1864results about "Direction finders using radio waves" patented technology

A location system is disclosed for commercial wireless telecommunication infrastructures. The system is an end-to-end solution having one or more location centers for outputting requested locations of commercially available handsets or mobile stations (MS) based on, e.g., CDMA, AMPS, NAMPS or TDMA communication standards, for processing both local MS location requests and more global MS location requests via, e.g., Internet communication between a distributed network of location centers. The system uses a plurality of MS locating technologies including those based on: (1) two-way TOA and TDOA; (2) pattern recognition; (3) distributed antenna provisioning; (5) GPS signals, (6) angle of arrival, (7) super resolution enhancements, and (8) supplemental information from various types of very low cost non-infrastructure base stations for communicating via a typical commercial wireless base station infrastructure or a public telephone switching network. Accordingly, the traditional MS location difficulties, such as multipath, poor location accuracy and poor coverage are alleviated via such technologies in combination with strategies for: (a) automatically adapting and calibrating system performance according to environmental and geographical changes; (b) automatically capturing location signal data for continual enhancement of a self-maintaining historical data base retaining predictive location signal data; (c) evaluating MS locations according to both heuristics and constraints related to, e.g., terrain, MS velocity and MS path extrapolation from tracking and (d) adjusting likely MS locations adaptively and statistically so that the system becomes progressively more comprehensive and accurate. Further, the system can be modularly configured for use in location signing environments ranging from urban, dense urban, suburban, rural, mountain to low traffic or isolated roadways. Accordingly, the system is useful for 911 emergency calls, tracking, routing, people and animal location including applications for confinement to and exclusion from certain areas.

A geographic based communications service system that includes a network and a plurality of access points connected to the network and arranged at known locations in a geographic region. One or more service providers or information providers may be connected to the network to provide services or information on the network. A mobile user (MU) may use a portable computing device (PCD) to connect to the network and access information or services from the network. The PCD may be configured to transmit a signal indicating a presence of the PCD as well as identification information indicating the mobile user. Upon detection of the wireless signal by a first access point in proximity to the PCD, and upon receipt of the identification information indicating the user of the PCD, the first access point may transmit the identification information, as well as the known geographic location of the first access point, to one or more providers on the network. The known geographic location of the first access point indicates the approximate location of the PCD of the mobile user. A first information provider may receive this information and provide content information or services to the mobile user. For example, the first information provider may select content information dependent upon the known geographic location of the first access point and demographic information or past activities of the mobile user of the PCD. The first information provider may then provide the selected content information through the network and through the first access point to the PCD of the mobile user.

A geographic based communications service system that includes a network and a plurality of access points connected to the network and arranged at known locations in a geographic region. One or more service providers or information providers may be connected to the network to provide services or information on the network. Content provided by the service providers may be based on the known geographic location of the user of a portable computing device (PCD). The known geographic location may be determined with a high degree of precision, using one or more access points and one of several different techniques. In one embodiment, the geographic location of the PCD may be determined within a radius of ten feet. Access points may be configured to determine the bearing of a signal received from a PCD, as well as the strength of the signal transmitted by the PCD. Access points may also be configured to send and receive signals with time stamps. These time stamps may be used to calculate signal travel time, thereby allowing a determination of the distance between an access point and a PCD. Each access point may include location circuitry. The location circuitry may include both analog and digital circuitry configured to perform the various methods used to determine the precise geographic location.

A system that tracks the current and historical locations of a GPS locator device carried by a person provides widely available access to data referencing these locations, so that a parent can easily and frequently monitor the location of a child. Monitoring of a child's location may be conducted via a Web site, which provides graphical maps of location data, or via calling into a call center. The present invention also provides a means for a parent to trigger the automatic transmission of the device's location, via a Web site or call placed to a call center agent or a VRU. The present invention also provides a process of auto-notification of a device's movement that exceeds a pre-specified threshold. The present invention also includes a capability to function as a proximity alert device.

A location system is disclosed for commercial wireless telecommunication infrastructures. The system is an end-to-end solution having one or more location centers for outputting requested locations of commercially available handsets or mobile stations (MS) based on, e.g., CDMA, AMPS, NAMPS or TDMA communication standards, for processing both local MS location requests and more global MS location requests via, e.g., Internet communication between a distributed network of location centers. The system uses a plurality of MS locating technologies including those based on: (1) two-way TOA and TDOA; (2) pattern recognition; (3) distributed antenna provisioning; and (4) supplemental information from various types of very low cost non-infrastructure base stations for communicating via a typical commercial wireless base station infrastructure or a public telephone switching network. Accordingly, the traditional MS location difficulties, such as multipath, poor location accuracy and poor coverage are alleviated via such technologies in combination with strategies for: (a) automatically adapting and calibrating system performance according to environmental and geographical changes; (b) automatically capturing location signal data for continual enhancement of a self-maintaining historical data base retaining predictive location signal data; (c) evaluating MS locations according to both heuristics and constraints related to, e.g., terrain, MS velocity and MS path extrapolation from tracking and (d) adjusting likely MS locations adaptively and statistically so that the system becomes progressively more comprehensive and accurate. Further, the system can be modularly configured for use in location signaling environments ranging from urban, dense urban, suburban, rural, mountain to low traffic or isolated roadways. Accordingly, the system is useful for 911 emergency calls, tracking, routing, people and animal location including applications for confinement to and exclusion from certain areas.

A system and method for estimating the position of wireless devices within a wireless communication network combines measured RF channel characteristics for the wireless device with one or more predicted performance lookup tables, each of which correlates an RF channel characteristic to some higher order network performance metric and / or a position within an environmental model. Measured RF channel characteristics for wireless devices are compared against the performance lookup tables to determine the sent of lookup tables that most closely match the measured RF channel characteristics. The positions within the environmental model corresponding to the selected set of matching lookup tables are identified as possible locations for the wireless device. The performance lookup tables are uniquely constructed by site-specific location, technology, wireless standard, and equipment types, and / or the current operating state of the communications network.

Arrangement for monitoring an asset including an interior sensor system arranged on the asset to obtain information about contents in the interior of the asset, a location determining system arranged on the asset to monitor the location of the asset and a communication system arranged on the asset and coupled to the interior sensor system and the location determining system. The communication system operatively transmits the information about the contents in the interior of the asset and the location of the asset to a remote facility. The interior sensor system may include at least one wave transmitter arranged to transmit waves into the interior of the asset and at least one wave receiver arranged to receive waves from the interior of the asset. A processor may be provided to compare waves received by the wave receiver(s) at different times or analyze the waves received by the wave receiver(s).

Improved approaches for monitoring status of articles being shipped are disclosed. The monitoring can produce notifications to interested parties. The notifications typically contain status information pertaining to the articles being shipped. Alternatively, interested parties can gain access to status information pertaining to the articles being shipped via a website. According to one embodiment, the status information includes at least position (location) information and shipping conditions information.

An ultra wideband (UWB) or short-pulse transmission system that enables precise tracking or geolocation of a target over distances of several kilometers. The system includes a set of N (where N>2) untethered UWB transceivers located at fixed positions, an untethered UWB receiver at the target, and a processor at the target for resolving time-of-flight measurement ambiguities of received pulses to determine precise geolocation by solving a set of equations according to time-of-flight measurements and surveyed positions of N-1 transceivers. To eliminate a clock distribution system, self-synchronizing of pulse timing is achieved by generating a start pulse at one of the untethered transceivers. Alternatively, a timing source may be provided by a GPS or other timing generator at the transceivers in order to synchronize emissions of their pulses.

An Applications Processor (14) including a centralized database system is used in a wireless location system (WLS). The APs 14 may be used to manage resources in the WLS, including signal collection systems (SCSs 10) and TDOA location processors (TLPs 12). Each AP 14 contains a database containing triggers for the WLS. The WLS can be programmed to locate only certain pre-determined types of transmissions. When a transmission of a pre-determined type occurs, then the WLS is triggered to begin location processing. Each AP 14 also contains applications interfaces that permit a variety of applications to securely access the WLS. These applications may access location records in real time or non-real time, create or delete certain types of triggers, or cause the WLS to take other actions. Each AP 14 is also capable of certain post-processing functions.

Techniques to estimate the position of a wireless terminal. In a method, the identities of a number of transmitters (e.g., BTSs) to be used to estimate the position are initially received. Expected areas for these transmitters are then determined. The expected area associated with each transmitter is indicative of an area where the terminal is likely to be located given that the signal from the transmitter is received by the terminal. Each expected area may comprise a location (e.g., the expected area center) to be used as an estimated position of the terminal and an uncertainty (or error estimate) associated with that estimated position. The expected areas for the transmitters are then combined (e.g., based on a weighted average) to determine a combined expected area, which is then provided as the estimate of the position of the terminal.

A location system is disclosed for commercial wireless telecommunication infrastructures. The system is an end-to-end solution having one or more location centers for outputting requested locations of commercially available handsets or mobile stations (MS) based on, e.g., CDMA, AMPS, NAMPS or TDMA communication standards, for processing both local MS location requests and more global MS location requests via, e.g., Internet communication between a distributed network of location centers. The system uses a plurality of MS locating technologies including those based on: (1) two-way TOA and TDOA; (2) pattern recognition; (3) distributed antenna provisioning; and (4) supplemental information from various types of very low cost non-infrastructure base stations for communicating via a typical commercial wireless base station infrastructure or a public telephone switching network. Accordingly, the traditional MS location difficulties, such as multipath, poor location accuracy and poor coverage are alleviated via such technologies in combination with strategies for: (a) automatically adapting and calibrating system performance according to environmental and geographical changes; (b) automatically capturing location signal data for continual enhancement of a self-maintaining historical data base retaining predictive location signal data; (c) evaluating MS locations according to both heuristics and constraints related to, e.g., terrain, MS velocity and MS path extrapolation from tracking and (d) adjusting likely MS locations adaptively and statistically so that the system becomes progressively more comprehensive and accurate. Further, the system can be modularly configured for use in location signaling environments ranging from urban, dense urban, suburban, rural, mountain to low traffic or isolated roadways. Accordingly, the system is useful for 911 emergency calls, tracking, routing, people and animal location including applications for confinement to and exclusion from certain areas.

System and method for enabling a wireless computing device to continuously determine its position includes a wireless computing device and a wireless positioning system substantially collocated therewith. The wireless positioning system has a first positioning mode in which it communicates with a wireless positioning network to enable the geographic location of the computing device to be determined upon reception of signals from the positioning network and a second positioning mode in which it enables the geographic location of the wireless computing device to be determined upon reception of signals from one or more of the wireless beacons and analysis of the signals in light of positional information about wireless beacons contained in a database. The wireless positioning system switches between the positioning modes depending on reception of signals from the wireless positioning network.

The navigation system method described herein could guide people around urban environments, detect guide and navigate them to destinations, add-on to the portable phone. We have focused on the task of detecting and navigating even in situations in which Global Positioning Systems (GPS) cannot provide this information, such as when the person is indoors or in crowded urban areas where there is no line of site to the GPS satellites. The information will be received directly from RF sensors and will display on the existing cellular phone as Bluetooth application

An object location monitoring system includes beacons that are spatially distributed throughout an area to be monitored. The beacons transmit interrogation signals that are received and echoed by transponders that attach to moveable objects. Each beacon retransmits its interrogation signal, and any transponder response thereto, to a receiver that measures a time difference between the two signals. This time difference reflects the signal propagation time, and thus the distance, between the beacon and the transponder. One such receiver preferably analyzes the retransmitted signals of multiple (e.g., 50 to 100) beacons. A triangulation method is used to determine the location of each transponder based on the transponder's distances from a set of beacons. In one embodiment, the transponders are provided as or within disposable ID bracelets worn by patients, and are used to track the locations of the patients within a hospital.

A system for wirelessly locating mobile station / units (MS) and using resulting location determinations for providing a product or service is disclosed. The system is useful for routing an MS user to a plurality of desired locations, alerting an MS user to a nearby desired product or service based on satisfaction of user criteria, and providing enhanced security and 911 response. In one embodiment, the system responds to MS location requests via, e.g., Internet communication between a distributed network of location processing sites. A plurality of locating technologies including those based on: (1) TDOA; (2) pattern recognition; (3) timing advance; (5) GPS and network assisted GPS, (6) angle of arrival, (7) super resolution enhancements, and (8) supplemental information from low cost base stations can be activated, in various combinations, by system embodiments. MS location difficulties resulting from poor location accuracy / reliability and / or poor coverage are alleviated via such technologies in combination with automatically adapting and calibrating system performance according to environmental and geographical changes so that the system becomes progressively more comprehensive and accurate. Further, the system can be modularly configured for use in location signaling environments ranging from urban, dense urban, suburban, rural, mountain to low traffic or isolated roadways. Accordingly, the system is useful for 911 emergency calls, tracking, routing, people and animal location including applications for confinement to and exclusion from certain areas.

A system and a method for position determination by impulse radio using a first transceiver having a first clock providing a first reference signal and a second transceiver placed spaced from the first transceiver. The system determines the position of the second transceiver. The second transceiver has a second clock that provides a second reference signal. A first sequence of pulses are transmitted from the first transceiver. The first sequence of pulses are then received at the second transceiver and the second transceiver is then synchronized with the first sequence of pulses. A second sequence of pulses are transmitted from the second transceiver. The first transceiver receives the second sequence of pulses and the first transceiver is synchronized with the second sequence of pulses. A delayed first reference signal is generated in response to the synchronization with the second sequence of pulses. A time difference between the delayed first reference signal and the first reference signal is then measured. The time difference indicates a total time of flight of the first and second sequence of pulses. The distance between the first and the second transceiver is determined from the time difference. The direction of the second transceiver from the first transceiver is determined using a directional antenna. Finally, the position of the second transceiver is determined using the distance and the direction.

An interruption-free hand-held positioning method and system, carried by a person, includes an inertial measurement unit, a north finder, a velocity producer, a positioning assistant, a navigation processor, a wireless communication device, and a display device and map database. Output signals of the inertial measurement unit, the velocity producer, the positioning assistant, and the north finder are processed to obtain highly accurate position measurements of the person. The user's position information can be exchanged with other users through the wireless communication device, and the location and surrounding information can be displayed on the display device by accessing a map database with the person position information.

A system for the distribution of services, includes a computer device within a vehicle, a vehicle monitoring system coupled to the computer device, a communication system coupled to the computer device for outputting a signal with vehicle monitoring system data, and a remote service center computer device for receiving a signal with vehicle monitoring system data. The method of distributing vehicle maintenance services includes monitoring, by a sensor, a maintenance parameter of the vehicle, communicating the service parameter to a controller, the controller triggering a communications device, sending, by the communications device, a message to a service center, and dispatching, by the service center, a service vehicle based on receiving the signal. In another method, a method of providing service to a vehicle, includes subscribing, by a vehicle owner, to a service, performing the service based on one of an as-needed basis and automatically at any of a home of the vehicle owner, an office of the vehicle owner, and a location specified by the vehicle owner, and billing the vehicle owner for the service rendered to the vehicle.

A location-relevant service system provides location-relevant information to, or performs location-relevant service for, a first mobile unit based on the location of a second mobile unit. In one instance, the first mobile unit is fixed on a vehicle, while the second mobile unit can be provided as a cellular phone. In another instance, the first mobile unit is provided with a display panel, so that authentication can be achieved through providing the displayed location information to a location-relevant service server using the second mobile unit.

The invention consists of methods and apparatus to estimate the position and velocity of a Mobile Receiver (MR) using either the Time Of Arrival (TOA) of signals received by the MR, their Phase Of Arrival (POA), their Strength Of Arrival (SOA), their Frequency Of Arrival (FOA), or a combination thereof, with respect to a reference produced by a Reference Receiver (RR) of known location. In order to solve for the coordinates of the MR, the invention uses either hyperbolic multilateration based on Time Difference Of Arrival (TDOA), or linear multiangulation based on Phase Difference Of Arrival (PDOA), or both. In order to solve for the velocity of the MR, the patent uses FOA based on Frequency Difference Of Arrival (FDOA).

A child locating and tracking apparatus which provides for the location of a child that is lost, abducted or in general danger to be quickly located is disclosed. The apparatus uses a small transmitter that is always carried by the child and as such, is always present when danger arises. The transmitter is easily disguised and hidden in the child's clothing or personal adornments such as shoes, coats, watches, earrings, bracelets, rings and the like. The apparatus uses a system of world wide receivers such as those provided by local cellular telephone towers or by low earth orbiting satellites used for low power communication. When a child is lost or in danger, the child simply activates the transmitter which sends a signal to a central reporting station or stations where trained personnel will contact the respective parents and / or care givers to determine if the child could possibly be in danger. If an affirmative decision is reached, the monitoring station personnel will then assist the local law enforcement officials in the respective area anywhere in the world where the alarm was received in locating the child and removing the child from harm's path.

A system for creating a computer database model of either measured data network throughput properties or wireless communication signal properties within a facility by measuring the desired properties at a plurality of locations within the facility and embedding the measured properties at the location of measurement represented in a three-dimensional facility drawing database.

Techniques to more accurately measure the arrival times of transmissions received at a remote terminal from a number of base stations. In one aspect, unassigned finger processors are used to process and measure the arrival times of transmissions from base stations not in the active set. In another aspect, if no finger processors are available for assignment, the arrival times can be measured in the time period between updates of a reference oscillator used for the measurements. In accordance with a method for determining a position of a remote terminal, a first set of one or more base stations in active communication with the remote terminal is identified and each base station in the first set is assigned at least one finger processor. A second set of one or more base stations not in active communication with the remote terminal is also identified and an available finger processor is assigned to each of at least one base station in the second set. A (signal arrival) time measurement is then performed for each base station, and outputs indicative of the measurements are provided for further processing. To improve accuracy, the measurements can be performed within a narrow time window.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed at gathering position information of mobile and stationary entities and using the position information in a wide variety of applications. Various embodiments use a plurality of signal transmitting devices and / or a plurality of signal gathering devices to gather position information. In one embodiment, the signal transmitting device is an existing mobile electronic device. In another embodiment, the signal transmitting device is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached to an entity. In another embodiment, the signal gathering device is a collection of wall mounted antennas. The entity location is calculated by gathering the phase difference or other timing information of signal generated by the signal transmitting device on the entity. This location information is then given to end user applications. One embodiment is a network security application using gathered location information of wireless ethernet cards. Another embodiment is a network resource locator application.

Systems and methods are disclosed for automated notification systems. A representative method, among others, can be summarized by the following steps: monitoring travel data in connection with a mobile thing (MT) that is destined to pickup or deliver an item or service at a stop location; causing initiation of a notification communication session with a personal communications device (PCD) based upon the travel data; and during the notification communication session, enabling a party associated with the PCD to change one or more tasks associated with the pickup or delivery. A representative system, among others, comprises a computer or other automated system that is programmed or designed to perform the foregoing steps.

A radio frequency identification (RFID) device, locator, wired and / or wireless communicator system comprising one or more than one antennas for receiving Radio Frequency (RF) signals from one or more RFID and or location determining and / or communication transmitters. The system has one or more receivers and demodulators for reception and demodulation of signals to baseband signals. A processor circuit processes the baseband signals and provides them to a cross-correlator circuit for cross-correlating the processed baseband signals and for generation of cross-correlated baseband signals. One or more modulators modulate the baseband signals and provide them to one or more transmitters. circuitry.

A geographic-based communications service system has a mobile unit for transmitting / receiving information, and access points connected to a network. The access points are arranged in a known geographic locations and transmit and receive information from the mobile unit. When one of the access points detects the presence of the mobile unit, it sends a signal to the network indicating the location of the mobile unit and the information requested by the mobile unit. Based on the signal received from the access point, the network communicates with information providers connected to the network and provides data to the mobile unit through the access point corresponding to the location of the mobile unit.

A mobile device, for determining location in a wireless network, includes a motion detector for detecting motion of the mobile device; a memory for storing wireless signal strength calibration data comprising a list of wireless signal strengths and known locations; a location detection module for measuring a wireless signal strength of any received network radio signals and for determining the location of the mobile device with reference to the wireless signal strength calibration data; and a location correction module, for applying a statistical correction to the measured wireless signal strength determined by the location detection module when the motion detector detects that the mobile device is moving less than a threshold amount. The mobile device may further include an orientation detector for detecting the orientation of the mobile device, which can be compared with orientation data stored in the calibration data.