Abstract: An example apparatus includes a first detector configured to generate a first digitized stream of pulses and a second detector configured to generate a second digitized stream of pulses; a first packet decoder configured to decode a first valid over-the-air packet from the first digitized stream of pulses and generate a first time-stamped tag data packet; a second packet decoder configured to decode a second valid over-the-air packet from the second digitized stream of pulses; an arbiter configured to receive at least one of first and second time-stamped tag data packets and to select a time-stamped tag data packet from the at least one of the first and second time-stamped tag data packets; and a packet formatter to formulate a network data packet based on the selected time-stamped tag data packet.

Abstract: Various methods for determining a configuration of a communications system are provided, including methods for determining system node positions. One example method includes generating a node attribute information segment, and adding the node attribute information segment to an attribute information message at a position within the attribute information message indicative of a position of a node within a series string of communications connections. Some of the methods may be implemented within the context of an asset locating system that analyzes the timing of wireless signals to determine a location of the source of the signal. Related systems and apparatuses are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reference regeneration in real time location systems are disclosed. An example disclosed method includes obtaining reference phase offsets from a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) receivers; transmitting a first synchronization signal via a wireline link to obtain differential wireline coarse sync measurements; determining a residual offset table based at least in part on the differential wireline coarse sync measurements and the reference phase offsets; transmitting a second synchronization signal via the wireline link to obtain revised differential wireline coarse sync measurements; generating revised reference phase offsets by combining the revised differential wireline coarse sync offsets with the residual offset table; and determining a physical location of a RFID tag based at least in part on i) the revised reference phase offsets and ii) RFID receiver clock measurements corresponding to a time-of-arrival of over-the-air data transmitted from the RFID tag.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media are disclosed for associating a radio frequency identification tag with a participant. In one embodiment, a method is provided for associating an unassociated RF location tag with a participant. The method may include determining an unassociated RF location tag to be associated with the participant, receiving sensor derived data from one or more sensors, determining an identity of the particular participant using the sensor derived data, and associating the identity of the particular participant with the unassociated RF location tag.

Abstract: A disclosed example apparatus receives a tag transmission signal from a tag at a receiver, wherein the tag transmission signal comprises a series of pulses; determines a coarse estimate of a time-of-arrival (TOA) of the tag transmission signal based on a detection of a pulse of the series of pulses in an adjustable coarse timing window, wherein the coarse estimate is based on a plurality of coarse timing windows; determines a fine estimate of the TOA based on a detection of the pulse in at least one of a parallel set of fine timing windows; and determines a sub-window resolution of the TOA based on at least one detection transition between consecutive fine receiver windows of at least one of a plurality of pulses and a weighted average of the TOA for each pulse of the series of pulses.

Abstract: An example disclosed method includes generating, by a microcontroller of a controller, a data packet; and causing the transmission of the data packet on blink data pulses from two or more individual transmit modules, wherein each individual transmit module is in comprises an antenna and a pulse generator configured to transmit the data packet and is in data communications with the controller, wherein the controller causes substantially simultaneous transmission of the blink data pulses from the respective transmit modules to encourage reliable receipt of the blink data pulses at one or more of a plurality of receivers.

Abstract: An example apparatus includes a first detector configured to generate a first digitized stream of pulses and a second detector configured to generate a second digitized stream of pulses; a first packet decoder configured to decode a first valid over-the-air packet from the first digitized stream of pulses and generate a first time-stamped tag data packet; a second packet decoder configured to decode a second valid over-the-air packet from the second digitized stream of pulses; an arbiter configured to receive at least one of first and second time-stamped tag data packets and to select a time-stamped tag data packet from the at least one of the first and second time-stamped tag data packets; and a packet formatter to formulate a network data packet based on the selected time-stamped tag data packet.

Abstract: An example disclosed method includes defining a first zone within a monitored area, a first group of receivers covering the first zone; defining a second zone within the monitored area, a second group of receivers covering the second zone; determining, via a processor, a first position of a first tag based on timing measurements obtained via the first group of receivers; determining, via the processor, whether the first position indicates that the first tag is within the first zone; and when the first position indicates that the first tag is not within the first zone, not reporting data associated with the first tag.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for generating a first filtered signal by passing signal energy in a first radio frequency (RF) spectral band associated with a signaling bandwidth of an ultra-wideband (UWB) RF signaling system, generating a second filtered signal by passing signal energy in a second RF spectral band associated with the signaling bandwidth of the UWB RF signaling system, generating a plurality of digitized streams of pulses by identifying RF pulses in a respective filtered signal above a respective predetermined threshold, generating at least one time-stamped tag data packet, based on decoding a valid over-the-air packet corresponding to a plurality of RF pulses received according to a known burst pattern, selecting a time-stamped tag data packet from the at least one received time-stamped tag data packet, formulating a network data packet based on the selected time-stamped tag data packet, and outputting the network data packet.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media are disclosed for providing variable blink rate ultra-wideband (UWB) communications. Some embodiments may provide for a radio frequency (RF) tag including a motion sensor, processing circuitry, and a UWB transmitter. The motion sensor may be configured to generate one or more motion data values indicating motion of the RF tag. The UWB transmitter may be configured to transmit blink data at variable blink rates. The processing circuitry may be configured to receive the one or more motion data values from the motion sensor, determine a blink rate for the UWB transmitter based on the one or more motion data values, and control the UWB transmitter to wirelessly transmit the blink data at the blink rate. In some embodiments, the RF tag may include a UWB receiver and the blink rate may be controlled remotely by a system.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media are disclosed for providing variable blink rate ultra-wideband (UWB) communications. Some embodiments may provide for a radio frequency (RF) tag including a motion sensor, processing circuitry, and a UWB transmitter. The motion sensor may be configured to generate one or more motion data values indicating motion of the RF tag. The UWB transmitter may be configured to transmit blink data at variable blink rates. The processing circuitry may be configured to receive the one or more motion data values from the motion sensor, determine a blink rate for the UWB transmitter based on the one or more motion data values, and control the UWB transmitter to wirelessly transmit the blink data at the blink rate. In some embodiments, the RF tag may include a UWB receiver and the blink rate may be controlled remotely by a system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reference regeneration in real time location systems are disclosed. An example disclosed method includes obtaining reference phase offsets from a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) receivers; transmitting a first synchronization signal via a wireline link to obtain differential wireline coarse sync measurements; determining a residual offset table based at least in part on the differential wireline coarse sync measurements and the reference phase offsets; transmitting a second synchronization signal via the wireline link to obtain revised differential wireline coarse sync measurements; generating revised reference phase offsets by combining the revised differential wireline coarse sync offsets with the residual offset table; and determining a physical location of a RFID tag based at least in part on i) the revised reference phase offsets and ii) RFID receiver clock measurements corresponding to a time-of-arrival of over-the-air data transmitted from the RFID tag.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for generating a first filtered signal by passing signal energy in a first radio frequency (RF) spectral band associated with a signaling bandwidth of an ultra-wideband (UWB) RF signaling system, generating a second filtered signal by passing signal energy in a second RF spectral band associated with the signaling bandwidth of the UWB RF signaling system, generating a plurality of digitized streams of pulses by identifying RF pulses in a respective filtered signal above a respective predetermined threshold, generating at least one time-stamped tag data packet, based on decoding a valid over-the-air packet corresponding to a plurality of RF pulses received according to a known burst pattern, selecting a time-stamped tag data packet from the at least one received time-stamped tag data packet, formulating a network data packet based on the selected time-stamped tag data packet, and outputting the network data packet.

Abstract: A disclosed example apparatus receives a tag transmission signal from a tag at a receiver, wherein the tag transmission signal comprises a series of pulses; determines a coarse estimate of a time-of-arrival (TOA) of the tag transmission signal based on a detection of a pulse of the series of pulses in an adjustable coarse timing window, wherein the coarse estimate is based on a plurality of coarse timing windows; determines a fine estimate of the TOA based on a detection of the pulse in at least one of a parallel set of fine timing windows; and determines a sub-window resolution of the TOA based on at least one detection transition between consecutive fine receiver windows of at least one of a plurality of pulses and a weighted average of the TOA for each pulse of the series of pulses.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for a high-resolution active RTLS tag location determination system that provides for <1 ns TOA accuracy and resolution and significantly reduces the channel effects of multipath interference, even in low SNR applications. To accomplish these objectives, the present invention provides for an iterative and adaptive windowing function in each of the receivers of a receiver grid that captures multiple reflections of multiple transmissions from each of the associated target RTLS tags. The adaptive windowing function is used in conjunction with an asynchronous transmit and receive clock function that effectively increases resolution of TOA detection to levels less than the minimum detection window width associated with each of the receivers in the receiver grid.

Abstract: An example disclosed method includes generating, by a microcontroller of a controller, a data packet; and causing the transmission of the data packet on blink data pulses from two or more individual transmit modules, wherein each individual transmit module is in comprises an antenna and a pulse generator configured to transmit the data packet and is in data communications with the controller, wherein the controller causes substantially simultaneous transmission of the blink data pulses from the respective transmit modules to encourage reliable receipt of the blink data pulses at one or more of a plurality of receivers.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media are disclosed for associating a radio frequency identification tag with a participant. In one embodiment, a method is provided for associating an unassociated RF location tag with a participant. The method may include determining an unassociated RF location tag to be associated with the participant, receiving sensor derived data from one or more sensors, determining an identity of the particular participant using the sensor derived data, and associating the identity of the particular participant with the unassociated RF location tag.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media are disclosed for associating a radio frequency identification tag with a participant. In one embodiment, a method is provided for associating an unassociated RF location tag with a participant. The method may include determining an unassociated RF location tag to be associated with the participant, receiving sensor derived data from one or more sensors, determining an identity of the particular participant using the sensor derived data, and associating the identity of the particular participant with the unassociated RF location tag.

Abstract: A modular location tag, method of manufacture, and method of use thereof are provided. The modular location tag including a controller including a microcontroller configured to generate a data packet and a two or more individual transmit modules in data communication with the controller such that each individual transmit module is configured to transmit the data packet, each individual transmit module including an antenna and a pulse generator configured to transmit the data packet on ultra-wideband (UWB) blink data pulses. The controller causes substantially simultaneous transmission of the UWB blink data pulses from the respective transmit modules encourage reliable receipt of the UWB blink data pulses at one or more of a plurality of receivers.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media are disclosed for providing variable blink rate ultra-wideband (UWB) communications. Some embodiments may provide for a radio frequency (RF) tag including a motion sensor, processing circuitry, and a UWB transmitter. The motion sensor may be configured to generate one or more motion data values indicating motion of the RF tag. The UWB transmitter may be configured to transmit blink data at variable blink rates. The processing circuitry may be configured to receive the one or more motion data values from the motion sensor, determine a blink rate for the UWB transmitter based on the one or more motion data values, and control the UWB transmitter to wirelessly transmit the blink data at the blink rate. In some embodiments, the RF tag may include a UWB receiver and the blink rate may be controlled remotely by a system.