Proximity-based localization of wireless tags based on wireless gateway association information

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9977926-B2
Application number	US-201514674884-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2015
Priority date	Mar 31, 2015
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

A capability for localization of a wireless tag based on wireless gateway association information uses a wireless tag supporting multiple states and wireless gateway association information associated with the wireless tag to control localization of the wireless tag. The wireless tag may support an unconnected state in which the wireless tag communicates location tracking information using a wireless beacon signal which may be detected by various wireless gateways and a connected state in which the wireless tag communicates location tracking information via one or more connections with one or more wireless gateways. The wireless gateway association information may include wireless gateway lists (e.g., whitelists, blacklists, or the like), association rules, notification rules, or the like. The wireless gateway association information may be used to control transitions of the wireless tag between the unconnected state and the connected state, to control notifications for the wireless tag, or the like.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wireless tag, comprising:
a wireless communication module configured to support wireless communications of the wireless tag, the wireless tag configured to support an unconnected state in which the wireless tag communicates location tracking information via transmission of wireless beacon signals and a connected state in which the wireless tag communicates location tracking information via a connection between the wireless tag and a wireless gateway; and
a controller configured to control a transition of the wireless tag from the unconnected state to the connected state based on an indication that the wireless gateway is a trusted wireless gateway for the wireless tag.

2. The wireless tag of claim 1 , wherein the indication that the wireless gateway is a trusted wireless gateway for the wireless tag comprises an indication of establishment of the connection between the wireless tag and the wireless gateway.

3. The wireless tag of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine that the wireless gateway is a trusted wireless gateway for the wireless tag based on wireless gateway association information maintained on the wireless tag.

4. The wireless tag of claim 3 , wherein the wireless gateway association information maintained on the wireless tag comprises a wireless gateway whitelist for the wireless tag, wherein, to determine that the wireless gateway is a trusted wireless gateway for the wireless tag, the controller is configured to:
determine an identity of the wireless gateway based on a wireless signal received from the wireless gateway; and
determine, based the identity of the wireless gateway, whether the wireless gateway is on the wireless gateway whitelist for the wireless tag.

5. The wireless tag of claim 3 , wherein the wireless tag is configured to receive the wireless gateway association information from a location server via at least one wireless gateway.

6. The wireless tag of claim 1 , wherein the indication that the wireless gateway is a trusted wireless gateway for the wireless tag is received from the wireless gateway.

7. The wireless tag of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
control a transition of the wireless tag from the connected state back to the unconnected state based on an indication that the connection between the wireless tag and the wireless gateway has terminated.

8. A method, comprising:
supporting, by a wireless communication module of a wireless tag configured to support an unconnected state in which the wireless tag communicates location tracking information via transmission of wireless beacon signals and a connected state in which the wireless tag communicates location tracking information via a connection between the wireless tag and a wireless gateway, wireless communications of the wireless tag; and
controlling, by a controller of the wireless tag, a transition of the wireless tag from the unconnected state to the connected state based on an indication that the wireless gateway is a trusted wireless gateway for the wireless tag.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the indication that the wireless gateway is a trusted wireless gateway for the wireless tag comprises an indication of establishment of the connection between the wireless tag and the wireless gateway.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
determining that the wireless gateway is a trusted wireless gateway for the wireless tag based on wireless gateway association information maintained on the wireless tag.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the wireless gateway association information maintained on the wireless tag comprises a wireless gateway whitelist for the wireless tag, wherein determining that the wireless gateway is a trusted wireless gateway for the wireless tag comprises:
determining an identity of the wireless gateway based on a wireless signal received from the wireless gateway; and
determining, based the identity of the wireless gateway, whether the wireless gateway is on the wireless gateway whitelist for the wireless tag.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the wireless gateway association information is received from a location server via at least one wireless gateway.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the indication that the wireless gateway is a trusted wireless gateway for the wireless tag is received from the wireless gateway.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
controlling, by the controller of the wireless tag, a transition of the wireless tag from the connected state back to the unconnected state based on an indication that the connection between the wireless tag and the wireless gateway has terminated.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
supporting, by a wireless communication module of a wireless tag configured to support an unconnected state in which the wireless tag communicates location tracking information via transmission of wireless beacon signals and a connected state in which the wireless tag communicates location tracking information via a connection between the wireless tag and a wireless gateway, wireless communications of the wireless tag; and
controlling, by a controller of the wireless tag, a transition of the wireless tag from the unconnected state to the connected state based on an indication that the wireless gateway is a trusted wireless gateway for the wireless tag.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the indication that the wireless gateway is a trusted wireless gateway for the wireless tag comprises an indication of establishment of the connection between the wireless tag and the wireless gateway.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , the method further comprising:
determining that the wireless gateway is a trusted wireless gateway for the wireless tag based on wireless gateway association information maintained on the wireless tag.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the wireless gateway association information maintained on the wireless tag comprises a wireless gateway whitelist for the wireless tag, wherein determining that the wireless gateway is a trusted wireless gateway for the wireless tag comprises:
determining an identity of the wireless gateway based on a wireless signal received from the wireless gateway; and
determining, based the identity of the wireless gateway, whether the wireless gateway is on the wireless gateway whitelist for the wireless tag.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the wireless gateway association information is received from a location server via at least one wireless gateway.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , the method further comprising:
controlling, by the controller of the wireless tag, a transition of the wireless tag from the connected state back to the unconnected state based on an indication that the connection between the wireless tag and the wireless gateway has terminated.

Assignees

• Huang Howard
• Kennedy Irwin
• Mattu Surya
• Abbot Richard
• Ling Jonathan
• Lin Chih Kuang
• Alcatel Lucent
• Alcatel Lucent Usa Inc

Inventors

• Huang Howard
• Kennedy Irwin
• Mattu Surya
• Abbot Richard
• Ling Jonathan
• Lin Chih-Kuang

Classifications

• G01S2205/01

  specially adapted for specific applications · CPC title

• G06K7/0008 Primary

  General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer · CPC title

• G01S5/10 Primary

  Position of receiver fixed by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements {, e.g. omega or decca systems}(G01S5/12 takes precedence {; beacons and receivers cooperating therewith G01S1/306, G01S1/308}) · CPC title