Abstract: A sensing system generates location signals indicative of where an electrically-powered, mobile device is in a venue. A control system determines that the mobile device is at rest when the location signals are substantially the same for a predetermined period of time, processes the location signals to determine an accurate, current location of the mobile device in the venue when the mobile device is determined to be at rest, and controls the mobile device when determined to be at rest to operate in a low power mode in which the average electrical power consumption of the mobile device is reduced.

Abstract: Ultrasonic locationing interleaved with alternate audio functions includes a plurality of transmitters for emitting ultrasonic bursts and alternate audio signals. A backend controller schedules the ultrasonic bursts and alternate audio signals from each transmitter. The backend controller can characterize an interference effect of defined interference parameters for each alternate audio signal, with respect to the ultrasonic bursts, and modify interleave scheduling of the ultrasonic bursts and alternate audio signals in accordance with the respective interference effect. A mobile device can receive the ultrasonic bursts for locationing of the mobile device, while a user or other device that can act on information in the alternate audio signals. Input from a user to an interface device can trigger the backend controller to schedule an alternate audio signal containing information related to the input.

Abstract: A technique for non-echo pulsed ranging of a mobile device within an environment includes a plurality of emitters within the environment transmitting signal pulses of a predefined frequency to a mobile device that can receive a signal pulse, convert the signal pulse into a digital waveform, store the digital waveform into a buffer having a predetermined length of time, and analyze the digital waveform to detect a signal pulse at the predefined frequency. If a signal pulse is detected, the mobile device can re-analyze the digital waveform that was stored in the buffer to see if another signal pulse can be detected within the waveform, indicating the existence of a reflected signal. If another signal pulse is detected, the mobile device can select the signal pulse that was received first in time, i.e. the direct signal, for use in ranging of the mobile device.

Abstract: A user moves about a venue, and operates a mobile reader to read a product tag in a read zone of the mobile reader. An identifier, such as a user identity badge, is associated with the user to identify the user. A sensing system is deployed in the venue for sensing the location of the identifier. A host server associates the mobile reader with the identifier of the user operating the mobile reader, and determines a location of the product tag in the venue based on the read zone and the location of the identifier.

Abstract: Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that pass through a portal in a venue are read by a portal RFID reader, and identified as being tags having a higher priority as compared to other RFID tags in the venue that have a lower priority. The identities of the high-priority tags are transmitted to an overhead RFID reader, which preferentially reads the high-priority tags over the low-priority tags in the venue. Only the high-priority RFID tags are located and tracked in the venue.

Abstract: Ultrasonic transmitters periodically transmit ranging signals at unknown transmit timer values, and an ultrasonic receiver receives the ranging signals at known receive timer values on a mobile device in a venue in which a time difference of arrival (TDOA)-based ultrasonic locationing system is deployed. A controller infers the transmit timer values, and determines a current, real-time position of the mobile device based on flight time differences between the transmit timer values inferred by the controller and the known receive timer values.

Abstract: Multiple sensing network units are deployed overhead in a venue. Each unit supports a motion detecting system for detecting a level of motion in a zone of the venue, and an RFID locationing system for reading RFID tags in the venue, in response to the motion level detected by the motion detecting system. The performance of the RFID locationing system is adjusted and optimized in response to the detected motion level.

Abstract: Accuracy of data collection for items located in a venue is enhanced by moving a mobile data capture device in the venue toward the items, by capturing information data from each item in a reading state of operation of the mobile device, by determining device position data of the mobile device in the venue at a variable level of locationing system performance, by determining item position data of each item in the venue based on the determined device position data of the mobile device, and by modifying the reading state of operation of the mobile device when the variable level is below a reference threshold level of locationing system performance.

Abstract: A mobile device can be found and recovered by executing a recovery action indicative of at least one location of the mobile device. An interface displays the location of the mobile device.

Abstract: Ultrasonic transmitters periodically transmit ranging signals at unknown transmit timer values, and an ultrasonic receiver receives the ranging signals at known receive timer values on a mobile device in a venue in which a time difference of arrival (TDOA)-based ultrasonic locationing system is deployed. A controller infers the transmit timer values, and determines a current, real-time position of the mobile device based on flight time differences between the transmit timer values inferred by the controller and the known receive timer values.

Abstract: A transmitter subsystem periodically transmits ranging signals at transmit times, and a receiver subsystem receives the ranging signals at receive times within a receiver window having an adjustable time duration. A real-time position of a mobile device supporting one of the subsystems is determined based on differences between the receive and transmit times. An expected arrival time for the transmitted ranging signals is determined based on the real-time position of the mobile device. Each receive time is compared with the expected arrival time to obtain a consistency rate of the ranging signals that are received by the receiver subsystem directly from the transmitter subsystem. The time duration of the receiver window is dynamically adjusted based on the consistency rate.

Abstract: A mobile device can be found and recovered by executing a recovery action indicative of at least one location of the mobile device. An interface displays the location of the mobile device.

Abstract: Multiple sensing network units are deployed overhead in a venue. Each unit supports a motion detecting system for detecting a level of motion in a zone of the venue, and an RFID locationing system for reading RFID tags in the venue, in response to the motion level detected by the motion detecting system. The performance of the RFID locationing system is adjusted and optimized in response to the detected motion level.

Abstract: A sensing system generates location signals indicative of where an electrically-powered, mobile device is in a venue. A control system determines that the mobile device is at rest when the location signals are substantially the same for a predetermined period of time, processes the location signals to determine an accurate, current location of the mobile device in the venue when the mobile device is determined to be at rest, and controls the mobile device when determined to be at rest to operate in a low power mode in which the average electrical power consumption of the mobile device is reduced.

Abstract: An ultrasonic locationing system using a dual phase pulse includes an emitter emitting two consecutive frequency bursts, each having a different phase, within one ultrasonic pulse. A receiver microphone receives the ultrasonic pulse, and a processor runs an amplitude-based detection algorithm on the pulse for a band of frequencies of interest and detects a first burst of the pulse within the proper frequency band and having an amplitude exceeding a threshold. Whereupon, the processor determines a relative phase difference between the first burst and a second burst of the pulse and determines whether the relative phase difference is within a predetermined acceptance window, indicating that the pulse is valid for use in locationing the emitter and associated mobile device.

Abstract: Multiple sensing network units are deployed overhead in a venue, in which RFID tags of interest and RFID product tags are also deployed. Each unit supports an RFID locationing system for reading the product tags in a reading mode of operation with a set of reading parameters, for reading the RFID tags of interest in the venue, for changing at least one of the reading parameters in response to reading an RFID tag of interest that is proximal to a zone of interest, and for reading with emphasis the product tags that are in the zone of interest with the changed reading parameter.

Abstract: A user moves about a venue, and operates a mobile reader to read a product tag in a read zone of the mobile reader. An identifier, such as a user identity badge, is associated with the user to identify the user. A sensing system is deployed in the venue for sensing the location of the identifier. A host server associates the mobile reader with the identifier of the user operating the mobile reader, and determines a location of the product tag in the venue based on the read zone and the location of the identifier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to gate an ultrasonic emitter operation includes a housing including the ultrasonic emitter, where the ultrasonic emitter is operable to periodically transmit an ultrasonic pulse of a predefined frequency. A microphone circuit is disposed in the housing, such that the microphone circuit is operable to receive a reflected ultrasonic signal derived from the transmitted ultrasonic pulse. A controller is coupled to the emitter and the microphone circuit, where the controller operable to gate the operation of the emitter to an OFF state based on at least one measured parameter of the reflected ultrasonic signal. The parameters can include a Doppler measurement and a distance measurement.

Abstract: Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that pass through a portal in a venue are read by a portal RFID reader, and identified as being tags having a higher priority as compared to other RFID tags in the venue that have a lower priority. The identities of the high-priority tags are transmitted to an overhead RFID reader, which preferentially reads the high-priority tags over the low-priority tags in the venue. Only the high-priority RFID tags are located and tracked in the venue.

Abstract: A transmitter subsystem periodically transmits ranging signals at transmit times, and a receiver subsystem receives the ranging signals at receive times within a receiver window having an adjustable time duration. A real-time position of a mobile device supporting one of the subsystems is determined based on differences between the receive and transmit times. An expected arrival time for the transmitted ranging signals is determined based on the real-time position of the mobile device. Each receive time is compared with the expected arrival time to obtain a consistency rate of the ranging signals that are received by the receiver subsystem directly from the transmitter subsystem. The time duration of the receiver window is dynamically adjusted based on the consistency rate.