Abstract: A self-positioning portable electronic device comprises a signal receiving unit for receiving a signal from one or more remote transmitters, and a local positioning unit for determining a local position of the device. The device operates to obtain a plurality of data samples from the signal at different time points during a measurement period with movement of the portable electronic device along an arbitrary trajectory, associate each data sample with a local position obtained from the local positioning unit so as to form a synthetic antenna array, obtain an array response of the synthetic antenna array, and identify the geographic location of the portable electronic device, by processing the synthetic antenna array as a function of the array response and using knowledge about the geographic location of the transmitter(s).

Abstract: A device for estimating a current orientation of a mobile terminal device at a current geographical position, wherein, at the current geographical position, a current measurement package may be determined which has a transmitter identification and an electromagnetic signal characteristic of a radio transmitter which may be received at the current geographical position with the current orientation of the mobile terminal device at a current measurement time, with a determiner for determining an accordance measure between the current measurement package and a reference measurement package, which has a transmitter identification, a reference orientation and an electromagnetic signal characteristic of a reference radio transmitter which was receivable at a geographical reference position allocated to the reference measurement package with the reference orientation at a reference time lying before the current measurement time, a selector for selecting at least one reference measurement package which has an accordan

Abstract: A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the operation of the same are provided. In the method, position information of a different bicycle user or bicycle riding course information is displayed. Riding information of the different bicycle user is displayed or the bicycle riding course information is changed according to weather or the like. The method provides a navigation screen for bicycle riding and supports prevention of bicycle theft and accident.

Abstract: Active RFID technologies are used to tag assets and people within buildings or open areas, such as parking lots or military bases; and to identify, preferably within a few meters, the real-time location (RTL) of the tag, i.e. to create a real-time location system, known as an RTLS. A novel and complex algorithm is provided that combines signal strength computations with factors that incorporate physical realities, such as walls and floors, to determine a tag's real-time location more accurately.

Abstract: Systems and methods of locating missing endpoints in a utility meter network include periodically receiving electronic GPS data including coordinates identifying the physical location of a mobile meter reading device and collecting radio frequency (RF) data transmissions sent by one or more missing endpoints in proximity to the mobile meter reading device. Energy levels associated with the RF data transmissions can be used to determine a signal strength indicator for each transmission. The transmissions are collected while the mobile meter reading device is positioned in at least first and second different locations relative to each missing endpoint. A triangulation procedure is electronically implemented using the GPS coordinates and the signal strength indicator for a given missing endpoint as determined in the at least first and second different locations in order to identify an estimated location for the given missing endpoint, which is provided as electronic output to a user.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system, method or device for maintaining a geofence to provide alerts in response to an object entering or exiting an area bounded by the geofence. In one example implementation, a geofence may be temporarily altered. In particular examples, such an alteration of a geofence may comprise changing a size or shape of the geofence.

Abstract: A system and method for using a receiving wireless device to passively detect target wireless devices or access points, quantify signal strengths of the target wireless devices or access points, and accurately identify a position for, or geolocate, the target wireless devices or access points. A position of the receiving wireless device is determined and correlated with a signal strength received from a target wireless device taken from multiple positions of the receiving wireless device. A trilateration algorithm is applied to the correlated date to obtain coarse geographic positions for the target wireless device, then a filtering algorithm is applied to obtain an accurate position for the target wireless device, which is in turn displayed to a user of the receiving wireless device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of sensor network localization through reconstruction of a radiation pattern with a characteristic value of an antenna depending on orientation thereof. The method can minimize errors using an antenna characteristic value and a signal strength depending on the orientation. In addition, the method can minimize errors using an artificial neural network to characterize a distorted radiation pattern of an antenna and using it for the localization of a triangulation method. Furthermore, the method can increases the localization rate even in a passive localization method by characterizing an asymmetric antenna radiation pattern and constructing the antenna characteristic through an artificial neural network.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for position marking to register precise locations on a stationary objects in space, and to refer back to the locations that same precise location at a later time, while establishing a local coordinate system without consideration for the global location or orientation of the object, thereby ensuring the object does not need to be re-positioned or re-orientated before marking and referring to any object's locations. The problem that a local coordinate reference system based on reference beacons is not correlated to the object's reference frame is addressed through a novel calibration method. By eliminating consideration for coordinate setup and the need to physically move the object in the operating space, a more robust measurement is achieved that replaces such conventional steps with an easy to conduct calibration process that reduces the chance for human error.

Abstract: Provided is a radio communication device including a reception unit that receives a radio signal, a measurement unit that measures a field intensity of the radio signal received by the reception unit, a determination unit that determines whether the radio signal received by the reception unit satisfies a predetermined condition for a noise component, and an estimation unit that estimates a distance from a transmission source device of the radio signal based on the field intensity of the radio signal determined by the determination unit to satisfy the predetermined condition.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided that may be implemented in a mobile device to determine two or more variations between a baseline probability distribution and two or more probability distributions for signals received from two or more sets of transmitters assigned to two or more regions of a structure. The methods and apparatuses may be further implemented to determine whether the mobile device is located in at least one of the two or more regions based, at least in part, on a comparison of the two or more determined variations.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for geographical tracking entry and/or exiting of an asset into and/or out of a defined geographical boundary and reporting the same. Entry and exit tests compare position fixes with various thresholds and parameters to determine if the asset has entered or exited the geographical boundary. Tests are sequenced such that tests having lower levels of complexity (lower order) are performed before tests having higher levels of complexity (higher order). In this way, most position fixes are processed using computations having a lower order of mathematical complexity than conventionally implemented.

Abstract: A method of and system for estimating the range of a mobile device to a wireless installation is disclosed. A method of estimating the position of a mobile device includes receiving signals transmitted by fixed-position wireless communication stations in range of a mobile device. One of the wireless communication stations from which signals are received by the mobile device is designated as a serving station and location information is retrieved for said serving station and at least one other neighboring station from which signals are received. For each of the at least one other neighboring stations, a corresponding distance between the serving station and said neighboring station is determined based on the location information. A position of the mobile device is estimated based on the location information for the serving station and said neighboring stations and further based on the distances between the serving station and said neighboring stations.

Abstract: Techniques are generally described for determining locations of a plurality of communication devices in a network. In some examples, methods for creating a location discovery infrastructure (LDI) for estimating locations of one or more of a plurality of communication nodes may comprise one or more of determining a plurality of locations in the terrain to place a corresponding plurality of beacon nodes, determining a plurality of beacon node groups for the placed beacon nodes, and determining a schedule for the placed beacon nodes to be active. Additional variants and embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is an auxiliary Access Point (AP) tag and a positioning system using the same, wherein the auxiliary AP tag simpler in structure than a conventional AP is arranged at the system to be provided with only a function of transmitting an identifier (e.g., a service set identifier), whereby position accuracy can be stably obtained and cost can be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for positioning signal sources in a wireless network, e.g. in a WLAN or WiMAX network. The located signal source might be a end user, an interfering source or a base station. At least one monitoring station is placed in the network, which use directional antennas. By combining e.g. the direction of the used antenna beam, the received relative signal levels, propagation delay measurements and several different measurement locations for one or several monitoring stations, the location of the signal source can be determined accurately. The method can also track whether the end user is connected to the most optimal base station by transmitting test signals through base stations.

Abstract: A system that facilitates determination of a location of a mobile handset. The system includes three or more location measurement units that each correspond to a sector of the cell site. The location measurement units transmit location related information to a computation component. The computation component receives the location related information and performs a triangulation calculation on the information to define the location of the mobile handset.

Abstract: Disclosed is an indoor location system that uses an electrical power line, power line signal injection devices, and portable position receivers (tags) to generate location data relating to positions of the tags in a structure such as a residence or business. The indoor location system fingerprinting of multiple signals transmitted along the power line to achieve sub-room-level localization of the positioning receivers. Details regarding power line positioning are described along with how it compares favorably to other fingerprinting techniques.

Abstract: Precise operation of an accelerator operating member (7) is more difficult to perform in a reversing operation of a vehicle (1) as compared with an advancing operation. Therefore, behavior of the vehicle (1) is not smooth and thus tends to be unnatural. In the reversing operation of the vehicle (1), driving force output from an internal combustion engine (2) is limited in accordance with vehicle acceleration (D). At this time, it is possible to regulate the driving force of the vehicle (1) in conformity to the actual operation of the accelerator operating member (7) by the driver. In addition, limitation of the driving force is not executed in the advancing operation of the vehicle (1). At this time, the vehicle (1) can be driven in a state in which the driving force is comparatively small. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the behavior of the vehicle (1) from being unnatural.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an apparatus and method for determining the location of a communication device within a wireless network in order to provide a geolocation functionality to the communication device participating under an access protocol of a wireless local-area network (WLAN) infrastructure such as IEEE 802.11 or Hiperlan. The apparatus comprises at least two transponder units for communicating with the communication device when the communication device is situated in a coverage area of the wireless network and a processing unit for deriving the location of the communication device within the coverage area in dependence on information received from the transponder units.

Abstract: A location server may be operable to refine a location for a RF node based on a weight applied to one or more location samples that are received from one or more mobile devices. The received location samples may be weighted based on a manufacturer and/or a model information of each of the mobile devices, properties and/or conditions of a RF environment associated with each of the mobile devices, a GNSS dilution of precision, motion sensors used by each of the mobile devices and/or a geometrical population condition associated with each of the mobile devices within range of the RF node. A valid location for the RF node may be generated utilizing the weighted location samples. The location server may update location information for the RF node, which may be stored in a location database, utilizing the valid location for the RF node.

Abstract: Methods and architecture systems for controlling vehicle systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of remotely controlling a vehicle includes estimating a position of the vehicle. A position estimation algorithm may estimate the position of the vehicle. A position data packet received from the vehicle may be used to update the estimated position of the vehicle. A display device may display a virtual representation of the vehicle based on the updated estimated position of the vehicle. Command signals may be transmitted to the vehicle based on the displayed virtual representation of the vehicle.

Abstract: An aerostatic platform for monitoring an earth-based sensor network. The aerostatic platform includes an aerostat, at least one antenna coupled with the aerostat, and a plurality of restraints. The antenna is configurable to receive a signal transmitted from at least one sensor in the earth-based sensor network. The plurality of restraints is configurable for fixing the antenna in a fixed aerial location above the earth-based sensor network, and for maintaining the antenna in a sufficiently stationary position relative to the sensor to triangulate a location of the sensor from a locator signal received by the antenna. A sensor-network-monitoring system is also provided, along with a method for deploying the sensor-network monitoring system.

Abstract: Methods and systems that use the time-wise stability of RF location systems and the short time accuracy and spatial stability of inertial tracking system to increase the accuracy of tracking method.

Abstract: Provided is a location measurement method of a mobile node using a predictive filter is provided for improving the location measurement accuracy of the mobile node. The location measurement method of a mobile node detects change of movement pattern of the mobile node, corrects weights of a location measurement period and a predictive filter depending on the change of movement pattern, and compensates a location of the mobile node using the corrected weights of the location measurement period and predictive filter.

Abstract: A power-saving robot system includes at least one peripheral device and a mobile robot. The peripheral device includes a controller having an active mode and a hibernation mode, and a wireless communication component capable of activation in the hibernation mode. A controller of the robot has an activating routine that communicates with and temporarily activates the peripheral device, via wireless communication, from the hibernation mode. In another aspect, a robot system includes a network data bridge and a mobile robot. The network data bridge includes a broadband network interface, a wireless command interface, and a data bridge component. The data bridge component extracts serial commands received via the broadband network interface from an internet protocol, applies a command protocol thereto, and broadcasts the serial commands via the wireless interface. The mobile robot includes a wireless command communication component that receives the serial commands transmitted from the network data bridge.

Abstract: A position location system, apparatus and method are disclosed. A coordinating device identifies a group of wireless devices for position location processing. The number of wireless devices in the group may vary according to the number of coordinates used to define a position within the system. The coordinating device obtains range measurements from which a distance between each pair of wireless devices in the group can be determined. In addition, the coordinating device acquires the known position of one wireless device in the group. Using this information, a position is determined for one or more devices in the group for which position data is not available. Optionally, the position data is validated by the coordinating device or another wireless device in the system and a final position is returned to the one or more wireless devices.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems and apparatuses for computing position fixes according to a motion model. Particles may be propagated based, at least in part, on measurements received at a mobile device according to the motion model. A particular cluster of the propagated particles may then be selected to represent a state of the mobile device based, at least in part, on weights applied to particles in the clusters. The selected clusters may be retroactively changed so that the sequence of position fixes satisfies geometrical and dynamic feasibility constraints. The updated sequence of position fixes can be made available to high-level navigation applications for instance for user track display updating.

Abstract: A system for tracking balls in sports in which players kick, pass, bounce, strike or carry a ball. The ball is equipped with two beacons pulsing in the 5-10 Hz range at a frequency which is not attenuated by the body of the players. one beacon has a very short range of 40-120 cm and the other has a range of 1-5 meters. A data logger worn by the players includes a clock, location and speed sensors, a receiver for the beacon signals and a micro controller to record the data from all the sensors. The micro controller is able to record whether the player is in possession of the ball or is contesting the ball. The path of the ball from player to player is tracked relative to the playing field. An impact or pressure sensor may be fitted to the players footwear, glove or a bat stick, club or racquet to register a kick or ball strike.

Abstract: An RF transceiver of a first network device respectively receives first, second, and third coordinates of second, third, and fourth network devices. A control module determines first, second, and third delay periods respectively corresponding to transmissions between first and second, first and third, and first and fourth network devices. The control module determines first, second, and third distances between the first and second, first and third, and first and fourth network devices respectively based on the first, second, and third delay periods. The control module determines a location of the first network device based on the first, second, and third distances and the first, second, and third coordinates.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for a navigation system. A method includes providing a global positioning system fix having a plurality of tracking parameters; providing a theater positioning system fix; monitoring the plurality of tracking parameters for predetermined conditions; and, when the predetermined conditions are met, sending a notifying signal and switching to the theater positioning system fix as a primary fix. An apparatus includes a system controller; a global positioning system receiver coupled to the system controller; a radio frequency locating receiver coupled to the system controller; and an operator interface coupled to the system controller.

Abstract: Systems and methods for aircraft cabin noise analysis are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first request for an aircraft cabin noise analysis, wherein the request comprises a plurality of flight parameters associated with a first flight mission, retrieving, from a computer readable memory, a plurality of noise parameters associated with the plurality of flight parameters for the first flight mission, determining a total noise exposure parameter associated with the first flight mission, generating an output comprising the total noise exposure on a user interface, and generating a warning on a user interface when the total noise exposure exceeds a threshold. In some embodiments, the monitored system may be implemented in a computing system or as logic instructions recorded on a computer readable medium.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to visualize locations of radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged items are described. One example method includes receiving a request from a portable electronic device to access product information associated with an individual radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged item, determining a location of the product information in a database, transmitting the located product information to the portable electronic device for display thereon, receiving modified product information associated with the individual RFID tagged item from the portable electronic device, and storing the modified product information to the location of the product information in the database.

Abstract: A navigation and monitoring system to track positions of surgical components during surgery of a patient. The navigation system includes a power source to emit a tracking signal during surgery of the patient, a first sensor mounted to a region of the patient to respond to the emitted tracking signal, and a control unit to track a position of the region relative to a fixed region of the patient as the region moves with respect to the fixed region, based on the response of the first sensor. The system can calibrate and register a movable reference point of the patient relative to a fixed reference point, and can maintain that reference point when the movable reference point moves in space during a surgical process.

Abstract: A system comprises a single linear antenna array, an RF receiver and a processor. The processor includes an RF extraction module configured to extract information from the RF signal and a target location module. The target location module is configured to calculate a first target likelihood distribution for possible locations of the target object using information extracted from an RF signal received using a first antenna array orientation, calculate a second target likelihood distribution for possible locations of the target object using information extracted from an RF signal received using a second antenna array orientation, and identify a most probable location of the target object based on a combination of the first and second target likelihood distributions.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method of determining a location of a mobile target that processes locations for the target provided by a wireless location technology tracker system to determine if the locations are outliers, discards locations that are determined to be outliers, and uses locations determined not to be outliers as locations for the target.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for a mobile station to obtain a position fix using synchronous hybrid positioning and asynchronous hybrid positioning techniques are described. In one embodiment, a wireless communication apparatus may transmit a request to a mobile station for timing reference information. The apparatus may be configured to receive the timing reference information, first timing measurements from a first positioning technology, and second timing measurements from a second positioning technology. The apparatus may identify whether the mobile station is capable of supporting synchronous hybrid positioning based on the timing reference information. If it is synchronous hybrid capable, then the apparatus may then establish a position fix for the mobile station using a synchronous hybrid positioning technique that involves relating the first and second timing measurements to a common time scale based on the timing reference information.

Abstract: A method for calculating the geographical position of a user equipment (UE) unit includes collecting position parameters conveying the relative position of the UE unit from two or more base stations using technologies mandated for the modern wireless networks. Particularly, know (predetermined) signals embedded in the downlink and uplink subframes, such as preambles, pilots, ranging codes are used for determining the coordinates of the UE unit. In addition, the methods and systems proposed here take advantage of the multiple antennas systems mandated at both the UE and BTS.

Abstract: A portable terminal is provided, which includes a communication unit that transmits/receives a signal modulated by a predetermined modulation method to/from three or more base stations; a storage unit which stores in advance a plurality of propagation models indicating propagation environments of the signal for respective combinations of the base stations and stores in advance position information of the base stations; and a control unit that controls the communication unit and the storage unit; wherein the control unit specifies a propagation model that corresponds to a combination of the base stations among the plurality of propagation models stored in the storage unit based on the signal and calculates communicable distances of the signal based on the corresponding propagation model, calculates circles having the corresponding communicable distances as their radii and having positions of the base stations as their centers, respectively, obtains an overlapping area where the circles overlap one another, and

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new method for localization, i.e. finding positions and orientations of nodes communicating in wireless networks. The method is based on using directional information (angle-of-arrival, AOA), and optionally distance information, combined with estimation by recursive filters such as e.g., Kaiman filters, recursive least squares filters, Bayesian filters, or particle filters. The method expresses the localization problem as set of linear equations and ensures stability and convergence by imposing a partial order on the nodes.

Abstract: An exemplary position sensor can be provided that can include a transmitting arrangement for configured to generate electromagnetic waves, a receiving arrangement configured to detect electromagnetic waves, and a position arrangement. The transmitting arrangement and the receiving arrangement can be moved relative to the position arrangement. The position arrangement can influence the electromagnetic waves of the transmitting arrangement such that the presence of the position arrangement can be detected in the vicinity of the transmitting arrangement and the receiving arrangement.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide not only a technical solution for calibrating a positioning device but also a technical solution for characterizing an area of interest in a space. Specifically, there is provided a system, which may include: a tag capable of emitting ranging signals, placed at location points which are selected as space feature points in the space; a positioning device in the space, configured to obtain relative coordinates of the space feature points in relation to the positioning device based on the ranging signals from the tag; and a server, configured to determine location parameters of the positioning device in the space based on said relative coordinates, so as to calibrate the positioning device. The positioning device can be calibrated automatically, fast and accurately using the system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for exploiting location awareness to improve the communication performance in a wireless cognitive radio system. The invention includes determining the absolute position information for the cognitive radio system, receiving digital topographical data related to the absolute position information, classifying the environment of the cognitive radio system based on the absolute position and the topographical data, matching the classified environment with corresponding statistical parameters and improving the communication performance of the cognitive radio system by adapting the cognitive radio system according to the corresponding statistical parameters.

Abstract: A Wide Area Sensor Network is disclosed that utilizes wideband software defined radios (SDRs) to provide a capability to monitor the airwaves over a wide frequency range, detect when critical frequencies are being jammed or otherwise interfered with, and locate the source of the interference so that the interference can be eliminated. In addition, a diversity receiver is disclosed. The diversity receiver generates position, time and frequency references for use in locating and synchronizing sensor platforms of a WLS. In an illustrative embodiment, the diversity receiver comprises a first receiver subsystem comprising a terrestrial broadcast receiver, and a common processor platform (CPP) coupled via first link means to the first receiver subsystem. The first receiver subsystem provides a stable time reference and position information to the CPP via the first link means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing peer selection in a network are disclosed. For example, the method requests peer information from an application server supporting a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) service, and receives the peer information comprising a plurality of peer endpoint devices. The method then selects a peer endpoint device from the plurality of peer endpoint devices based on at least one preference.

Abstract: One or more bits are used in peer discovery signals to signal a device's ability and/or willingness to participate in a cooperative manner with regard to one or more mobile device location determination related operations. In some embodiments, the one or more bits are located at predetermined locations within a header portion of a peer discovery signal. Different bits, in some embodiments, are associated with different specific cooperative location determination related operations. The peer discovery signal is transmitted, e.g., broadcast, periodically or on some predetermined basis by a mobile wireless communications device. In this manner, a device listening to the peer discovery signals can determine other devices' willingness to perform particular location discovery related operations with very little signaling overhead.

Abstract: A power-saving robot system includes at least one peripheral device and a mobile robot. The peripheral device includes a controller having an active mode and a hibernation mode, and a wireless communication component capable of activation in the hibernation mode. A controller of the robot has an activating routine that communicates with and temporarily activates the peripheral device, via wireless communication, from the hibernation mode. In another aspect, a robot system includes a network data bridge and a mobile robot. The network data bridge includes a broadband network interface, a wireless command interface, and a data bridge component. The data bridge component extracts serial commands received via the broadband network interface from an internet protocol, applies a command protocol thereto, and broadcasts the serial commands via the wireless interface. The mobile robot includes a wireless command communication component that receives the serial commands transmitted from the network data bridge.

Abstract: Determining the location of a station in a wireless network including determining path losses between the wireless station of unknown location and at least some access points at known locations. The determining includes receiving measurements from the wireless station of unknown location, and measuring the received signal strengths as a result of respective transmissions from at least some of access points at known respective transmit powers and known or determined locations to obtained measured path losses. The method further includes determining a location for the wireless station using the measured path losses and a calibrated path loss model.

Abstract: A communications system includes a radio frequency (RF) element (104) for transforming an input RF signal into at least one of a first conditioned RF input signal associated with a first frequency range and a second conditioned RF input signal associated with a second frequency range higher than the first frequency range. The system also includes a local oscillator (LO) circuit (106) for generating at least a first LO signal, the LO circuit having an operating frequency range spanning at least a portion of a first inclusive frequency range defined by a lowest frequency of the first frequency range and a highest frequency of the second frequency range. The system further includes a mixer (108) for generating a first intermediate frequency (IF) signal based on one of the first and the second RF input signals and the first LO signal, and an IF element (110) for conditioning the first IF signal.

Abstract: A method and system locates a position of a transceiver in a cooperative relay network of nodes. A primary node broadcasts a range request (RREQ) message. A target node, in response to receiving the RREQ message, broadcasts a range reply (RREP) message, wherein the RREP message includes a time difference between receiving the RREQ message and broadcasting the RREP message. A secondary node, in response to receiving the RREQ message and the RREP message, broadcasts a range data (RDAT) message, wherein the RDAT message includes a time difference between receiving the RREQ message and the RREP message. Then, a position solver can determine a location of the target node based on the time differences in the RREP message and the RDAT message.