Method and apparatus for in-house RF-based collaborative localization with automated data collection

A localization coordinating device comprising:

• a transceiver;
• and
• a processor operably coupled with the transceiver and configured to:
• obtain a request to localize an electronic device within an area, wherein the area includes a set of anchors, wherein the request to localize is transmitted from the electronic device;
• determine whether to grant or reject the request, wherein to determine whether to grant or reject the request, the processor is configured to reject the request or to determine to transmit a first message that indicates the request is granted;
• transmit the first message to the electronic device and a second message to the set of anchors based on the determination to grant the request, wherein the first message includes a time for the electronic device to transmit a measurement signal and the second message includes the time for the set of anchors to receive the measurement signal from the electronic device;
• receive, from the set of anchors, signal information associated with the measurement signal;
• identify a location of the electronic device within the area based on the signal information;
• and
• transmit, to the electronic device, the location of the electronic device within the area.

A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program, the computer program comprising computer readable program code that, when executed by a processor of a localization coordinating device, causes the processor to:

• obtain a request to localize an electronic device within an area, wherein the area includes a set of anchors, wherein the request to localize is transmitted from the electronic device;
• determine whether to grant or reject the request, wherein to determine whether to grant or reject the request, the processor is configured to reject the request or to determine to transmit a first message that indicates the request is granted;
• transmit the first message to the electronic device and a second message to the set of anchors based on the determination to grant the request, wherein the first message includes a time for the electronic device to transmit a measurement signal and the second message includes the time for the set of anchors to receive the measurement signal from the electronic device;
• receive, from the set of anchors, signal information associated with the measurement signal;
• identify a location of the electronic device within the area based on the signal information;
• and
• transmit, to the electronic device, the location of the electronic device within the area.