Abstract: A target detection apparatus that includes a transmission/reception device for generating a transmission signal for detection of a target, and extracting distance information about the target from a received signal; a number of sensors each of which transmits the transmission signal to respective different angle ranges, receives a signal reflected by the target, and transfers the received signal to the transmission/reception device; and a switch device for switching in a time division manner a connection between the transmission/reception device and one of the sensors to a connection between the transmission/reception device and another one of the sensors, where the switch device selects a first of the sensors for transmitting the transmission signal in a time slot and a second of the sensors for receiving the signal reflected by the target in the time slot.

Abstract: The illustrative embodiments provide a method and apparatus for localizing an operator using a garment, a number of localization devices capable of being detected by an autonomous vehicle, and a controller capable of sending a control signal to the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: Sports objects, such as players and their equipment, are tracked by receiving signals transmitted by tags attached to the sports objects, and triangulating the signals to estimate the locations of the sports objects. One feature that promotes good signal reception is the use of different groups of three or more receivers. Another such feature is the use of two or more transmitter tags attached to different portions of the sports object. Still another such feature is the use of Ultra-Wideband signals.

Abstract: At most airports, responsibility of air traffic control starts and stops at the entrance or exit to the runway movement areas, which are taxiways and runways. In the non-movement areas, such as hangers, ramps, and aprons, aircraft movements and separation are no longer the responsibility of air traffic control, but is the responsibility of other parties such as the airport itself, airlines, or other parties. The use of tracking technologies for air traffic control is therefore focused on the movement areas, not the non-movement areas, where there are limitations in aircraft tracking. Furthermore, many of the aircraft transmitting devices are switched off in non-movement areas exacerbating tracking problems in these areas. The present invention includes several methods including broadband multilateration, to extend aircraft tracking from the movement areas into non-movement areas without the need to extend special air traffic control equipment into those areas.

Abstract: By using the delay profile created by delay profile creating section 102 and the first threshold value 330 received from the first threshold value calculation 105, the first threshold value timing detection section 103 selects only the earliest receive timing exceeding the first threshold value, from all the timing that the correlation value in the delay profile becomes a maximum. By using the receive timing and the second threshold value 331 received from the second threshold value calculation section 107, reference timing calculation section 106 selects the reference timing required for calculating the receive timing for the incoming wave of the minimum propagation delay time. The timing delayed by previously set timing behind said reference timing is sent from receive timing calculation section 108 as the receive timing 113 of the incoming wave of the minimum propagation delay time.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for position registration and phase synchronization of monitors in a monitor network. Each monitor includes a transceiver having a transponder circuit with a calibrated transponder delay. To measure a distance between monitors, an oscillator at a first monitor generates a measurement signal which is transponded by a second monitor for receipt by the first monitor. A phase difference between the received signal and the first monitor oscillator is determined and used with the signal velocity and transponder delay to calculate the distance between monitors. The measured distances are combined with other data (e.g. monitor elevations) to calculate monitor locations. A phase delay is then measured by transmitting a signal from the first to the second monitor for comparison with the second monitor oscillator. A phase difference between oscillators (for use in synchronizing the monitors) is then calculated using the phase delay, separation distance and signal velocity.

Abstract: A method for matching an actual device in a wireless network to a corresponding device indicated in a plan (1) of such devices is provided. The method is suitable for initiating the commissioning process for a lighting control network (2) or an automated home network and it enables the program controlling the system to establish a number of reference nodes, with respect to which the coordinates of the rest of the nodes in the network are established, without the engineer having to manually enter the identification details of the reference nodes in the computer system. The method comprises identifying a device (3a-3c, 4, 5a-5b, 6a-6c, 7a-7d, 8a-8f, 9a-9f, 10, 11b, 11b) in the plan having unique characteristics compared to the other devices in the plan (1); receiving data comprising the characteristics of the actual device from the wireless network; and in response to the characteristics of the actual device including the unique characteristics, matching the physical device with the identified device.

Abstract: A multi-touch system is provided. The multi-touch system includes a multi-touch detection area generated by a mobile device and a first communication device, the mobile device and first or second communication device being movable relative to each other. The mobile device is operable to determine a first set of coordinates for a first detectable object within the multi-touch detection area as a function of: a distance between the mobile device and the first communication device, a distance between the mobile device and first detectable object, and a distance between the first communication device and first detectable object.

Abstract: A system for providing position information by using a wireless personal area network (WPAN), and a method of acquiring the position information of a mobile device thereof where the system includes: a first node including referenced position information; and a plurality of second nodes calculating their respective position information based on the reference position information of the first node, wherein the mobile device calculates its position information by using the reference position information received from the first node and/or one or more of the respective position information of the second nodes. According to the system and method, at an indoor place where a global positioning system (GPS) signal is weak or absent, the GPS position information can be acquired through the position information providing system using a low-price wireless LAN communication network.

Abstract: When playing a sport it is generally difficult to localize (exactly) an accessory requirement for that sport at a determined point in time. The localizing of sports equipment may however be desired in particular situations, for instance to track down lost articles of sports equipment, or to be able to apply the rules of a sport in efficient manner. The invention therefore relates to a system for localizing sports equipment. The invention also relates to a method for localizing sports equipment using such a system.

Abstract: In particular situations it may be desirable to follow, trace or otherwise localize specific (groups of) objects or animals, in particular people. The invention relates to a localization system. The invention also relates to a method for localizing objects or animals using such a localization system.

Abstract: Communication between a remote locator and a transponder is used to determine the relative position of the transponder. The transponder and locator each include a transmitter and a receiver. The locator transmits an inquiry in the form of a relatively powerful cyclically encoded signal with repetitive elements, uniquely associated with a target transponder. Periodically, each transponder correlates its coded ID against a possible inquiry signal, determining frequency, phase and framing in the process. Upon a match, the transponder transmits a synthesized response coherent with the received signal. The locator integrates multiple cyclical response elements, allowing low-power transmissions from the transponder. The locator correlates the integrated response, determines round-trip Doppler shift, time-of-flight, and then computes the distance and angle to the transponder. The transponder can be wearable, bionically implanted, or attached to, or embedded in, some object.

Abstract: A portable location device for use in a location system, the device comprising a transmitter for transmitting ultra-wideband signals, a receiver for receiving non-ultra-wideband signals and a control unit coupled to the receiver for controlling the operation of the device in dependence on the received non-ultra-wideband signals.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the orientation of an object using one or more RFID tags on the object; and an RFID reader to determine the orientation of the object; wherein the RFID reader is configured to emit a signal to activate at least one of the RFID tags, receive return signals from the RFID tags that are activated, and determine the orientation of the object based on relative signal strengths of the received signals, and the system may be a visospatial testing system.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the position of a selected object relative to a moving reference frame, the apparatus including at least one reference frame transceiver assembly firmly attached to the moving reference frame, at least one object transceiver assembly firmly attached to the selected object, an inertial measurement unit firmly attached to the selected object, an inertial navigation system firmly attached to the moving reference frame, and a tracking processor coupled with the object transceiver assembly, with the inertial measurement unit and with the inertial navigation system, the object transceiver assembly communicating with the reference frame transceiver assembly using magnetic fields, the inertial measurement unit producing IMU inertial measurements of motion of the selected object with respect to an inertially fixed reference frame, the inertial navigation system producing INS inertial measurements of motion of the moving reference frame with respect to the inertially fixed reference frame, the

Abstract: The present invention provides for disambiguating the phase of a field received from a wireless tracker in an electromagnetic (“EM”) tracking system. In a first method, a carrier wave signal is modulated with a tracking signal transmitted by an EM tracker. A time reference indicating a starting point for a particular phase of the carrier wave signal is determined and is used to determine the proper phase for the tracking signal. In a second method, the EM tracker transmits auxiliary data that includes the proper phase of the tracking signal. In a third method, the EM tracker includes a passive transponder that receives a desired phase of a tracking signal as auxiliary data in an excitation signal. In response, the EM tracker transmits the tracking signal according to the desired phase. Tracking electronics may then lock onto the proper or desired phase determined according to any of the disclosed methods.

Abstract: Direction based pointing services are enabled for a portable electronic device including a positional component for receiving positional information as a function of a location of the portable electronic device, a directional component that outputs direction information as a function of an orientation of the portable electronic device and a location based engine that processes the positional information and the direction information to determine points of interest relative to the portable electronic device as a function of at least the positional information and the direction information. A set of scenarios with respect to movable endpoints of interest in the system emerge.

Abstract: Direction based pointing services are enabled for a portable electronic device including a positional component for receiving positional information as a function of a location of the portable electronic device, a directional component that outputs direction information as a function of an orientation of the portable electronic device and a location based engine that processes the positional information and the direction information to determine points of interest relative to the portable electronic device as a function of at least the positional information and the direction information. A set of scenarios with respect to movable endpoints of interest in the system emerge.

Abstract: With the addition of directional information and gesture based input in a location based services environment, a variety of service(s) can be provided on top of user identification or interaction with specific object(s) of interest.

Abstract: A device for aiding the guidance of a follower aircraft forming part of a patrol, as well as a system for aiding a patrol flight employing such a device has a calculation unit for determining: (1) a first flight trajectory allowing a follower aircraft to follow a main lead aircraft in accordance with a main patrol configuration and (2) a second flight trajectory allowing the follower aircraft to follow an auxiliary lead aircraft in accordance with an auxiliary patrol configuration.

Abstract: Location determination accuracy in a mobile telecommunications environment can be estimated based on location determination accuracy data for multiple empirical test calls in a geographic region. A location of a wireless station for each test call is determined using one of multiple wireless locating techniques, and an approximate ratio of wireless locating techniques for the empirical test calls is identified. Subscriber call data relating to location estimates determined using one of the wireless locating techniques is received. Location determination accuracy in the geographic region is estimated by combining the subscriber call data according to the identified ratio. To facilitate determinations of locating accuracy, the geographic region is logically segmented into multiple areas. Each area is associated with a performance profile that relates to a locating accuracy performance.

Abstract: Methods and systems for positional communication are described. In one embodiment, a plurality of electronic communications for a user may be accessed. Positional information associated with the user may be accessed. User interface data for the plurality of electronic communications may be provided based on the positional information.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method for estimating and predicting a target emitter's kinematics, the method including the steps of: (a) passively sampling, at a first sampling rate, an emitter signal to obtain at least one passively measured signal attribute for estimating the target kinematics; (b) inputting the passively measured signal attribute to an estimator at a first sampling rate; (c) determining a radar duty cycle for active radar measurements as a multiple of the first sampling rate, the multiple defining a duration between radar transmissions; (d) directing a radar system to make active target measurements at the determined duty cycle; (e) inputting to the estimator the active target measurements at the determined duty cycle, while continuously inputting the passively measured signal attributes.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes computing a probability surface corresponding to the location probability of the wireless node within a physical region based on the received signal strength data associated with a wireless node and an RF model of the physical region; computing, based on the probability surface, an aggregate probability (Pin) of the wireless node being inside a perimeter defined with the physical region; computing, based on the probability surface, an aggregate probability (Pout) of the wireless node being outside the perimeter; computing a probability ratio of the aggregate probabilities Pin to Pout; and determining whether the wireless node is inside or outside the perimeter based on a comparison of Pout and Pin.

Abstract: Methods for providing augmented shopping information to a user of a mobile terminal in a store include providing a shopping list identifying a plurality of items and obtaining information regarding physical locations of respective ones of the items in the store. The location of the mobile terminal in the store is established. An image of a view from the location is obtained. An item having an associated location in the obtained image is identified based on the obtained information regarding physical locations. A position within the image corresponding to the respective physical location of the identified item is determined. A graphic indication of the identified item is added to the obtained image at the determined position within the image to provide an augmented image of the view that is displayed to the user on a display of the mobile terminal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for determining the spatial position and/or orientation of a medical instrument (1), comprising a transmission unit (3) for transmitting electromagnetic radiation (4), at least one localisation element (2) that is arranged on the medical instrument (1) and which captures the electromagnetic radiation (4) transmitted by the transmission unit (3) and produces a localisation signal (5), and an evaluation unit (9) which determines the position and/or orientation of the medical instrument (1) by evaluating the localisation signal (5). The invention is characterised in that the localisation element (2) has a transponder that comprises an antenna (13) and a circuit (12) that is connected to the antenna (13). The circuit (12) can be excited by the electromagnetic radiation (4) of the transmission unit (3) captured by the antenna (13), such that the transmission unit emits, via the antenna (13), the localisation signal (5) as electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A system and system is disclosed to protect media content via location-based data. Multimedia devices are equipped with locator devices, such as a GPS unit, or similar device. The multimedia devices preferably contain the device's International Mobile Equipment Identification (IMEI), and International Mobile Subscriber Identification (IMSI). When multimedia content is created on the multimedia device, such as image or sound files, the present invention encodes the multimedia content with location data from the locator device. Additionally, the multimedia device's IMEI and IMSI, as well as the time and the date, may be encoded onto the multimedia content. Under an alternate embodiment, a remote server performs the encoding of the multimedia content.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving received signal strength data, computing an aggregate square error surface based on the received signal strength data, computing a probability surface by applying a probability density function to the aggregate error surface, and computing a mean location of a wireless node.

Abstract: A system for tracking an object in space for position, comprises a transponder device connectable to the object. The transponder device has one or several transponder aerial(s) and a transponder circuit connected to the transponder aerial for receiving an RF signal through the transponder aerial. The transponder device adds a known delay to the RF signal thereby producing an RF response for transmitting through the transponder aerial. A transmitter is connected to a first aerial for transmitting the RF signal through a first aerial. A receiver is connected to the first, a second and third aerials for receiving the RF response of the transponder device therethrough. A position calculator is associated to the transmitter and the receiver for calculating a position of the object as a function of the known delay and the time period between the emission of the RF signal and the reception of the RF response from the first, second and third aerials. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus automatically triggers position location fixes for external devices. In one embodiment of the present invention, a mobile station generates position location data for a position location function in an external device in response to determining that the mobile station is electrically coupled to the external device, and in response to determining that the position location function in the external device is active. The mobile station does not generate position location data for the position location function in the external device in response to determining that the mobile station is electrically decoupled from the external device, or in response to determining that the position location function in the external device is not active.

Abstract: By using the delay profile created by delay profile creating section 102 and the first threshold value 330 received from the first threshold value calculation 105, the first threshold value timing detection section 103 selects only the earliest receive timing exceeding the first threshold value, from all the timing that the correlation value in the delay profile becomes a maximum. By using the receive timing and the second threshold value 331 received from the second threshold value calculation section 107, reference timing calculation section 106 selects the reference timing required for calculating the receive timing for the incoming wave of the minimum propagation delay time. The timing delayed by previously set timing behind said reference timing is sent from receive timing calculation section 108 as the receive timing 113 of the incoming wave of the minimum propagation delay time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for providing location determination in a configured environment in which Global Navigation Satellite System Signals are not available. In this regard, local beacon systems generate spread spectrum CDMA signals that are received by spectral compression units that derive physically meaningful observations without a requirement for correlation of the intercepted energy by means of the known spreading codes. The invention can coexist with communication assets already in place, and the design allows for self calibration, which simplifies installation and usage. The invention has utility in applications in which GNSS signals are unavailable or limited, for example, in warehouse inventory management, in search and rescue operations and in asset tracking in indoor environments.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a mobile positioning and tracking system that includes a master device and a slave device. Within a tracking range of the master device, a satellite is used for receiving a signal from the slave device, and then transmitting the signal to the master device to display an initial location of the slave device. Meanwhile, the master device compares the location of the master device with a relative direction, distance, height or angle of the location of the satellite signal received by the master device, such that the master device can search according to the relative location. If the slave device is situated within the tracking range of the master device, Zigbee is used for receiving a signal from the slave device to estimate the location of a target outside the tracking range, and accurately measure the relative location of the target within the tracking range.

Abstract: A system and method for providing augmented reality. A method comprises retrieving a specification of an environment of the electronic device, capturing optical information of the environment of the electronic device, and computing the starting position/orientation from the captured optical information and the specification. The use of optical information in addition to positional information from a position sensor to compute the starting position may improve a viewer's experience with a mobile augmented reality system.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are presented for integrated wireless device location determination. A method for determining location on a wireless device includes receiving a request for wireless device location and receiving a plurality of wireless network messages. Each message is transmitted from a wireless network edge device associated with one of a plurality of wireless networks. Further included is obtaining location measurement information from the received wireless network messages and obtaining location determining assistance information for each of the wireless networks associated with the received wireless network messages. The method further includes determining more than one wireless device location based on the location measurement information and the location determining assistance information, determining an integrated wireless device location based on the more than one wireless device location, validating and storing the integrated wireless device location.

Abstract: A wireless receiver for receiving signals from a satellite positioning system, and receiving signals from a communications system uses a common path in the receiver, and derives position information (60, 230) from the received signals by correlation (50, 210, 220) with a code. In a first mode the deriving is carried out from the received signals excluding selected signals received in time slots used for communications signals. A second mode includes such signals. This enables control of the trade off between accuracy and the latency of the positioning processor to improve the performance over a range of conditions. The mode input can be changed dynamically according to signal strength, or according to the needs of an application.

Abstract: The invention relates to a determining the position of a mobile receiver 4 in a digital telephone network positioning system. A first receiver 3 is at a known location and others are mobile. The method involves transmitting signals from a plurality of sources 1, the transmission signals having a format at least a portion of which has predetermined values or a portion of which is repeated. The time offset of the transmission signals received at each receiver 4,5 from a transmission source 1 relative to a reference clock of each receiver is determined by generating a reference signal locked to the reference clock. The reference signal has a similar format to the transmission signals and includes a portion identical to the predetermined values or repeated portion of the received signal and compares the received transmission signal and the reference signal.

Abstract: A location tracking service includes a location tracking server and individual tracking modules. An individual tracking module can be attached or embedded in a consumer product. Each tracking module is programmable by an end-user to include a private ID that is sent along with tracking data to the location tracking server. The end-user can define and edit the private ID in the tracking module independent of the location tracking service to improve privacy protection. The tracking data may include raw (unprocessed) location data to reduce processing requirements at the tracking module.

Abstract: Among other disclosed subject matter, a method includes detecting that a location is to be determined. The method includes selecting at least one among multiple location determination techniques based on a selection criterion. The method includes causing the location to be determined using the selected location determination technique.

Abstract: A position detection server corrects for the attenuation of the intensity of an electric wave from each AP unit which is caused by walls by using map information to determine a distance between each AP unit and a terminal, acquires, as an existence region, a region of the position of the terminal in which variations are permitted to occur in the electric wave intensity due to the characteristics of the electric wave from the distance, restricts this existence region to an actionable region according to the state of the terminal, excludes any part which is blocked by walls when viewed from the immediately preceding position of the terminal from the actionable region by using the map information to determine a movable region, and narrows this movable region down to a region extending in the direction in which the terminal is moving to determine the position of the terminal.

Abstract: A first estimated location of a target terminal to be estimated in its location is obtained based on information derived from radio signals for location estimation and also locations of anchor terminals. Then, on the basis of the first estimated location thus obtained, estimated distances are calculated while expected values are calculated based on information required for location estimation to compare the estimated distances with the expected-values. Depending on the comparison result, one or more anchor terminals are selected as nonuse terminals. On the basis of information required for location estimation derived from radio signals sent by the anchor terminals other than the selected nonuse terminals and also on the locations of the anchor terminals except the nonuse terminals, a second estimated location of the target terminal is obtained.

Abstract: Process and system for the location of emitters in the radar frequency range on the basis of cross position-finding by at least two flying platforms with, in each case, at least one passive HF sensor for ascertaining the geometrical and electronic properties of the emitter beams, whereby the flying platforms mutually exchange data for describing the geometrical and electronic properties of the emitter beams, and whereby from the plurality of the position-finding beams' possible intersection points, which arise from the emitter surveying operation, use is made, in order to determine the emitter position, of those intersection points at which the electronic properties of the intersecting emitter beams are identical.

Abstract: A tag can transmit a tag signal, and responds to receipt of a wireless signpost signal by determining whether the signpost that generated the signal is currently active. When the signpost is respectively determined to be active and inactive, the tag respectively includes and excludes from the tag signal an information portion that relates to the signpost that generated the received signpost signal. In another configuration, a tag has first and second antennas, receives wireless signpost signals through at least one of the antennas, and responds to receipt of a signpost signal containing antenna select information by causing a selected one of the first and second antennas to be disabled and the other of the first and second antennas to receive wireless signpost signals.

Abstract: An electronic device comprises a location determining component such as a GPS receiver, or the like, which employs multiple antennas configured for use when the device is in various orientations.

Abstract: Location information provided by multiple positioning systems is combined to provide an estimated user location. In performing the combination, location information provided by the positioning system that is currently deemed more reliable is provided greater weight than the location information provided from the other positioning system(s). Alternatively, one of multiple positioning systems is selected to calculate an estimated user location. The selected system is the one that is currently deemed more reliable based on some indicia of reliability. Using either approach, an accurate estimate of a user's location can be provided both in rural areas or other sparsely-populated areas as well as in urban areas or other areas prone to high multipath effects.

Abstract: A method of electronically tracking and locating a very large number of objects such as, but not limited to, personal case files in health care, law, or human services systems is described. Each object to be tracked has an attached miniature radio transmitter called a tag which sends a coded signal to a network of receiver base stations with limited but overlapping reception ranges. Each receiver base station places in its own memory the time at which a record enters its range, remains in range, and the time at which it leaves. The various receiver base stations are interconnected to a host computer. By polling the memories of each receiver base station, the computer is able to determine the current location of any record.

Abstract: A radar fall detector system. The radar fall detector system includes transmitter and receiver antennae and a signal processor that processes a reflected signal. Doppler analysis of the reflected signal determines a subject's moving body segment and its distance to a floor.

Abstract: An apparatus to monitor location coordinates of an electronic tracking device. The apparatus includes a transceiver, a signal processor, an accelerometer, and an antenna. The antenna communicates signal strength, to the signal processor associated with the electronic tracking device. In response to signal strength, a battery power monitor controls battery usage by electronic circuitry associated with the electronic tracking device. An accelerometer provides a supplemental location tracking system to improve tracking accuracy of a primary location tracking system of the electronic tracking device.

Abstract: A method for estimating location, and an apparatus using the same. The method for estimating location includes receiving information on the location of a plurality of external apparatuses from the plurality of external apparatuses; setting estimable areas for estimating an area wherein there is a possibility that the device is located based on the information on the location of the plurality of external apparatuses; and determining a predetermined area of the estimable areas to be an estimation area wherein there is the possibility that the device is located. If it is impossible to receive a GPS signal, the location information of a device is estimated using information on the location of an external apparatus communicable with the device.

Abstract: A GPS tracker is disposed on launch hardware that separates from a spacecraft launch vehicle during ascent to orbit with the launch hardware having a suborbital trajectory from launch to impact while being tracked so as to track the launch hardware during suborbital flight, such as for tracking separated fuel stages, external tanks, external boosters, and payload fairings that return to earth.