By Computer Patents (Class 342/451)
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Patent number: 8098200Abstract: A method and system determine a location of an emitter using at least three sensors, each receiving a signal from the emitter. Cross-correlation data is determined for the received signals at sensor pairs, and one or more peaks are identified in the cross-correlation data. A likelihood function is determined for each sensor pair. A total likelihood function is determined for the sensors using the likelihood functions for each sensor pair, and the location of the emitter is determined as the point where the total likelihood function is maximized. The individual likelihood function for each sensor pair can be determined by selecting, at each point in a grid, a peak in the cross-correlation data that generates a minimum residual according to a minimum residual criterion, and using the selected peak in the cross-correlation data for each point in the grid to calculate the likelihood function.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2009Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.Inventor: David L. Gines
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Publication number: 20120007779Abstract: A location and tracking system (1) comprises a site survey tool (2), a location engine (3), a self-calibration engine (4), and a fingerprint database (5). The system (1) operates for a wireless network of access points in a building and it generates from initialization data a model of the physical environment. The model may for example be in the form of data representing geometry of lines in plan and signal attenuation values for the lines. The system then uses this model to generate a fingerprint of projected signal strengths in the environment. The system may maintains a fingerprint for every environment model or there may be only one model at any one time, or there may be a number. Where the latter, the system may assign a weighting to each model to indicate its confidence value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2010Publication date: January 12, 2012Inventors: Martin Klepal, Widyawan, Dirk Pesch
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Patent number: 8089391Abstract: A weather radar system or method can be utilized to determine a location of a weather hazard for an aircraft. The weather radar system can utilize processing electronics coupled to an antenna. The processing electronics can determine presence of the hazard in response to data related to returns received by the weather radar antenna and data from a lightning sensor. The system can include a display for showing the hazard and its location.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2009Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.Inventors: Daniel L. Woodell, Kevin M. Kronfeld
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Publication number: 20110316748Abstract: 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 accordanType: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Inventors: Steffen Meyer, Juergen Hupp, Stephan Haimerl
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Publication number: 20110309983Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a computer readable medium configured to perform a method for determining a three-dimensional geolocation of a terrestrial emitter. The method includes receiving a signal from the emitter at an antenna array. The method also includes determining a three-dimensional line-of-position (LOP) to the emitter based on the signal. The three-dimensional LOP can include an azimuth angle and a depression angle. The method further includes calculating the three-dimensional geolocation of the emitter based on an intersection of the three-dimensional LOP with digital terrain elevation data (DTED) associated with the Earth's surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2011Publication date: December 22, 2011Inventors: Tyler Holzer, Bart Peters, David T. Driggs, Greg Manassero
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Patent number: 8081111Abstract: A method of locating the source of an unknown signal is provided that includes calculating a differential offset for a signal for each of a plurality of positions within a region in which the transmitter must lie, for each of a series of times m with respect to first and second signal relays and respective first and second receivers, the positions of the signal relays and receivers being known, generating a cross-ambiguity function (CAF) using data corresponding to samples of the unknown signal received at the first and second receivers via the first and second signal relays respectively, estimating the level of noise in the CAF, and using this data to obtain a measure of the likelihood that the source is located within defined areas within the region, where the differential offsets are differential time offsets, or differential frequency offsets, or both. The method provides location which is unconditionally convergent.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2007Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, Inc.Inventor: David Patrick Haworth
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Publication number: 20110304503Abstract: The simultaneous localization and RF modeling technique pertains to a method of providing simultaneous localization and radio frequency (RF) modeling. In one embodiment, the technique operates in a space with wireless local area network coverage (or other RF transmitters). Users carrying Wi-Fi-enabled devices traverse this space while the mobile devices record the Received Signal Strength (RSS) measurements corresponding to access points (APs) in view at various unknown locations and report these RSS measurements, as well as nay other available location fix to a localization server. A RF modeling algorithm runs on the server and is used to estimate the location of the APs using the recorded RSSI measurements and any other available location information. All of the observations are constrained by the physics of wireless propagation. The technique models these constraints and uses a genetic algorithm to solve them, thereby providing an absolute location of the mobile device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2010Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Krishna Kant Chintalapudi, Venkata N. Padmanabhan, Anand Padmanabha Iyer
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Patent number: 8077091Abstract: A system of determining a position of a mobile device within a surveillance volume includes a phase difference array comprising a spatially diverse array of N sensors for detecting RF signals from the mobile device and acquiring phase difference data from the RF signals, N being greater than 4. The system includes a processor for processing the phase difference data and determining the position of the mobile device from the phase difference data.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2010Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Intelligent Sciences, Ltd.Inventors: Jacques Y. Guigné, James A. Stacey, Nicholas G. Pace, Andre Pant
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Patent number: 8077659Abstract: Estimating a current location of a receiver in a MediaFLO™ (Forward Link Only) mobile multimedia multicast system comprises receiving digital signals comprising a MediaFLO™ superframe comprising orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols; performing slot 3 processing of each medium access control (MAC) time unit of a data channel to identify a transmitter identity (TxID) of each transmitter; identifying corresponding geographical coordinates of each TxID; regenerating the digital signals for each of the transmitters using a local-area differentiator (LID) and a wide-area differentiator (WID) of the transmitters; dividing the digital signals by the corresponding regenerated transmitted signal to obtain channel estimates between the receiver and the corresponding transmitters; detecting a first peak in the channel estimates to determine a distance between the receiver and the corresponding transmitters; calculating a time difference of arrival of the digital signals; and estimating a current locaType: GrantFiled: April 28, 2008Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Newport Media, Inc.Inventor: Nabil Yousef
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Patent number: 8077090Abstract: The simultaneous localization and RF modeling technique pertains to a method of providing simultaneous localization and radio frequency (RF) modeling. In one embodiment, the technique operates in a space with wireless local area network coverage (or other RF transmitters). Users carrying Wi-Fi-enabled devices traverse this space while the mobile devices record the Received Signal Strength (RSS) measurements corresponding to access points (APs) in view at various unknown locations and report these RSS measurements, as well as nay other available location fix to a localization server. A RF modeling algorithm runs on the server and is used to estimate the location of the APs using the recorded RSSI measurements and any other available location information. All of the observations are constrained by the physics of wireless propagation. The technique models these constraints and uses a genetic algorithm to solve them, thereby providing an absolute location of the mobile device.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2010Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Microsoft Corp.Inventors: Krishna Kant Chintalapudi, Venkata N. Padmanabhan, Anand Padmanabha Iyer
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Patent number: 8073412Abstract: A method of configuring a tuner includes scanning at least one range of radio frequencies, measuring a signal quality metric for each of a plurality of the frequencies, and selecting a set of operational frequencies for the tuner. The selecting step is dependent upon the measuring step.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2007Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, division of Panasonic Coproration of North AmericaInventors: Shree Jaisimha, Mohammad Reza Kanji, Tatsuya Fujisawa
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Publication number: 20110291885Abstract: An almanac data management system at a location remote from a cell phone (20) has an almanac memory (44) for containing at least a current version of almanac data (52). A mobile device information memory (48) contains an identification of a version of almanac data held by the cell phone (20). A downloading system (56) selectively downloads at least a subset of the current version of almanac data (52) to the cell phone (20) if the current version of almanac data (52) is later than the version of almanac data held by the cell phone (20).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2010Publication date: December 1, 2011Applicant: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Grant Alexander Marshall, Mark Leo Moeglein
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Patent number: 8068056Abstract: Techniques for supporting periodic and other location services with Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) and other location architectures are described. The techniques can provide position estimates for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET) to a SUPL agent periodically and/or based on trigger events. A Home SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP) receives from the SUPL agent a request for position estimates for the SET. The H-SLP starts a SUPL location session with the SET. For each of at least one reporting event during the location session, the H-SLP obtains a position estimate for the SET and sends the position estimate to the SUPL agent. The position estimate may be derived by the SET and sent to the H-SLP. Alternatively, the position estimate may be derived by the H-SLP based on measurements from the SET.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2006Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Andreas Wachter, Stephen Edge, Kirk Burroughs
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Publication number: 20110285592Abstract: Position determination method for a target point, using a geodetic measuring device, such as a total station or a theodolite, having a distance and angle measurement functionality, a sighting device, and a first radio module, and using a hand-held data processing device, such as a data logger for the measuring device, having a second radio module. The data processing device is positioned within a specified radius of the target point. As part of the method, a radio connection is established between the first and the second radio modules, and the position of the target point is determined. A rough distance between the first and the second radio modules is determined based on a propagation time of interrogation and/or response signals of the radio connection and is used to locate the target—as displaying, detecting, identifying, and/or sighting the target point—or to exclude further possible target point candidates.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2009Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: Leica Geosystems AGInventors: Alastair Green, Daniel Nindl
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Publication number: 20110285591Abstract: A computer system for correcting position fixes received from a mobile computing device comprises a database and one or more computer server computers. The database is configured to store position fixes and corrected positions received from a plurality of mobile computing devices via wireless communication. The one or more server computers are configured to receive a position fix from a mobile computing device, to generate a corrected position from the database based on the position fix, and to send the corrected position to the mobile computing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2010Publication date: November 24, 2011Inventor: Yoon Kean Wong
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Publication number: 20110279324Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are provided for processing positioning signals to obtain navigation information by applying compressed sensing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2010Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicant: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Josephine A. Bolotski, Douglas Neal Rowitch, Mark Leo Moeglein
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Publication number: 20110279323Abstract: A system and method for activating a GPS receiver or a WiFi receiver on a mobile device may be provided, which comprises determining an approximate location of the mobile device. The approximate location of the mobile device may be determined using cell tower location information. If the approximate location of the mobile device is within a predetermined distance from a desired location, or is “close enough”, then the GPS receiver or the WiFi receiver is activated. The GPS receiver or the WiFi receiver is activated to determine a more accurate location of the mobile device. The approximate and the more accurate location information may be exchanged with another mobile device to allow the user to find one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2010Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicant: Research In Motion LimitedInventors: Michael Hin Kai Hung, Robert Kline
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Patent number: 8059032Abstract: A positioning control device includes a GPS hardware control unit that makes GPS determine a current location at different positioning accuracies, and a positioning request management unit that makes the GPS hardware control unit carry out positioning in response to a positioning request from an application according to a positioning accuracy specified in the positioning request, acquires the positioning result, and returns the acquired positioning result to the application of the request origin. In a case where a positioning accuracy of a new positioning request is equal to or less than a positioning accuracy of a latest positioning result, the positioning request management unit reuses the latest positioning result and returns the latest positioning result in response to the new positioning request.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2009Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.Inventors: Akiko Tobe, Nirou Tsuchiya, Masayuki Tsuda
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Patent number: 8054226Abstract: A method localizes a set of nodes in a wireless network that includes a target node having unknown location and a set of anchor nodes having known locations. The set of anchor nodes is partitioned into subsets of anchor nodes, wherein each subset has at least three anchor nodes. A distance from the target node to each of anchor nodes in each subset is measured, to estimate possible locations of the target node. A geometric constraint is applied to each estimated location to determine valid locations, which are then filtered to determine filtered locations. The filtered locations are averaged to determine an initial estimate of the location.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2009Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Zafer Sahinoglu, Ghulam M. Bhatti, Jinyun Zhang
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Publication number: 20110260922Abstract: Disclosed is a system for updating an RSSI-based map. A scanning devices notes which tags are seen during a scan and measures a “proxy distance” from the scanning device to each tag. When the scan is initiated, the scanning device measures the RSSIs from the local WAPs. The current location of the scanning device is determined by triangulating from the proxy distances of the scanned tags. That location is then correlated with the contemporaneously measured RSSIs. The correlation is used to update the RSSI-based map. In some embodiments, it is not the scanning device that measures the RSSIs. Instead, the WAPs measure the RSSIs from the scanning device whenever the scanning device transmits the results of a scan. In some embodiments, the operator of the mapped environment places scannable tags at fixed locations. Scans of these fixed-location tags are especially useful when determining the current location of the scanning device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2010Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.Inventors: Chuntao Zhang, Thomas S. Babin, Timothy J. Collins, Julius S. Gyorfi, Tom Mathew, Swee M. Mok
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Publication number: 20110257812Abstract: One or more tracked vehicles with wireless broadband connectivity to a central tracking station provide redundant location data derived from an onboard GPS receiver and an onboard self-triangulating cell phone. Tracking data for bar-coded and RFID-tagged items with the vehicle are also tracked. Clandestine audio monitoring of the vehicle interior and exterior can be enabled from the tracking station or from a remote access device. Redundant rollover sensing and reporting is provided by a roll over switch and a cell phone loss of signal. Hardwired and proximity vehicle panic alarms communicate with the central tracking station. A remote engine kill is provided. A tracking server within the tracking station stores data and generates reports and alarms. HF radio and cell phone communication between the tracking station and the vehicle are also enabled.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2010Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: DD&C TRADING COMPANY LLCInventors: Carl Craig Carpenter, Dennis Charles Chalker, Wellington Taylor Leonard
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Patent number: 8041304Abstract: An area estimation apparatus 100 includes: a reception level receiving unit 110 configured to receive, from a plurality of the radio signal capturing terminals 40a and 40b via the network, a radio signal reception level transmitted from the radio signal transmitting terminal 10, a radio signal transmitting terminal ID for uniquely identifying the radio signal transmitting terminal 10, and a radio signal capturing terminal ID for uniquely identifying each of the plurality of radio signal capturing terminals 40a and 40b; with a presence area of the radio signal capturing terminals being known; a reception level storage unit 123 configured to store the radio signal reception level, the radio signal transmitting terminal ID and the radio signal capturing terminal ID, which are received from each of the radio signal capturing terminals 40a and 40b, in association with one another; and a presence area estimating unit 140 configured to refer to the reception level storage unit and to estimate the presence area of thType: GrantFiled: August 13, 2008Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.Inventors: Naoharu Yamada, Yoshinori Isoda
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Publication number: 20110248887Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for providing an estimate of a location of a user receiver device. The method and system involve emitting from at least one vehicle at least one spot beam on Earth, and receiving with the user receiver device a signal from at least one spot beam. In one or more embodiments, at least one vehicle may be a satellite and/or a pseudolite. The method and system further involve calculating with the user receiver device the estimate of the location of the user receiver device according to the user receiver device's location within at least one spot beam. In some embodiments, when the user receiver device receives signals from at least two spot beams, the user receiver device calculates the estimate of the location of the user receiver device to be located in the center of the intersection of at least two spot beams.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2010Publication date: October 13, 2011Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: David A. Whelan, Gregory M. Gutt, Robert W. Brumley, Michael L. Eglington, Christopher J. Martens, Anne T. Haddad, Rachel Ranß Schmalzried
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Publication number: 20110241942Abstract: A position tracking system includes a transmitter constructed and arranged to emit a electromagnetic signal and an array of at least three receiver antennae. Each of the at least three receiver antennae is constructed and arranged to receive the electromagnetic signal emitted from the transmitter. The position tracking system also includes a receiver channel disposed in electrical communication with each of the at least three receiver antennae. The receiver channel is constructed and arranged to receive the electromagnetic signal from each of the at least three receiver antennae. The position tracking system also includes a data processing component disposed in electrical communication with the receiver channel. The data processing component is constructed and arranged to calculate the position of the transmitter by comparing the electromagnetic signal received at each receiver antennae.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2011Publication date: October 6, 2011Applicant: POSITION IMAGING, INC.Inventor: Edward L. Hill
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Patent number: 8031120Abstract: Techniques for accurate position location and tracking suitable for a wide range of facilities in variable environments are disclosed. In one aspect, a system for position location comprises a plurality of sensors (e.g. a network monitor, an environment sensor) for generating measurements of a plurality of sources, a plurality of objects or tags, each object generating measurements of the plurality of sources, and a processor for receiving the measurements and generating a position location for one or more objects in accordance with the received measurements. In another aspect, a position engine comprises a mapped space of a physical environment, and a processor for updating the mapped space in response to received measurements. The position engine may receive second measurements from an object within the physical environment, and generate a position location estimate for the object from the received second measurements and the mapped space.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2009Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Awarepoint CorporationInventors: Derek M. Smith, James D. Adams, Nicolas C Nierenberg, Joseph C. Baker
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Publication number: 20110227791Abstract: Location inference using selected beacons. Data is received representing a set of beacons observed by a computing device. The beacons are located within a first geographic area. A subset (e.g., a clique) of the beacons is selected based on a coverage area of each of the beacons, where each of the beacons in the selected subset has a coverage area that overlaps with the coverage area of each of the other beacons in the selected subset. Using known or estimated positions of the beacons, a second geographic area is defined based on the selected subset of beacons and the beacon reference data and the coverage areas associated therewith. The second geographic area, smaller than the first geographic area, represents an approximate location of the computing device. In some embodiments, the computing device is calculated to be within the second geographic area with 95% probability.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2010Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Jyh-Han Lin, Lon-Chan Chu, Aravind Krishnamachari Seshadri, Prasanta Ghosal, Christopher Russell Rice, Anup Kashinath Pachlag
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Publication number: 20110227790Abstract: Storing and retrieving beacon reference data in a truncated cuckoo hash table. Checksums of beacon identifiers associated with beacons are used to retrieve beacon reference data describing locations of the beacons in a hash table. The data is stored in one or more hash tables by cuckoo hashing to eliminate aliasing. The hash tables are provided to devices such as mobile devices. The devices retrieve the beacon reference data from the tables based using beacon identifiers of observed beacons. Location information for the devices is inferred using the retrieved beacon reference data. The cuckoo hash tables consume less memory storage space and obfuscate the beacon reference data.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2010Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Jin Li, Jyh-Han Lin, Aravind Krishnamachari Seshadri
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Publication number: 20110231092Abstract: A portable device such as a camera comprises a wireless tracking unit for tracking the position of the portable device utilizing wireless internet technologies. When enabled, the portable device automatically determines its global position and uploads the position to a tracking server where the position data is saved in a position database. The position data is able to then be accessed at any time by a specified group comprising the user and any specified friends or family of the user upon accessing the tracker server from a personal computer or their portable devices. As a result, members of the specified group are able to track each other's real-time locations and history of locations throughout the world.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2010Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Hanchang Kuo, Hans Masli
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Patent number: 8022875Abstract: An indoor localization method is implemented using an indoor localization system that includes beacons deployed in an indoor space and transmitting localization signals, and a radio badge for receiving the localization signals. The indoor localization method includes forming signal vectors from the localization signals received by the radio badge at each of predetermined locations in the indoor space, and generating a signal ID value from the signal vectors for each beacon from which the radio badge has received the localization signals. During a tracking phase, signal vectors are formed from the localization signals received by the radio badge at a current location. If the number of the signal ID values is smaller than the number of the signal vectors, the sum of the signal distances is normalized by the number of the signal ID values. An estimated position of the radio badge is obtained using the signal vectors and the signal ID values.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2009Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: National Taiwan UniversityInventors: Polly Huang, Tsung-Han Lin, I-Hei Ng
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Patent number: 8022876Abstract: An indoor localization method is implemented using an indoor localization system that includes beacons in an indoor space and each periodically transmitting a localization signal, a radio badge receiving the localization signals, and a host coupled to the beacons and the radio badge. The beacons transmit the localization signals asynchronously. The indoor localization method includes a training phase and a tracking phase. During the training phase, signal vectors are formed from the localization signals received by the radio badge, and a signal ID value is generated from the signal vectors. During the tracking phase, signal vectors are formed from the localization signals received by the radio badge at a current location. An estimated position of the radio badge is obtained using the signal vectors of the tracking phase and the signal ID values.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2009Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: National Taiwan UniversityInventors: Polly Huang, Tsung-Han Lin
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Publication number: 20110221634Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and system for detecting and determining the position of a target or intruder using a plurality of sensors positioned throughout a secured perimeter and a single antenna. The system of the present disclosure detects and determines the position of a target by first analyzing the return signal strength values of each of the sensors. Next, Zvalues for each of the sensors are calculated. Based on the Zvalues, certain sensors are selected to compute a signal strength center-of-mass location, which is then used to determine the position of the target.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2011Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATIONInventors: Vibeke LIBBY, Troy E. Wenski, Allen R. Lorenz
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Publication number: 20110215966Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating over a network is provided. The method includes selecting between location-sensing methods for an LBA, such as between GPS and network triangulation. For each location-sensing method, a dynamic determination is made as to whether the accuracy of the location-sensing method, in the current environment, meets the application requirements. If two or more location-sensing methods meet the application requirements, then, location-sensing method selected is the location-sensing method that, from among the location-sensing methods that meet the application requirement, consumes the least power. Otherwise, the location-sensing method that is most accurate for the current environment is selected.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2010Publication date: September 8, 2011Applicant: DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AGInventors: Kyu-Han Kim, Zhenyun Zhuang, Jatinder Pal Singh
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Publication number: 20110205108Abstract: A method for improving the results of radio location systems that incorporate weighted least squares optimization generalizes the weighted least squares method by using maximum a posteriori (MAP) probability metrics to incorporate characteristics of the specific positioning problem (e.g., UTDOA). Weighted least squares methods are typically used by TDOA and related location systems including TDOA/AOA and TDOA/GPS hybrid systems. The incorporated characteristics include empirical information about TDOA errors and the probability distribution of the mobile position relative to other network elements. A technique is provided for modeling the TDOA error distribution and the a priori mobile position. A method for computing a MAP decision metric is provided using the new probability distribution models. Testing with field data shows that this method yields significant improvement over existing weighted least squares methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2011Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: TRUEPOSITION, INC.Inventors: Pete A. Boyer, Rashidus S. Mia, Edward J. Segall
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Publication number: 20110205125Abstract: Estimating positions of beacons based on spatial relationships among neighboring beacons. Beacon reference data defining positions of beacons is stored from beacon fingerprints observed by devices (e.g., enabled with global positioning system receivers). For a received beacon fingerprint having at least one beacon for which the beacon reference data is missing (e.g., from a device without a GPS receiver), beacons in the received beacon fingerprint for which beacon reference data is available are identified. Based on these identified beacons, the missing beacon reference data is calculated. In some embodiments, a set of spatially diverse beacons is selected from the identified beacons prior to calculating the beacon reference data.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2010Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Jyh-Han Lin, John Charles Krumm, Arjun Sundararajan
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Publication number: 20110199257Abstract: Methods and systems for updating altitude information for a location by using terrain model information to prime altitude sensors are disclosed and may include determining an altitude of a wireless device including one or more altimeters. The determination of altitude may include determining a location of the wireless device, receiving an altitude value for the location from an altitude database, and measuring a change in the altitude using the altimeters. The database may include a worldwide terrain database that may be stored on a remote device, such as a server. Part of the database may be stored on the wireless device and may be updated as the wireless device moves. The location may be determined utilizing a global navigation satellite system, which may include GPS, GLONASS, and GALILLEO. The location may be measured utilizing cellular service triangulation or by utilizing one or more access points with known locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2010Publication date: August 18, 2011Inventors: David Lundgren, Charles Abraham, Mark Buer, David Garrett, Jeyhan Karaoguz, Dave Murray
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Publication number: 20110199255Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2010Publication date: August 18, 2011Inventors: Dave Murray, Charles Abraham, Mark Buer, David Garrett, Jeyhan Karaoguz, David Lundgren
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Publication number: 20110187598Abstract: A method and system for estimating the position comprises measuring a first carrier phase of a first carrier signal and a second carrier phase of a second carrier signal received by a location-determining receiver. A primary real time kinematic (RTK) engine or receiver data processing system estimates a primary integer ambiguity set associated with at least one of the measured first carrier phase and the measured second carrier phase. A quality evaluator determines if a primary integer ambiguity set is resolved correctly to the predefined reliability rate during an earlier evaluation period. A secondary real time kinematic (RTK) engine or receiver data processing system estimates a secondary integer ambiguity set associated with at least one of the measured first carrier phase and the measured second carrier phase during a later period following the earlier evaluation period.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2010Publication date: August 4, 2011Inventors: Liwen Dai, Chaochao Wang, Daniel J. Eslinger
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Patent number: 7986271Abstract: Techniques are disclosed that allow for the detection, identification, direction finding, and geolocation of emergency personnel in a given multipath environment. For example, the techniques can be used to detect and identify multiple lines of bearing (LOBs) to an IEEE 802.11 emitter of an emergency responder that is inside a building or otherwise hidden from view. LOBs from multiple vantage points can be used to geolocate and/or track the emergency responder. The resulting geolocation can be plotted on a map display or model of the scene (e.g., building, etc) so the precise position of the emergency responder having the targeted wireless emitter can be known.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2009Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.Inventor: John J. Kelly
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Patent number: 7982672Abstract: A reception device includes a receiver, a direction detector, a location information acquisition component and a location calculator. The receiver receives broadcast signals sent from transmission towers, respectively. The direction detector detects reception directions of the broadcast signals. The location information acquisition component acquires location information indicating locations where the transmission towers are installed, respectively. The location calculator selects at least three of the transmission towers, estimate at least two estimated areas in which the reception device is located with each of the at least two of the estimated areas being estimated based on the reception directions of the broadcast signals of two of the at least three of the transmission towers and the location information of the two of the at least three of the transmission towers, and calculate a location of the reception device based on the at least two of the estimated areas.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2010Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masato Fuimoto
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Publication number: 20110169697Abstract: A mobile communication device includes, in part, a first wireless receiver adapted to determine, as it travels along a path, a multitude of positions of the mobile communication device using signals received from a primary positioning source, a second wireless receiver adapted to receive signals from one or more ambient wireless sources as the mobile communication device travels along the path, and a positioning module. An internal or external memory stores estimated positions and corresponding time references of the signals of the one or more ambient sources. The positioning module uses the data stored in the database to estimate the position of the mobile communication device when no primary positioning source signal is available. The positioning module optionally uses the data stored in the database to improve estimates of the position of the mobile communication device when primary positioning signal is available.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2010Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: MaxLinear, Inc.Inventors: Curtis Ling, Stuart Strickland
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Patent number: 7978139Abstract: Techniques are disclosed that allow for the detection, identification, direction finding, and geolocation of wireless emitters in a given multipath environment. For example, the techniques can be used to detect and identify a line of bearing (LOB) to an IEEE 802.11 emitter in a building or in an open field or along a roadside. Multiple LOBs computed from different geographic locations can be used to geolocate the target emitter. The techniques can be embodied, for instance, in a vehicle-based device that can survey the target environment, detect an IEEE 802.11 emitter and identify it by MAC address, and then determine various LOBs to that emitter to geolocate the emitter. In some cases, a sample array of response data from the target emitter is correlated to a plurality of calibrated arrays having known azimuths to determine the LOB to the target emitter.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2009Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.Inventors: Tyler Robinson, Peter Dusaitis, John J. Kelly, Joseph Warner
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Publication number: 20110163916Abstract: A system for locating objects within a building having walls. The system incorporates the use of electronic identification tags that wireless communicate with both a stationary base device and a movable handheld device. Through triangulation, the location of the object within the building can be displayed on an electronic version of the structural diagram of the building. The system also collects and generates data during object location that can be used to provide statistical analysis related to the objects.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2010Publication date: July 7, 2011Inventor: Michael Bamidele
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Patent number: 7969347Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2010Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Katsuhiko Tsunehara, Nobukazu Doi, Mikio Kuwahara, Tomoaki Ishifuji
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Publication number: 20110148711Abstract: A communication system for supporting a positioning operation within a specific area includes a system server and a communication device. The system server receives training location data corresponding to m training locations, wherein m is a natural number greater than 1, and obtains a first set and a second set of parameters according to m sets of training location data respectively corresponding to m training locations by way of conversion. The communication device downloads a part or an entire of the first set and the second set of parameters from the system server, establishes a positioning function according to the downloaded part or entire of the first set and the second set of parameters, determines to-be-positioned location data of a to-be-positioned location, and substitutes the to-be-positioned location data into the positioning function to generate positioning result data corresponding to the to-be-positioned location of communication device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2010Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicants: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, National Chiao Tung UniversityInventors: Chi-Chung Lo, Che-Pin Chang, Yueh-Feng Lee, Chun-Hao Peng, Sheng-Po Kuo
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Publication number: 20110133989Abstract: An emergency rescue system and a rescue-information judgment method are disclosed. The emergency rescue system includes a plurality of fixed nodes, a dynamic node and a back-end processing platform. Each fixed node has its own fixed node identification. The dynamic node can be a portable device with an emergency illumination module. If the dynamic node is manipulated to broadcast a mayday signal, at least one of the fixed nodes senses the mayday signal. Each fixed node which senses the mayday signal sends the fixed node identification thereof and signal strength of the sensed mayday signal to the back-end processing platform. Thereby, the back-end processing platform calculates and determines a rescue location relative to the dynamic node.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2009Publication date: June 9, 2011Inventors: TAIN-WEN SUEN, JEN-CHI LIAO, FENG-YU CHANG, YU-SHAN LIN
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Patent number: 7956808Abstract: A method for improving the results of radio location systems that incorporate weighted least squares optimization generalizes the weighted least squares method by using maximum a posteriori (MAP) probability metrics to incorporate characteristics of the specific positioning problem (e.g., UTDOA). Weighted least squares methods are typically used by TDOA and related location systems including TDOA/AOA and TDOA/GPS hybrid systems. The incorporated characteristics include empirical information about TDOA errors and the probability distribution of the mobile position relative to other network elements. A technique is provided for modeling the TDOA error distribution and the a priori mobile position. A method for computing a MAP decision metric is provided using the new probability distribution models. Testing with field data shows that this method yields significant improvement over existing weighted least squares methods.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2008Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: TruePosition, Inc.Inventors: Pete A. Boyer, Rashidus S. Mia, Edward J. Segall
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Publication number: 20110128183Abstract: A method of collecting information for supplementing a trusted estimate of position. The method comprises: receiving first information sufficient to derive a trusted estimate of a first position; receiving an indication that a supplementary estimate of a second position in the vicinity of the first position may be required; in response to the indication, sensing information comprising the identity of at least one terrestrial wireless source observable in the vicinity of the first position; and storing the sensed information in association with the first position. The method enables the trusted estimate of the first position to subsequently be used to estimate any said second position from which the at least one wireless source is observable.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2009Publication date: June 2, 2011Inventor: Chris Marshall
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Publication number: 20110115671Abstract: A mobile station determines it elevation based on the determined position of mobile station and a database of elevation data. The determined elevation of the mobile station may be used to vertically position a computer generated graphics in an image produced by the mobile station. In one embodiment, the elevation of the mobile station is determined by obtaining the elevation of multiple positions that define an area around the mobile station and using the elevation at the multiple positions to calculate the elevation at the current position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2009Publication date: May 19, 2011Applicant: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Charles Wheeler Sweet, III, Serafin Diaz Spindola
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Publication number: 20110109508Abstract: A wireless computing device includes an antenna that is configured to transmit and receive wireless signals. The wireless computing device comprises a transmitter component that causes a first wireless signal to be transmitted to a wireless access point via the antenna, wherein the first wireless signal comprises a request for a location proof, wherein the request for the location proof comprises data that identifies the wireless computing device, and wherein the location proof comprises data that is indicative of a geographic location of the wireless access point. The system also includes a receiver component that receives, via the antenna, a second wireless signal from the wireless access point, wherein the second wireless signal is received by the receiver component subsequent to the transmitter component causing the first wireless signal to be transmitted to the wireless access point.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2009Publication date: May 12, 2011Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Alastair Wolman, Stefan Saroiu
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Publication number: 20110112768Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to location-based tracking using geofences.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2009Publication date: May 12, 2011Applicant: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventor: Thomas Francis Doyle