US 2010/0134356 A1 · INDOOR LOCALIZATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

An indoor localization method is implemented using an indoor localization system that includes beacons in an indoor space and each periodically transmitting a localization signal, a radio badge receiving the localization signals, and a host coupled to the beacons and the radio badge. The beacons transmit the localization signals asynchronously. The indoor localization method includes a training phase and a tracking phase. During the training phase, signal vectors are formed from the localization signals received by the radio badge, and a signal ID value is generated from the signal vectors. During the tracking phase, signal vectors are formed from the localization signals received by the radio badge at a current location. An estimated position of the radio badge is obtained using the signal vectors of the tracking phase and the signal ID values.

Claims25

Dependent claims

An indoor localization method to be implemented using an indoor localization system that includes a plurality of beacons deployed in an indoor space and each periodically transmitting a localization signal, and a radio badge carried by a tracked target for receiving the localization signals from the beacons, said indoor localization method comprising:

(a) configuring the beacons to transmit the localization signals thereof asynchronously;
(b) during a training phase, forming a plurality of signal vectors respectively from the localization signals received by the radio badge at each of predetermined locations in the indoor space, and generating a signal ID value from the signal vectors for each of the beacons from which the radio badge has received the localization signals;
(c) during a tracking phase, again forming a plurality of signal vectors respectively from the localization signals received by the radio badge at a current location of the tracked target in the indoor space;
and
(d) obtaining an estimated position of the radio badge using the signal vectors formed during the tracking phase and the signal ID values generated in the training phase.

2 more elements

An indoor localization system for performing localization in an indoor space, said indoor localization system comprising:

a plurality of beacons deployed in the indoor space and each periodically transmitting a localization signal, said beacons being configured such that the localization signals thereof are transmitted asynchronously;
a radio badge carried by a tracked target in the indoor space for receiving the localization signals from said beacons;
and
a host communicatively coupled to said beacons and said radio badge;
wherein one of said radio badge and said host performs at least one step of an indoor localization method, and the other of said radio badge and said host performs the remaining steps of the indoor localization method, the indoor localization method including:
(a) during a training phase, forming a plurality of signal vectors respectively from the localization signals received by said radio badge at each of predetermined locations in the indoor space, and generating a signal ID value from the signal vectors for each of said beacons from which said radio badge has received the localization signals;
(b) during a tracking phase, again forming a plurality of signal vectors respectively from the localization signals received by said radio badge at a current location of the tracked target in the indoor space;
and
(c) obtaining an estimated position of said radio badge using the signal vectors formed during the tracking phase and corresponding to the current location and the signal ID values corresponding to the predetermined locations.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Indoor localization system and method

Life of this patent

Indoor localization system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25