Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080220780 | Method for the automatic calibration of location anchors - A target radio can be located and tracked by an array of anchor radios. The anchor radios are calibrated when each anchor radio transmits an anchor message that is received by the other anchor radios. The distance between anchor radios is known because their positions are known. The received signal strengths are dependent on distance and an attenuation value. The calibration operation uses the received signal strengths and known anchor radio locations to determine the attenuation values of the anchor radios. After calibration, a target radio transmission can be received by the anchor radios. Each anchor radio estimates the distance to the target. The distance estimates and the anchor locations can then be used to determine the target radio's location. | 09-11-2008 |
20080228039 | Semi-passive method and system for monitoring and determining the status of an unattended person - A method and system for determining the status and monitoring an unattended individual. A radio beacon device can be associated with one or more individuals (e.g., an unattended person). Behavioral information about the individual(s) can be collected by tracking the location of the individual within a particular area (e.g., home, assisted living facility, etc.) utilizing the radio beacon device. The presence of other persons can then be distinguished from that of the individual within said particular area utilizing said behavioral information collected about said individual, thereby permitting a determination of the status of said individual and distinguishing the presence of other persons within said particular area. The behavioral information can include, for example, one or more activity levels associated with the individual. | 09-18-2008 |
20090018785 | Model-based determination of power source replacement in wireless and other devices - A model-based system and method for analyzing power source performance and optimizing operational costs are provided. Data from the power source (such as a battery) and/or a device associated with the power source is analyzed and processed to predict an operating life of the power source. This could allow, for example, a power source replacement schedule to be generated for the device. If the analysis indicates that abnormal conditions exist or that any user-defined alerts are warranted, a message could also be sent to an operator terminal. The system and method may continue to monitor the device and thus provide real-time data. The data may also be stored in memory, collected over time, and analyzed or used in various ways. The system and method thus provide a cost effective and reliable analysis of power source performance and any associated operational and replacement costs. | 01-15-2009 |
20090051551 | Apparatus and method for wireless location sensing - A sensor assembly includes a sensor configured to detect at least one material or condition, such as a smoke detector, fire detector, or carbon monoxide detector. The sensor assembly also includes a base configured to be mounted on a structure, such as a wall or ceiling, and to receive the sensor. The sensor assembly further includes a wireless module located between the sensor and the base. The wireless module is configured to transmit position information. The wireless module may include one or more electrical contacts used to form at least one electrical connection between the base of the sensor assembly and the sensor. The wireless module may also include a printed circuit board having the contacts, wireless radio circuitry, an antenna, and other components. The printed circuit board could be substantially hidden from view when the sensor is attached to the base and the base is mounted on the structure. | 02-26-2009 |
20090102642 | Apparatus and method for location estimation using power supply voltage levels of signal transmitters - Beacon generators transmit wireless beacon signals for use in tracking an object. Among other things, a wireless beacon signal from a particular beacon generator contains information identifying a power supply voltage associated with that beacon generator. A tracking device associated with the object receives one or more of the beacon signals. The tracking device measures the signal strength of a received beacon signal, and the tracking device identifies the power supply voltage associated with the beacon generator that transmitted the received beacon signal. The tracking device or an external component, such as a control unit, can use the identified signal strength and the identified power supply voltage to determine the location of the object. As a particular example, signal strengths and power supply voltages associated with at least three beacon signals can be used to identify the location of the object. | 04-23-2009 |
20100039280 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WIRELESS ASSET TRACKING USING ASSET TAGS WITH MOTION SENSORS - A system includes an asset tag associated with an asset, the asset tag having a motion sensor to detect a movement of the asset. The system also includes a plurality of readers, each reader receiving one or more signals from the asset tag and measuring a distance between the asset tag and the reader based on the signals. The system further includes a controller receiving a measured distance from each of the plurality of readers and determining a location of the asset based on the measured distances. | 02-18-2010 |
20110175746 | SCANNER FOR VIBRATION MAPPING - A method of detecting motion in components that form part of a structure. The method includes flooding a first component with transmitted radio frequency signals and receiving reflected radio frequency signals from the first component with an antenna. The method further includes generating a first set of intermediate frequency signals based on differences between the transmitted radio frequency signals and the reflected radio frequency signals and measuring the first set of intermediate frequency signals. The method further includes flooding a second component with transmitted radio frequency signals and receiving reflected radio frequency signals from the second component with an antenna. The method further includes generating a second set of intermediate frequency signals based on differences between the transmitted radio frequency signals and the additional reflected radio frequency signals and measuring the second set of intermediate frequency. | 07-21-2011 |
20110175766 | THREE DIMENSIONAL NONCONTACT MOTION SENSOR - A non-contact motion sensor comprising a radar detector that includes a first antenna, a second antenna that is orthogonal to the first antenna and a third antenna that is orthogonal to the first antenna and the second antenna. The non-contact motion sensor further includes a control that collects and analyzes signals that are received from the radar detector. | 07-21-2011 |
20110175768 | RELATIVE VIBRATION MEASUREMENT - A method of detecting motion in a load bearing member on a machine. The method includes positioning a Doppler radar detector on the machine and orienting the Doppler radar detector such that the Doppler radar detector floods the load bearing member transmitted radio frequency signals. The method further includes receiving reflected radio frequency signals from the load bearing member with an antenna and generating intermediate frequency signals based on differences between the transmitted radio frequency signals and the reflected radio frequency signals. The method further includes measuring the intermediate frequency signals. | 07-21-2011 |
20110248847 | MOBILE ASSET LOCATION IN STRUCTURE - A system and method are used to determine at least two distances to a mobile asset in a structure from first and second anchor transceivers placed a known distance from each other. A view of the structure is created as a function of a location corresponding to the two anchor transceivers. A representation of the mobile asset is included in the view of the structure. | 10-13-2011 |
20120218080 | SYSTEM FOR REPRESENTING LOCATIONS OF PERSONS IN A STRUCTURE - A computer-based system is configured to receive data relating to locations and identities of a plurality of persons in a structure, and display on an output device a plurality of icons representing the locations in the structure and the identities of one or more of an individual person and a group of persons. | 08-30-2012 |
20120274446 | SYSTEM FOR SYNTHETIC VISION - A first mobile device includes a location processor, a communication processor, and a display, and a second mobile device includes a location processor and a communication processor. The first mobile device is configured to wirelessly communicate with the second mobile device, and the first mobile device is configured to display a superimposed icon representing a location of the second mobile device as viewed from the perspective of the first mobile device when the first mobile device is pointed in the direction of the second mobile device. | 11-01-2012 |
20120319903 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCATING MOBILE DEVICES - A system includes a three dimensional antenna and mobile devices that wirelessly communicate with the antenna. A phase of arrival and a phase difference of arrival are calculated, and a distance between the three dimensional antenna and the mobile device is calculated. A direction between the three dimensional antenna and the mobile device is calculated. The direction calculation includes an angular spread function of multipath scattering in the communication between the three dimensional antenna and the mobile device. The direction calculation further includes an estimation of a propagation delay and an angle in the communication between the three dimensional antenna and the mobile device. | 12-20-2012 |
20140269257 | SHADOW ACCESS POINT FOR HIERARCHICAL TREE NETWORK USING 802.11 INFRASTRUCTURE NODES IN FIRE DETECTION SYSTEMS AND OTHER SYSTEMS - A system includes first and second access points. Each access point includes one or more 802.11 wireless radios configured to communicate with a wireless node. The first and second access points are both configured to wirelessly receive first data from the wireless node at substantially a same time and forward the first data. The first and second access points are also both configured to receive second data for the wireless node. The first access point is configured to wirelessly transmit the second data to the wireless node, and the second access point is configured to refrain from transmitting the second data to the wireless node while the first access point is operating properly. | 09-18-2014 |
20140269348 | HIERARCHICAL TREE NETWORK USING TDMA PROTOCOL WITH 802.11 INFRASTRUCTURE NODES FOR FIRE DETECTION SYSTEMS AND OTHER SYSTEMS - A system includes multiple nodes, where each node includes one or more 802.11 wireless radios. The nodes are arranged in a hierarchical tree structure in which one or more nodes residing in one level of the tree structure are configured to communicate with one or more nodes residing in another level of the tree structure to propagate information in the tree structure. At least a first of the nodes is configured to operate its associated radio(s) in an 802.11 access point mode and in an 802.11 station mode. The first node is configured to relay data to and from one or more nodes in a lower level of the tree structure using the 802.11 access point mode. The first node is further configured to transmit data to and receive data from one or more nodes in a higher level of the tree structure using the 802.11 station mode. | 09-18-2014 |