Abstract: Location-based systems, such as a Real-time Location System (RTLS), are used to locate and track assets such as equipment, people, etc. In order to accomplish high accuracy in determining locations of assets (112-118), the information sent to the location server (108) from sensors (134, 138) should be accurate, relevant, sufficient, and timely. The limitations of a low bandwidth network between the sensors and the location server may pose challenges to reliably determining locations of assets. This invention is related to a hybrid lighting and location system (100), which involves the use of a system control device (106) and lighting devices (102, 104) that may include integrated sensors, transceivers, etc. Different embodiments are disclosed on apparatus, methods and systems to resolve the potential network congestion in such a hybrid system.

Abstract: A system can include a first electrical device having a first controller that includes a first transceiver, where the first transceiver sends a first signal using a first communication protocol. The system can also include a second electrical device that includes a second controller having a second transceiver, where the second transceiver receives the first signal, measures a first strength of the first signal, generates a first table that includes the first strength and a first ID of the first electrical device, and sends a second signal using a second communication protocol. The user system can also include a gateway that receives the second signal, where the second signal includes the first strength and the first ID of the first electrical device. The gateway can also determine a first location of the first electrical device using the first strength and the first ID of the first electrical device.

Abstract: A system for simultaneous control of a subset of nodes in a wireless network includes a network controller and a plurality of nodes that are communicatively coupled to the network controller. The network controller transmits a custom Zigbee unicast message to a node of the subset of nodes that is assigned as a point guard node upon receiving an instruction to control one or more nodes of the subset of nodes. The point guard node receives the custom Zigbee unicast message and generates an InterPAN broadcast message based on a payload of the custom Zigbee unicast message. The point guard node broadcasts the InterPAN broadcast message as a one hop broadcast message to all the nodes in the radio range of the point guard node. The receiving nodes whose identifiers are present in the payload of the InterPAN broadcast message act on the instruction to change a status thereof.

Abstract: A system can include a first electrical device having a first controller that includes a first transceiver, where the first transceiver sends a first signal using a first communication protocol. The system can also include a second electrical device that includes a second controller having a second transceiver, where the second transceiver receives the first signal, measures a first strength of the first signal, generates a first table that includes the first strength and a first ID of the first electrical device, and sends a second signal using a second communication protocol. The user system can also include a gateway that receives the second signal, where the second signal includes the first strength and the first ID of the first electrical device. The gateway can also determine a first location of the first electrical device using the first strength and the first ID of the first electrical device.

Abstract: A system disposed in a volume of space can include a first camera disposed in the volume of space, where the first camera captures a first image of a first portion of the volume of space. The system can also include a second camera disposed in the volume of space, where the second camera captures a second image of a second portion of the volume of space. The system can further include a controller communicably coupled to the first camera and the second camera. The controller can receive the first image from the first camera and the second image from the second camera. The controller can also generate a resulting image by combining the first image and the second image. The controller can further perform an action using the resulting image.

Abstract: A system for simultaneous control of a subset of nodes in a wireless network includes a network controller and a plurality of nodes that are communicatively coupled to the network controller. The network controller transmits a custom Zigbee unicast message to a node of the subset of nodes that is assigned as a point guard node upon receiving an instruction to control one or more nodes of the subset of nodes. The point guard node receives the custom Zigbee unicast message and generates an InterPAN broadcast message based on a payload of the custom Zigbee unicast message. The point guard node broadcasts the InterPAN broadcast message as a one hop broadcast message to all the nodes in the radio range of the point guard node. The receiving nodes whose identifiers are present in the payload of the InterPAN broadcast message act on the instruction to change a status thereof.