Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120254647 | DYNAMIC ALLOCATION OF PROCESSOR CORES RUNNING AN OPERATING SYSTEM - An apparatus and method for dynamic allocation of multiple processor cores in a computer running an operating system includes providing a program operable to halt a core from processing instructions from a respective ready queue. A next step includes establishing a maximum count of tokens available to allow the program execution, wherein the maximum count is less than a total number of cores. A next step includes obtaining tokens by the cores, wherein at least one core will not be able to obtain a token. If a token has been obtained by a core, executing the program by that core, or otherwise not executing the program by that core and remaining active to process instructions from the respective ready queue of that core. | 10-04-2012 |
20130120119 | ADAPTING RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION REQADER POWER LEVELS - A system and method for adapting a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader power level includes a step of determining ( | 05-16-2013 |
20130156049 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SPATIALLY SELECTABLE COMMUNICATIONS USING DECONSTRUCTED AND DELAYED DATA STREAMS - A sending device having a processing device and a plurality of transmitters performs a method for providing spatially selectable communications using deconstructed and delayed data streams. The method includes receiving a data stream, an indication of a target point for the data stream, and a target volume around the target point. The method further includes deconstructing the data stream into a plurality of data substreams and, based on a spatial relationship between a corresponding transmitter and the target point, determining a transmitter delay for each transmitter. Moreover, the method further includes determining, based on the target volume, a data interval spacing to apply between each data substream at transmission. In addition, the method includes sending, from the transmitters, the corresponding data substreams using the corresponding transmitter delays and the data interval spacing that confine reconstruction of the data substreams back into the data stream within the target volume. | 06-20-2013 |
20130213112 | ULTRASONIC POSITIONING SYSTEM WITH REVERBERATION AND FLIGHT TIME COMPENSATION - Compensating reverberation and flight times in an ultrasonic positioning system includes establishing maximum flight and reverberation times for ultrasonic signals within an environment. These maximum times are added to define a maximum buffer time period. Ultrasonic signals are emitted sequentially from each of a plurality of emitters, where the ultrasonic signal from each emitter is separated in time by at least one maximum buffer time period. Afterwards, a reverberation and flight time for each ultrasonic signal is determined and then the flight time of the next subsequent emitter is subtracted to define an adjusted emit time for the emitter that emitted that ultrasonic signal. An emitting time for a next subsequent emitter as adjusted to maximize the refresh rate. Emitters are scheduled to emit such that the receiver is always receiving a signal or waiting for actual reverberation. | 08-22-2013 |
20130279295 | DUAL FREQUENCY ULTRASONIC LOCATIONING SYSTEM - A dual frequency ultrasonic locationing system includes an emitter operable to emit two different ultrasonic frequencies simultaneously in one ultrasonic burst. A receiver with at least two microphones is operable to receive the ultrasonic burst. A correlator is operable to correlate the signals obtained from each microphone to derive a time difference of arrival of the ultrasonic burst at each microphone. The time difference of arrival of the ultrasonic signal from the emitter impinging on each microphone of the receiver is utilized to determine a location of the emitter. | 10-24-2013 |
20130279297 | ORIENTATION OF AN ULTRASONIC SIGNAL - A system and method for orientation of an ultrasonic signal includes at least two emitters in a mobile device that includes an orientation sensor that can determine a device orientation. A receiver at a fixed, known point includes at least two microphones operable to receive an ultrasonic signal from the device. The mobile device can drive the emitters to produce an ultrasonic signal that is oriented towards the receiver. A location engine can establish a location of the mobile device using the time delay of arrival of an ultrasonic burst from the mobile device impinging on each microphone of the receiver. In response to the location and/or the orientation, the mobile device operable to drive the emitters to produce a signal that is oriented towards the receiver. | 10-24-2013 |
20130329525 | LOCATIONING VIA PHASE DIFFERENCE CORRELATION BETWEEN TWO FREQUENCY PULSES DERIVED FROM A SINGLE FREQUENCY EMITTER ULTRASONIC BURST - Ultrasonic locationing of a tag with an emitter transducer operable to emit a single frequency ultrasonic burst. A receiver with at least two microphones is operable to receive the ultrasonic burst. Each microphone receiver contains two narrowband filters to extract frequencies above and below the ultrasonic burst frequency. A processor derives a low frequency waveform indicative of the phase difference between the dual frequency pulses coming from each microphone receiver. A correlator then determines the time difference of arrival (TDOA) between each microphone receiver by correlating the phase difference waveforms. This invention enables the creation of an ultrasonic locationing system requiring microsecond accuracy on TDOA data, as is necessary with microphone spacing of less than one foot, while using a simple single high frequency emitter source. | 12-12-2013 |
20140084050 | LOCATIONING USING MOBILE DEVICE, CAMERA, AND A LIGHT SOURCE - A method and system for locationing of a mobile device ( | 03-27-2014 |
20140112102 | INTENTIONAL ALIASING OF ULTRASOUND TO DOWNCONVERT TO AUDIO TONES - A method and device for aliasing ultrasound to produce audio tones includes a microphone circuit to receive an ultrasonic burst from at least one emitter in an environment. An analog-to-digital converter can convert the ultrasonic burst into a digital waveform. A digital signal processor can: provide an ultrasonic sampling frequency, alias the digital waveform with the ultrasonic sampling frequency to provide an audio signal, and detect the audio signal frequency. An amplitude of multiple audio signals can be used to locate the device within the environment. | 04-24-2014 |
20140121961 | NON-ECHO ULTRASONIC DOPPLER FOR CORRECTED INERTIAL NAVIGATION - A method and device for non-echo ultrasonic Doppler used for corrected inertial navigation includes providing at least one ultrasonic emitter within an environment, each emitter configured for transmitting an ultrasonic tone of a predefined frequency. An initial location of the mobile device is established within the environment. Dead reckoning procedures are initiated using sensors within the mobile device. The device receives at least one ultrasonic tone from an emitter, and converts the at least one ultrasonic tone into a digital waveform. The device determines at least one peak frequency of the digital waveform, and subtracts the at least one peak frequency from each predefined frequency to determine at least one Doppler shift, which is used for correcting the dead reckoning of the mobile device. | 05-01-2014 |
20140161358 | ORIENTATION COMPENSATION USING A MOBILE DEVICE CAMERA AND A REFERENCE MARKER - A method and system for orientation compensation of a mobile device within an environment includes providing a plurality of reference markers having straight edges and having a defined, regular orientation with respect to the environment. Information about the orientation of the reference markers is supplied to a mobile device operating within the environment. An orientation sensor disposed within the mobile device estimates an orientation of the mobile device. An image of one reference marker is captured, and at least one edge of that reference marker is located. The estimated orientation is compensated by correcting for the reference marker orientation and aligning the corrected estimated orientation to the at least one edge of the reference marker that is closest to being parallel to the corrected estimated orientation. | 06-12-2014 |
20140293747 | MEASUREMENT OF REFLECTED ULTRASOUND SIGNAL FOR ULTRASONIC EMITTER GATING CONTROL - A method and apparatus to gate an ultrasonic emitter operation includes a housing including the ultrasonic emitter, where the ultrasonic emitter is operable to periodically transmit an ultrasonic pulse of a predefined frequency. A microphone circuit is disposed in the housing, such that the microphone circuit is operable to receive a reflected ultrasonic signal derived from the transmitted ultrasonic pulse. A controller is coupled to the emitter and the microphone circuit, where the controller operable to gate the operation of the emitter to an OFF state based on at least one measured parameter of the reflected ultrasonic signal. The parameters can include a Doppler measurement and a distance measurement. | 10-02-2014 |
20140340994 | ULTRASONIC LOCATIONING USING ENROLLMENT MODE - An ultrasonic locationing method and system for ultrasonic locationing of a mobile device within an environment includes a plurality of fixed ultrasonic emitters to transmit an instruction to listen for an enrollment tone to at least one communication device, and to sequentially emit an enrollment tone from each emitter at specific times to be received by those communication devices that implemented the instruction. A controller receives a response from each of those communication devices, the respective response including an identity of the communication device, a time the enrollment tone was received, and an indication of a hardware platform of the communication device. The controller can then assign a locationing mode to each communication device in accordance with its hardware platform. The communication device provides locationing information using its assigned locationing mode and locationing tones from active emitters. | 11-20-2014 |
20150036462 | DETECTION OF MULTIPATH AND TRANSMIT LEVEL ADAPTATION THERETO FOR ULTRASONIC LOCATIONING - A system and method for detection of multipath and transmit level adaptation thereto in ultrasonic locationing of a mobile device within an environment includes providing fixed ultrasonic emitters for transmitting ultrasonic bursts at predetermined times. A communication device measuring at least a direct signal of each ultrasonic burst and detecting multipath of each ultrasonic burst by comparing an amplitude of the direct signal with other signals related to the ultrasonic burst. If multipath is detected a controller increasing a transmit power level of the ultrasonic burst to insure the direct signal reliably remains above the detection threshold. If multipath is not detected reduce a transmit power level to the point detection is just possible. Results from non-multipath conditions are more heavily weighted when determining position as they are typically more accurate. | 02-05-2015 |
20150043309 | ULTRASONIC LOCATIONING USING FLIGHT TIME CALCULATED FROM COUNTER OFFSETS - Using counter offsets to allow flight time calculation in an ultrasonic locationing system includes ultrasonic transmitters for emitting ultrasonic bursts, each transmitter having a counter and a synchronization server. A backend controller schedules periodic bursts from each transmitter. A mobile device also has a counter and can receive the ultrasonic bursts, wherein the mobile device can determine a relative counter offset between itself and a transmitter. The mobile device can calculate a corrected reception time of ultrasonic bursts from the transmitters based on the counter value when the burst is detected and the relative counter offset between the mobile device and the transmitter, and report the corrected time to the backend controller for locationing of the mobile device. | 02-12-2015 |
20150117153 | ADAPTIVE TRANSMITTER CLUSTER AREA FOR ULTRASONIC LOCATIONING SYSTEM - A system and method for ultrasonic locationing of a mobile device within an environment using an adaptive transmitter cluster area includes a first step of providing a plurality of fixed ultrasonic transmitters operable to be activated to provide active clusters of transmitters to service mobile devices within a predefined coverage area of the environment. A next step includes transmitting ultrasonic bursts by the transmitters to mobile communication devices to be located within the environment. A next step includes determining a location of mobile devices within the environment using the ultrasonic bursts. A next step includes establishing a density of active clusters within the environment. A next step includes adapting an area of each cluster in response to the active cluster density. | 04-30-2015 |
20150212190 | DUAL FREQUENCY ULTRASONIC LOCATIONING SYSTEM - A dual frequency ultrasonic locationing system includes an emitter operable to emit two different ultrasonic frequencies simultaneously in one ultrasonic burst. A receiver with at least two microphones is operable to receive the ultrasonic burst. A correlator is operable to correlate the signals obtained from each microphone to derive a time difference of arrival of the ultrasonic burst at each microphone. The time difference of arrival of the ultrasonic signal from the emitter impinging on each microphone of the receiver is utilized to determine a location of the emitter. | 07-30-2015 |