System and method for establishing a calibration of a real-time location

Abstract

A system and method for determining location information based on a reference profile for a reference device (200), and a system and method for determining a reference profile. The system can determine a reference locator (210) for the reference device (200) based on a plurality of samples obtained regarding communications between the reference device (200) and a subject device (50). An adapter locator (310) can be determined for the reference locator (210) for samples obtained regarding communications between a test device (300) and a subject (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to systems and methods for calibrating and determining location information about portable devices and objects, such as vehicles. Background Art

[0002] Real-time location or position determination for objects is becoming increasingly common in a wide range of applications. Real-time location systems (RTLS) are used and relied upon for tracking objects (such as portable devices) in many areas, including, for example, automotive, storage, retail, secure access for authentication, and secure access for authorization.

[0003] A conventional RTLS system in the automotive field includes a transceiver or main controller that is located within the vehicle and is capable of communicating with a portable device via radio frequency (RF). One or more aspects of the communication between the main controller and the portable device, such as the signal strength of the communication, can be monitored and used as a basis for determining the location of the portable device relative to the vehicle. For example, if the signal strength of the communication is low, the portable device may be farther away from the vehicle than if the signal strength of the communication is high. Generally, as the distance between the portable device and the vehicle increases, the strength of the communication decreases.

[0004] Using a function based on the relationship between signal strength and distance, the location of the portable device relative to the vehicle can be calculated. However, the accuracy of the function may vary significantly from application to application and between different environments. A function may be considered accurate for one system under set conditions, and then provide results that are significantly inaccurate under different conditions or for a slightly different system.

[0005] Efforts have been made to calibrate functions used to determine the location of a portable device relative to a vehicle. For example, in a scenario where the portable device is a phone and the object is a vehicle, the function may be considered accurate for one type of phone (e.g., an Apple iPhone), but the same function may provide inconsistent or inaccurate results for another type of phone (e.g., a Samsung Galaxy). However, due to a large number of environmental factors and conditions, such as different phone types and different vehicle configurations, users are typically left with a set of instructions to calibrate their specific phone with their specific vehicle. In this way, users can attempt to avoid effects caused by environmental changes and physical differences. However, such a system that relies on users to calibrate themselves may lead to user frustration when the system is inaccurate because the user did not follow or misunderstood the calibration instructions. Summary of the invention

[0006] A system and method are provided for determining location information based on a reference profile for a reference device. A reference locator can be determined for the reference device based on a plurality of samples obtained regarding communications between the reference device and a subject device. An adapter locator can be determined for the reference locator based on samples obtained regarding communications between a test device and a subject.

[0007] In one embodiment, a system is provided for determining location information about a location of a portable device relative to an object. The system may include an object device and a controller configured to determine location information about the portable device relative to the object. The object device may be disposed in a fixed position relative to the object and may include an antenna configured to wirelessly communicate with the portable device via a communication link.

[0008] The controller may include an adapter locator configured to store a device type parameter associated with a signal characteristic of communications between the portable device and the antenna, wherein the device type parameter corresponds to a device type of the portable device. The controller may include a reference locator coupled to the adapter locator, wherein the reference locator may be configured to obtain one or more reference parameters from the memory, the one or more reference parameters being operable to facilitate determining location information based on the signal characteristic of communications wirelessly transmitted between the reference device and the subject device. The adapter locator may be configured to affect an output of the reference locator based on the device type parameter.

[0009] The controller may be configured to obtain a device type parameter corresponding to a device type of the portable device and determine location information about the portable device relative to the object based on output from the adapter locator and signal characteristics of communications wirelessly transmitted between the portable device and the object device.

[0010] A method of calibrating a system is provided for determining location information about a location of a remote device relative to a subject device. The method may include providing a reference device capable of wirelessly communicating with the subject device via a communication link, and obtaining a plurality of reference device calibration samples for reference device signal characteristics of communications with the reference device at a plurality of locations relative to the subject device. The method may also include obtaining a plurality of remote device calibration samples for remote device signal characteristics of communications with the remote device at a plurality of locations relative to the subject device, and determining one or more reference parameters for a reference locator based on the plurality of reference device calibration samples.

[0011] One or more adapter parameters may be determined for an adapter positioner based on a plurality of remote device calibration samples, wherein the adapter positioner is configured to affect an output of the reference positioner.

[0012] In one embodiment, a method for determining location information about a location of a portable device relative to an object is provided. The method may include providing an object device in a fixed position relative to the object, and retrieving a user device type parameter from a memory, the user device type parameter being associated with a user device signal characteristic of a communication between the object device and the portable device, wherein the user device type parameter is associated with a device type of the portable device. The method may also include obtaining one or more samples of the user device signal characteristic with respect to the communication between the portable device and the object device.

[0013] A reference locator calibrated to determine location information based on reference device signal characteristics of communications wirelessly transmitted between the reference portable device and the subject device may be provided.

[0014] Based on the reference locator, one or more samples of the user device signal characteristic, and the user device type parameter, location information regarding the location of the portable device relative to the object may be determined.

[0015] Before the embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the details of the operation or the construction and arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The present invention may be implemented in various other embodiments and may be practiced or executed in alternative ways not explicitly disclosed herein. Moreover, it is to be understood that the words and terms used herein are for descriptive purposes and should not be considered restrictive. The use of "including" and "comprising" and their variations is meant to cover the items listed thereafter and their equivalents as well as additional items and their equivalents. Further, enumeration may be used in the description of various embodiments. Unless otherwise expressly provided, the use of enumeration should not be interpreted as limiting the present invention to any particular order or number of components. The use of enumeration should also not be interpreted as excluding any additional steps or components from the scope of the present invention, which may be combined with the steps or components of the enumeration, or combined as the steps or components of the enumeration. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 A representative view of a system according to one embodiment is shown.

[0017] Figure 2 Depicted Figure 1 A representative view of a system in which a device is at least partially disposed on an object.

[0018] Figure 3 System components according to one embodiment are shown.

[0019] Figure 4A reference locator of a system according to one embodiment is shown.

[0020] Figure 5 Receive power variation according to one embodiment is depicted.

[0021] Figure 6 A method of determining a location according to one embodiment is shown.

[0022] Figure 7 A method of obtaining a training data set according to one embodiment is described.

[0023] Figure 8 Various gripping positions for holding a portable device are shown according to one embodiment.

[0024] Fig. 9 A method of training an adapter locator according to one embodiment is described.

[0025] Fig.10 An adapter positioner according to one embodiment is depicted.

[0026] Fig.11 Actual and calculated distances for various devices are shown according to one embodiment.

[0027] Fig.12 Shows Fig.11 A graph of the data in .

[0028] Fig.13 Actual and calculated distances with received power variation according to one embodiment are shown.

[0029] Fig.14 Shows Fig.13 A graph of the data in .

[0030] Fig.15 A representative view of a system according to one embodiment is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] A system and method for determining location information based on a reference locator for a reference device, and a system and method for determining a reference locator are provided. The system can determine a reference locator for a reference device based on a plurality of samples obtained regarding communications between a reference device and a subject device. The subject device can be disposed on an object (such as a vehicle) and can wirelessly communicate with the reference device. For samples obtained regarding communications between a test device and the subject device, the system can determine an adapter locator for a reference locator, the subject device optionally being disposed on a test object different from the object used in conjunction with the reference device in determining the reference locator.

[0032] In one embodiment, for a remote device that may be of a different type than a reference device, a plurality of samples may be obtained regarding communications between the remote device and the subject device to determine an adapter locator for adapting the reference locator. The adapter locator may be configured to determine location information about the remote device based on the reference locator adapted according to one or more parameters of the adapter locator.

[0033] To provide an example, the reference locator can be trained on a table of multiple samples obtained about the communication between the reference device and the object device. The multiple samples may include one or more signal characteristics of the communication. Example signal characteristics include signal strength (RSSI), angle of arrival (AOA), and time of flight (TOF). The samples can be obtained in the object device, or can be transmitted to the object device from the sensor object device.

[0034] The table may also include real information or real data for each sample. The real information may correspond to one or more outputs, which may include an expected output, an observation location, or an observation parameter, or a combination thereof. For example, the observation location may be about an actual location, or in a specific area (e.g., inside, outside, left, right, front, or rear of a vehicle), orientation, or environment (e.g., in a wallet or a person's hand), or any combination thereof.

[0035] In one embodiment, multiple samples and associated real information can form the basis of a training data set (and possibly a validation data set) for a machine learning algorithm to vary one or more parameters of a reference locator. In conjunction with the one or more parameters, the reference locator is capable of providing one or more outputs based on samples of one or more signal characteristics of a communication. The samples can be provided to the reference locator to obtain or generate one or more outputs that can be closely related to the real information obtained about the samples (assuming one or more parameters are tuned to the training set). The reference locator can be trained within a confidence level for the training data set so that one or more outputs obtained from the reference locator with respect to the samples can be considered accurate within the established confidence level.

[0036] In one embodiment, the reference locator may include one or more core functions and a plurality of adjustable parameters associated with the one or more core functions. The plurality of adjustable parameters may be adjusted so that the reference locator provides one or more outputs similar to the true information based on one or more inputs (e.g., samples). A gradient descent optimization algorithm may be used to adjust the adjustable parameters in conjunction with a scoring function. In addition to or in lieu of a scoring function, an error function may be used, such as a mean square error. The scoring function may provide a score corresponding to the similarity between one or more outputs of the reference locator and the true information. The gradient descent optimization algorithm may be configured to adjust the adjustable parameters to substantially maximize the score of the scoring function or the similarity between one or more outputs of the reference locator and the true information.

[0037] As discussed herein, a system and method for determining location information of a remote device relative to an object is provided. The system and method can be adapted to determine such location information for different types of remote devices and different types of objects. To provide an example, the remote device can be a Phone as a Key (PaaK) or a smart phone, and the object can be a vehicle. More specifically, in this example, the system and method can be adapted to determine location information about an iPhone 6s and a 2018 Toyota Corolla, and can also be adapted to determine location information about a Samsung Galaxy S9 and a 2018 Ford Explorer.

[0038] The reference device and the reference locator determined for the reference device can be used as a basis for training an adapter locator to determine location information about an object. A system and method according to an embodiment may include: determining multiple adapter locators for multiple remote devices for multiple objects. For example, a first adapter locator can be trained for an iPhone 6s and a 2018 Toyota Corolla, a second adapter locator can be trained for an iPhone 6s and a 2018 Ford Explorer, a third adapter locator can be trained for a Samsung Galaxy S9 and a 2018 Toyota Corolla, and a fourth adapter locator can be trained for a Samsung Galaxy S9 and a 2018 Ford Explorer.

[0039] In one embodiment, rather than training a reference locator for each type of remote device and each type of object, the reference locator can be trained on a reference device for each type of object (e.g., each vehicle make and model), and supplemental parameters can be tuned for the adapter locator in conjunction with the other devices. Additionally or alternatively, the reference locator can be trained on a subset of reference devices and reference objects, the subset of reference objects being selected from a larger set of objects. Optionally, the subset of reference objects can include a single reference object.

[0040] A reference locator trained using samples and ground truth information obtained for a reference device and object (or both) can form the basis for training an adapter locator for different types of devices or different types of objects, or both.

[0041] The adapter locator may be configured to adapt at least one of: one or more inputs of the reference locator, one or more parameters of the reference locator, and one or more outputs of the reference locator. The adapter locator may be configured to change one or more tuning parameters of the reference locator, which may or may not have been tuned during training of the reference locator. Additionally or alternatively, the adapter locator may include one or more adapter core functions, which are configured to change the input or output based on the one or more tuning parameters of the adapter locator, respectively.

[0042] The adapter locator can be trained based on multiple samples and real information obtained about a test device (of a different type than the reference device) and an object used in conjunction with the training reference locator. In an alternative embodiment, the object can be a test object that is different from the object used in conjunction with the training reference locator. In another alternative embodiment, the adapter locator can be trained with respect to a reference device and a test object that is different from the object used in conjunction with the training reference locator. In this way, the adapter locator can be developed for different types of objects.

[0043] The adapter locator can be used in conjunction with the reference locator to provide an output within a confidence level that corresponds to true information obtained for a sample obtained for a test device or a test object or both. The number of parameters or complexity of the adapter locator can be significantly less than that of the reference locator, thereby facilitating storage of multiple adapter locators for various configurations in less space than if a reference locator were trained for each combination of device and object.

[0044] To provide an example, an adapter locator may include one or two parameters (although the present disclosure is not limited thereto) that may be tuned during training in conjunction with a reference locator to generate one or more outputs based on a sample of a test device and true information of the sample.

[0045] In a more specific example, each of the samples may include a signal strength, such as an RSSI, for communication between the subject device and the test device. The parameter may be a global offset value for the reference locator that does not change during training of the reference locator. The global offset value may offset the signal strength processed by the reference locator. Alternatively, the adapter locator may be configured to offset the signal strength before input to the reference locator. By changing the global offset value according to a scoring function during training of the adapter locator, the output of the adapter locator may be combined with the reference locator operation to provide an output corresponding to true information obtained for the test device within a confidence level. A gradient descent optimization algorithm or other optimization algorithm may be used in conjunction with the scoring function to train the adapter locator and one or more of its parameters to generate an output that initially resembles true information.

[0046] An adapter positioner according to an embodiment is not limited to modification of one or more parameters of a reference positioner. The adapter positioner may be configured to change one or more inputs provided to the reference positioner, change one or more internal parameters of the reference positioner, or change one or more outputs provided from the reference positioner, or any combination thereof.

[0047] It should be noted that in one embodiment, the parameters of the adapter locator can be stored separately from the object or object control and can be provided to the object or object control based on information about the type of device being located. Based on the type of device being located, the object or object control 12 can retrieve the parameters of the adapter locator (e.g., the offset of the device) from the cloud or an external server device. Alternatively, the device itself can provide this information, the adapter parameters, to the object or object control 12. The device may have obtained this information in advance from the cloud or in response to a request from the object 10 or object control 12. In yet another alternative, the actual device can be calibrated to work with the object 10, determine and store the adapter parameters, and provide such parameters to the object 10.

[0048] In one embodiment, in a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) PaaK system using RSSI measurement, a calibration process is provided for a remote device 20 (e.g., a phone) to determine an average RSSI offset as averaged across common phone postures (e.g., in hand, in front pocket, in back pocket, in purse, etc.), which average RSSI offset can be a value that compensates for the antenna gain and other configuration factors of the remote device, which facilitates sending signals to / from an object (e.g., a vehicle) relative to a "golden device" also described as a reference device (on which the vehicle's algorithm calibration can be based). In other words, the result of the calibration process in one embodiment is an offset that is applied to the RSSI measurement for each remote device 20 within the vehicle-based RSSI measurement system.

[0049] The calibration process in one embodiment may produce more than one value - such as RSSI offset and variability indicator - however, for the purposes of discussion, one or more embodiments herein are described in conjunction with tuning one parameter - RSSI offset. For example, a "golden device" may be an iPhone 6 or a BLE key fob (offset of 0), and an Android Galaxy S7 may use an offset of +8; conversely, a Galaxy S7 may be a "golden device" (offset of 0), and an iPhone 6 may use an offset of -8. The variability indicator may represent the relative change of one or more measurements (e.g., RSSI) relative to different orientations of the device. For example, if a device is provided at a first position defined as the device being in a first orientation and a first location, the RSSI value may vary or be different relative to the RSSI value at a second position defined as the device being in a second orientation but in the same first location. Different devices may have different degrees of variability.

[0050] I. System Overview

[0051] According to one embodiment, the system Figure 1 and Figure 2 , and is generally designated as 100. The system 100 may include one or more system components as outlined herein. The system component may be a user 60 or an electronic system component, which may be a remote device 20 (e.g., a portable device), a sensor 40, or an object device 50, or a component that includes one or more aspects of these devices. As discussed herein, the underlying components of the object device 50 may be configured to operate in conjunction with any one or more of these devices. In this sense, in one embodiment, there may be multiple common aspects or features among the remote device 20, the sensor 40, and the object device 50. In conjunction Figure 3 The features described by the depicted object device 50 may be incorporated into the remote device 20 or the sensor 40, or both. In one embodiment, the object device 50 may form an equipment component disposed on an object 10, such as a vehicle or a building. The object device 50 may be communicatively coupled to one or more systems of the object 10 to control the operation of the object 10, to send information to one or more systems of the object 10, or to receive information from one or more systems of the object 10, or a combination thereof. For example, the object 10 may include an object controller 12 configured to control the operation of the object 10. The object 10 may include one or more communication networks, whether wired or wireless, that facilitate communication between the object controller 12 and the object device 50. The communication network for facilitating communication between the object device 50 and the object controller 12 may be configured to communicate with the object 10. Figure 2In the illustrated embodiment of , it is designated as 150 and is provided as a CAN bus; however, it is to be understood that the communication network is not limited thereto. The communication network can be any type of network, including a wired or wireless network or a combination of two or more types of networks.

[0052] exist Figure 3 In the illustrated embodiment of the subject device 50, the subject device 50 may include a control system or controller 58 configured to control the operation of the subject device 50 according to one or more functions and algorithms discussed herein or aspects thereof. System components (such as the remote device 20 or the sensor 40 or both) may similarly include a controller 58.

[0053] Controller 58 includes circuit devices and components to implement the functions and algorithms described herein. In general, controller 58 may include one or more microcontrollers, microprocessors and / or other programmable electronic devices programmed to implement the functions described herein. Controller 58 may additionally or alternatively include other electronic components programmed to implement the functions described herein, or support microcontrollers, microprocessors and / or other electronic devices. Other electronic components include, but are not limited to, one or more field programmable gate arrays, systems on chips, volatile or non-volatile memories, discrete circuit devices, integrated circuits, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and / or other hardware, software or firmware. Such components can be physically configured in any suitable manner, such as by mounting them to one or more circuit boards, or arranging them in other ways, whether combined into a single unit or distributed on multiple units. Such components can be physically distributed in different locations in object device 50, or they can reside in a public place in object device 50. When physically distributed, the components may communicate using any suitable serial or parallel communication protocol such as, but not limited to, CAN, LIN, Vehicle Area Network (VAN), FireWire, I2C, RS-232, RS-485, and Universal Serial Bus (USB).

[0054] As described herein, the terms locator, module, model, and generator designate portions of the controller 58. For example, a model or locator in one embodiment is described as having one or more core functions and one or more parameters (influencing the output of the one or more core functions). Various aspects of the model or locator may be stored in a memory of the controller 58, and may also form part of the controller configuration, such that the model is part of the controller 58, which is configured to operate to receive and transform one or more inputs and output one or more outputs. Similarly, a module or generator is part of the controller 58, such that the controller 58 is configured to receive inputs described in conjunction with the module or generator, and provide outputs corresponding to the algorithms associated with the module or generator.

[0055] Figure 3 The controller 58 of the object device 50 in the illustrated embodiment may include one or more processors 51, which execute one or more applications 57 (software and / or firmware), one or more memory units 52 (e.g., RAM and / or ROM), and one or more communication interfaces 53 and other electronic hardware. The object device 50 may or may not have an operating system 56, which controls access to low-level devices / electronic devices via the communication interface 53. The object device 50 may or may not have a hardware-based cryptographic unit 55 - in their absence, cryptographic functions can be performed in software. The object device 50 may or may not have (or access) a secure memory unit 54 (e.g., a secure element or hardware security module (HSM)). In the illustrated embodiment, optional components and communication paths are shown in dashed lines.

[0056] Figure 3 The controller 58 in the illustrated embodiment does not rely on the presence of a secure memory unit 54 in any component. In the optional absence of a secure memory unit 54, data that may otherwise be stored in the secure memory unit 54 (e.g., private and / or secret keys) may be statically encrypted. Software-based and hardware-based mitigation measures may be used to substantially block access to such data, as well as substantially prevent or detect or prevent and monitor for compromise of entire system components. Examples of such mitigation functions include implementing physical barriers or shielding, disabling JTAG and other ports, hardening software interfaces to eliminate attack vectors, using a trusted execution environment (e.g., hardware or software or both), and detecting operating system root access or compromise.

[0057] For the purpose of disclosure, being secure is generally considered to be confidential (encrypted), authenticated, and integrity verified. However, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the term "secure" may be a subset of these aspects, or may include additional aspects related to data security.

[0058] The communication interface 53 can be any type of communication link, including any type of communication link described herein, including wired or wireless. The communication interface 53 can facilitate external or internal communication or both. For example, the communication interface 53 can be coupled to the antenna array 30, or incorporated into the antenna array 30. The antenna array 30 can include one or more antennas, and the one or more antennas are configured to facilitate wireless communication, including BLE communication.

[0059] As another example, the communication interface 53 may provide a wireless communication link with another system component in the form of a remote device 20, such as wireless communication according to the WiFi standard. In another example, the communication interface 53 may be configured to communicate with the object controller 12 of the vehicle (e.g., a vehicle component) via a wired link (such as a CAN-based wired network that facilitates communication between multiple devices). The communication interface 53 in one embodiment may include a display and / or an input interface for transmitting information to and / or receiving information from the user 60.

[0060] In one embodiment, the object device 50 may be configured to communicate with one or more auxiliary devices other than another object device 50 or a user. The auxiliary device may be configured differently from the object device 50—for example, the auxiliary device may not include a processor 51, but may include at least one direct connection and / or communication interface for sending or receiving information or both with the object device 50. For example, the auxiliary device may be a solenoid that accepts input from the object device 50, or the auxiliary device may be a sensor (e.g., a proximity sensor) that provides analog and / or digital feedback to the object device 50.

[0061] The system 100 in the illustrated embodiment can be configured to determine location information about the remote device 20 in real time. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment of , user 60 may carry remote device 20 (e.g., a portable device such as a smartphone). System 100 may facilitate real-time positioning of remote device 20 with respect to object 10 (e.g., a vehicle) with sufficient accuracy to determine whether user 60 is located at a location where access to object 10 or permission to command the object should be granted.

[0062] For example, in an embodiment where the object 10 is a vehicle, the system 100 may facilitate determining whether the remote device 20 is outside the vehicle but in close proximity to the driver's side door 14, such as within 5 feet, 3 feet, or 2 feet or less. This determination may form the basis for identifying whether the system 100 should unlock the vehicle. On the other hand, if the system 100 determines that the remote device 20 is outside the vehicle and is not in close proximity to the driver's side door (e.g., outside the range of 2 feet, 3 feet, or 5 feet), the system 100 may determine to lock the driver's side door. As another example, if the system 100 determines that the remote device 20 is in close proximity to the driver's side seat, but not close to the passenger seat or back seat, the system 100 may determine to enable the maneuvering of the vehicle. Conversely, if the remote device 20 is determined to be in close proximity to the driver's side seat outside, the system 100 may determine to fix or maintain the fixation of the vehicle.

[0063] According to one or more embodiments described herein, the object 10 may include a plurality of object devices 50 or variations thereof, such as an object device 50 including a sensor 40 coupled to an antenna array 30 .

[0064] The micro-location of the remote device 20 may be determined in a variety of ways, such as using information obtained from a global positioning system, one or more signal characteristics of communications from the remote device 20, and one or more sensors (e.g., proximity sensors, limit switches, or vision sensors), or a combination thereof. Micro-location techniques for which the system 100 may be configured are disclosed in U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 15 / 488,136, filed April 14, 2017 by Raymond Michael Stitt et al., entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FORESTABLISHING REAL-TIME LOCATION, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0065] In one embodiment, Figures 1 to 3 In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, an object device 50 (e.g., a system control module (SCM)) and a plurality of sensors 40 (coupled to an antenna array 30) may be disposed on the object 10 or in a fixed position relative to the object 10. Example use cases for the object 10 include a vehicle identified in the previous example or a building to which access is controlled by the object device 50.

[0066] The remote device 20 can communicate wirelessly with the object device 50 via the communication link 140. The plurality of sensors 40 can be configured to sniff the communication of the communication link 140 between the remote device 20 and the object device 50 to determine one or more signal characteristics of the communication, such as signal strength or angle of arrival or both. The determined signal characteristics can be transmitted or analyzed and then transmitted to the object device 50 via a communication link 130 separate from the communication link 140 between the remote device 20 and the object device 50.

[0067] Additionally or alternatively, the remote device 20 may establish a direct communication link with one or more sensors 40, and one or more signal characteristics may be determined based on the direct communication link.

[0068] For example, an alternative configuration of system 100 is Fig.15 The system 100 may include a remote device 20, a user 60, and an object 10, similar to the combination of Figure 1 Object 10 according to one embodiment may include object device 50, object controller 12, and a plurality of sensors, which may be similar to sensor 40 described herein.

[0069] In the illustrated embodiment, the remote device 20 may include ultra-wideband (UWB) and BLE communication capabilities. For example, the remote device 20 may be a portable device in the form of a smartphone having both UWB and BLE radios.

[0070] Fig.15 The system 100 in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention may include one or more sensors 40 (which may also be described as anchors) disposed on the object 10. The one or more sensors 40 may be disposed in a variety of locations on the object 10, such as the locations described herein, including, for example, one or more sensors 40 in a door panel and one or more other sensors in a B-pillar, such as in combination with a sensor 40 disposed on the object 10. Figure 2 Shown and described.

[0071] One or more of the sensors 40 may be operable to communicate via at least one communication link according to a communication protocol. The communication link may be established via one or more channels. Figure 2 As described, the sensor 40 may be operable to communicate by sniffing or receiving communications via at least one communication link 140 established between the subject device 50 and the remote device 20, such that the sensor 40 does not send communications via the communication link 140. Such type of communication by the sensor 40 is Fig.15 is shown as a dashed line.

[0072] However, Fig.15 One or more sensors 40 in the system 100 may be operable to communicate by sending and receiving communications via at least one communication link 160 established directly with the remote device 20. In this manner, the sensor 40 may communicate directly with the remote device 20. The at least one communication link 160 may include communications according to more than one protocol (e.g., BLE and UWB).

[0073] Fig.15 One or more sensors 40 of the system 100 in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention may be operable to a) sniff communications on the communication link 140 between the remote device 20 and the object device 50, or b) communicate directly with the remote device 20 via at least one communication link 160. In the illustrated embodiment, the communication capabilities of the one or more sensors 40 are identified in the figures by the letter designation U for UWB and B for BLE. For example, sensor 40U is an ultra-wideband anchor responsive to UWB signals; sensor 40U+B is responsive to UWB and BLE communications; and sensor 40B is a BLE anchor.

[0074] It is to be understood that an object 10 (such as a vehicle) may include Fig.15More sensors 40 are shown in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. Depending on the implementation, a certain number of anchors may be integrated in the vehicle. For example, 3 to 10 anchors with UWB and BLE capabilities may be provided.

[0075] In one embodiment, UWB (similar to BLE) is a standardized communication protocol (see IEEE 802.15.4a / z). One way that UWB may differ from BLE is in ranging applications. UWB may involve sending short duration pulses that allow a time-of-flight function to be used to determine the range from the remote device 20 to one or more sensors 40U, 40U+B (e.g., anchors). The object device 50 may then use a lateral function and / or a multilateration function to determine the location of the remote device 20 (e.g., the location of the remote device 20 relative to the object 10). The lateral and / or multilateration functions may involve processing a set of ranges from the remote device 20 to each sensor 40 to output an estimate of the position of the remote device 20 relative to the object 10. The remote device 20 and the UWB-enabled sensors 40U, 40UB may send and receive packets of data back and forth, thereby enabling time-of-flight determinations regarding such communications.

[0076] Fig.15 The system 100 in the illustrated embodiment may include at least two different communication links for determining positioning. For example, the communication link 140 may utilize BLE-based positioning, and the communication link 160 may utilize UWB-based positioning. In the illustrated embodiment, the communication link 160 is specified with respect to each of the sensors 40U, 40U+B; however, it is understood that each of these communication links 160 may be different. For example, each of the communication links 160 may be separate (e.g., separate channels or frequency bands).

[0077] Utilizing multiple communication links for positioning can provide many benefits.

[0078] For example, in a configuration where both BLE and UWB information are obtained, this information can be combined to enhance and stabilize the positioning estimate. The BLE and UWB channels used in positioning may involve different frequencies and the signal characteristics to be used for ranging are different (RSSI for BLE and time of flight for UWB).

[0079] RSSI range calibration can be enhanced or supplemented with the flight time from UWB communication. This enhanced or supplementary use of flight time can be performed by the system 100 in real time, or in an adapted model that uses sensing information not based on UWB communication (e.g., sensing information only about BLE communication).

[0080] For example, one embodiment according to the present disclosure may involve calibrating out the variance of the RSSI or range calculation. A remote device 20 supporting BLE+UWB may be tested to build a mapping of BLE communication characteristics, UWB communication characteristics, and range or positioning data. A remote device 20 that only has BLE may be operable to process such a mapping, but without the UWB communication characteristics to improve the RSSI range estimate alone. For example, the reference locator 210 may be based on the BLE+UWB communication characteristics, and the adapter locator 310 may be based on the BLE communication characteristics, but not on the UWB communication characteristics. Alternatively, the reference locator 210 may be based on the BLE communication characteristics, and the adapter locator 310 may be based on both the UWB and BLE communication characteristics. It is to be understood that BLE or UWB or both may be replaced by another type of communication protocol.

[0081] In one embodiment, the remote device 20 may establish a direct communication link 160 with one or more of the sensors 40U, 40U+B, and one or more signal characteristics (eg, time of flight) may be determined based on the direct communication link 160 .

[0082] As described herein, one or more signal characteristics (such as signal strength and angle of arrival) can be analyzed to determine location information about the remote device 20 relative to the object 10, an aspect of the object 10, or the object device 50, or a combination of the above. For example, the arrival time difference or the arrival angle or both among the sensor 40 and the object device 50 can be processed to determine the relative position of the remote device 20. The position of one or more antenna arrays 30 relative to the object device 50 can be known, so that the relative position of the remote device 20 can be converted to an absolute position with respect to the antenna array 30 and the object device 50.

[0083] Additional or alternative examples of signal characteristics may be obtained to facilitate determining position according to one or more algorithms, including distance functions, trilateral functions, trigonometric functions, lateral functions, polygonal functions, fingerprint functions, differential functions, time of flight functions, time of arrival functions, time difference of arrival functions, departure angle functions, geometric functions, etc., or any combination of the foregoing.

[0084] II. Reference Positioner Tuning

[0085] Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 The system 100 in the illustrated embodiment can be configured to tune the reference locator 210 for determining location information about a reference device 200 relative to an object 10 to which the object device 50 is set in a fixed relationship. The reference device 200 can be a type of remote device 20 that can be selected based on one or more criteria, such as the prevalence or popularity of the type of remote device 20. For example, if a particular model of iPhone happens to have a greater market share than other types of remote devices 20, then that particular model of iPhone can be selected as the reference device 200. For purposes of this disclosure, Figure 1 and Figure 2 The remote device 20 in the illustrated embodiment of is also designated as the reference device 200 and the test device 300 described herein. Depending on the configuration, the reference device 200 and the test device 300 may be types of the remote device 20 and may be provided in place of the remote device 20 according to one or more embodiments described herein. In an alternative embodiment, the reference device may be the sensor 40, and the reference locator may be determined in conjunction with the sensor 40 and the object device 50.

[0086] In the illustrated embodiment, the reference locator 210 can be based on a locator algorithm 212, such as a core function, which is configured to receive one or more inputs 216 based on communication with the reference device 200 and generate one or more outputs 218 indicating the location of the reference device 200 relative to the object 10. The one or more inputs 216 can be one or more signal characteristics of the communication, such as signal strength (e.g., RSSI), AOA, and TOF, as described herein. The one or more inputs 216 can be sensed in the object device 50 and one or more sensors 40, which can be set at different locations relative to the object 10. As an example, the one or more inputs 216 can include a signal strength (e.g., RSSI) sensed or obtained by the object device 50 with respect to the communication and a signal strength sensed or obtained by each of the one or more sensors 40 with respect to the communication.

[0087] The locator algorithm 212 of the reference locator 210 can be tuned according to a plurality of parameters 214 of the reference locator 210. Example parameters include the following: sensor offset (e.g., RSSI or AOA offset or both), area offset (e.g., threshold and hysteresis parameters), and distance transform (e.g., constant or equation or both). Based on the values ​​of the one or more inputs 216 and the plurality of parameters 214, the locator function 212 can provide an output 218 indicating the location of the reference device 200 relative to the object 10. The locator algorithm 212 can vary from application to application.

[0088] A method for determining a location according to one embodiment of the locator algorithm 212 is Figure 6 and is usually designated as 1000. Figure 6 The method may include receiving data from a device or input 216, obtaining an offset for the device (e.g., a reference locator and / or an adapter locator offset), applying the offset to the received data, and determining the region as an output 218 of a locator, such as the reference locator 210 or the adapter locator 310. Step 1010, step 1012, step 1014, step 1016, step 1018. The region determination may include obtaining one or more thresholds based on a type of device and a previous state, which may be a previous region determination as an example. Step 1020. The method may include determining whether there is sufficient data, and if not, generating an output indicating that the region is unknown. Step 1022, step 1033. If there is sufficient data, if the device is located in region 1 (e.g., inside) rather than region 0 (e.g., far away) or 2 (e.g., nearby), the locator (e.g., the reference locator 210 or the adapter locator 310) may determine a threshold, an offset, a variability indicator, a hysteresis setting, or another parameter or metric, or any combination thereof, based on the data. Step 1024, step 1031. An alternative set of zones may be the driver's side (0), interior (1), or passenger side (2) - although it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to this. Based on a determination similar to step 1024, a locator (such as reference locator 210 or adapter locator 310) may determine whether the device is in zone 2, and if so, provide an output accordingly. Step 1026, step 1032. If the device is determined not to be in zone 2, the reference locator 210 or adapter locator 310 may output that the device is in zone 0. Step 1026, step 1030.

[0089] In another example, the locator algorithm 212 can be a neural network (e.g., a convolutional neural network having one or more layers), and the one or more parameters can include weights of nodes within the neural network. As described herein, during training of the reference locator 210, the weights can be adjusted using samples obtained for the reference device 200 and the object 10 and real information obtained about these samples.

[0090] In one embodiment, the reference locator 210 can be trained in conjunction with a system 100 that is configured for Bluetooth communications, more specifically BLE communications. The BLE specification allows a transmitter (e.g., a phone) to change the power it transmits (its "transmit power"). For a receiver that uses signal strength or RSSI (e.g., using Frii's transmission equation) to calculate the distance to a transmitter, or a receiver that adjusts the RSSI measurement to normalize the measurement at different transmit powers, the receiver also takes into account the transmitter's transmit power. The terms "receiver" and "transmitter" are used to describe communications according to one embodiment. It should be understood that a device (such as an object device 50, a sensor 40, or a remote device 20, or a combination of the above) can operate as a receiver or a transmitter, or both.

[0091] In the context of BLE advertising, when advertising, the transmitter (e.g., a BLE peripheral device such as a phone, key fob, etc.) can control the transmit power and transmit the transmit power as part of the advertising message. In other words, in a system that measures the RSSI of the advertising message from the advertising remote device 20, the remote device 20 can transmit the transmit power to the system 100, including to one or more object devices 50 or one or more sensors 40, or a combination of the above, forming one or more object receivers (e.g., (multiple) vehicle receivers).

[0092] Turning to the BLE data connection, the transmit power used when advertising may be different from the transmit power used during the data connection. The system 100 can use BLE micro-positioning or determine location information about the remote device 20 relative to the object 10 by measuring the RSSI of the data message to mitigate fast fading and other sources of transmit power variation (as described herein) and RF congestion by operating across the 37 data channels defined within the BLE protocol (rather than just one advertising channel).

[0093] During a data connection, the system 100 configured for BLE may allow a central device or a peripheral device to change its transmission power. The devices corresponding to the central device and the peripheral device in BLE may vary depending on the application. For example, the central device may be the object device 50, and the peripheral device may be the remote device 20, or the central device may be the remote device 20, and the peripheral device may be the object device 50. The central device and the peripheral device in BLE may change during operation. For example, the remote device 20 may initially be a central device, and the object device 50 may be a peripheral device, and the remote device 20 may be transformed into a peripheral device, and the object device 50 may be transformed into a central device.

[0094] The transmit power may not be transmitted as part of the BLE data packet; thus, in system 100, where one or more receivers (such as object device 50 and sensor 40) disposed on object 10 measure the RSSI of a data message sent from a remote device 20, the one or more receivers may not be able to know the transmit power of the remote device unless the remote device 20 includes this information in the content of the message (or the one or more receivers are able to query a service on the remote device 20 to obtain it).

[0095] In one embodiment, the system 100 configured for BLE can implement a transmit power service that can be queried to obtain the current transmit power during a connection; however, some remote devices 20 may not be configured for such a service. For example, conventional iOS and Android phones do not implement this service, nor do they provide access to the current transmit power when connected via an operating system application programming interface (API) to be included in a message payload. Some conventional phones use a fixed (constant) transmit power during connection, so the RSSI offset obtained during calibration can encapsulate the data transmit power of the phone. The transmit power service is not provided in this scenario because the transmit power does not change significantly during the connection. It should be noted that due to the large number of products on the market that rely on it, it is unlikely that phone manufacturers will change this conventional behavior without providing a mechanism to obtain the transmit power. In any case, if the transmit power in the remote device 20 changes, the transfer power service can be implemented to obtain the transmit power being utilized.

[0096] System 100 may experience variations in transmitter-to-receiver power for a variety of reasons. For example, in one embodiment, the variation in power from the transmitter to the receiver varies according to one or more of the following, but is not limited to the following:

[0097] The heading of the attitude coordinates (heading, pitch, roll) of the line towards the receiver as measured at the transmitter. This is mainly due to the antenna gain pattern and polarization pattern.

[0098] The heading of the transmitter's heading coordinates (heading, pitch, roll) measured at the receiver. This is also mainly due to the antenna gain pattern and polarization pattern.

[0099] • Frequency variation of antenna gain at the transmitter and receiver.

[0100] Attenuation due to objects in the path between devices.

[0101] • Attenuation due to detuning of the antenna by objects in its near field (eg, hand, wallet, etc.).

[0102] Objects that reflect and channel power (e.g. nearby walls, ceilings, cars, etc.). Some of these objects may be moving (e.g. car doors, garage doors, etc.).

[0103] • Rapid decay or spikes at specific frequencies at specific narrow locations due to reflections from objects causing destructive or constructive interference respectively.

[0104] Diffraction of the RF as it bends around an object.

[0105] Figure 5 The illustrated embodiment depicts received power variations as observed via RSSI measurements on 37 BLE data channels between a fixed location transmitter (iPhone 6S) and receiver (vehicle sensor) for approximately twelve minutes. This empirical testing was conducted in a test environment and was deemed to be as controlled as possible.

[0106] As described herein, the signal strength (RSSI) at a receiver depends on the orientation of a transmitter (e.g., remote device 20) relative to the receiver's antenna (e.g., object device 50 or sensor 40 or both). The orientation of the antenna relative to the receiver may vary in angle and polarization, in addition to distance and attenuators / reflectors within and around the antenna (e.g., the vehicle housing, materials near the antenna [including its ground plane and wiring], etc.). In other words, while the RSSI for a transmitter can be determined at a specific orientation and distance relative to a well-known antenna outside the vehicle (e.g., on a sensor module in a controlled setting), the characteristics of each antenna may be altered by the packaging, location, and orientation of the antenna in a vehicle or other type of object.

[0107] In a vehicle, there may be many antennas, each of which may be located in a different location with a different orientation, according to one embodiment of system 100. All or a subset of the antennas and associated devices (such as object device 50 or sensor 40) may obtain RSSI measurements simultaneously.

[0108] Because various factors may affect one or more signal characteristics of communications between a receiver and a transmitter, to facilitate tuning the reference locator 210 and the locator algorithm 212, samples of the one or more signal characteristics under various conditions may be obtained.

[0109] Example variations in conditions may include purposefully rotating the remote device 20 in all directions, and obtaining test samples at different heights above the ground to force testing or obtaining samples to cover a majority of all possible angles / orientations.

[0110] In one embodiment, the reference locator 210 may be tuned so that one or more inputs from each sensor 40 of the system 100 may be associated with an offset of the reference device 200 or each type of remote device 20 (e.g., each type of phone, at the expense of maintaining an offset for each type of phone). In one embodiment, because antenna performance may vary by frequency (channel), the system 100 may include a reference model (e.g., reference locator 210) with each type of remote device 20, with each sensor 40 having an offset at each frequency. However, for purposes of disclosure, the offsets described herein are global offsets, but it should be understood that the disclosure is not limited thereto, and that several offsets or tuning parameters may be utilized in conjunction with inputs obtained from portions of the system 100, such as one or more sensors 40, and obtained in various circumstances, such as at different receive or transmit frequencies.

[0111] In one embodiment, different types of remote devices 20 may have different antenna radiation properties due to their (multiple) antenna design, (multiple) antenna gain, (multiple) remote device construction, (multiple) antenna placement, and whether the user holds the remote device 20 (and where the user holds the remote device). Taking into account the variation and number of possible conditions, including the real-time possible changes of these conditions, in one embodiment, the offset or tuning parameters are used as an approximation. Alternatively, the test can be performed using all or a subset of the conditions, and additional parameters can be used to tune the reference locator 210 accordingly. In the illustrated embodiment, the offset or tuning parameters represent an approximation and can be considered as an average across orientation, placement and other conditions. These test conditions can be performed in a repeatable manner so that samples can be obtained for each type of remote device 20 (including the reference device 200) for the same conditions.

[0112] Due to the variety and possible real-time changes in conditions and the complexity of radio communications at high frequencies (such as 2.4 GHz for BLE), it is unlikely that a user 60 can tune a locator algorithm, such as the locator algorithm 212 of the system 100, to operate with its remote device 20 to produce accurate and repeatable results. A user 60 in the field is unlikely to be placed in a controlled test environment. Therefore, the reference locator 210 can be trained or tuned in a controlled setting and then later provided to the subject device 50 or the user's remote device 20, or both, for use in the field. As discussed herein, the locator can be tuned for a locator function or locator algorithm for each type of remote device 20, or alternatively, in combination with a reference locator 210 for a reference type of remote device 20 or a reference device 200, the adapter locator 310 can be tuned for each type of remote device 20.

[0113] A method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may involve obtaining test samples and real information about a reference device 200 and a system 100, including an object device 50 and a plurality of sensors 40. Each of the sensors 40 may measure one or more signal characteristics of the communication between the object device 50 and the reference device 200 to form a plurality of test samples. Additionally, the method may involve obtaining real information for each test sample. The real information may include the actual location of the reference device 200 relative to the object 10 or other information, such as area information, environment, or orientation, or another parameter discussed herein, or a combination of the above.

[0114] Determination of one or more specific values ​​(i.e., RSSI offset, variability indicator, etc.) or samples for a reference device 200 (also described as a "golden device") can be performed in a repeatable, controlled manner. This can facilitate calibration of the "golden device" or use with an object 10, such as a vehicle.

[0115] When the reference locator 210 is calibrated or trained against a vehicle using a "golden device" ("vehicle calibration"), the calibration of the reference locator 210 can be tested and scored using a procedure - that is, the reference locator 210 can be validated after training to determine that it operates to produce one or more outputs that are substantially similar to real data under various conditions within separable confidence levels. If the score is determined to be insufficient during validation, the training or calibration of the reference locator 210 can be updated until the reference locator 210 is acceptably scored. With this framework in mind, the method in one embodiment can proceed in the following manner:

[0116] a) the vehicle calibration test environment is controlled in some way;

[0117] b) the vehicle calibration test process is repeatable; and

[0118] c) There is a scoring system or verification system for vehicle calibration test results.

[0119] With respect to (a), in the illustrated embodiment, the test environment need not be a vacuum, but rather the test environment may be configured to be consistent for each process performed (e.g., an open field, in a specific laboratory, in a parking lot of a specific configuration, etc.) to produce one or more samples.

[0120] Regarding (b), repeatable in this sense refers not only to the steps, but also to the manner in which the steps are performed and the position and orientation in which the device is held. Humans tend to introduce variation in these conditions, even in simple back-to-back tests designed to hold a phone in a static location and orientation, not to mention across the spectrum of positions used to test an entire vehicle, in tests performed days or weeks apart. For this reason, test conditions can be recorded and implemented in conjunction with a fixture to promote repeatability.

[0121] Regarding (c), the scoring system or verification system can be configured for objective results as opposed to subjective results. An example of such an objective scoring system includes a combination of percentage of correct classifications and various other metrics (e.g., response time / latency, data stabilization time, etc.).

[0122] It should be noted that it is possible for the reference locator 210 to learn and dynamically adjust to some environmental characteristics; in such cases, the environment that can be dynamically compensated may not be controlled. For example, the environment may be uncontrolled, such as having little control over whether the device is calibrated in the field or in a garage or another environment that may be highly reflective. However, the reference locator 210 and / or the adapter locator can be configured to adjust for such variability in the environment to facilitate tuning.

[0123] A. Obtain sample data and real data

[0124] A method 2000 for obtaining samples and real data (b) for training a reference locator 210 is based on Figure 7 . The method 2000 may vary by application (e.g., for an object that is a vehicle versus a building) - however, the method involves obtaining samples of one or more signal characteristics under various conditions, including, for example, different positions and orientations of an object or various placements of the remote device 20. In one embodiment, coverage of possible conditions may be determined based on the usage scenario and whether the usage scenario affects one or more signal characteristics in a meaningful way (different from other usage scenarios tested). As an example, a usage scenario in which the remote device 20 is placed in a first type of handbag may be substantially the same as a usage scenario in which the remote device 20 is placed in a second type of handbag, which is provided for testing in the method 2000. Therefore, the usage scenario with the first type of handbag may not be tested.

[0125] In one embodiment, the test process (b) or method 2000 may be adapted to test all or substantially all usage scenarios identified as being of interest for method 2000. It should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to testing all or substantially all usage scenarios - a subset of usage scenarios may be tested to train reference locator 210. In the case where object 10 is a vehicle, a test process may be provided to cover a reasonable number of positions in all or substantially all areas with remote device 20 in all orientations and placements (hand, front pocket, back pocket, backpack, purse, etc.).

[0126] In the illustrated embodiment, method 2000 may include providing a reference device 200 and an object 10. As discussed herein, the object 10 used in method 2000 may be a reference object that represents a type of object 10 for which reference locator 210 is trained. Step 2002. Method 2000 may include providing a set of test conditions under which reference device 200 and object 10 may be tested. Step 2004. An example set of test conditions includes the following:

[0127] Testing Location:

[0128] 1) 15m x 15m grid with a spacing of 1m and object 10 located at the center of the grid;

[0129] 2) a 3m x 3m grid with a spacing of 10cm and the object 10 located at the center of the grid; and

[0130] 3) The grid inside the object, with a spacing of 10 cm

[0131] At each test location, the reference device 200 is positioned at the following height conditions: a) low height (e.g., 0.5 m), b) medium height (e.g., 1.0 m), and c) high height (e.g., 1.5 m). The low, medium, and high height conditions may vary depending on the situation. For example, outside the object, such as in the case of a vehicle, the example heights correspond to possible low, medium, and high height conditions. Inside the vehicle, the low, medium, and high height conditions may be different due to the space constraints of the cabin.

[0132] At each test location and altitude condition, the reference device 200 may be set up in multiple orientations. The multiple orientations may involve variations in pitch, roll, or heading, or a combination of the above.

[0133] At each test site, the height conditions and directional placement of the reference device 200 may vary. The placement may generally involve the type of support that holds the reference device 200 and how the support holds the reference device 200. To provide an example, if the type of support is a human hand, the reference device 200 may be held in a normal gripping position, with the hand held in the Figure 8 The grip position may vary based on usage statistics of the type of reference device 200. Examples of other grip positions are also shown in Figure 8 , including an elevated grip position 502 (which is a variation of the normal grip position), a two-handed grip position 504 and a variation thereof (designated 506). Examples of other supports for reference device 200 include a front pocket, a back pocket, a backpack, or a wallet, or a combination thereof.

[0134] Under each condition, the reference device 200 can be kept in position for a period of time, such as 10 seconds to 30 seconds. During this time, the system 100 can be configured to obtain multiple samples of one or more signal characteristics described herein. For example, the object device 50 or the sensor 40 or both can sense one or more characteristics of communication with the reference device 200 under each condition. Example characteristics include signal strength (e.g., RSSI), TOF, and AOA. Step 2006, step 2008, step 2010.

[0135] It should be noted that the test environment or set conditions may vary depending on the application. For a specific type of reference device 200 and object 10, a test process that captures almost all of the conditions identified above can be considered comprehensive. It should be noted that one or more of the identified conditions can be discarded from the conditions set or executed in the alternative test process or alternative embodiment. The conditions identified for method 2000 or the test process can be selected to capture the performance of the system under a reasonable number of use cases or conditions. Additionally, method 2000 or the test process can be used to collect data (as described herein). The collected data may or may not be combined or aggregated and stored, although doing so can promote the correlation of the collected data among multiple test conditions of the reference device 200 and the object 10. The collected data can be provided to a training module of a controller according to one embodiment. Step 2012.

[0136] Given the same or a similar subset of the above set of test points, a trained test party may have significant difficulty in performing the test in a repeatable, consistent manner under the conditions outlined above (note that in the case of a human test party, their body will be in the system [which may or may not be acceptable]). Compensation to accommodate such variability in the reference locator 210 and its accuracy can be built into the training process. For this reason, the end user (untrained test party) may not be satisfied with the results of the training for a given set of conditions. This is particularly serious in the 2.4 GHz RF arena, where environmental conditions may have a significant impact on one or more sensing characteristics of the communication.

[0137] In alternative embodiments, the testing process or method 2000 may be performed autonomously such that all or substantially all data points may be captured consistently.

[0138] The example conditions outlined above are generally static conditions, where the reference device 200 is placed and held stationary for a period of time. It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to this. Additionally or alternatively, the conditions used in the method 2000 or the test process can be functional tests, in which case, they can be dynamic. Examples of such functional tests include approach, departure, and zone transition or a combination of the above.

[0139] III. Adapter Locator Training

[0140] The system 100 according to one embodiment may be configured to tune the adapter locator 310 for determining a location with respect to a type of device 20, which is described herein for the purposes of disclosure as a test party device 300. The type of the test party device 300 may be different from the type of reference device 200 used in conjunction with training the reference locator 210. As discussed herein, the adapter locator 310 may be trained in conjunction with the test party device 300 to potentially avoid training the reference locator 210 for each type of device 20. In other words, the reference locator 210 may be trained in conjunction with the reference device 200, and the adapter locator 310 may be trained in conjunction with a trained version of the reference locator 210 and the test party device 300. For the purposes of disclosure, as discussed herein, the test party device and the reference device are types of remote devices 20 described herein, and are designated by reference numerals 200, 300, respectively, in conjunction with the remote device 20 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0141] The method of obtaining sample data and real data for the test party device 300 can be substantially the same as the method used for obtaining sample data entry data for the reference device 200. For example, under the same set of conditions used for the reference device 200, the sample can be obtained with respect to the test party device 300. Alternatively, the sample can be obtained for the test party device 300 using a subset of the conditions used for the reference device 200 and training the reference locator 210. For example, the adapter locator 310 can be trained using a less comprehensive training data set (sample and real data) than the training data used to train the reference locator 210. The complexity of the process or method 2000 of obtaining training data can be significantly reduced for training the adapter locator 310, thereby facilitating a reduction in the amount of time used to obtain training data for multiple test party devices 300 of different types, and possibly for obtaining training data in conjunction with multiple types of objects 10 (these objects 10 are different from the objects used in conjunction with training the reference locator 210) or a combination of the above.

[0142] exist Fig. 9 In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a method of training an adapter locator 310 is shown and generally designated as 3000. Similar to method 2000, method 3000 may include obtaining training data about a test party device 300 and an object 10. In one embodiment, method 3000 may include determining an offset parameter or value for each type of test party device 300 relative to a reference device 200 (“golden device”). The process of obtaining training data for the test party device 300 may be performed in the same or substantially the same environment as the reference device 200, so that the sampling process for the training data is consistent with the sampling process for the reference device 200. The training data obtained for the test party device 300 may be tested and scored using the same or substantially the same process as the testing and scoring process for the reference device 200 to ensure that a) the test party device 300 performs well with the system, or b) the adapter locator 300 performs substantially the same or similar to the reference locator 200.

[0143] In one embodiment, method 3000 may involve controlling the test environment of the tester device 300 and the object 10, and doing so in substantially the same manner as the test environment of the reference device 200. Step 3002, step 3004. Method 3000 may also involve establishing a set of conditions for obtaining samples of the tester device 300 and the object 10 that are repeatable and optionally the same as the conditions for the reference device 200. Step 3006. With the set of conditions established and the tester device 300 and the object 10 provided, training data for the adapter locator 310 may be obtained. The training data in one embodiment may include a plurality of samples corresponding to one or more sensed characteristics of the communication between the tester device 300 and the object device 50 or the sensor device or both, and real information about one or more characteristics of the tester device 300 (e.g., location, height, orientation, and placement). Step 3008.

[0144] The method 3000 may include a process for training the adapter locator 310 based on the training data obtained about the test party device 300 and the object 10. The training process may be substantially similar to the method described in conjunction with the reference locator 200, with several exceptions. For example, the adapter locator 310 may be trained to affect the input or output of the reference locator 210, or to affect one or more parameters of the reference locator 210, or any combination of the above.

[0145] According to one embodiment, the adapter locator 310 is Fig.10. The adapter locator 310 may be configured to receive input data 320, such as one or more signal characteristics of communications between the remote device 20 and the object device 50 or sensor 40, or a combination thereof. The input data 320 may be substantially similar to the type of data collected in a sample during training of the adapter locator 310 and the reference locator 210. The adapter locator 310 may be configured to provide an adapter locator output 330 that indicates a location of the remote device 20 relative to the object 10 on which the object device 50 and / or sensor 40 are disposed in a fixed relationship.

[0146] In one embodiment, the adapter locator 310 may include a parameter configuration 316 stored in a memory. The parameter configuration 316 may include one or more parameters that are adjusted according to training data, including a plurality of samples and associated real data, during training of the adapter locator 310. As discussed herein, one or more parameters of the adapter locator 310 may be adjusted according to a gradient descent optimization algorithm for maximizing a score of the adapter locator 310 such that the adapter locator output 330 is aligned with the real data within a confidence level.

[0147] Optionally, at least one parameter of parameter configuration 316 may correspond to at least one parameter of parameters 214 of reference locator 210, such as Fig.10 . For example, the reference locator 210 may be trained in conjunction with a first parameter, and the adapter locator 310 may be trained in conjunction with an adjustment to the first parameter of the reference locator 210. In one embodiment, the first parameter of the reference locator 210 may remain static during training of the reference locator 210, and may be adjusted during training of the adapter locator 310. For example, the first parameter of the reference locator 210 may be a global offset value for signal strength regarding communications with the remote device 20, and the reference locator 210 may be trained such that the global offset value is substantially zero for the reference device 200. During training of the adapter locator 310 of the test party device 300, the global offset value may be adjusted to achieve a score for the adapter locator 310 that is considered acceptable, or to achieve an adapter locator output 330 that performs within a threshold confidence level.

[0148] It is noted that the number of parameters controlled by the adapter locator 310 (e.g., the number of training parameters) may be significantly less than the number of parameters used when training the reference locator 210. Thus, the performance of the adapter locator 310 may be substantially similar to the reference locator 210 in some cases, but not similar in other cases. The training process may be configured to provide greater weight to achieve performance of situations that are considered to be more influential to the overall implementation of the system 100 that is acceptable relative to situations that are considered to be less influential. For example, accuracy at long distances may be weighted less than accuracy close to the object 10.

[0149] Optionally, the adapter locator 310 may include one or more of: an adapter gateway 312 configured to modify or adapt input data 320 provided to the reference locator 210; and an adapter modifier 314 configured to modify or adapt output received from the reference locator 210. The parameter configuration 316 stored in the memory and associated with the adapter locator 310 may include one or more parameters associated with the adapter gateway 312 and the adapter modifier 314. Training of the adapter locator 310 may include adjusting one or more parameters to achieve a performance score of the adapter locator 310 relative to real data of the test party device 300. The adapter gateway 312 may perform signal processing and / or data aggregation on the sensor data received by the adapter locator 310. The parameters may affect the signal processing and / or data aggregation. The adapter modifier 314 may be a post-processor configured to affect the output of a locator (such as the reference locator 210 or the adapter locator 310). The adapter gateway 312 and / or the adapter modifier 314 may be integrated with the locator, or not present in the locator.

[0150] Return to method 3000 and Fig. 9 In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the method 3000 may also involve training the adapter locator 310 and providing a scoring function during the training of the adapter locator 310 that is substantially the same as the scoring function used to train the reference locator 210 in conjunction with the reference device 200. Step 3010. In this way, the score of the adapter locator 310 can be compared in a meaningful manner to the score of the reference locator 210. In other words, in one embodiment, for the method 3000 of implementing a performance system in conjunction with the tester device 300, each tester device 300 can be tested and scored in the same manner as the reference device 200 (e.g., in the case of a vehicle, in the same manner as vehicle calibration using the reference device 200).

[0151] In one embodiment, at a minimum, each tester device 300 may be tested and scored in the same manner as other tester devices 300 are tested and scored, possibly in a manner different from that in which reference devices 200 are tested and scored.

[0152] Similar to the vehicle calibration test process or method 2000 described above as repeatable, the device calibration test or method 3000 can be configured to include multiple test conditions involving usage scenarios that are identified as affecting or indicating the location of the test party device 300 based on RF communication. In one embodiment, the test conditions can be substantially exhaustive of all scenarios; however, the present disclosure is not limited to this. Alternative embodiments may include providing (multiple) test device calibration environments, (multiple) test processes, and (multiple) scoring mechanisms that are different from the (multiple) vehicle calibration environments, (multiple) test processes, and (multiple) scoring mechanisms used in conjunction with method 2000, or a combination of the above. In this case, there may not be a one-to-one correspondence between the scores of the test device 300 and the adapter locator 310 to evaluate the device-to-"golden device" (device-to-vehicle calibration) performance. For example, the device calibration test process or method 3000 may be set up in such a way that only a subset of the vehicle calibration test process is performed; in this case, it may not be known whether the test device 300 performs similarly in scenarios where the "golden device" or reference device 200 is tested but the test device 300 is not. Similarly, the device calibration test process or method 3000 may include scenarios that are not performed during the vehicle calibration test process or method 2000; in this case, it is not known whether the "golden device" or reference device 200 performs similarly in scenarios where the test device 300 is tested but the "golden device" or reference device 200 is not tested. In either case, given that the method 3000 is performed in a controlled, repeatable manner and has a scoring function, it is possible to compare device-to-device calibration performance.

[0153] In one embodiment, a different device calibration test process or method 3000 is established to additionally test the reference device 200 or "golden device" using the established method 3000 (device calibration test process). In one embodiment, having a separate environment, process, and / or scoring mechanism or function may result in additional work, data to maintain and disseminate, and performance changes relative to the "golden device."

[0154] According to one embodiment, the trained adapter locator 310 may influence the system 100 to determine location information within confidence for multiple types of remote devices 20. In one embodiment, the trained adapter locator 310 may facilitate shifting the signal strength characteristics of communications with remote devices 20 that are similar in type to the test party device 300 and relative to the signal strength of communications with the reference device 200. Fig.11 and Fig.12 The illustrated embodiment of shows a table and a graph of values ​​for a reference device 20 and two types of remote devices 20 that are different in type from the reference device 20 .

[0155] In the illustrated embodiment, a device calibration offset or offset parameter for a particular type of remote device 20 (e.g., a phone) can convert its RSSI measurement (or signal strength characteristic measurement made in connection with communications with the remote device 20) for use with a reference locator 210 that is trained for use with a reference device 200, including object calibration of the reference device 200 using a locator function and associated parameters. The adapter locator 310 can be trained to achieve similar performance with each device as compared to the reference device 200. As described herein, an incorrect (or missing) calibration offset can result in a change in the determined distance and / or area.

[0156] Fig.13 and Fig.14 The signal strength characteristic metrics depicted in the illustrated embodiment of show a plurality of metrics obtained at different distances in an external environment with respect to an object 10 of the type being a vehicle. As shown, with respect to the reference device 200, each 6 dBm decrease in RSSI corresponds to a doubling of distance (assuming all other factors (such as those described above) remain constant [which is unlikely, particularly as distance increases]). Based on the environment, the actual RSSI-to-distance relationship may be different than that shown in the illustrated embodiment and may vary from a 3 dBm decrease per doubling of distance to a 12 dBm decrease per doubling of distance or more per doubling of distance. To this end, the metrics shown in the illustrated embodiment are provided for discussion purposes, and it should be understood that the actual profile or relationship between our RSSI and distance may vary depending on various circumstances, including the environment and configuration of one or more of the remote device 20, the object 10, the object device 50, and the sensor 40.

[0157] The RSSI values ​​and thresholds shown in the illustrated embodiment are exemplary and may vary in practice. The RSSI values ​​and thresholds depict the effects of different device transmission configurations (e.g., antenna gain, antenna radiation pattern, device configuration, etc., as described herein) are theoretical and therefore do not necessarily reflect values ​​that may be observed or thresholds that may be used in actual systems installed in vehicles. RSSI values ​​may vary based on a variety of factors, and as discussed herein, such as variability and environment.

[0158] The table in the illustrated embodiment provides example distance calculation changes between a reference device 200 and two other types of remote devices 20 (identified as device A and device B). For purposes of this disclosure, the differences reflect a -6 offset for device A and a +6 offset for device B. A "calculated distance" is a distance calculated for a particular device using the reference locator 210, as trained in conjunction with the reference device 200. The data in the table does not include the effects of received power variations (such as in conjunction with Fig.14 those described in the illustrated embodiments of the present invention).

[0159] As shown in the illustrated embodiment, while the difference in distance calculations is more noticeable at greater distances, the difference near the vehicle is sufficient to affect the user experience. For example, in a system where the unlock zone is configured to be entered at two (2) meters from the vehicle, reference device 200 will be correctly determined to be within the unlock zone at two (2) meters, while device A will not be determined to be within the unlock zone until it reaches one (1) meter, and device B will be determined to be within the unlock zone at four (4) meters.

[0160] As combined Fig.14 As described in the illustrated embodiment, there are many factors that may cause the RSSI measurement to vary. An example of such a variation may be Figure 5 As can be seen in the illustrated embodiment, Figure 5 Depicted is the output from the trained adapter locator 310 ("calibrated iPhone"), as described herein to calibrate the distance transformation equation, for an iPhone 6S, relative to the smoothed and averaged RSSI readings of the actual distance from the iPhone 6S ("measured iPhone"), the iPhone 6S being held in a fixed orientation and placed at chest height in a small but nearly empty parking lot in a downtown setting surrounded by buildings. In this configuration, the RSSI drop was measured to be approximately 5 dBm per doubling of distance. Relative to this configuration, the Galaxy S7 was measured to have an average difference (offset) of -3.5 dBm (not shown). Fig.14 The data in is provided in Fig.13 In the table.

[0161] In the above configuration, the parking lot is the same parking lot in which the reference locator 210 (also described as a distance transformation equation) is trained or calibrated. As described herein, the metrics identified in the illustrated embodiment can vary based on different environments (e.g., within a garage, or even in the same parking lot full of vehicles).

[0162] The effect on the threshold is similar or the same as the effect on the distance calculation output from the reference locator 210 or the adapter locator 310. For example, the reference locator 210 or the adapter locator 310 can be configured to provide an output indicating the distance or location of the remote device 20 relative to the object 10. Examples of outputs include location information, such as the calculated distance of the remote device 20 relative to the object 10, or the signal strength that can itself indicate the location or distance of the remote device 20 relative to the object 10. The system 100 can be configured to implement one or more thresholds about location information, which is about one or more areas or locations relative to the object. For example, one or more areas can include an area within 2m of the object 10 and an area inside the object 10, such as a cabin in a scenario where the object 10 is a vehicle. Example areas inside the vehicle include the driver's side seat, the passenger side seat, the back seat of the vehicle, and the interior of the vehicle itself. The presence of the remote device 20 in one or more of these areas or the transition from one or more areas to another area can be associated with an action or state about the remote device. For example, if the remote device 20 transitions from an external zone considered far from the vehicle to an unlock zone identified as being close to the vehicle (eg, within 2 m of the vehicle), the system 100 may be configured to unlock the vehicle.

[0163] The system 100 may define the unlock zone not as a calculated distance, but as an RSSI threshold (or set of thresholds). In such a system 100, device A may not meet the thresholds quickly enough, and device B may meet them too early. For the same reason, device A may not meet the internal determination threshold, unlike the reference device 200 or device B. It should be noted that there are processes for determining and / or limiting relative positions (driver / passenger / rear, interior / exterior) that are not affected by such calibration, so it can still be ensured that the system 100 fully limits internal and external determinations. For example, when located outside the vehicle, device B may meet the internal determination threshold, but due to the other mechanisms described, the system 100 may still not allow internal determinations. The area can be determined to vary depending on both the locator output and other states of the object (such as door opening).

[0164] IV. User-Based Adapter Training

[0165] Although various aspects of the present disclosure relate to training the adapter locator 310 primarily described using a test or device 300 (representative of a device of the type provided to a user) to do so in a controlled environment, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The adapter locator 310 can be trained in conjunction with the user's actual remote device 20. The user can be provided with a set of conditions and instructions to facilitate the execution of the method 3000 of training the adapter locator 310. Alternatively, the system 100 can be configured to train the adapter locator 310 based on one or more samples and real information obtained as a result of an action or event that occurs at the object 10. For example, in the context of a vehicle, if a door is opened, the system 100 can assume that the remote device 20 is in close proximity to the vehicle (e.g., as real information), and develop offset or influence parameters by training the adapter locator 310 to facilitate correlation between one or more signal characteristics obtained when the door is opened. Similarly, the ignition of the vehicle or the proximity detection of the driver in the vehicle seat can be used as a basis for determining real information about the remote device 20, and allow the adapter locator 310 to be trained based on one or more samples obtained at the same time.

[0166] The user may perform the device calibration process or method 3000 where no substantial testing of the resulting calibrated or trained adapter locator 310 is performed or analyzed prior to use (such as the case of user-performed device calibration). In such cases, as described above, device calibration may be significantly affected by environmental and testing process variations.

[0167] With such a device calibration method (i.e., user-performed calibration), the system 100 may be configured to calculate offsets in real time or at the end of a testing process based on "golden device" calibration data or reference locator 210, in addition to providing a user interface on the user's phone and communication mode to perform the calibration process. It should also be noted that with such an approach, millions of users may replicate the effort of determining calibration for a remote device 10. In one embodiment, the calibration data may be provided via a network to a central or distributed database of calibration information, thereby enabling the adapter locator 310 or the reference locator 210, or both, to be trained using data obtained for various remote devices 20 and various objects 10 under various conditions. In other words, a large amount of calibration data may be provided to the database by potentially millions of users for analysis and tuning of the reference locator 210 or the adapter locator 310, or both.

[0168] The set of conditions provided to the user 60 for performing the method 3000 in the context of a user-performed device calibration process can enable a substantial degree of repeatability or reproducibility and outline a controlled environment for the user. The user can be instructed to perform the method 3000 under one or more of the following conditions:

[0169] Environmental control - dogs, children, friends, objects or people in vehicles, garages, parking lots, fields, door states, etc.

[0170] · Control of device orientation – intentionally rotating and moving the device within specified parameters.

[0171] · Device location control – intentionally placing the phone within a specified range of locations.

[0172] Various conditions may be provided to the user 60 for performing the method 3000 or for performing a user-performed device calibration process. Provided below are various condition sets - it should be understood that the example condition sets may vary depending on the application, such that a condition set may include more or fewer conditions than outlined. For example, conditions from one example set may be incorporated into another example set. Also, one or more conditions from the example set may not be present. It should also be noted that the example condition sets may be performed in conjunction with one another, such that a first example in an example that may be performed by a user is followed by a second example in the example set.

[0173] The following procedures are listed in order of being considered least likely to succeed; earlier procedures can provide results for comparison with later procedures (and to determine whether the simpler procedures would produce acceptable results).

[0174] After the user 60 has completed some or all of the following condition sets, the method 3000 may involve training the adapter locator 310 of the remote device 20 specific to the user. In one embodiment, the method 3000 may include calculating one or more parameters (e.g., offsets) for one condition set that may be compared to one or more parameters calculated during training for another condition set.

[0175] A. User calibrates using a known antenna separate from the vehicle

[0176] In one embodiment, method 3000 may be performed in conjunction with the following set of conditions: The method uses an antenna external to object 10, such as a vehicle. The change is obtained by rotating remote device 20 (phone) into position.

[0177] The condition set and method 3000 in one embodiment may include the following:

[0178] 1) Place the antenna in a fixed position in the same location for the following steps.

[0179] 2) Keep the reference device 200 one meter away from the antenna.

[0180] 3) Rotate the reference device 200° in all directions at the location for 30 seconds. Collect data from this time.

[0181] 4) Repeat (2) and (3) using the test device 300-A under test.

[0182] 5) Repeat (2) and (3) using the test device 300-B under test.

[0183] 6) Repeat (2) and (3) using the test device 300-C under test.

[0184] 7) Calculate the minimum, maximum, mean, and standard deviation for each data set.

[0185] 8) Evaluate whether min / max / mean (3) minus min / max / mean (4) / (5) / (6) is an appropriate parameter (e.g., offset) within the confidence level.

[0186] Note that in the method described according to one embodiment, the test devices 300 are provided with separate identifiers A, B, and C. These identifiers are provided for disclosure purposes to distinguish between different test devices 300 used in conjunction with the method 3000 and according to one embodiment.

[0187] B. The user places the phone in the center console

[0188] In one embodiment, method 3000 may use antennas mounted in or on object 10 (such as a vehicle), such as antenna array 30 or one or more antennas provided in object device 50 or sensor 40. Note that remote device 20 may not move when placed in a cup holder, but different mounting orientations of sensors in a vehicle may provide some variation.

[0189] The condition set and method 3000 in one embodiment may include the following:

[0190] 1) Place the reference device 200 in the cup holder.

[0191] 2) Collect data for 30 seconds.

[0192] 3) Repeat (1) and (2) using the test device 300-A under test.

[0193] 4) Repeat (1) and (2) using the test device 300-B under test.

[0194] 5) Repeat (1) and (2) using the test device 300-C under test.

[0195] 6) Calculate the minimum, maximum, mean and standard deviation across all antennas for each data set.

[0196] 7) Evaluate whether the minimum / maximum / average (2) minus the minimum / maximum / average (3) / (4) / (5) is an acceptable parameter (e.g., offset) within the confidence level.

[0197] C. The user rotates the phone near one or both sensors

[0198] In one embodiment, method 3000 may use one or two antennas mounted in object 10, such as a vehicle. Variations may be obtained by rotating remote device 20 into position.

[0199] The condition set and method 3000 in one embodiment may include the following:

[0200] 1) Hold the reference device 200 one meter away from an antenna (or equidistant between antennas if multiple antennas are present) (eg, outside on the driver's side of the vehicle, one meter away from the center sensor in the vehicle).

[0201] 2) Rotate the reference device 200° in all directions at the location for 30 seconds. Collect data from this time.

[0202] 3) Repeat (1) and (2) using the test device 300-A under test.

[0203] 4) Repeat (1) and (2) using the test device 300-B under test.

[0204] 5) Repeat (1) and (2) using the test device 300-C under test.

[0205] 6) Calculate the minimum, maximum, mean and standard deviation across all applicable antennas (one / two) for each data set.

[0206] 7) Evaluate whether the minimum / maximum / average (2) minus the minimum / maximum / average (3) / (4) / (5) is an acceptable parameter (e.g., offset) within the confidence level.

[0207] D. The user circles around the vehicle

[0208] In one embodiment, method 3000 may use all antennas installed in the vehicle. Variations may be obtained by rotating the phone while walking around the vehicle.

[0209] The condition set and method 3000 in one embodiment may include the following:

[0210] 1) Hold the reference device 200 at waist level.

[0211] 2) Rotate the reference device 200 in all directions at that location while walking around the vehicle nine (9) times at one meter from the vehicle. Collect data from this time.

[0212] 3) Repeat (1) and (2) using the test device 300-A under test.

[0213] 4) Repeat (1) and (2) using the test device 300-B under test.

[0214] 5) Repeat (1) and (2) using the test device 300-C under test.

[0215] 6) Calculate the minimum, maximum, mean and standard deviation across all antennas for each data set.

[0216] 7) Evaluate whether min / max / mean (2) minus min / max / mean (3) / (4) / (5) is an appropriate parameter (eg, offset) within the confidence level.

[0217] E. The user circles around the vehicle at different heights

[0218] In one embodiment, method 3000 may use all antennas installed in the vehicle. Variations may be obtained by rotating the phone while walking around the vehicle.

[0219] The condition set and method 3000 in one embodiment may include the following:

[0220] 1) Hold the reference device 200 at arm's length near leg level.

[0221] 2) Rotate the reference device 200 in all directions at that location while walking around the vehicle three (3) times at one meter from the vehicle. Collect data from this time.

[0222] 3) Hold the reference device 200 at waist level.

[0223] 4) Rotate the reference device 200 in all directions at that location while walking around the vehicle three (3) times at one meter from the vehicle. Collect data from this time.

[0224] 5) Hold the reference device 200 at call (ear) level.

[0225] 6) Rotate the reference device 200 in all directions at that location while walking around the vehicle three (3) times at one meter from the vehicle. Collect data from this time.

[0226] 7) Repeat (1) to (6) using the test device 300-A under test.

[0227] 8) Repeat (1) to (6) using the test device 300-B under test.

[0228] 9) Repeat (1) to (6) using the test device 300-C under test.

[0229] 10) Calculate the minimum, maximum, mean and standard deviation across all antennas for each data set.

[0230] 11) Evaluate whether the minimum / maximum / average (2) / (4) / (6) minus the minimum / maximum / average (7) / (8) / (9) is an appropriate parameter (e.g., offset) within the confidence level.

[0231] F. The user circles around the vehicle and sits on each seat

[0232] In one embodiment, method 3000 may use all antennas installed in the vehicle. The changes are obtained by rotating the phone while walking and sitting in the vehicle.

[0233] The condition set and method 3000 in one embodiment may include the following:

[0234] 1) Hold the reference device 200 at waist level.

[0235] 2) Rotate the reference device 200 in all directions at that location while walking around the vehicle nine (9) times at one meter from the vehicle. Collect data from this time.

[0236] 3) While sitting in each passenger seat, rotate the reference device 200 in all directions at the location for 30 seconds. Collect data from this time.

[0237] 4) Repeat (1) to (3) using the test device 300-A under test.

[0238] 5) Repeat (1) to (3) using the test device 300-B under test.

[0239] 6) Repeat (1) to (3) using the test device 300-C under test.

[0240] 7) Calculate the minimum, maximum, mean and standard deviation across all antennas for each data set.

[0241] 8) Evaluate whether min / max / mean (2) / (3) - min / max / mean (4) / (5) / (6) are appropriate parameters within the confidence level (e.g., offset).

[0242] G. The user circles around the vehicle at different heights and sits on each seat

[0243] In one embodiment, method 3000 may be a combination of the processes outlined in subsections F and G. The method in this embodiment may use all antennas installed in the vehicle. Variations may be obtained by rotating the phone while walking around and sitting in the vehicle.

[0244] Directional terms such as "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "upper", "lower", "inner", "inward", "outer", and "outward" are used to aid in describing the invention based on the orientation of the embodiments shown in the drawings. The use of directional terms should not be construed to limit the invention to any particular orientation(s).

[0245] The above description is a description of the current embodiment of the present invention. Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the present invention defined in the appended claims, which are interpreted according to the principles of patent law (including the principle of equivalents). The present disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the present invention, or limiting the scope of the claims to specific elements illustrated or described in conjunction with these embodiments. For example, but not limited to, any individual element (multiple) of the present invention described can be replaced by an alternative element that provides substantially similar functionality or otherwise provides appropriate operation. For example, this includes currently known alternative elements (such as those currently known to those skilled in the art) and alternative elements that may be developed in the future (such as those that may be identified as alternatives when developed by those skilled in the art). Further, the disclosed embodiments include multiple features that are consistently described and can provide a collection of benefits in a collaborative manner. The present invention is not limited to only those embodiments that include all these features or provide all the stated benefits, unless otherwise explicitly stated in the claims issued. Any reference to a claim element in the singular (e.g., using the articles "a," "an," "the," or "said") should not be construed as limiting the element to the singular. Any reference to a claim element as "at least one of X, Y, and Z" is intended to include any one of X, Y, or Z individually and any combination of X, Y, and Z, e.g., X, Y, Z; X, Y; X, Z; and Y, Z.

Claims

1. A system for determining location information about a location of a portable device (20) relative to an object (10), the system comprising: an object device (50) disposed in a fixed position relative to the object (10), the object device (50) having an antenna configured to wirelessly communicate with the portable device (20) via a communication link; a controller (58) configured to determine location information about the portable device (20) relative to the object (10); The controller (58) includes an adapter locator (310) configured to store a device type parameter indicating a device type of the portable device (20), the device type parameter being associated with a signal characteristic of communication between the portable device (20) and the antenna; The controller (58) includes a reference locator (210), the adapter locator being trained based on the reference locator, the reference locator (210) being configured to obtain one or more reference parameters from a memory, the one or more reference parameters being operable to support determining location information based on signal characteristics of communications wirelessly transmitted between a reference device (200) and the subject device (50), wherein the reference device has a device type different from the device type of the portable device, wherein the adapter locator (310) is trained to affect an output of the reference locator (210) based on the device type parameters such that the output of the reference locator is adapted for the device type of the portable device; The controller (58) is configured to obtain the device type parameter corresponding to the device type of the portable device (20), and the controller (58) is configured to determine location information about the portable device (20) relative to the object (10) based on the output from the adapter locator (310) and the signal characteristics of the communication wirelessly transmitted between the portable device (20) and the object device (50).

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is separate from the portable device (20) and is disposed on a vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal characteristic is a signal strength of a communication from the portable device (20) to the antenna of the subject device (50).

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the reference locator (210) is operable to provide an output based on the input of the device type parameter and the signal strength of the communication, wherein the output indicates the location of the portable device (20), and wherein the controller (58) is configured to determine the location information based on the output.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the communication link is a main communication link, and wherein the system includes an object sensor device (40), the object sensor device (40) being configured to monitor signal characteristics of communication between the portable device (20) and the object device (50), wherein the object sensor device (40) is configured to transmit signal information indicating the monitored signal characteristics to the object device (50) via an auxiliary communication link separated from the main communication link.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein: The communication link is a primary communication link; The system includes an object sensor device (40) operable to establish a secondary communication link with the portable device (20); The object sensor device (40) is capable of sniffing communications occurring with respect to the primary communication link; The object sensor device (40) is configured to transmit to the controller (58) a first signal characteristic of communications occurring with respect to the primary communication link and a second signal characteristic of communications occurring via the secondary communication link.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the primary communication link is BLE and the secondary communication link is UWB, wherein the first signal characteristic is signal strength, and wherein the second signal characteristic is time of flight.

8. The system according to claim 5, comprising a plurality of said object sensor devices (40), wherein each of said object sensor devices (40) is arranged in a fixed position relative to said object (10).

9. The system of claim 5, wherein: The device type parameter is a first device type parameter; The controller (58) is configured to store a second device type parameter associated with the signal characteristic of the communication monitored by the object sensor device (40); and The reference locator (210) is configured to determine location information based on the signal characteristics of communications monitored by the object sensor device (40) and the second device type parameter.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the reference locator (210) is calibrated to provide an output indicating the location of the portable device (20) relative to the object (10), wherein the reference locator (210) is calibrated based on multiple calibration samples for communication with the reference device obtained regarding multiple positions of the reference device relative to the object (10).

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the reference locator (210) is operable to convert the signal characteristics of communications wirelessly transmitted between the portable device (20) and the subject device (50) into corresponding signal characteristics for the reference device based on the device type parameter.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller (58) is configured to determine the location information based on a plurality of signal characteristics of communications between the antennas of the portable device (20) and the subject device (50).

13. The system of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of signal characteristics is obtained by the subject device (50), and wherein the plurality of signal characteristics are different from each other.

14. A method of calibrating a system for determining location information about a location of a remote device relative to a subject device (50), the method comprising: providing a reference device (200), the reference device (200) being capable of wirelessly communicating with the object device (50) via a communication link; obtaining a plurality of reference device calibration samples of reference device signal characteristics for communications with the reference device (200) at a plurality of locations relative to the subject device (50); obtaining a plurality of remote device calibration samples of remote device signal characteristics for communications with the remote device at a plurality of locations relative to the subject device (50), wherein the remote device has a device type different from a device type of the reference device; determining one or more reference parameters for a reference locator (210) based on the plurality of reference device calibration samples; as well as Based on the plurality of remote device calibration samples, one or more adapter parameters for an adapter locator (310) are determined, wherein the adapter locator (310) is trained to influence an output of the reference locator (210) such that the output of the reference locator is adapted for the device type of the remote device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the reference device signal characteristics of communications with the reference device at the plurality of locations relative to the subject device include: signal characteristics of communications between the reference device and the subject device at the plurality of positions relative to the subject device.

16. The method according to claim 14, comprising: Location information indicating a location of the remote device relative to the subject device (50) is determined based on the reference locator (210), the adapter locator (310), and one or more samples of the communicated remote device signal characteristics.

17. The method according to claim 14, comprising: storing a plurality of sets of one or more adapter parameters for a plurality of device types, wherein each device type corresponds to a type of a remote device; selecting a device type from among the plurality of device types; as well as The one or more adapter parameters associated with the selected device type are retrieved from memory.

18. The method according to claim 17, comprising: providing an object sensor device (40) in a fixed position relative to the object device (50), wherein the object sensor (40) has a device type corresponding to one of the plurality of device types, wherein the reference device (200) is another object sensor device (40); and Adapter parameters associated with the object sensor device (40) are retrieved from the memory.

19. The method according to claim 14, comprising: obtaining a plurality of reference device calibration samples for each of a plurality of reference device signal characteristics for communications with the reference device (200) at a plurality of locations relative to the subject device (50); as well as The reference locator is determined based on the plurality of reference device calibration samples for each of the plurality of reference device signal characteristics (210).

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of reference device signal characteristics of communications with the reference device at the plurality of locations relative to the subject device include: signal strength of communication between the reference device and the subject device at the plurality of locations relative to the subject device; as well as and flight times of the communications between the reference device and the subject device at the plurality of locations relative to the subject device.

21. The method according to claim 14, comprising: providing an object sensor device (40) disposed in a fixed position relative to the object device (50); With respect to communication between the subject device (50) and the reference device (200) via the communication link, obtaining the plurality of reference device calibration samples in the subject sensor device (40); and Calibration information is communicated from the subject sensor device (40) to the subject device (50) via an auxiliary communication link distinct from the communication link, the calibration information indicating the plurality of reference device calibration samples.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the reference device signal characteristic and the remote device signal characteristic correspond to signal strength of wireless communications.

23. A method of determining location information regarding a location of a portable device (20) relative to an object (10), the method comprising: providing an object device (50) in a fixed position relative to said object (10); retrieving from a memory a user device type parameter indicating a device type of the portable device (20), the device type parameter being associated with a user device signal characteristic of a communication between the subject device (50) and the portable device (20); With respect to communications between the portable device (20) and the subject device (50), obtaining one or more samples of the user device signal characteristic; providing a reference locator (210) calibrated to determine location information based on reference device signal characteristics of communications wirelessly transmitted between a reference device and the subject device (50), wherein the reference device has a device type different from the device type of the portable device; as well as Location information regarding the location of the portable device (20) relative to the object (10) is determined based on the reference locator (210), the one or more samples of the user device signal characteristic, and the user device type parameter.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the user equipment type calibration value is associated with a plurality of user equipment signal characteristics of communications between the subject device (50) and the portable device (20).

25. The method according to claim 23, comprising: providing a signal characteristic parameter based on the one or more samples of the signal characteristic of the user equipment; as well as Based on the user equipment type parameter, the signal characteristic parameter is converted into a corresponding signal characteristic parameter for the reference device.

26. The method according to claim 23, comprising: obtaining the one or more samples of the user device signal characteristic in an object sensor device (40), wherein the object sensor device (40) is arranged in a fixed position relative to the object device (50); as well as Sensor information indicative of the one or more samples is transmitted to the subject device (50).

27. The method according to claim 23, comprising: providing a second object device in a fixed position relative to the object (10), wherein the object device (50) is the first object device; establishing a first communication link between the portable device (20) and the subject device (50), wherein the one or more samples are obtained by the second subject device with respect to communication via the first communication link, wherein the one or more samples correspond to one or more first samples; establishing a communication link between the second object device and the portable device (20); obtaining one or more second samples of signal characteristics with respect to communications via a second communications link; The location information is determined based on the one or more first samples and the one or more second samples.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the one or more first samples are signal strength characteristics, and wherein the one or more second samples are time of flight characteristics.

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