Abstract: Systems and method for location determination in a distributed system are disclosed. In one aspect, the distributed system operates at frequencies where obstacles and distance may preclude direct connection between a system node and a remote mobile device. The system may determine the location of the remote mobile device using an intermediate device and thus be a location system. Specifically, a position of the intermediate device relative to the system node is calculated and a position of the remote mobile device relative to the intermediate device is calculated. The two positions may be combined to determine a position of the remote mobile device relative to the system node. Once the location of the remote mobile device is known relative to the system node, a variety of location services become available.

Abstract: Methods and systems related to the field of pointing devices are disclosed herein. One disclosed device has a pointing direction, a set of antennas including a first antenna and a second antenna, and at least one of an inertial measurement unit, a gravity sensor, and a magnetometer. The device also includes one or more computer readable media storing instructions which, when executed on the device, cause the device to: determine a difference between a signal as received by the first antenna and the signal as received by the second antenna; determine, using the difference, an angle between the pointing direction and a signal source direction of the signal; measure a physical quantity using the at least one of the inertial measurement unit, the gravity sensor, and the magnetometer; and determine a pointing target of the device using the angle and the physical quantity.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for controlling a plurality of devices are provided. The system includes a remote control device comprising a processor configured to generate a carousel zone comprising at least a subset of graphical icons of a plurality of graphical icons, determine a first target device and a second target device from the plurality of devices, generate a first user interface based on the first target device, the first user interface associated with a first set of commands, in response to a user input, generate a second user interface based on the second target device, the second user interface associated with a second set of commands, control the first target device based on the first set of commands, and control the second target device based on the second set of commands.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for controlling a plurality of devices. The method includes generating a command script by processing a text string with at least one model, the text string including a natural language input by a user, modifying the command script based on contextual data, the command script including a configuration for at least one device, generating at least one command signal based on the command script, and controlling at least one device based on the at least one command signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems related to a charging station for a tracked mobile object are disclosed. In one embodiment, a charging station is provided. The charging station comprises a charging port for a remote control, a regulator that provides power from a power source to the charging port, a transceiver that transmits an outbound positioning signal to the remote control, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for a method. The method comprises at least one of generating the outbound positioning signal and receiving an inbound positioning signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods associated with determining a pointing target of pointing device are disclosed. One embodiment disclosed herein is a method conducted with a control device having a pointing direction and an onboard imager. The field of view of the onboard imager includes the pointing direction. The method includes capturing a reference image, determining a characteristic quantity based on the reference image, generating a feedback message based on the characteristic quantity, and predicating a setup phase termination for the control device on the characteristic quantity.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for controlling a plurality of devices are provided. The system includes a remote control device comprising a processor configured to generate a carousel zone comprising at least a subset of graphical icons of a plurality of graphical icons, determine a first target device and a second target device from the plurality of devices, generate a first user interface based on the first target device, the first user interface associated with a first set of commands, in response to a user input, generate a second user interface based on the second target device, the second user interface associated with a second set of commands, control the first target device based on the first set of commands, and control the second target device based on the second set of commands.

Abstract: Methods and systems related to an antenna orientation are disclosed herein. In one specific embodiment, a system comprises a positioning device configured to generate a positioning signal, a control object, and an object antenna configured to receive the positioning signal. The object antenna has a first polarization axis and is located on the control object. The system also comprises a positioning device antenna configured to transmit the positioning signal. The positioning device antenna has a second polarization axis and is located on the positioning device. The first polarization axis and the second polarization axis are offset from parallel by greater than thirty degrees when the positioning device and control object are in a standard operating mode. The first polarization axis and the second polarization axis are offset from perpendicular by greater than thirty degrees when the positioning device and control object are in a standard operating mode.

Abstract: Provided is a system, method, and apparatus for controlling a plurality of devices. The system includes a remote control device comprising a processor configured to generate a carousel zone comprising at least a subset of graphical icons of a plurality of graphical icons, determine a first target device and a second target device from the plurality of devices, generate a first user interface based on the first target device, the first user interface associated with a first set of commands, in response to a user input, generate a second user interface based on the second target device, the second user interface associated with a second set of commands, control the first target device based on the first set of commands, and control the second target device based on the second set of commands.

Abstract: Methods and systems related to the field of pointing devices are disclosed herein. A pointing device having a pointing direction can include at least two antennas aligned with the pointing direction. A pointing target can include at least one antenna that can transmit a signal to be received by the at least two antennas in the pointing device. A difference of the signal as received by each of the at least two antennas in the pointing device can be determined. An angle between the pointing direction and the pointing target can be determined using the difference.

Abstract: Provided is a system, method, and apparatus for controlling a plurality of devices. The system includes a remote control device comprising a processor configured to generate a carousel zone comprising at least a subset of graphical icons of a plurality of graphical icons, determine a first target device and a second target device from the plurality of devices, generate a first user interface based on the first target device, the first user interface associated with a first set of commands, in response to a user input, generate a second user interface based on the second target device, the second user interface associated with a second set of commands, control the first target device based on the first set of commands, and control the second target device based on the second set of commands.

Abstract: Methods and systems associated with aligning reference frames used for tracking an object are disclosed. One embodiment disclosed herein is a method for generating a transform between a first and second frame of reference (FOR) using a sequence of heading values of the object in the first and second FOR. The method comprises providing instructions to orient the object towards one or more external positioning devices in an orienting sequence. The method also comprises obtaining the sequence of heading values of the object in the second FOR using an onboard sensor and obtaining a sequence of position values of the object in the first FOR in accordance with the orienting sequence and using the one or more external positioning devices. The method also comprises deriving the sequence of heading values of the object in the first FOR using the sequence of position values.

Abstract: Methods and systems related to an antenna orientation are disclosed herein. In one specific embodiment, a system comprises a positioning device configured to generate a positioning signal, a control object, and an object antenna configured to receive the positioning signal. The object antenna has a first polarization axis and is located on the control object. The system also comprises a positioning device antenna configured to transmit the positioning signal. The positioning device antenna has a second polarization axis and is located on the positioning device. The first polarization axis and the second polarization axis are offset from parallel by greater than thirty degrees when the positioning device and control object are in a standard operating mode. The first polarization axis and the second polarization axis are offset from perpendicular by greater than thirty degrees when the positioning device and control object are in a standard operating mode.

Abstract: A recursive real time positioning system setup method for immediate convergence of functional system setup is disclosed. In one disclosed embodiment, a method for onboarding a set of positioning devices to a positioning system includes issuing a human-perceptible unconnected indicator from a first positioning device in the set of positioning devices. The method also includes detecting a connection using a wireless receiver on the first positioning device. The connection is between the first positioning device and a second positioning device in the set of positioning devices. The method also includes issuing, in direct and automatic response to the detecting of the connection, a human-perceptible connected indicator from the first positioning device.

Abstract: Methods and systems related to a charging station for a tracked mobile object are disclosed. In one embodiment, a charging station is provided. The charging station comprises a charging port for a remote control, a regulator that provides power from a power source to the charging port, a transceiver that transmits an outbound positioning signal to the remote control, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for a method. The method comprises at least one of generating the outbound positioning signal and receiving an inbound positioning signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods associated with determining a pointing target of pointing device are disclosed. One embodiment disclosed herein is a method conducted with a control device having a pointing direction and an onboard imager. The field of view of the onboard imager includes the pointing direction. The method includes capturing a reference image, determining a characteristic quantity based on the reference image, generating a feedback message based on the characteristic quantity, and predicating a setup phase termination for the control device on the characteristic quantity.

Abstract: Methods and systems related to an antenna orientation are disclosed herein. In one specific embodiments, a system comprises a positioning device configured to generate a positioning signal, a control object, and an object antenna configured to receive the positioning signal. The object antenna has a first polarization axis and is located on the control object. The system also comprises a positioning device antenna configured to transmit the positioning signal. The positioning device antenna has a second polarization axis and is located on the positioning device. The first polarization axis and the second polarization axis are offset from parallel by greater than thirty degrees when the positioning device and control object are in a standard operating mode. The first polarization axis and the second polarization axis are offset from perpendicular by greater than thirty degrees when the positioning device and control object are in a standard operating mode.

Abstract: Methods and systems related to a charging station for a tracked mobile object are disclosed. In one embodiment, a charging station is provided. The charging station comprises a charging port for a remote control, a regulator that provides power from a power source to the charging port, a transceiver that transmits an outbound positioning signal to the remote control, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for a method. The method comprises at least one of generating the outbound positioning signal and receiving an inbound positioning signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems related to an antenna orientation are disclosed herein. In one specific embodiments, a system comprises a positioning device configured to generate a positioning signal, a control object, and an object antenna configured to receive the positioning signal. The object antenna has a first polarization axis and is located on the control object. The system also comprises a positioning device antenna configured to transmit the positioning signal. The positioning device antenna has a second polarization axis and is located on the positioning device. The first polarization axis and the second polarization axis are offset from parallel by greater than thirty degrees when the positioning device and control object are in a standard operating mode. The first polarization axis and the second polarization axis are offset from perpendicular by greater than thirty degrees when the positioning device and control object are in a standard operating mode.

Abstract: Methods and systems related to a charging station for a tracked mobile object are disclosed. In one embodiment, a charging station is provided. The charging station comprises a charging port for a remote control, a regulator that provides power from a power source to the charging port, a transceiver that transmits an outbound positioning signal to the remote control, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for a method. The method comprises at least one of generating the outbound positioning signal and receiving an inbound positioning signal.