the signal fingerprint with the first location at least partially based on at least one of;

a predetermined location map or a database.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the signal fingerprint comprises at least one of;

a signal strength of the radiated energy from the at least two first electrical signals;

a relative phase difference between the radiated energy from the at least two first electrical signals;

or

a phase shift between the radiated energy from the at least two first electrical signals.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a first transmitter of the two or more first transmitters is configured to generate a second electrical signal at a first frequency and inject the second electrical signal into the electrical power line infrastructure;

a second transmitter of the two or more first transmitters is configured to generate a third electrical signal at a second frequency and inject the third electrical signal into the electrical power line infrastructure;

the first frequency is different than the second frequency; and

the at least two first electrical signals comprise the second electrical signal and the third electrical signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the two or more first transmitters are configured to couple to the electrical power line infrastructure by coupling to two or more electrical plugs of the electrical power line infrastructure.

12. A method of locating a first electrical device in a structure or proximate to the structure, the structure comprising an electrical power line infrastructure, the method comprising:

generating two or more first electromagnetic signals;

transmitting the two or more first electromagnetic signals over the electrical power line infrastructure of the structure to cause the electrical power line infrastructure of the structure to emit radiated energy from the two or more first electromagnetic signals;

wirelessly detecting the radiated energy from the two or more first electromagnetic signals in the electrical power line infrastructure using the first electrical device;

generating first data about the radiated energy from the two or more first electromagnetic signals wirelessly detected by the first electrical device; and

using a software module running on a processor to determine a first position of the first electrical device proximate to the electrical power line infrastructure using the first data about the radiated energy from the two or more first electromagnetic signals,

wherein;

the electrical power line infrastructure comprises one or more wires; and

transmitting the two or more first electromagnetic signals comprises;

electrically and physically transmitting the two or more first electromagnetic signals over the one or more wires of the electrical power line infrastructure of the structure to cause the one or more wires of the electrical power line infrastructure of the structure to emit the radiated energy from the two or more first electromagnetic signals.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

using the software module running on the processor to determine the first position further comprises;

using the first data about the radiated energy to determine a room in the structure where the first electrical device is located; and

the first position comprises the room.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein:

using the software module running on the processor to determine the first position further comprises;

using the first data about the radiated energy to determine a region of a room of the structure where the first electrical device is located; and

the first position comprises the region of the room.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein:

using the software module running on the processor to determine the first position comprises;

using a k-Nearest Neighbor classification to process the first data to determine the first position of the first electrical device.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

generating two or more second electromagnetic signals;

transmitting the two or more second electromagnetic signals over the electrical power line infrastructure of the structure;

wirelessly detecting radiated energy from the two or more second electromagnetic signals in the electrical power line infrastructure using the first electrical device;

generating second data about the radiated energy from the two or more second electromagnetic signals; and

using the software module running on the processor to determine a second position of the first electrical device proximate to the electrical power infrastructure using the second data about the radiated energy from the two or more second electromagnetic signals.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the first data comprises at least one of;

a signal strength of the radiated energy from the two or more first electromagnetic signals;

a relative phase difference between the radiated energy from the two or more first electromagnetic signals;

or

a phase shift between the radiated energy from the two or more first electromagnetic signals.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

facilitating building of a signal map of the structure.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein:

generating the two or more first electromagnetic signals comprises;

generating a second signal of the two or more first electromagnetic signals with a first frequency; and

generating a third signal of the two or more first electromagnetic signals with a second frequency, the first frequency is different than the second frequency; and

transmitting the two or more first electromagnetic signals comprises;

transmitting the second signal of the two or more first electromagnetic signals over the electrical power line infrastructure of the structure; and

transmitting the third signal of the two or more first electromagnetic signals over the electrical power line infrastructure of the structure.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

generating two or more second electromagnetic signals;

transmitting the two or more second electromagnetic signals over the electrical power line infrastructure of the structure;

wirelessly detecting radiated energy from the two or more second electromagnetic signals in the electrical power line infrastructure using the first electrical device;

generating second data about the radiated energy from the two or more second electromagnetic signals; and

processing the second data to generate a location map associating the second data with at least one location proximate to the electrical power line infrastructure.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein:

using the software module running on the processor to determine the first position of the first electrical device comprises

using the software module running on the processor in the first electrical device to determine the first position of the first electrical device proximate to the electrical power line infrastructure using the first data about the radiated energy from the two or more first electromagnetic signals.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein:

using the software module running on the processor to determine the first position of the first electrical device comprises

using the software module running on the processor in a computer to determine the first position of the first electrical device proximate to the electrical power line infrastructure using the first data about the radiated energy from the two or more first electromagnetic signals; and

the computer is independent and different from the first device.

23. An indoor location system configured to be used to identify the location of at least one receiving device in a building or proximate to the building, the building comprising one or more electrical power lines and two or more electrical outlets electrically coupled to the one or more electrical power lines, the indoor location system comprising:

a first transmitter configured to electrically couple to a first electrical outlet of the two or more electrical outlets and further configured to inject at least one first electrical signal with a first frequency into the one or more electrical power lines via the first electrical outlet;

a second transmitter configured to electrically couple to a second electrical outlet of the two or more electrical outlets and further configured to inject at least one second electrical signal with a second frequency into the one or more electrical power lines via the second electrical outlet, the second frequency is different than the first frequency;

at least one receiving device configured to wirelessly receive one or more first electromagnetic waves radiated by the one or more electrical power lines, the one or more first electromagnetic waves are created from the at least one first electrical signal and the at least one second electrical signal; and

a software module configured to determine a location of the at least one receiving device in a region of a room of the building using a signal fingerprint of the one or more first electromagnetic waves,

wherein;

the first transmitter is configured to inject the at least one first electrical signal and the second transmitter is configured inject the at least one second electrical signal such that the one or more electrical power lines radiate the one or more first electromagnetic waves;

the at least one receiving device is not electrically or physically coupled to the one or more electrical power lines;

the software module is configured to run on at least one of the at least one receiving device or a base station;

the software module is further configured to at least partially create a signal map of the building;

the software module is further configured to communicate with a user as part of the creation of the signal map of the building;

the at least one receiving device comprises a signal detector; and

the signal fingerprint comprises at least one of;

a signal strength of the one or more first electromagnetic waves;

a relative phase difference between the one or more first electromagnetic waves;

or

a phase shift between the one or more first electromagnetic waves.

24. The indoor location system of claim 23, wherein:

the base station comprises a computer.