Abstract: The present disclosure relates to location and communication systems that can be utilized for locating people, pets and other objects with a software defined radio set. A personal electronic device (PED) such as a cellular telephone, personal data assistant (PDA) or other device that include a software defined radio set can be configured for operation as a locator device. The PED transmits a signal A transponder or micro-transponder (MT) that is tagged to an object is arranged to reply to a transmission received from the PED. The PED based locator is arranged to calculate a distance between the PED and the MT using the time-of-flight (TOF) between the transmission and the receipt of a reply. The absolute geographic position of the PED can be determined using satellite navigation information, while the position of the MT relative to the PED can be determined from the TOF information.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to location and communication systems that can be utilized for locating people, pets and other objects with a software defined radio set. A personal electronic device (PED) such as a cellular telephone, personal data assistant (PDA) or other device that include a software defined radio set can be configured for operation as a locator device. The PED transmits a signal A transponder or micro-transponder (MT) that is tagged to an object is arranged to reply to a transmission received from the PED. The PED based locator is arranged to calculate a distance between the PED and the MT using the time-of-flight (TOF) between the transmission and the receipt of a reply. The absolute geographic position of the PED can be determined using satellite navigation information, while the position of the MT relative to the PED can be determined from the TOF information.

Abstract: A transmission sequence is broadcast from a locator to a group of transponder devices. Each transponder identified with the group is arranged to receive and capture at least a portion of the transmission, correlate the captured information with an internally stored reference sequence for the identified group, and identify a correlation when the captured information correlates with the internally stored reference sequence. Each transponder that finds a correlation is arranged to broadcast a transmission reply sequence at a precisely determined time interval so that the transponders in a group transmit at different times. A series of locators receive the transmission reply sequence(s), each at a precisely logged time of arrival, and the locators forward the received results to a central processing unit for time synchronization, location tracking, and inventory logging.

Abstract: A secure communication topology can be used for communications between a locator and one or more transponders to determine the location of the transponders. An example system may include a locator that is configured to transmit an interrogation signal that is encoded for receipt by one or more of the transponders. When a transponder receives and correlates the interrogation signal with an internally stored reference sequence, the transponder can transmit one or more reply transmissions at precisely determined time delay intervals. The time delay intervals are secretly known by both the locator and the transponder. The reply transmissions can each correspond to previously sampled noise signals that are also secretly known by both the transponder and the locator.

Abstract: Techniques are generally disclosed for communications between a locator device and a transponder device. The locator device may be located in a space based location such as on a surface of a remote celestial body, on a space craft or space station, on a satellite, or on a low earth orbit aircraft. The locator can encode an interrogation signal for receipt by one or more distant transponders. The transponder devices can receive the communications from the distant locator device and determine frequency, phase, cadence, and Doppler for encoding a reply transmission to the locator device. The encoding process estimates Doppler shift and adapts the reply transmission for a quantized reverse Doppler shifted frequency and cadence, which effectively pre-compensates for the Doppler shift that will be apparent to the locator due to the relative velocity. The locator can use the Doppler quantization scheme to reconstruct the actual relative velocity.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to location and communication systems that can be utilized for locating people, pets and other objects with a software defined radio set. A personal electronic device (PED) such as a cellular telephone, personal data assistant (PDA) or other device that include a software defined radio set can be configured for operation as a locator device. The PED transmits a signal A transponder or micro-transponder (MT) that is tagged to an object is arranged to reply to a transmission received from the PED. The PED based locator is arranged to calculate a distance between the PED and the MT using the time-of-flight (TOF) between the transmission and the receipt of a reply. The absolute geographic position of the PED can be determined using satellite navigation information, while the position of the MT relative to the PED can be determined from the TOF information.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to location and communication systems that can be utilized for locating cargo containers using tags with a radio communication subsystem in the form of a transponder or micro-transponder. Each cargo container tag (CCT) is capable of communicating with either other cargo container tags or a base-station (BS) locator devices. The tags can be arranged for tracking the opening and closing of doors on individual cargo containers using radio communication methods. Lost cargo container can be located using communications from a base station and the cargo container tags. CCT devices can also detect intrusions and/or tampering with cargo containers, and store a variety of collected data for later retrieval.

Abstract: A transmission sequence is broadcast from a locator to a group of transponder devices. Each transponder identified with the group is arranged to receive and capture at least a portion of the transmission, correlate the captured information with an internally stored reference sequence for the identified group, and identify a correlation when the captured information correlates with the internally stored reference sequence. Each transponder that finds a correlation is arranged to broadcast a transmission reply sequence at a precisely determined time interval so that the transponders in a group transmit at different times. A series of locators receive the transmission reply sequence(s), each at a precisely logged time of arrival, and the locators forward the received results to a central processing unit for time synchronization, location tracking, and inventory logging.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to location and communication systems that can be utilized for locating people, pets and other objects with a software defined radio set. A personal electronic device (PED) such as a cellular telephone, personal data assistant (PDA) or other device that include a software defined radio set can be configured for operation as a locator device. The PED transmits a signal A transponder or micro-transponder (MT) that is tagged to an object is arranged to reply to a transmission received from the PED. The PED based locator is arranged to calculate a distance between the PED and the MT using the time-of-flight (TOF) between the transmission and the receipt of a reply. The absolute geographic position of the PED can be determined using satellite navigation information, while the position of the MT relative to the PED can be determined from the TOF information.

Abstract: A transmission sequence is broadcast from a locator to a group of transponder devices. Each transponder identified with the group is arranged to receive and capture at least a portion of the transmission, correlate the captured information with an internally stored reference sequence for the identified group, and identify a correlation when the captured information correlates with the internally stored reference sequence. Each transponder that finds a correlation is arranged to broadcast a transmission reply sequence at a precisely determined time interval so that the transponders in a group transmit at different times. A series of locators receive the transmission reply sequence(s), each at a precisely logged time of arrival, and the locators forward the received results to a central processing unit for time synchronization, location tracking, and inventory logging.

Abstract: A hand-held remote locator (RL) device is used to locate a transponder or micro-transponder (MT). The user activates the RL to transmit a multi-frame ping to the MT in a slow ping mode, where the MT transmits reply messages when the multi-frame ping is received The RL calculates a distance between the RL and the MT using the time-of-flight (TOF) between the transmission of a ping and the receipt of a reply. The user can then engage a fast ping mode, where the RL transmits the multi-frame ping at an increased rate. The user then extends the RL device away from their body and turns through at least a partial arc length about their center line such that data is collected including compass readings, Doppler information, and distance calculations. The directional location for the MT is determined by the RL using the collected data.

Abstract: A remote locator (RL) continuously transmits multi-frame pings in a slow ping mode. The user activates a transponder/micro-transponder (MT) to receive at least a portion of the multi-frame ping and transmits a reply to the RL. The RL calculates a distance between the RL and the MT using the time-of-flight between the transmission of the ping and the receipt of the corresponding reply. The RL continues to send pings to the MT, where the ping includes distance measurements encoded therein. The user initiates sending a message from the MT to the RL to change to a fast ping mode, where the RL transmits pings at an increased rate. The MT includes a compass to capture readings while receiving and replying to pings. The MT determines a directional location for the RL with the collected measurements and received information and can provide a distance and directional readout to the user.

Abstract: The location of a transponder or micro-transponder (MT) device can be determined relative to a remote locator (RL) device. The RL transmits a multi-frame ping to the MT when initiated by a user. The MT receives the multi-frame ping, and transmits a multi-frame reply that can be hollowed out to conserve transmit power and reduce interference between devices. The RL calculates a distance between the RL and the MT using the time-of-flight (TOF) between the transmission of a ping and the receipt of a reply. The user designates one or more threshold ranges for the MT relative to the RL. The RL provides a user alert whenever the MT travels outside a threshold range. Alerts can be provided through a number of mechanisms including an audible alert, a visible alert, a vibrating alert, an email message, an SMS message, an instant message, a pager message, a telephone call, etc.