Wireless tracking system and method utilizing multiple location algorithms

A system for determining a real-time location of an object within a facility, the system comprising:

• a plurality of objects, each of the plurality of objects comprising a communication device which transmits a wireless signal;
• a plurality of sensors positioned within the facility, at least one of the plurality of sensors receiving the wireless signal, the plurality of sensors forming a mesh network;
• a plurality of location engines, each of the plurality of location engines in communication with the mesh network, each of the plurality of location engines configured to determine a real-time location of the object from the wireless signal utilizing a location algorithm, wherein the location algorithm for each of the plurality of location engines includes at least two of a proximity algorithm, a radial basis function algorithm, a maximum likelihood algorithm, a genetic algorithm, a minimum mean squared error algorithm, a radiofrequency fingerprinting algorithm, a multilateration algorithm, an angle of arrival algorithm, a spatial diversity algorithm, and a nearest neighbor algorithm,
• wherein the plurality of location sub-algorithms comprise at least one of a voting algorithm, an averaging algorithm and a confidence algorithm.

A method for determining a real-time location of an object within a facility, the method comprising:

• receiving a wireless signal from a communication device of an object at least one of a plurality of sensors positioned within a facility, wherein the wireless signal is one of light, sound and magnetic energy;
• forwarding the wireless signal from the at least one of a plurality of sensors to a first location engine;
• forwarding the wireless signal from the at least one of a plurality of sensors to a second location engine;
• calculating a real-time location of the object from the wireless signal utilizing a first location algorithm at the first location engine;
• calculating a real-time location of the object from the wireless signal utilizing a second location algorithm at the second location engine;
• and
• determining a real-time location of the object using the calculation from the first location engine and the calculation from the second location engine,
• wherein the first location algorithm or the second location algorithm is at least one of a voting algorithm, an averaging algorithm and a confidence algorithm.