Intelligent locator system with multiple bits represented in each pulse

A locating and monitoring system installable on the premises of a facility, said system including:

• a plurality of transmitter means adapted for movement about said facility with a person, with an animal or with equipment to allow identification of such transmitter means at any of diverse sites in the facility, each of said transmitter means including means for transmitting infrared pulse bursts, each of said infrared pulse bursts defining a unique binary identification code comprising a plurality of binary bits of sufficient number that each of said transmitter means in said facility transmits a different binary identification code, means responsive to an algorithm for controlling said means for transmitting said infrared pulse bursts during a predetermined time interval, with the occurrence of each pulse burst in time relative to the start of each time interval varying from time interval to time interval, the amount of said varying being controlled by said means responsive to an algorithm incorporated in each transmitter using said unique binary identification code of that transmitter for preventing synchronization with other transmitters and with ambient periodic resident signals in the facility, and wherein said transmitter means transmits said pulse bursts, each pulse of said burst representing at least two binary bits in a pulse position scheme of the identification code data for reducing the number of pulses required to represent said unique binary identification code and therefore minimize power consumption by said transmitter means;
• receiver means responsive to said pulse bursts by said plurality of transmitter means at each of said diverse sites in said facility for detecting infrared pulse bursts by said transmitter means;
• and
• central means responsive to said receiver means for establishing the location of said transmitter means in said facility.