Patent · US Expired

Location beacon system

US6745036B1 · kind B1 · utility

20Cited by
13References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 15, 1999
Grant dateJun 1, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 15, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S5/00
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A location system for establishing the position of a portable terminal that transmits identity information indicative of the identity of the individual terminal is provided. The portable terminals transmit their identity information at a first predetermined power level. The system includes location beacons having a known position and the beacons are capable of receiving the identity information transmitted by the portable terminals. Each location beacon generates an output signal when identity information of a portable terminal is received at that beacon with a power level greater than a predetermined threshold value, which value may be set independently for each beacon. The output signal is indicative that such a portable terminal is within a particular distance range of the beacon and the output signal is made available to a control unit. By providing the control unit with information relating to the position of each of the location beacons, it is possible to establish the position of a particular portable terminal as being within a given range of that known beacon position when the beacon receives identity information associated with that portable terminal with a power level gre…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.