Area handover management in real-time locating system (RTLS) networks

A method, comprising:

• receiving, by a processing system including a processor, a first wireless signal transmitted by a wireless anchor of a first plurality of wireless anchors of a first location service adapted to determine a location of a mobile device operating within a first area;
• estimating, by the processing system, a location of the mobile device based on the first wireless signal;
• determining, by the processing system, range information between the mobile device and a group of wireless ranging devices responsive to the location indicating the mobile device is proximate to a predetermined transition region;
• identifying, by the processing system, a handover requirement according to the range information;
• and
• configuring, by the processing system and responsive to the handover requirement, the mobile device to receive a second wireless signal transmitted by a wireless anchor of a second plurality of wireless anchors of a second location service operating within a second area, wherein a location of the mobile device may be determined according to the second wireless signal, without reference to the first wireless signal.

A non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system of a mobile device including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

• estimating a location of the mobile device based on a first wireless signal transmitted by a wireless anchor of a first plurality of wireless anchors of a first location service operating within a first area;
• determining range information between the mobile device and a group of wireless reference devices responsive to the location indicating the mobile device is proximate to a predetermined transition region;
• identifying a handover requirement according to the range information;
• and
• configuring, responsive to the handover requirement, the mobile device to receive a second wireless signal transmitted by a wireless anchor of a second plurality of wireless anchors of a second location service operating within a second area, wherein a location of the mobile device may be determined according to the second wireless signal, without reference to the first wireless signal.