Method and apparatus for locating a mobile device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10247807-B2
Application number	US-201715686582-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2017
Priority date	Jun 3, 2015
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

A method for locating a mobile device is disclosed. Initially, a set of modulated ultrasound signals and a set of radio signals are separately broadcast from a group of transmitters. The ultrasound signals include at least one symbol configured for pulse compression. After the receipt of a demodulated ultrasound signal from a mobile device, wherein the demodulated ultrasound signal is derived from the modulated ultrasound signals, transmitter identifier and timing information are extracted from the demodulated ultrasound signal. Timing information include, for example, the arrival time of the demodulated ultrasound signal in relation to the start time of its transmission. After the locations of the transmitters have been ascertained from the transmitter identifier information, the location of the mobile device can be determined based on the timing information and the locations of the transmitters.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for locating a mobile device, said method comprising:
periodically transmitting radio signals via a transmitter;
utilizing said radio signals to time synchronize a mobile device;
transmitting a modulated ultrasound signal via said transmitter, wherein said modulated ultrasound signal includes at least one symbol configured for pulse compression;
in response to the receipt of a demodulated ultrasound signal sent from said mobile device, wherein said demodulated ultrasound signal is derived from said modulated ultrasound signal,
determining whether or not said demodulated ultrasound signal is originated from a line-of-sight (LOS) source; and
in response to a determination that said demodulated ultrasound signal is not originated from a LOS source, discarding said demodulated ultrasound signal; otherwise, extracting transmitter identifier and timing information from said demodulated ultrasound signal;

determining a location of said transmitter based on said transmitter identifier information; and
determining a location of said mobile device based on said timing information and said determined location of said transmitter.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said extracting further includes extracting a signal strength of said demodulated ultrasound signal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining a location of said transmitter further includes determining said location of said mobile device by looking up said transmitter identifier in a transmitter map.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said radio signals are Bluetooth signals.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said radio signals are WiFi signals.

6. A method for locating a mobile device, said method comprising:
periodically transmitting radio signals via a transmitter;
utilizing said radio signals to time synchronize a mobile device;
transmitting a modulated ultrasound signal in a frequency range between 19-24 kHz via said transmitter, wherein said modulated ultrasound signal includes at least one symbol configured for pulse compression;
in response to the receipt of a demodulated ultrasound signal sent from said mobile device, wherein said demodulated ultrasound signal is derived from said modulated ultrasound signal, extracting transmitter identifier and timing information from said demodulated ultrasound signal;
determining a location of said transmitter based on said transmitter identifier information; and
determining a location of said mobile device based on said timing information and said determined location of said transmitter.

7. An apparatus for locating a mobile device, said apparatus comprising:
a radio for transmitting radio signals, and utilizing said radio signals to time synchronize a mobile device;
a speaker for transmitting a modulated, ultrasound signal, wherein said modulated ultrasound signal is formed by modulating an ultrasound signal having at least one symbol configured for pulse compression;
a network interface for receiving a demodulated ultrasound signal sent from said mobile device, wherein said demodulated ultrasound signal is derived from said modulated ultrasound signal; and
a processor for
determining whether or not said demodulated ultrasound signal is originated from a line-of-sight (LOS) source, and discarding said demodulated ultrasound signal, in response to a determination that said demodulated ultrasound signal is not originated from a LOS source;
extracting transmitter identifier and timing information from said demodulated ultrasound signal;
determining a location of said transmitter based on said transmitter identifier information; and
determining a location of said mobile device based on said timing information and said determined location of said transmitter.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said speaker includes a horn having a tapered acoustic wave guide and a base that provides an airtight seal with said speaker.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said transmitting further includes transmitting said modulated ultrasound signal in a frequency range between 19-24 kHz via said transmitter.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said extracting further includes extracting a signal strength of said demodulated ultrasound signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said determining a location of said transmitter is performed by looking up said transmitter identifier in a transmitter map.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said radio signals are Bluetooth signals.

13. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said radio signals are WiFi signals.

Assignees

• Univ Carnegie Mellon

Inventors

• Lazik Patrick
• Rajagopal Niranjini
• Shih Oliver
• Rowe Anthony
• Sinopoli Bruno

Classifications

• H04B11/00

  Transmission systems employing ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves · CPC title

• G01S5/0263 Primary

  by combining or switching between positions derived from two or more separate positioning systems · CPC title

• H04W4/04

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G01S5/22

  Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements (G01S5/28 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01S5/26

  Position of receiver fixed by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements (G01S5/28 takes precedence) · CPC title