Method and apparatus for locating a transmitter of a diffuse infrared signal within an enclosed area

Apparatus for locating a portable remote station transceiving a diffuse infrared communicated signal within an enclosed area containing a plurality of stationary infrared transceivers interconnected with a central controller, such method comprising:

• means for detecting a particular transmission of the diffuse infrared communicated signal from the portable remote station within the enclosed area by the plurality of stationary transceivers;
• means for measuring parametric values of the particular signal received by each stationary transceiver of the plurality of stationary transceivers;
• and
• means for locating the portable remote station by triangulation based upon the parametric differences of the particular signal measured by at least two of the plurality of stationary transceivers.

A method of locating a portable remote station transceiving a diffuse infrared communicated signal within an enclosed area containing a stationary infrared transceiver interconnected with a central controller, such method comprising the steps of:

• detecting a particular transmission of the diffuse infrared communicated signal from the portable remote station within the enclosed area by a plurality of angularly diverse infrared detectors of the stationary transceiver;
• measuring a parametric value of the particular signal received by each detector of the plurality of detectors of the stationary transceiver;
• and
• locating the portable remote station by triangulation based upon differences in the parametric value measured at least two of the measuring detectors.