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US 10,949,579 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for enhanced position and orientation determination
AssigneeMiddle Chart, LLC
InventorsMichael A. Wodrich, Michael S. Santarone, Jason E. Duff, Fred Flitsch, Randall Pugh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for enhanced wireless determination of a position and direction of a smart device. Wireless transceivers controlled by the smart device communicate with reference point transceivers to generate data sufficient to determine relative positions of the wireless transceivers and a direction of interest. Operation of one or both of a magnetic force sensor and LIDAR may be operative to verify the position and direction of the Smart Device.
Claims20
Method for determining an orientation of a smart device relative to a structure, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) supporting a first transceiver and a second transceiver via an agent at a first geospatial position;
- b) generating respective logical communications between the first transceiver and each of a first set of three reference point transceivers, the three reference point transceivers fixedly positioned at disparate points in the structure;
- c) with a controller, determining X, Y and Z coordinates of the first transceiver based upon the respective logical communications between the first transceiver and each of a first set of three reference point transceivers;
- d) generating respective logical communications between the second transceiver and each of a second set of three reference point transceivers;
- e) with a controller, determining X, Y and Z coordinates of the second transceiver based upon the respective logical communications between the first transceiver and each of a first set of three reference point transceivers;
- f) generating a first quantification of a magnetic field encompassing the smart device with a magnetic field sensor;
- g) generating a location of the smart device based upon at least one of:
- X, Y and Z coordinates of the first transceiver, and the X, Y and Z coordinates of the second transceiver;
- h) generating a first direction of interest based upon at least two of:
- the X, Y and Z coordinates of the first transceiver, the X, Y and Z coordinates of the second transceiver, and the quantification of the magnetic field encompassing the smart device;
- i) accessing data associated with the location of the smart device and the first direction of interest;
- and
- j) generating a user interface on the smart device, the user interface comprising the data associated with the location of the smart device.
10 more elements
Apparatus for determining an orientation relative to a structure, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a controller comprising a processor and a digital storage, said controller in logical communication with a user interface display;
- b) a first transceiver supportable by an Agent at a first geospatial position and in logical communication with the controller;
- c) and a second transceiver supportable by an Agent at the first geospatial position and in logical communication with the controller;
- d) a magnetic field sensor in logical communication with the controller;
- and
- e) executable code stored on the digital storage and executable by the processor to cause the controller to:
- f) generate respective logical communications between the first transceiver and each of a first set of three reference point transceivers, the three reference point transceivers fixedly positioned at disparate points in the structure;
- g) determine X, Y and Z coordinates of the first transceiver based upon the respective logical communications between the first transceiver and each of a first set of three reference point transceivers;
- h) generate respective logical communications between the second transceiver and each of a second set of three reference point transceivers;
- i) determine X, Y and Z coordinates of the second transceiver based upon the respective logical communications between the first transceiver and each of a first set of three reference point transceivers;
- j) generate a first quantification of a magnetic field encompassing the smart device with a magnetic field sensor;
- k) generate a location of the smart device based upon at least one of:
- X, Y and Z coordinates of the first transceiver, and the X, Y and Z coordinates of the second transceiver;
- l) generate a first direction of interest based upon at least two of:
- the X, Y and Z coordinates of the first transceiver, the X, Y and Z coordinates of the second transceiver, and the quantification of the magnetic field encompassing the smart device;
- k) access data associated with the location of the smart device and the first direction of interest;
- and
- l) generate a user interface on the smart device, the user interface comprising the data associated with the location of the smart device.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.