Method, apparatus, and computer program product for employing a spatial association model in a real time location system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9759803-B2
Application number	US-201514732623-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2015
Priority date	Jun 6, 2014
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media are disclosed for over-determining location estimations for an asset based on location estimates from a plurality of tags. Examples employ a spatial association model in a location system. Examples include a method for processing location information received from a radio frequency (RF) location tag. The method includes determining a first location of a first RF location tag associated with an asset, determining at least one second location of at least one second RF location tag associated with the asset, determining, using a processor, that the first location is not a valid location based at least in part on a comparison of the first location with the at least one second location using a spatial association model associated with the asset, and identifying the first location as erroneous in response to determining that the first location is not a valid location.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A method of registering an asset, comprising:
registering, to the asset, a first RF location tag attached to the asset at a first attachment point and configured to provide a first tag identifier;
registering, to the asset, a second RF location tag attached to the asset at a second attachment point and configured to provide a second tag identifier;
defining an asset reference distance between the first attachment point and the second attachment point;
storing, in a memory, an identity of the asset, the asset reference distance, the first tag identifier, and the second tag identifier; and
identifying a posture of the asset by identifying a difference between the asset reference distance and a distance magnitude defined between the first RF location tag and the second RF location tag.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the asset is a human being.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the asset reference distance is determined based on at least one biometric characteristic.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the asset comprises an object to be worn by a human being.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the asset reference distance is determined based on at least one physical measurement of the object.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the object is a race car.

7. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is configured by instructions stored in the memory to cause the apparatus to:
register, to an asset, a first RF location tag configured to provide a first tag identifier, the first RF location tag attached to the asset at a first attachment point;
register, to the asset, a second RF location tag configured to provide a second tag identifier, the second RF location tag attached to the asset at a second attachment point;
define an asset reference distance between the first attachment point and the second attachment point;
store, in a memory, an identity of the asset, the asset reference distance, the first tag identifier, and the second tag identifier; and
identify a posture of the asset by identifying a difference between the asset reference distance and a distance magnitude defined between the first RF location tag and the second RF location tag.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the asset is a human being.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein of the asset reference distance is determined based on at least one biometric characteristic.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the asset comprises an object to be worn by a human being.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the asset reference distance is determined based on at least one physical measurement of the object.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the object is a race car.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, configure the processor to at least:
register, to an asset, a first RF location tag attached to the asset at a first attachment point and configured to provide a first tag identifier;
register, to the asset, a second RF location tag attached to the asset at a second attachment point and configured to provide a second tag identifier;
define an asset reference distance between the first attachment point and the second attachment point;
store, in a memory, an identity of the asset, the asset reference distance, the first tag identifier, and the second tag identifier; and
identify a posture of the asset by identifying a difference between the asset reference distance and a distance magnitude defined between the first RF location tag and the second RF location tag.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the asset is a human being.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the asset reference distance is determined based on at least one biometric characteristic.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the asset comprises an object to be worn by a human being.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the asset reference distance is associated with at least one physical measurement of the object.

Assignees

• Zih Corp

Inventors

• O'Hagan James J
• Alonso Rodrigo
• Wohl Michael A

Classifications

• G01S5/0244

  Accuracy or reliability of position solution or of measurements contributing thereto · CPC title

• H04W4/023

  using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds · CPC title

• H04W4/029

  Location-based management or tracking services · CPC title

• G01S5/021 Primary

  Calibration, monitoring or correction (G01S5/0252 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01S5/0205

  Details · CPC title