Uwb positioning system with data network connection components for parallel transfer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a positioning system (10) and a method for operating such a positioning system (10). The positioning system (10) has a communication radio network (20) having at least one data network connection component (18a-d). The one or more data network connection components (18a-d) are configured for data stream transmission via the communication radio network (20) using reserved resources, or bandwidth, to multiple UWB anchors (16a-l). In this configuration, at least a plurality of UWB anchors (16a-l) can be configured for non-wired data stream transmission.

Description

Background Technology

[0001] This invention relates to a positioning system for locating an object. The invention also relates to a method for locating an object.

[0002] It is known that an ultra-wideband (UWB) based positioning system is used to determine the location of an object. Here, the object has a UWB mobile unit, the location of which can be determined, in particular, by determining the propagation time of a signal to multiple UWB anchor points.

[0003] However, during the location determination process, a large amount of data accumulates at the UWB anchor point. Therefore, a problem for known positioning systems is the high installation overhead required to reliably transmit the amount of data to the UWB anchor point.

[0004] Furthermore, the following configurations are known in which anchor points are connected via their own radio communication systems. While this installation reduces the installation cost for UWB positioning systems, it leads to interference with existing radio communication services (CCI = co-channel interference and ACI = adjacent channel interference), which is therefore undesirable. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a positioning system for determining the location of an object that can be installed with significant simplification. Furthermore, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for locating an object that can operate with low installation overhead and preferably does not interfere with purely radio communication networks.

[0006] According to the present invention, the task is accomplished by the positioning system according to claim 1 and the method according to claim 13. The dependent claims reflect preferred embodiments.

[0007] Therefore, the objective according to the invention is achieved by a positioning system for determining the location of an object having a UWB mobile unit (also referred to as a "tag" or "tag device"). The positioning system has multiple UWB anchor points (also referred to as "beacons") for locating the object. Furthermore, the positioning system utilizes a communication radio network having at least one data network connection component configured to transmit data streams of the UWB anchor points in parallel.

[0008] Parallel transmission specifically means that the data stream from the UWB anchor point is transmitted simultaneously over a communication radio network along with a data stream independent of the positioning system. That is, a communication radio network already existing for other data streams can be used.

[0009] The parallel data stream transmission of UWB anchors eliminates the installation overhead of UWB anchor points, especially data cabling. The installation and potential modifications of the positioning system are significantly simplified. Furthermore, more flexible placement of UWB anchor points is possible. Since there are no competing communication radio networks, there is no interference, and data stream management is efficient.

[0010] The structure, positioning, and / or communication and / or data protocols over UWB channels can be made, in particular, according to the description in WO 2020 / 212722A1, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. WO 2020 / 212722A1, entitled "Ultra-Wideband Location Systems and Methods," was filed on April 19, 2019, and published on October 22, 2020.

[0011] The communication radio network preferably has multiple connected data network connection components. The UWB anchor point is preferably constructed as an Omlox anchor point. The object may be part of a positioning system.

[0012] Omlox is an open standard for precise, real-time positioning systems for indoor spaces. Omlox defines an open interface for interoperable positioning systems. Using Omlox, different industries can utilize a single infrastructure with diverse applications from different vendors. This reduces total operating costs due to the use of a unified infrastructure, enabling simple integration of different applications. A key feature of Omlox is its ability to achieve cyber-physical simplification and integrate industrial software and hardware solutions into a shared ecosystem.

[0013] Using Omlox-based anchors enables the integration of different types of software—such as Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), asset tracking, and collision-avoidance navigation—as well as hardware—such as drones, FTFs (unmanned transport vehicles), and cargo vehicles—into the field of positioning.

[0014] Omlox enables interoperability and flexibility across different traceable vendors within one or more tracking zones. Omlox achieves this through two core components: the Omlox hub and the Omlox core zone. The Omlox hub enables interoperability and flexibility across different tracking zones, while the Omlox core zone provides interoperability and flexibility within a single tracking zone.

[0015] Omlox hubs enable interoperability and flexibility across different complementary regions. In addition to UWB, other positioning technologies such as RFID, 5G, BLE, Wi-Fi, and GPS are also used in manufacturing, delivery, and storage. Using Omlox ensures smooth and interoperable network operation. In this way, businesses can easily network applications such as manufacturing control systems, equipment tracking, and navigation across different locations.

[0016] Omlox hubs are compatible with multiple tracking zones. They enable efficient monitoring of smart factories that combine UWB positioning zones, GPS-enabled cargo loading areas for heavy vehicles, and Wi-Fi-enabled warehouses. Omlox hubs facilitate the transmission, synchronization, and orientation of maps from discrete local coordinates (associated with SLAM and other technologies) to global geographic coordinates across the entire smart factory.

[0017] The Omlox core works with open interfaces and guarantees interoperability across the Ultra-Wideband (UWB) range. UWB is a radio standard for short-range positioning in factories. UWB is particularly robust and ensures accurate material positioning and the use and navigation of FTFs and drones—even in the presence of obstacles such as metal reflections. Omlox creates an interoperable infrastructure that works through plug-and-play. Enterprises can quickly and easily network all their UWB products using the Omlox standard, independent of the manufacturer.

[0018] The characteristics of Omlox anchors are described in more detail in the Omlox documentation (Spezifikation) published at https: / / omlox.com.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a UWB anchor point is arranged or constructed on or within a data network connection assembly. This compact construction of the data network connection assembly, or the UWB anchor point, further simplifies the installation of the positioning system. The data network connection assembly and the UWB anchor point can be arranged in a common housing. Alternatively or additionally, the data network connection assembly and the UWB anchor point can have a common voltage supply.

[0020] More preferably, multiple UWB anchor points, particularly all UWB anchor points, are arranged or constructed on or within a data network connection component.

[0021] In a particularly preferred configuration of this positioning system, the data network connection component is configured to reserve separate bandwidth for data communication at a fixed UWB anchor point, for data stream transmission via Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) and / or Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA). Thus, these data connections can be established without resource conflicts with other users of the communication radio network.

[0022] Preferably, multiple, and in particular all, of the data network connection components are configured for data stream transmission via MU-MIMO and / or OFDMA.

[0023] The one or more data network connection components can be configured as a Wi-Fi 6 gateway. Here, the communication radio network is based on the 802.11ax standard. Wi-Fi 6 is capable of managing competing data streams and, specifically, allocating bandwidth. Here, Wi-Fi channels are divided into so-called "resource units".

[0024] The one or more data network connectivity components can be connected to a communication radio network via Ethernet. Alternatively or additionally, the one or more data network connectivity components can be connected via fiber optic and / or mobile radio, particularly via the 5G standard.

[0025] The positioning system may have a server, particularly a server connected to an Ethernet network, equipped with UWB software and / or a UWB hub. The server can be maintained remotely, particularly via the Internet. The server is preferably configured as an edge server.

[0026] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the positioning system has a UWB anchor point whose data can be wirelessly transmitted to a communication radio network via Wi-Fi using parallel data streaming. The UWB anchor point can be deployed particularly easily via wireless installation. Therefore, the UWB anchor point only requires a voltage supply. Due to its parallel data streaming, the UWB anchor point can also be easily integrated into the positioning system without wired data transmission. More preferably, the positioning system has multiple UWB anchor points, whose data can be wirelessly transmitted to a communication radio network via Wi-Fi using parallel data streaming.

[0027] The installation of the positioning system is further simplified if the positioning system has a light and / or a smoke detector—the light having a UWB anchor point integrated in the light and the smoke detector having a UWB anchor point integrated in the smoke detector.

[0028] The positioning system may have multiple lights and / or multiple smoke detectors, each of the multiple lights having a UWB anchor point integrated in the light and each of the multiple smoke detectors having a UWB anchor point integrated in the smoke detector.

[0029] Preferably, multiple UWB anchors are connected to a two-wire bus system. This two-wire bus system can be configured as an actuator-sensor-interface (ASI). This two-wire bus system allows, particularly in conjunction with current supply, the transmission of simple control commands such as on / off signals, and / or can be used for the installation or maintenance of the UWB anchors. Preferably, all UWB anchors are connected to a two-wire bus system.

[0030] Multiple UWB anchor points and / or data network connection components can share a common voltage supply. Preferably, all UWB anchor points and / or all data network connection components are connected via the same voltage supply.

[0031] Furthermore, the task according to the invention is solved by a method for locating an object. This method is preferably performed using the positioning system described herein. The method comprises the following steps:

[0032] A) Determine the location data of the UWB mobile unit using multiple UWB anchor points;

[0033] B) Transmitting data streams from at least one UWB anchor point, particularly multiple UWB anchor points, preferably all UWB anchor points, to a communication radio network having data network connection components, particularly multiple data network connection components, via parallel data transmission, especially via parallel Wi-Fi.

[0034] Preferably, a data stream independent of the positioning system is transmitted simultaneously with the data stream transmission of one UWB anchor point, particularly multiple UWB anchor points, and preferably all UWB anchor points, by a communication radio network.

[0035] More preferably, the data stream is transmitted via MU-MIMO and / or OFDMA.

[0036] Further advantages of the invention become apparent from the specification and drawings. Similarly, the features previously mentioned and further enumerated can be used individually or in any combination according to the invention. The illustrated and described embodiments should not be construed as exhaustive, but rather as having multiple exemplary characteristics relevant to the description of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0037] Figure 1: Schematic illustration of a first embodiment of a positioning system and method for locating an object.

[0038] Figure 2: Schematic illustration of a second embodiment of a positioning system and method for locating an object. Detailed Implementation

[0039] Figure 1 A positioning system 10 is shown for determining the location of object 12. Object 12 has an ultra-wideband (UWB) mobile unit 14. The location of the UWB mobile unit 14 can be determined by a plurality of UWB anchor points 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d. UWB anchor points 16a-d are arranged in the housing of data network connection assemblies 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d. By integrating UWB anchor points 16a-d into the data network connection assemblies 18a-d, UWB anchor points 16a-d can be installed with particularly space-saving and simple methods.

[0040] Data network connection components 18a-d are preferably configured for data stream transmission via Multiple-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) and / or Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA). Here, data network connection components 18a-d can be configured as a Wi-Fi 6 gateway. Data network connection components 18a-d are part of the communication radio network 20.

[0041] Data network connection components 18a-d can be connected via Ethernet 22. Alternatively or additionally, data network connection components 18a-d, particularly together with UWB anchor points 16a-d, can operate via a common voltage supply 24.

[0042] Data network connectivity components 18a-d can be connected to server 26, particularly in the form of an edge server. Server 26 may have UWB software and / or a UWB hub.

[0043] Figure 2 Another embodiment of the positioning system 10 is shown. (Compared to...) Figure 1 Compared to the positioning system 10 shown, the positioning system 10 additionally has at least one UWB anchor point 16e, 16f, 16g, 16h, 16i, 16j, 16k, 16l. These UWB anchor points 16e-l are non-wired. The data streams from these UWB anchor points are transmitted via the communication radio network 20. This can be reliably achieved because the data network connection components 18a-d are configured, on the one hand, for the transmission of data streams to and from these UWB anchor points 16e-l, and simultaneously, in parallel, for separate transmissions of other data streams.

[0044] UWB anchor 16e-l is preferably connected to voltage supply 24. UWB anchor 16e-l can be constructed or arranged in light and / or smoke detectors for further improved integration of positioning system 10.

[0045] Referring to all the accompanying drawings, the present invention generally relates to a positioning system 10 and a method for operating such a positioning system 10. The positioning system 10 has a communication radio network 20 having at least one data network connection component 18a-d. One or more data network connection components 18a-d are configured for data stream transmission via the communication radio network 20 to a plurality of UWB anchors 16a-l using reserved resources, or bandwidth. In this configuration, at least a plurality of UWB anchors 16a-l can be configured for non-wired data stream transmission.

[0046] List of reference numerals

[0047] 10. Positioning System

[0048] 12 objects

[0049] 14 UWB mobile units

[0050] 16a-l UWB Anchor Point

[0051] 18a-d Data Network Connection Components

[0052] 20. Communication radio networks

[0053] 22 Ethernet

[0054] 24 Voltage supply

[0055] 26 servers

Claims

1. A positioning system (10) for position determination of an object (12), the object having an ultra-wideband (UWB) mobile unit (14), wherein, The positioning system (10) has the following features: a) Multiple UWB anchor points (16a-l), the multiple UWB anchor points being used to locate the object (12); b) A communication radio network (20) having data network connection components (18a-d); The data network connection components (18a-d) are configured to transmit the data streams of the UWB anchor points (16a-l) in parallel. Among them, multiple UWB anchor points (16a-l) are respectively arranged or constructed on or within a data network connection component (18a-d). The data stream from the UWB anchor point is transmitted simultaneously through the communication radio network along with the following data stream: the data stream is independent of the positioning system. The communication radio network (20) is configured to provide a separate bandwidth solely for data communication at the UWB anchor point (16a-l) for data stream transmission via multiple-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) and / or via orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA). Multiple UWB anchor points (16a-l) are connected to a two-wire bus system. The two-wire bus system is used for transmitting simple control commands and / or for the installation or maintenance of the UWB anchor points.

2. The positioning system according to claim 1, wherein, The data network connection components (18a-d) are connected to the communication radio network (20) via Ethernet (22).

3. The positioning system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The positioning system (10) has a server (26), wherein the server (26) has UWB software and / or a UWB hub.

4. The positioning system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The positioning system (10) has a UWB anchor point (16a-l), and the data of the UWB anchor point can be wirelessly transmitted to the communication radio network (20) via Wi-Fi using parallel data stream transmission.

5. The positioning system according to claim 4, wherein, The positioning system (10) has multiple UWB anchor points (16a-l), and the data of the multiple UWB anchor points can be wirelessly transmitted to the communication radio network (20) via Wi-Fi using parallel data streams.

6. The positioning system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The positioning system (10) has The lamp has a UWB anchor point (16a-l) integrated into the lamp, and / or A smoke detector having a UWB anchor point (16a-l) integrated in the smoke detector.

7. The positioning system according to claim 6, wherein, The positioning system (10) has Multiple lamps, each having a UWB anchor point (16a-l) integrated within the lamp, and / or Multiple smoke detectors, each having a UWB anchor point (16a-l) integrated into the smoke detector.

8. The positioning system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, Multiple UWB anchor points (16a-l) and / or data network connection components (18a-d) share a common voltage supply (24).

9. A method for locating an object (12) using a positioning system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the method comprising the steps of: A) Obtain the position data of the UWB mobile unit (14) on the object (12) by using multiple UWB anchor points (16a-l); B) The data stream from the UWB anchor point (16a-l) is transmitted to the communication radio network (20) with data network connection components (18a-d) via parallel data transmission. in, Multiple UWB anchor points (16a-l) are respectively arranged or constructed on or within a data network connection component (18a-d). In this process, a data stream independent of the positioning system (10) is transmitted in parallel with the data stream transmitting the UWB anchor point (16a-l) by the communication radio network (20).

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein, The data stream is transmitted separately via MU-MIMO and / or OFDMA.

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