Abstract:
A system and method for location of objects in 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional space using a minimum number of timed RF transmissions. System consists of a mobile device and a plurality of surveyed anchors. Two-Way Ranging (TWR) is done between the tag and any single anchor and the distance between the tag and remaining anchors is determined through listening to, or snooping, the TWR packet transmissions.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to location of objects using radio frequency (RF) transmissions. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Existing systems that use RF transmissions to determine distance between devices use a method described as Two Way Ranging (TWR). In TWR the distance between RF devices is determined using a series of at least three transmissions. Determining relative position of multiple devices in 2D and 3D space using TWR requires 3 N-1  (where N is the number of devices) transmissions. The total number of transmissions for determining location with TWR becomes cumbersome for electronic devices by consuming RF air time and battery power. 
     To reduce time spent sending and receiving RF transmissions, as well as reduce battery usage, a method is needed to determine the distances between multiple devices using a single set of three transmissions. Such a system provides a huge advantage over traditional TWR systems that require 3 N-1  transmissions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A system of RF devices capable of sending and receiving signals and accurately measuring transmit and receive times. Given sufficient granularity of measured time the distances between objects are determined mathematically. 
     In one embodiment of the invention the distances between objects are used to determine the location of a mobile device with respect to surveyed devices in a 2-dimensional (2D) space, using only three RF transmissions between the devices. 
     In another embodiment of the invention the distances between objects are used to determine the location of a mobile device with respect to surveyed devices in 3-dimensional (3D) space, using only three RF transmissions between the devices. 
     The invention accordingly comprises several steps, the relation of one or more of those steps, the embodiment of the construction of the apparatus&#39; features, and the combinations of the elements and arrangement of parts adapted to affect such steps. All is exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an example arrangement of RF capable nodes; 
         FIG. 2  is an example of a 2D capable RF node arrangement; 
         FIG. 3  is a notional time delay representation of three RF packets exchanged between two devices; and 
         FIG. 4  is a 3D pyramid depicting the distances associated with a system used to obtain 3D position for a mobile node. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with the first aspect of the invention, a system for tracking a mobile object in 2D space includes an RF tag object and system of anchor objects shown in  FIG. 1 . The tag object [ 1 ] is mobile in the environment and is capable of transmitting and receiving RF transmissions. The tag object [ 1 ] is also capable of precise timing of RF reception and transmission. The system of anchors consists of a first anchor object [ 2 ], capable of timing transmission and reception of RF transmissions, and a plurality of anchor objects [ 3 ] capable of timing reception of RF transmissions. The first anchor object [ 2 ], and the plurality of anchor objects [ 3 ] are located in known, or surveyed, positions in the environment. 
     The arrangement in  FIG. 2  shows an exemplary arrangement of a preferred embodiment. In  FIG. 2 , one sees a tag object T [ 4 ] as well as two anchor objects Am [ 5 ] and As [ 6 ]. In this arrangement a series of three packets are exchanged between the tag T [ 4 ] and anchor Am [ 5 ].  FIG. 3  shows a notional representation of the three packet transmissions and timing. In  FIG. 3 , time t 1  [ 7 ] is the transmit time for the first packet transmitted by tag T [ 4 ] as measured in that tags T [ 4 ] time base. Time m 1  [ 8 ] is the reception time for the first packet at the anchor Am [ 5 ] as measured in the anchors Am [ 5 ] time base. The following two packets have similar times m 2  [ 9 ], t 2  [ 10 ], t 3  [ 11 ], and m 3  [ 12 ] associated with them and measured in the respective devices time base. To produce a distance between the tag T [ 4 ] and anchor Am [ 5 ] the packet timings are combined in equation (1), where C is the speed of light and d mt  is the output distance between the tag T [ 4 ] and the anchor Am [ 5 ]: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     d 
                     mt 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     C 
                     ⁢ 
                     
                       
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             
                               t 
                               2 
                             
                             - 
                             
                               t 
                               1 
                             
                           
                           ) 
                         
                         - 
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             
                               m 
                               2 
                             
                             - 
                             
                               m 
                               1 
                             
                           
                           ) 
                         
                         + 
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             
                               m 
                               3 
                             
                             - 
                             
                               m 
                               2 
                             
                           
                           ) 
                         
                         - 
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             
                               t 
                               3 
                             
                             - 
                             
                               t 
                               2 
                             
                           
                           ) 
                         
                       
                       4 
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   1 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     In the above equation the distance d mt  is obtained between the two devices. Since the anchors are in surveyed locations the distance d ms  between anchor Am [ 5 ] and As [ 6 ] is also known. The three packets shown in  FIG. 3  are also received at anchor As [ 6 ] as measured in anchor As [ 6 ] time base. By listening, or snooping, these transmissions it is possible to generate another set of time stamps for the system reception of packet one at As [ 6 ] (s 1 ), packet two at As [ 6 ] (s 2 ), and packet three at As [ 6 ] (s 3 ). These new timestamps are combined with d mt  and d ms  in equation order to generate a distance between the anchor As [ 6 ] and the tag T [ 4 ] (d st ) 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     d 
                     st 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       d 
                       ms 
                     
                     - 
                     
                       C 
                       ⁡ 
                       
                         ( 
                         
                           
                             
                               
                                 ( 
                                 
                                   
                                     s 
                                     3 
                                   
                                   - 
                                   
                                     s 
                                     1 
                                   
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                               
                                 ( 
                                 
                                   
                                     t 
                                     3 
                                   
                                   - 
                                   
                                     t 
                                     1 
                                   
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                             
                             · 
                             
                               ( 
                               
                                 
                                   s 
                                   2 
                                 
                                 - 
                                 
                                   s 
                                   1 
                                 
                               
                               ) 
                             
                           
                           + 
                           
                             t 
                             1 
                           
                         
                         ) 
                       
                     
                     + 
                     
                       C 
                       ⁡ 
                       
                         ( 
                         
                           
                             
                               
                                 ( 
                                 
                                   
                                     m 
                                     3 
                                   
                                   - 
                                   
                                     m 
                                     1 
                                   
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                               
                                 ( 
                                 
                                   
                                     t 
                                     3 
                                   
                                   - 
                                   
                                     t 
                                     1 
                                   
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                             
                             · 
                             
                               ( 
                               
                                 
                                   m 
                                   2 
                                 
                                 - 
                                 
                                   m 
                                   1 
                                 
                               
                               ) 
                             
                           
                           + 
                           
                             t 
                             1 
                           
                         
                         ) 
                       
                     
                     + 
                     
                       d 
                       mt 
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   2 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     Given the three distances d mt , d ms , and d st  the location of the T [ 4 ] can be computed using standard trignometric constructs as follows in equation (3): 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       Δ 
                       ⁢ 
                       
                           
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         x 
                         t 
                       
                     
                     = 
                     
                       
                         d 
                         mt 
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         cos 
                         ⁡ 
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             ± 
                             θ 
                           
                           ) 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   
                     
 
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   
                     
                       Δ 
                       ⁢ 
                       
                           
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         y 
                         t 
                       
                     
                     = 
                     
                       
                         d 
                         mt 
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         sin 
                         ⁡ 
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             ± 
                             θ 
                           
                           ) 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   
                     
 
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   
                     γ 
                     = 
                     
                       
                         
                           arctan 
                           ⁡ 
                           
                             ( 
                             
                               
                                 
                                   y 
                                   s 
                                 
                                 - 
                                 
                                   y 
                                   m 
                                 
                               
                               
                                 
                                   x 
                                   s 
                                 
                                 - 
                                 
                                   x 
                                   m 
                                 
                               
                             
                             ) 
                           
                         
                         ⁢ 
                         
                           
 
                         
                         [ 
                         
                           
                             
                               
                                 x 
                                 t 
                               
                             
                           
                           
                             
                               
                                 y 
                                 t 
                               
                             
                           
                         
                         ] 
                       
                       = 
                       
                         
                           
                             [ 
                             
                               
                                 
                                   
                                     cos 
                                     ⁢ 
                                     
                                         
                                     
                                     ⁢ 
                                     γ 
                                   
                                 
                                 
                                   
                                     
                                       - 
                                       sin 
                                     
                                     ⁢ 
                                     
                                         
                                     
                                     ⁢ 
                                     γ 
                                   
                                 
                               
                               
                                 
                                   
                                     sin 
                                     ⁢ 
                                     
                                         
                                     
                                     ⁢ 
                                     γ 
                                   
                                 
                                 
                                   
                                     cos 
                                     ⁢ 
                                     
                                         
                                     
                                     ⁢ 
                                     γ 
                                   
                                 
                               
                             
                             ] 
                           
                           ⁡ 
                           
                             [ 
                             
                               
                                 
                                   
                                     Δ 
                                     ⁢ 
                                     
                                         
                                     
                                     ⁢ 
                                     
                                       x 
                                       t 
                                     
                                   
                                 
                               
                               
                                 
                                   
                                     Δ 
                                     ⁢ 
                                     
                                         
                                     
                                     ⁢ 
                                     
                                       y 
                                       t 
                                     
                                   
                                 
                               
                             
                             ] 
                           
                         
                         + 
                         
                           [ 
                           
                             
                               
                                 
                                   x 
                                   m 
                                 
                               
                             
                             
                               
                                 
                                   y 
                                   m 
                                 
                               
                             
                           
                           ] 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   3 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     Yet another implementation includes the addition of one or more surveyed anchors in order to achieve a 3D position of the tag with respect to the anchors. The arrangement in  FIG. 4  shows an exemplary arrangement of a plurality of anchors allowing for 3D position determination of tag T [ 13 ]. In the arrangement shown in  FIG. 4  there is a mobile tag T [ 13 ] at an unknown location and multiple anchors Am [ 14 ], As [ 15 ], and An [ 16 ] at known, or surveyed, locations. Once again, the distances d mt  and d st  can be determined using equations (1) and (2) respectively. In order to locate the tag in 3D space it is also necessary to determine the distance d nt  between the anchor An [ 16 ] and the tag T [ 13 ]. This can be done using the TWR Plus Snoop equation (2) substituting values associated with anchor An [ 16 ]. The distance d mn  between anchor Am [ 14 ] and An [ 16 ] is substituted for d ms . As with the above system it is possible to generate a set of time stamps (n 1 , n 2 , and n 3 ) for the reception of the three packets at An [ 16 ]. These values are substituted for (s 1 , s 2 , and s 3 ) respectively. The resultant equation (4) is used to determine the distance d nt . 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     d 
                     nt 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       d 
                       mn 
                     
                     - 
                     
                       C 
                       ⁡ 
                       
                         ( 
                         
                           
                             
                               
                                 ( 
                                 
                                   
                                     n 
                                     3 
                                   
                                   - 
                                   
                                     n 
                                     1 
                                   
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                               
                                 ( 
                                 
                                   
                                     t 
                                     3 
                                   
                                   - 
                                   
                                     t 
                                     1 
                                   
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                             
                             ⁢ 
                             
                               ( 
                               
                                 
                                   n 
                                   2 
                                 
                                 - 
                                 
                                   n 
                                   1 
                                 
                               
                               ) 
                             
                           
                           + 
                           
                             t 
                             1 
                           
                         
                         ) 
                       
                     
                     + 
                     
                       C 
                       ⁡ 
                       
                         ( 
                         
                           
                             
                               
                                 ( 
                                 
                                   
                                     m 
                                     3 
                                   
                                   - 
                                   
                                     m 
                                     1 
                                   
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                               
                                 ( 
                                 
                                   
                                     t 
                                     3 
                                   
                                   - 
                                   
                                     t 
                                     1 
                                   
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                             
                             ⁢ 
                             
                               ( 
                               
                                 
                                   m 
                                   2 
                                 
                                 - 
                                 
                                   m 
                                   1 
                                 
                               
                               ) 
                             
                           
                           + 
                           
                             t 
                             1 
                           
                         
                         ) 
                       
                     
                     + 
                     
                       d 
                       mt 
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   4 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     Given the distances between the anchors and the tag T [ 13 ] d mt , d nt  and d st , along with the known locations and distances between the anchors it becomes possible to compute the location of T [ 13 ] using standard trigonometric constructs as follows in equation 
     
       
         
           
             α 
             = 
             
               arctan 
               ⁡ 
               
                 ( 
                 
                   
                     
                       z 
                       n 
                     
                     - 
                     
                       z 
                       m 
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       y 
                       n 
                     
                     - 
                     
                       y 
                       m 
                     
                   
                 
                 ) 
               
             
           
         
       
       
         
           
             β 
             = 
             
               arctan 
               ⁡ 
               
                 ( 
                 
                   
                     
                       z 
                       s 
                     
                     - 
                     
                       z 
                       m 
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       x 
                       s 
                     
                     - 
                     
                       x 
                       m 
                     
                   
                 
                 ) 
               
             
           
         
       
       
         
           
             γ 
             = 
             
               
                 
                   arctan 
                   ⁡ 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       
                         
                           y 
                           s 
                         
                         - 
                         
                           y 
                           m 
                         
                       
                       
                         
                           x 
                           s 
                         
                         - 
                         
                           x 
                           m 
                         
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
                 ⁢ 
                 
                   
 
                 
                 [ 
                 
                     
                 
                 ⁢ 
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         x 
                         t 
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         y 
                         t 
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         z 
                         t 
                       
                     
                   
                 
                 ] 
               
               = 
               
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         [ 
                         
                           
                             
                               1 
                             
                             
                               0 
                             
                             
                               0 
                             
                           
                           
                             
                               0 
                             
                             
                               
                                 cos 
                                 ⁢ 
                                 
                                     
                                 
                                 ⁢ 
                                 α 
                               
                             
                             
                               
                                 
                                   - 
                                   sin 
                                 
                                 ⁢ 
                                 
                                     
                                 
                                 ⁢ 
                                 α 
                               
                             
                           
                           
                             
                               0 
                             
                             
                               
                                 sin 
                                 ⁢ 
                                 
                                     
                                 
                                 ⁢ 
                                 α 
                               
                             
                             
                               
                                 cos 
                                 ⁢ 
                                 
                                     
                                 
                                 ⁢ 
                                 α 
                               
                             
                           
                         
                         ] 
                       
                       [ 
                       
                           
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         
                           
                             
                               cos 
                               ⁢ 
                               
                                   
                               
                               ⁢ 
                               β 
                             
                           
                           
                             0 
                           
                           
                             
                               sin 
                               ⁢ 
                               
                                   
                               
                               ⁢ 
                               β 
                             
                           
                         
                         
                           
                             0 
                           
                           
                             1 
                           
                           
                             0 
                           
                         
                         
                           
                             
                               
                                 - 
                                 sin 
                               
                               ⁢ 
                               
                                   
                               
                               ⁢ 
                               β 
                             
                           
                           
                             0 
                           
                           
                             
                               cos 
                               ⁢ 
                               
                                   
                               
                               ⁢ 
                               β 
                             
                           
                         
                       
                       ] 
                     
                     [ 
                     
                         
                     
                     ⁢ 
                     
                       
                         
                           
                             cos 
                             ⁢ 
                             
                                 
                             
                             ⁢ 
                             γ 
                           
                         
                         
                           
                             
                               - 
                               sin 
                             
                             ⁢ 
                             
                                 
                             
                             ⁢ 
                             γ 
                           
                         
                         
                           0 
                         
                       
                       
                         
                           
                             sin 
                             ⁢ 
                             
                                 
                             
                             ⁢ 
                             γ 
                           
                         
                         
                           
                             cos 
                             ⁢ 
                             
                                 
                             
                             ⁢ 
                             γ 
                           
                         
                         
                           0 
                         
                       
                       
                         
                           0 
                         
                         
                           0 
                         
                         
                           1 
                         
                       
                     
                     ] 
                   
                   [ 
                   
                       
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           Δ 
                           ⁢ 
                           
                               
                           
                           ⁢ 
                           
                             x 
                             t 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                     
                       
                         
                           Δ 
                           ⁢ 
                           
                               
                           
                           ⁢ 
                           
                             y 
                             t 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                     
                       
                         
                           Δ 
                           ⁢ 
                           
                               
                           
                           ⁢ 
                           
                             z 
                             t 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                   
                   ] 
                 
                 + 
                 
                     
                   
                     [ 
                     
                         
                     
                     ⁢ 
                     
                       
                         
                           
                             x 
                             m 
                           
                         
                       
                       
                         
                           
                             y 
                             m 
                           
                         
                       
                       
                         
                           
                             z 
                             m 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                     ⁢ 
                     
                         
                     
                     ] 
                   
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     The substitutions made above in equation (4) can be made for any number of anchors in the system allowing for position of the tag T [ 13 ] to be determined with greater accuracy. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, because certain changes may be made in carrying out the above method and in the construction(s) set forth without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.