System for providing information and associated devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9351106-B2
Application number	US-201214003647-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2012
Priority date	Mar 7, 2011
Publication date	May 24, 2016
Grant date	May 24, 2016

Abstract

A system for providing locality information to a user is disclosed. The system comprises at least one magnetic field beacon. Each beacon comprises means for generating a magnetic field encoded with information associated with the beacon. A communication device is provided that comprises means for detecting the encoded magnetic field emitted by the beacon and means for extracting the information encoded in the detected magnetic field.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A localisation system for locating a localisation device relative to a beacon, the system comprising:
a beacon comprising a magnetic field generator for generating a three-dimensional time-dependent magnetic field having a predefined time-dependent shape corresponding to a rotating magnetic dipole at the beacon; and
a localisation device comprising:
a detector for detecting the three-dimensional time-dependent magnetic field; and
a processor operable to:
extract temporal or spatial properties of said magnetic field;

compare predicted temporal or spatial properties with said extracted temporal or spatial properties; and
determine a location of said localisation device relative to said beacon based on said comparison.

2. The localisation system of claim 1 wherein the localisation system comprises:
a network including plurality of beacons, each beacon comprising:
a respective magnetic field generator for generating a three-dimensional time-dependent magnetic field having a predefined time-dependent shape, for use in at least one of communication and localisation;

wherein each beacon is operable to configure or re-configure the predefined shape of said magnetic field in response to receipt of an indication of a change in conditions in said network.

3. The localisation system of claim 1 further comprising:
at least one detector for detecting the magnetic field generated by said beacon and for providing information associated with said detected magnetic field for use in configuring or reconfiguring said magnetic field;

wherein said beacon is operable to configure or reconfigure the predefined shape of said generated magnetic field in dependence on said information provided by said detection device.

4. The localisation system of claim 1 , wherein the processor of the localisation device is further operable to perform operations comprising: detecting a three-dimensional time-dependent magnetic field; extracting temporal or spatial properties of said magnetic field; comparing predicted temporal or spatial properties with said extracted temporal or spatial properties; and determining a location of said localisation device relative to said beacon based on said comparing.

5. The localisation system of claim 4 wherein:
the three-dimensional time-dependent magnetic field detected by said detecting has a time-varying magnetic field vector and wherein said time-varying magnetic field vector is modulated to encode information associated with said beacon; and
said extracting further comprises extracting encoded information from said detected magnetic field.

6. A beacon for use in a localisation system comprising a generator for generating a three-dimensional time-dependent magnetic field having a predefined time-dependent shape corresponding to a rotating magnetic dipole at the beacon.

7. The beacon of claim 6 wherein the predetermined time-dependent shape is configured to represent an identity of the beacon.

8. The beacon of claim 6 wherein the rotating magnetic dipole is of variable strength.

9. The beacon of claim 6 wherein said three-dimensional time-dependent magnetic field generated by said magnetic field generator comprises a time-varying magnetic field vector, wherein said time-varying magnetic field vector is modulated to encode information associated with said beacon.

10. The beacon of claim 9 further comprising means for detecting and decoding an encoded magnetic field generated by another of said plurality of beacons.

11. The beacon of claim 9 wherein the information encoded in the magnetic field comprises at least one of the following: a correlation code and an identifier of the beacon.

12. The beacon of claim 9 wherein the magnetic field is encoded by modulating at least one of the following: a direction of said time-varying magnetic field vector; a change of direction (e.g. phase) of said time-varying magnetic field vector; and a rate of change of direction of said time-varying magnetic field vector.

13. The beacon of claim 9 wherein the magnetic field is encoded by modulating said time-varying magnetic field vector to produce a three dimensional time-dependent magnetic field shape (e.g. Hypercomplex coding).

14. The beacon of claim 6 wherein the magnetic field generator comprises a plurality of coils substantially mutually orthogonally orientated with respect to one another.

15. The beacon of claim 6 wherein the magnetic field generator is operable to generate a rotating magnetic field.

16. The beacon of claim 6 wherein said beacon is operable to configure or re-configure said predefined time-dependent shape of said magnetic field in response to receipt of an indication of a change in network conditions.

17. The beacon of claim 16 wherein said change in network conditions comprises at least one of the following:
a change in prevailing environmental/communication conditions (e.g. a level of local interference);
the addition and/or removal of a transceiver device to the localisation system;
a change in, or an initial configuration of, coverage required of said generated magnetic field; and
the movement of a transceiver device within the system.

18. The beacon of claim 16 wherein said beacon is operable to receive said indication of a change in network conditions from at least one of: a sensor device operable to detect said generated magnetic field; a network control node; and another beacon of said network.

19. The beacon of claim 18 wherein said indication of a change in network conditions received from said another beacon of said network is encoded in a magnetic field generated by said another beacon.

20. The beacon of claim 16 further comprising means for detecting the magnetic field generated by another beacon of said network and for determining a change in network conditions based on said detected magnetic field, wherein said beacon is operable to provide an indication of the determined change in conditions in said network to another beacon of said network and/or to a network control node.

21. The beacon of claim 16 wherein said beacon is operable to configure or re-configure at least one of the following in response to receipt of said indication of conditions in said network: the coverage of said magnetic field; the extent of coverage (e.g. the power used to generate the field) of said magnetic field; and the encoding of said magnetic field.

22. A localisation device for use in a localisation system comprising:
a detector for detecting a three-dimensional time-dependent magnetic field emitted by a beacon; the three-dimensional time-dependent magnetic field detected by said detector has a time-varying magnetic field vector and wherein said time-varying magnetic field vector is modulated to encode information associated with said beacon; and
a processor operable to:
extract encoded information from said detected magnetic field;
extract temporal or spatial properties of said magnetic field;
compare predicted temporal or spatial properties with said extracted temporal or spatial properties; and
determine a location of said localisation device relative to said beacon based on said comparison.

23. The localisation device of claim 22 wherein the processor is operable to determine a location of said localisation device by extracting the magnetic field strength and extracting a distance based on said magnetic field strength.

24. The localisation device of cla

Assignees

• Markham Andrew
• Trigoni Niki
• Van De Ven Jean-Paul
• Isis Innovation

Inventors

• Markham Andrew
• Trigoni Niki
• Van De Ven Jean-Paul

Classifications

• H04B17/27

  for locating or positioning the transmitter · CPC title

• H04L1/22

  using redundant apparatus to increase reliability · CPC title

• H04W24/04

  Arrangements for maintaining operational condition · CPC title

• H04W36/14

  Reselecting a network or an air interface · CPC title

• H04W88/06

  adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals · CPC title