U.S. patent application number 14/558407 was filed with the patent office on 2015-06-04 for local positioning and response system.
This patent application is currently assigned to UNLICENSED CHIMP TECHNOLOGIES, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is UNLICENSED CHIMP TECHNOLOGIES, LLC. Invention is credited to Phillip BERQUAM, Kirill SHCHEGLOV.
Application Number | 20150156745 14/558407 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53266474 |
Filed Date | 2015-06-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150156745 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SHCHEGLOV; Kirill ; et
al. |
June 4, 2015 |
LOCAL POSITIONING AND RESPONSE SYSTEM
Abstract
Enables a local positioning and response system that allows
devices in a defined area to determine their local positions in the
area, and to generate individual responses based on their
positions, for example based on broadcast messages. Responses can
include light, sound, shock, vibration, temperature or any other
physical signal. Positioning may use overlapping shaped beam
signals that permit each device to determine its local position.
Response to broadcast messages with local position dependency
enables efficient communication with potentially thousands or
millions of response units over limited bandwidth channels.
Efficient communication may also be supported by messages
containing high-level graphical primitives, with devices
determining their individual contributions to an aggregate image.
The system may also provide correction for image distortions.
Applications include stadium light or sound shows, virtual fences,
feedback on performance that requires specific motions or
positions, and contests for event spectators.
Inventors: |
SHCHEGLOV; Kirill; (VAN
NUYS, CA) ; BERQUAM; Phillip; (Van Nuys, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
UNLICENSED CHIMP TECHNOLOGIES, LLC |
Van Nuys |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
UNLICENSED CHIMP TECHNOLOGIES,
LLC
Van Nuys
CA
|
Family ID: |
53266474 |
Appl. No.: |
14/558407 |
Filed: |
December 2, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61916380 |
Dec 16, 2013 |
|
|
|
61910843 |
Dec 2, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/456.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01S 1/14 20130101; G01S
1/7038 20190801; G01S 1/7034 20190801; G01S 5/16 20130101; G01S
1/70 20130101; G01S 2201/01 20190801; H04W 64/00 20130101; G01S
5/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 64/00 20060101
H04W064/00; H04W 4/02 20060101 H04W004/02 |
Claims
1. A local positioning and response system comprising a server
computer configured to store a message associated with at least one
position; one or more transmission units coupled with said server
computer wherein each of said one or more transmission units
transmit shaped beam signals and comprise a plurality of shaped
beam antennas, each configured to transmit a shaped beam signal to
at least a portion of an area, wherein each of said shaped beam
signals has a respective predefined intensity profile; and, one or
more response units located in said area, each comprising a
receiver configured to receive said shaped beam signals; one or
more action modules configured to emit one or more physical
signals; a processor coupled with said one or more action modules
and said receiver, wherein said processor is configured to
calculate a local position from a relative intensity of said shaped
beam signals, calculate an individual response to said message,
based on said local position and on contents of said message, and
command said one or more action modules to emit said one or more
physical signals based on said individual response; wherein said
one or more physical signals emitted by said one or more action
modules comprise light; wherein said server computer is configured
with one or more graphical images to be displayed on a plurality of
said one or more action modules, wherein each of said one or more
action modules displays one pixel of each of said one or more
graphical images; wherein said server computer is further
configured to generate said message to display said one or more
graphical images on said plurality of said one more action modules;
and, wherein said processor coupled with said one or more response
units is further configured to calculate intensity and color of the
light to emit from each of said one or more action modules based on
said message and on the local position of said one or more response
units.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more message
transmission units and one or more cameras coupled to said one or
more message transmission units; wherein said server computer is
further configured to send one or more test pattern messages to
said one or more response units via said one or more message
transmission units; wherein said one or more response units are
further configured to respond to said on or more test pattern
messages with physical signals visible to said one or more cameras;
and, wherein said server computer is further configured to obtain
images from said one or more cameras coupled to said one or more
message transmission units after sending said one or more test
pattern messages; analyze said images to determine distortion of
said images generated by said one or more response units in
comparison to said one or more test pattern messages; and, apply
distortion corrections to subsequent messages to compensate for
said distortion.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein said one or more action modules
are coupled with said one or more response units, wherein said one
or more action modules further comprise an emitter of light
frequencies outside a visible spectrum; and, said one or more
cameras coupled with said one or more message transmission units
are configured to receive said light frequencies outside the
visible spectrum.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more response units
further comprise one or more sensors; and, said processor is
coupled to each of said one or more response units and is further
configured to obtain a value of said one or more sensors; and
calculate said individual response to each of said message, based
on one or more of said calculated local position, said contents of
said message, and said value of said one or more sensors.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein said one or more sensors comprise
accelerometers, gyroscopes, rate gyroscopes, pressure sensors,
temperature sensors, magnetometers, sensors of human physiology,
depth sensors, motion sensors, velocity sensors, or proximity
sensors.
6. The system of claim 4, wherein said one or more response units
further comprise a transmitter; said one or more transmission units
further comprise a receiver coupled with said one or more
transmission units; and, said processor coupled to each of said one
or more response units is further configured to transmit sensor
values via said transmitter to said receiver coupled with said one
or more transmission units.
7. The system of claim 4, wherein said message includes criteria
for said value of said one or more sensors, and said processor
coupled to each of said one or more response units is further
configured to transmit said value of said one or more sensors if
said value meet said criteria.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more response units
further comprise a transmitter and a user input device; said one or
more transmission units further comprise a receiver coupled with
said one or more transmission units; and, said processor is coupled
to each of said one or more response units and is further
configured to transmit a user input from said user input device via
said transmitter to said receiver coupled with said one or more
transmission units.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more physical signals
comprise one or more of light, sound, vibration, non-visible light,
electricity, shock, and buzzing.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more response unit
are configured to be worn by or held by a person.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein said shaped beam signals are
approximately Gaussian, with an intensity varying approximately as
a logarithm of
I=I.sub.0e.sup.-|r-r.sup.e.sup.|.sup.2.sup./2.sigma..sup.2; and,
said calculate the local position of said one or more response unit
uses the logarithm from said shaped beam signals to determine said
local position.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein said calculate the local position
of said one or more response unit uses the relative intensity of
multiple shaped beam signals of said shaped beam signals rather
than their absolute intensity.
13. The system of claim 1 wherein manufacturing, installation, and
calibration of said one or more transmission units and said shaped
beam signals are sufficiently precise to allow said local position
to be accurate to a predefined range, wherein said predefined range
is 3 feet or less.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein manufacturing, installation, and
calibration of said one or more transmission units and said shaped
beam signals are sufficiently precise to allow said local position
to be accurate to a predefined range, wherein said predefined range
is 1 foot or less.
15. The system of claim 1 wherein manufacturing, installation, and
calibration of said one or more transmission units and said shaped
beam signals are sufficiently precise to allow said local position
to be accurate to a predefined range, wherein said predefined range
is 1 inch or less.
16. (canceled)
17. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more response units
are divided into groups; and, said server computer is further
configured to send different messages to different groups of said
groups to break said one or more graphical images into
sub-images.
18. The system of claim 1 wherein said message comprises one or
more shapes to be displayed by a plurality of said one or more
action modules.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein said message comprises motion of
said one or more shapes; and, said processor is coupled with said
one or more response units and is further configured to calculate a
sequence of light intensities and colors over time to be displayed
based on said motion of said one or more shapes.
20. The system of claim 1 wherein said message comprises error
detection or error correction codes.
21. The system of claim 1 further comprising a virtual fence with
feedback that is provided when a response unit of said one or more
response units moves out of a defined local region.
22. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more action modules
comprise one or more feedback devices configured to provide
feedback to sports players or coaches when a player of said sports
players moves into or out of a prescribed location, area, or
trajectory.
23. The system of claim 1 wherein said area comprises one or more
of a sports stadium, sports field, concert hall, amphitheater,
theater, track, gymnasium, or arena.
24. The system of claim 1 wherein said server computer is further
configured to provide notification a subset of response units of
said one or more response units, wherein said notification
comprises wherein said subset of response units has won a contest
or is eligible for a prize.
25. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more messages do not
comprise an Internet Protocol address.
26. The system of claim 1 wherein said message comprises an
Internet Protocol address.
27. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more transmission
units transmit a demodulation signal and wherein said one or more
response units utilize said demodulation signal to demodulate a
signal and obtain said message.
28. A local positioning and response system comprising a server
computer configured to store a message associated with at least one
position; one or more transmission units coupled with said server
computer wherein each of said one or more transmission units
transmit shaped beam signals and comprise a plurality of shaped
beam antennas, each configured to transmit a shaped beam signal to
at least a portion of an area, wherein each of said shaped beam
signals has a respective predefined intensity profile; one or more
response units located in said area, each comprising a receiver
configured to receive said shaped beam signals; one or more action
modules configured to emit one or more physical signals; a
processor coupled with said one or more action modules and said
receiver, wherein said processor is configured to calculate a local
position from a relative intensity of said shaped beam signals,
calculate an individual response to said message, based on said
local position and on contents of said message, and command said
one or more action modules to emit said one or more physical
signals based on said individual response; and, one or more message
transmission units and one or more cameras coupled to said one or
more message transmission units; wherein said server computer is
further configured to send one or more test pattern messages to
said one or more response units via said one or more message
transmission units; wherein said one or more response units are
further configured to respond to said one or more test pattern
messages with physical signals visible to said one or more cameras;
and, wherein said server computer is further configured to obtain
images from said one or more cameras coupled to said one or more
message transmission units after sending said one or more test
pattern messages; analyze said images to determine distortion of
said images generated by said one or more response units in
comparison to said one or more test pattern messages; and, apply
distortion corrections to subsequent messages to compensate for
said distortion.
29. The system of claim 28, wherein said one or more action modules
are coupled with said one or more response units, wherein said one
or more action modules further comprise an emitter of light
frequencies outside a visible spectrum; and, said one or more
cameras coupled with said one or more message transmission units
are configured to receive said light frequencies outside the
visible spectrum.
30. A local positioning and response system comprising a server
computer configured to store a message associated with at least one
position; one or more transmission units coupled with said server
computer wherein each of said one or more transmission units
transmit shaped beam signals and comprise a plurality of shaped
beam antennas, each configured to transmit a shaped beam signal to
at least a portion of an area, wherein each of said shaped beam
signals has a respective predefined intensity profile; one or more
response units located in said area, each comprising a receiver
configured to receive said shaped beam signals; one or more action
modules configured to emit one or more physical signals; a
processor coupled with said one or more action modules and said
receiver, wherein said processor is configured to calculate a local
position from a relative intensity of said shaped beam signals,
calculate an individual response to said message, based on said
local position and on contents of said message, and command said
one or more action modules to emit said one or more physical
signals based on said individual response; wherein said one or more
response units further comprise one or more sensors; wherein said
one or more sensors comprise accelerometers, gyroscopes, rate
gyroscopes, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, magnetometers,
sensors of human physiology, depth sensors, motion sensors,
velocity sensors, or proximity sensors; and, wherein said processor
is coupled to each of said one or more response units and is
further configured to obtain a value of said one or more sensors;
and calculate said individual response to each of said message,
based on one or more of said calculated local position, said
contents of message, and said value of said one or more
sensors.
31. A local positioning and response system comprising a server
computer configured to store a message associated with at least one
position; one or more transmission units coupled with said server
computer wherein each of said one or more transmission units
transmit shaped beam signals and comprise a plurality of shaped
beam antennas, each configured to transmit a shaped beam signal to
at least a portion of an area, wherein each of said shaped beam
signals has a respective predefined intensity profile; one or more
response units located in said area, each comprising a receiver
configured to receive said shaped beam signals; one or more action
modules configured to emit one or more physical signals; a
processor coupled with said one or more action modules and said
receiver, wherein said processor is configured to calculate a local
position from a relative intensity of said shaped beam signals,
calculate an individual response to said one or more messages,
based on said local position and on contents of said one or more
messages, and command said one or more action modules to emit said
one or more physical signals based on said individual response;
wherein said one or more response units further comprise one or
more sensors; wherein said processor is coupled to each of said one
or more response units and is further configured to obtain a value
of said one or more sensors; and calculate said individual response
to each of said message, based on one or more of said calculated
local position, said contents of said message, and said value of
said one or more sensors; wherein said one or more response units
further comprise a transmitter; wherein said one or more
transmission units further comprise a receiver coupled with said
one or more transmission units; and, wherein said processor coupled
to each of said one or more response units is further configured to
transmit sensor values via said transmitter to said receiver
coupled with said one or more transmission units.
32. A local positioning and response system comprising a server
computer configured to store a message associated with at least one
position; one or more transmission units coupled with said server
computer wherein each of said one or more transmission units
transmit shaped beam signals and comprise a plurality of shaped
beam antennas, each configured to transmit a shaped beam signal to
at least a portion of an area, wherein each of said shaped beam
signals has a respective predefined intensity profile; one or more
response units located in said area, each comprising a receiver
configured to receive said shaped beam signals; one or more action
modules configured to emit one or more physical signals; a
processor coupled with said one or more action modules and said
receiver, wherein said processor is configured to calculate a local
position from a relative intensity of said shaped beam signals,
calculate an individual response to said message, based on said
local position and on contents of said message, and command said
one or more action modules to emit said one or more physical
signals based on said individual response; wherein said one or more
response units further comprise one or more sensors; wherein said
processor is coupled to each of said one or more response units and
is further configured to obtain a value of said one or more
sensors; and calculate said individual response to each of said
message, based on one or more of said calculated local position,
said contents of said message, and said value of said one or more
sensors; and, wherein said message include criteria for said value
of said one or more sensors, and said processor coupled to each of
said one or more response units is further configured to transmit
said value of said one or more sensors if said value meet said
criteria.
33. A local positioning and response system comprising a server
computer configured to store a message associated with at least one
position; one or more transmission units coupled with said server
computer wherein each of said one or more transmission units
transmit shaped beam signals and comprise a plurality of shaped
beam antennas, each configured to transmit a shaped beam signal to
at least a portion of an area, wherein each of said shaped beam
signals has a respective predefined intensity profile; and, one or
more response units located in said area, each comprising a
receiver configured to receive said shaped beam signals; one or
more action modules configured to emit one or more physical
signals; a processor coupled with said one or more action modules
and said receiver, wherein said processor is configured to
calculate a local position from a relative intensity of said shaped
beam signals, calculate an individual response to said message,
based on said local position and on contents of said message, and
command said one or more action modules to emit said one or more
physical signals based on said individual response; wherein said
shaped beam signals are approximately Gaussian, with an intensity
varying approximately as a logarithm of
I=I.sub.0e.sup.-|r-r.sup.e.sup.|.sup.2.sup./2.sigma..sup.2; and,
wherein said calculate the local position of said one or more
response unit uses the logarithm from said shaped beam signals to
determine said local position.
34. A local positioning and response system comprising a server
computer configured to store a message associated with at least one
position; one or more transmission units coupled with said server
computer wherein each of said one or more transmission units
transmit shaped beam signals and comprise a plurality of shaped
beam antennas, each configured to transmit a shaped beam signal to
at least a portion of an area, wherein each of said shaped beam
signals has a respective predefined intensity profile; and, one or
more response units located in said area, each comprising a
receiver configured to receive said shaped beam signals; one or
more action modules configured to emit one or more physical
signals; a processor coupled with said one or more action modules
and said receiver, wherein said processor is configured to
calculate a local position from a relative intensity of said shaped
beam signals, calculate an individual response to said message,
based on said local position and on contents of said message, and
command said one or more action modules to emit said one or more
physical signals based on said individual response; and, wherein
manufacturing, installation, and calibration of said one or more
transmission units and said shaped beam signals are sufficiently
precise to allow said local position to be accurate to a predefined
range, wherein said predefined range 3 feet or less.
35. The system of claim 34 wherein said predefined range is 1 foot
or less.
36. The system of claim 34 wherein said predefined range is 1 inch
or less.
37. The system of claim 34, further comprising one or more message
transmission units and one or more cameras coupled to said one or
more message transmission units; wherein said server computer is
further configured to send one or more test pattern messages to
said one or more response units via said one or more message
transmission units; wherein said one or more response units are
further configured to respond to said one or more test pattern
messages with physical signals visible to said one or more cameras;
and, wherein said server computer is further configured to obtain
images from said one or more cameras coupled to said one or more
message transmission units after sending said one or more test
pattern messages; analyze said images to determine distortion of
said images generated by said one or more response units in
comparison to said one or more test pattern messages; and, apply
distortion corrections to subsequent messages to compensate for
said distortion.
38. The system of claim 37, wherein said one or more action modules
are coupled with said one or more response units, wherein said one
or more action modules further comprise an emitter of light
frequencies outside a visible spectrum; and, said one or more
cameras coupled with said one or more message transmission units
are configured to receive said light frequencies outside the
visible spectrum.
39. The system of claim 34, wherein said one or more response units
further comprise one or more sensors; and, said processor is
coupled to each of said one or more response units and is further
configured to obtain a value of said one or more sensors; and
calculate said individual response to said message, based on one or
more of said calculated local position, said contents of said
message, and said value of said one or more sensors.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/916,380, filed 16 Dec. 2013 and U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/910,843, filed 2 Dec.
2013, the specifications of which are hereby incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] One or more embodiments of the invention are related to the
field of positioning systems, data processing systems and
communication systems. More particularly, but not by way of
limitation, one or more embodiments of the invention enable a local
positioning and response system configured to transmit signals such
as two or more shaped beams from at least one transmitter unit and
devices that receive the shaped beams. The devices determine their
local position in a defined area, such as a stadium or other venue
that may not enable access to satellite based positioning signals.
The devices determine their individual responses based on their
local position and on broadcast messages that may define aggregate
responses for a group of devices in the area. A response may
include, but is not limited to emitting a physical signal such as a
light, sound, message of any type based on the local position
determined by the device and the broadcast message.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] With the advent of handheld computing devices such as smart
phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), tablet computers, etc.,
a need has arisen to enable those devices to determine their
position in space. A large number of techniques have been devised
to accomplish this task, including Global Positioning System (GPS)
and similar technologies that utilize triangulation based on
relative signal delays to multiple transmitters along with very
sophisticated computational algorithms. In addition, other
techniques include received combination power based methods used in
some cell phones, and various other more esoteric techniques, such
as ultrasonic GPS, for example. While fairly successful in
determining approximate location, these methods suffer from a
number of limitations. GPS requires a "clear sky", i.e. clear line
of sight to multiple satellites along different directions. The
received signals are so weak that even a tree canopy tends to
attenuate the signals enough to preclude accurate positioning.
Indoors, the signal attenuation prevents GPS from working
altogether. Some other methods, such as cell phone based techniques
can operate indoors, where signal strength can be much higher due
to proximity of the transmitters and much higher available
electrical power on the ground. This technique is limited by the
fortuitous placement of antenna towers, as well as by the
sensitivity of the received signal strength to absorption along the
signal path, reflections, and diffraction. These effects render
this technique of positioning inaccurate, limiting the accuracy in
dynamic and unpredictable ways.
[0006] Recently a need has been recognized to enable positioning of
simple inexpensive devices in a fairly limited area, a venue such
as a large hall, a warehouse, a parking lot, or a stadium. The
position of interest is in a virtual relative coordinate system
tied to the venue as opposed to global geocentric coordinates,
which include latitude and longitude. The desired accuracy ranges
for local position systems depend on the desired application, for
example from around 1 foot, or 0.3 m, for determining the position
of a person-sized object), to around an inch, or 2.5 cm, for
tracking smaller objects like packages or communicating with
sensors, lights, etc. There are no known existing systems that
provide accurate local positioning in a limited area with
inexpensive devices.
[0007] In addition, many applications require that a potentially
large number of devices in a limited area create a response that is
observable in aggregate. For example, all devices in a house may be
commanded to turn off, with reduced power consumption as the
observable aggregate response. As another example, spectators at a
football game may be given light-emitting devices, and the sponsors
of the game may desire that these lights be coordinated to emit
stadium-sized images that are visible from television cameras.
Technologies exist to provide communication between central systems
and a network of devices; however these systems generally use
point-to-point communication and require significant bandwidth as
well as significant power and cost in the devices. Further issues
such as privacy and anonymous addressing of the devices make mobile
phones and other handheld devices less desirable for this
application.
[0008] The number of usable devices that may respond to system
messages is growing dramatically, and current system architectures
are not suited to handle this growth. For example, with the advent
of inexpensive radio transceivers and microprocessors, an
increasing number of common household items are attaining both some
computer intelligence and wireless connectivity. This trend is
expected to continue and speed up as electronics technology
advances and electronic components become cheaper. In the not so
distant future, an average house may contain hundreds of
Wi-Fi-connectable items. It is conceivable that in the near future,
all items of non-negligible value may be equipped with rudimentary
wireless transceivers and some processing power. All these
thousands of transceivers will occupy the same limited portion of
the radio spectrum and thus the data rate available for
communicating with any individual unit will become vanishingly
small, in effect debilitating the wireless communicating capability
of the devices.
[0009] In areas greater than the size of a house, the number of
devices may be even larger. Potentially there may be a need to
communicate with millions of such devices over fairly modest
bandwidth resources. Existing system architectures, which are based
largely on point-to-point communication, cannot handle these
requirements. Moreover the systems that provide location-awareness,
such as GPS, require expensive transmitters and receivers and are
ill-suited for widespread application and low-cost, low-power
devices.
[0010] For at least the limitations described above there is a need
for a local positioning and response system, which provides an
architecture and a system solution for low-power, low-cost devices
to determine their position and generate responses without
requiring large amounts of network bandwidth for communication.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] One or more embodiments described in the specification are
related to a local positioning and response system. Embodiments of
this system enable a local positioning and response system
configured to transmit signals such as two or more shaped beams
from at least one transmitter unit and devices that receive the
shaped beams. The devices determine their local position in a
defined area, such as a stadium, sports field, concert hall,
amphitheater, theater, track, gymnasium, arena or any other
location that may not enable access to satellite based positioning
signals. The devices determine their individual responses based on
their local position and on broadcast messages that may define
aggregate responses for a group of devices in the area. A response
may include, but is not limited to emitting a physical signal such
as a light, sound, message of any type based on the local position
determined by the device and the broadcast message. Thus
embodiments of the system provide an efficient and effective system
to generate responses in a potentially large number, or extremely
large number of devices located in a local area. Embodiments of the
system enable local positioning, in contrast to systems like GPS
that provide absolute position relative to a worldwide reference
frame. Some embodiments of the system may also incorporate GPS or
similar absolute positioning systems as well, but do not require
GPS.
[0012] An illustrative embodiment of the system includes four major
components: a server to coordinate messages, beam transmission
units that send signals such as shaped beams that are used for
position determination, message transmission units that send
messages and response units that receive the signals and determine
their location and emit responses. In some embodiments the beam
transmission units and the message transmission units may be
integrated or otherwise coincide to form a transmission unit. The
term transmission unit as utilized herein may refer to the combined
beam and message transmission unit or separate units for brevity.
Any portion of the electromagnetic spectrum may be used for either
beam transmission or message transmission or both.
[0013] Each beam transmission unit may include two or more shaped
beam antennas that generate shaped beam signals. These signals are
broadcast to a portion of the local area. Multiple beam
transmission units may be used to cover the entire local area; in
some embodiments only a single beam transmission unit may be
utilized depending on the size of the area and application.
[0014] In one scenario, one or more devices, or response units, are
located in the local area. These response units are configured to
receive the shaped beam signals from the transmitter units and the
messages, for example from the server. The response units may
include a processor that may for example use the received shaped
beam signals to calculate the local position of the response unit.
Based on this local position, and on the messages received from the
server, each processor determines an individual response that is
appropriate for that particular response unit. These responses are
executed by components in the response units that are referred to
as action modules herein. Each action module may emit or modify one
or more physical signals, such as light, sound, vibration,
non-visible light, electricity, shock, or buzzing.
[0015] The overall system therefore provides a capability for
multiple response units located at different places in a local area
to generate a location-dependent output based on broadcast signals
and messages. In some embodiments the response units may be capable
of being worn by a person, or of being held by hand; the aggregate
response may therefore be tied to the location of the user or
actions of the user. For example, the system may be used for
generating a light show with complex shapes and patterns using a
large number of response units held by spectators in a stadium.
Thus, patterns or text or images or colors or sounds or any
combination thereof may be output from the response units in a
location dependent manner.
[0016] In one or more embodiments, the system may be configured to
correct for potential distortions in the observed responses from
the response units. These distortions may arise in many ways, such
as from reflections or attenuation of signals, from interference of
other signals, or from the shape of the local area. For example in
a stadium light-show application, the shape of the stadium stands
may induce some distortion in the displayed images. Distortion
correction may use test pattern messages along with cameras that
observe the responses to these test patterns. The server can
compare the observed images to the test patterns and apply
distortion corrections to future messages. Some embodiments may use
infrared light for responses to test patterns so there is no
interference with visible images.
[0017] In one or more embodiments, some or all of the response
units may also incorporate sensors, such as accelerometers,
gyroscopes, rate gyroscopes, pressure sensors, temperature sensors,
magnetometers, sensors of human physiology, depth sensors, motion
sensors, velocity sensors, or proximity sensors. Messages from the
server directing responses may then make such responses dependent
on both local sensor readings and on the calculated local position
of each response unit. For example, personnel on a work site could
be given response units that include a temperature sensor. These
response units could be commanded to emit a warning light or sound
if the temperature becomes dangerously high. Response units can be
configured to send sensor readings back to the server, using a
transmitter in the response units and receivers in the system.
Sensor readings can be returned on request from the server, or
based on server-specified criteria or thresholds.
[0018] In one or more embodiments, the response units may also
include one or more user input devices, such as keypads,
touchscreens, buttons, or joysticks. As with the sensor data, the
response units may include transmitters to transmit user input back
to the server, and the server may be configured to accept or
otherwise poll for user input data depending on the intended
application.
[0019] Response units may calculate their local position using the
intensity of the shaped beam signals that they receive. In some
embodiments the intensity pattern of the shaped beam signals may be
approximately Gaussian, which simplifies the calculation of the
local position. In particular, relatively simple hardware may be
used in the response units to derive local position from a
combination of Gaussian signals. Some embodiments use the relative
intensity multiple shaped beam signals rather than their absolute
intensity. This approach offers the advantage of automatically
compensating for many distortions of beams that emanate from the
same beam transmitter. Other embodiments may employ any type of
shaped beam pattern so long as the response units are aware of the
type of beam employed.
[0020] Accurate calculations of local positions depend in part on
the precision of the manufacturing, installation, and calibration
of the beam transmission units and the shaped beam signals.
Different embodiments may employ levels of precision that are
appropriate to their application. For example, embodiments may
allow local position to be accurate within 3 feet, within 1 foot,
or within 1 inch, or approximately 1 m, 0.3 m, 2.5 cm or any other
accuracy based on the accuracy of the positioning of the antenna or
other emitters within the transmission units for example. In one or
more embodiments, the antenna may be moveable to set alternate
angles for the beams to enable a transmitter unit to be used for a
small or large venue, e.g., by changing the angle of the antenna
with respect to a centerline for example. Other embodiments may
include shaped beam antenna that may be set at a fixed orientation
with respect to one another, for example at the time of manufacture
or calibration.
[0021] Some embodiments provide for the display of images on a set
of response units. For example, as mentioned above, an embodiment
of the system may be used to create relatively large images on a
stadium by giving light-emitting response units to the spectators.
In this scenario, the spectators may in effect form pixels or
"peopixels" in the image. In some of these embodiments, the server
computer may store or generate one or more graphical images and
transmit messages to the response units to display these images on
the response units. Some embodiments may treat each response unit
as a pixel in the image or as a portion of a soundscape or both to
produce multimedia displays. The processor of each response unit
may calculate its location, and then determine the intensity and
color of the light to emit from the response unit based on its
location and on the image messages received from the server. The
combination of all response units forms an overall image. The
server may also break an image into sub-images and send different
messages to groups of response units to construct an overall image
from the sub-images.
[0022] Messages from the server to display graphical images may in
some embodiments contain descriptions of one or more shapes, and
potentially also of the shapes' motion over time. Such high-level
graphics primitives in the messages allow messages to be
efficiently broadcast to potentially large numbers of response
units, with each response unit determining its appropriate output
to form the aggregate images. Messages may also include error
correcting (or error detecting) codes to eliminate the need for
return acknowledgements or retransmissions, further improving
efficient use of possibly limited bandwidth. Other message codes
may be encrypted or otherwise protected to prevent third parties
from hijacking the images or sounds displayed for example. In one
or more embodiments, an event encryption code may be stored in the
response units and utilized by the server and response units to
encrypt and decrypt messages transmitted between the various
components in the system.
[0023] Applications for some embodiments of the system may include
providing a virtual fence around a portion of a local area. In
these embodiments response units may be equipped with feedback
devices that are actuated when a response unit moves out of or
close to the boundary of this virtual fenced-in portion. For
example, the wearer of a response unit might be given a shock to
stop the wearer from leaving the fenced-in portion, which may be
useful for invisible livestock or pet fences.
[0024] Other applications in other embodiments may include feedback
to sports players or coaches when a player moves into or out of a
prescribed location, area, or trajectory. For example, a football
receiver in practice may be practicing running a particular
pattern. The player might wear a response unit that lights up or
turns a different color if the player does not run the correct
pattern. This feedback might alert coaches that the player made an
error. Similar applications enable military troop movements to be
sensed and otherwise observed and mapped and enables secure
communication for devices that are within a predefined area.
[0025] In other applications in one or more other embodiments,
response units may be integrated into or embedded into road signs
or road reflectors. Embodiments of these response units may be
commanded to light up to alert drivers of conditions, issues, or
potential hazards. For example, the system may detect when a car is
approaching one side of a blind turn, and activate response units
on the other side of the blind curve to warn other drivers of the
approach. The activated response units might for example light up,
flash, or change colors. In some embodiments the detection of an
approach may also be made by response units in the approaching
vehicle; these response units may use local positioning to
determine that they are in the approach area, and send a message to
the server to broadcast alerts to other vehicles to alert other
drivers. In one or more embodiments, one or more vehicles may also
include an embodiment of the response unit and automatically dim
headlights, for example when within a predefined distance from
another of the response units mounted on another vehicle, e.g., 100
meters or the local limit according to the law at that location.
Alternatively or in combination, one or more embodiments may detect
road conditions and tag the event with a position, so that other
vehicles approaching the road condition, e.g., ice detected by the
slip detection module in the vehicle and/or accelerometers are
alerted to the road condition at a location and for example
time.
[0026] In some other embodiments the system might be used for
contests or to award prizes to a subset of the response units. For
example, server messages might select a particular location or
locations for awards and send messages to provide feedback to
response units in only those locations that they have won awards.
The selection of response units for awards or prizes may for
example be random, based on location, based on sensor readings, or
based on user input.
[0027] Other embodiments may include two-way Liquid Crystal Display
(LCD) screens attached to seats in an arena or stadium or otherwise
coupled fixedly or removeably thereto that may be utilized for
advertising, offers, voting, light shows, food, beverage or memento
ordering for example.
[0028] Embodiments of the invention may also show winners at
particular locations or show anyone who has entered a particular
vote over the entire area, for example for users that voted for
their favorite driver in a stock car race and for example after
that driver has won the race. In addition, embodiments may provide
more information for users that input or otherwise provide more
information back to the server. Embodiments of the response units
may include inputs that allow a user to register at an event and
obtain more offers or increased capabilities, which may be of great
value for corporate sponsors for example.
[0029] Embodiments may also be utilized for location specific
displays or games. For example, in a museum, art gallery,
arboretum, convention, or real estate location, displays local to
the response units may indicate location dependent information,
such as the name of the item or inventor, name of the painting,
sculpture or artist, name of the plant, information related to a
poster or object in a booth, or portion of a real estate property
respectively. In addition, scavenger hunt type games or any other
game that includes different locations in an area may employ
embodiments of the invention to enable data or commands at specific
locations to be accessed for example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the
invention will be more apparent from the following more particular
description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following
drawings wherein:
[0031] FIG. 1 illustrates an architectural view of at least one
embodiment of the local positioning and response system.
[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the broadcast of
overlapping shaped beam signals that allow response units to
calculate their local position.
[0033] FIG. 3 illustrates a front view and a side view of an
embodiment of a shaped beam transmission unit.
[0034] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a local position and
response system installed in a stadium, with multiple beam
transmission units sending shaped beam signals that together cover
a large part of the stadium.
[0035] FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a local positioning and
response system that provides correction of image distortion.
[0036] FIG. 6 illustrates the calculations of local position that
may be used by some embodiments that employ Gaussian shaped beam
signals.
[0037] FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a local positioning and
response system that is used to project a graphical image onto a
multiplicity of response units, with each response unit providing a
pixel of the image.
[0038] FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the system used to
project graphical images onto the stands of a stadium.
[0039] FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of messages that may be
used by a local positioning and response system to send graphical
image descriptors to an array of response units.
[0040] FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of a local positioning and
response system used to provide a virtual fence.
[0041] FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of a local positioning and
response system used to provide visible feedback if a football
player makes an error in his desired pattern.
[0042] FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of a local positioning and
response system used to indicate what subset of a group of
spectators are winners of a prize.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0043] A local positioning and response system will now be
described. In the following exemplary description numerous specific
details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough
understanding of embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent,
however, to an artisan of ordinary skill that the present invention
may be practiced without incorporating all aspects of the specific
details described herein. In other instances, specific features,
quantities, or measurements well known to those of ordinary skill
in the art have not been described in detail so as not to obscure
the invention. Readers should note that although examples of the
invention are set forth herein, the claims, and the full scope of
any equivalents, are what define the metes and bounds of the
invention.
[0044] FIG. 1 illustrates an architectural view of at least one
embodiment of the local positioning and response system, including
exemplary components that may be utilized therewith. Such a system
provides mechanisms for devices to determine their position
relative to a local area 106. This local positioning is in contrast
to systems like GPS that provide absolute position relative to a
worldwide reference frame. Some embodiments of the system may also
incorporate GPS or similar absolute positioning systems as well,
but GPS or other satellite based positioning is not required by
embodiments of the invention. Embodiments of the invention may
provide a response system by which these devices can respond to
messages from the system based in part on their local position.
[0045] One or more embodiments incorporate a server computer 101
that coordinates the local positioning and response. In some
embodiments the server hardware may be ruggedized for outdoor use,
such as a ruggedized high performance laptop running a UNIX-based
operating system. Some embodiments may incorporate one or more
backup servers for high availability.
[0046] The server computer may store or generate messages 102 that
are used to guide the positioning and response by individual
devices. Other control and calibration messages may also be stored
or generated by the server.
[0047] The system may include one or more beam transmission units
103. These units provide a component of the positioning capability
of the system. Each beam transmission unit 103 may have multiple
shaped beam antennas 104 that generate shaped beam signals 105. In
an embodiment shown in FIG. 1, one of the two beam transmission
units has two shaped beam antennas, and the other has three shaped
beam antennas. The shaped beam signals 105 are broadcast to a
portion of the local area, for example 107. Multiple beam
transmission units may be used to cover the entire local area 106;
in some embodiments only a single beam transmission unit is
utilized depending on the size of the area and particular
embodiment of the transmitter unit. Each shaped beam signal 105 has
a predefined intensity profile at each point in space as a function
of the distance of this point from the beam antenna and the
direction of this point from the beam antenna's center ray. In one
embodiment for stadium applications, the beams may be directed 10
to 15 degrees off of the centerline. In a museum application, the
beams may be directed 30-45 degrees off of the centerline. Any
other angles of at least one power lobe of any antenna pattern or
shape that enable the beams to overlap an area with different
intensities is in keeping with the spirit of the invention,
including any phased array antennas that may transmit different
signals in different directions off of the centerline. A phased
array antenna is considered an equivalent of a plurality or more of
shaped beam antennas in keeping with the spirit of the invention,
so long as a plurality of overlapping shaped beams are formed by
the phased array antenna. The beam transmission units may be
connected to the server computer by a wired or wireless network. In
some embodiments the server may not require a connection to the
beam transmission units if the shaped beam signals are constant and
are not used to transmit messages.
[0048] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment with these shaped beam
signals overlapping on a plane area 106 where response units may be
placed.
[0049] FIG. 3 illustrates front and side views of an embodiment of
a beam transmission unit 103 with four shaped beam antennas 104. In
this embodiment each beam antenna is aimed in a slightly different
direction so that the shaped beam signals are offset somewhat from
one another but overlap in a significant portion of the local
area.
[0050] Referring again to FIG. 1, in addition to sending shaped
beam signals, the system may send the messages 102 stored or
generated by the server. These messages may be sent via signals 105
as part of the shaped beam signal via beam transmission units 103
or via separate message transmission units such as 110. In one or
more embodiments these messages are broadcast to the local area
106, or to a portion of the local area such as 111, rather than
being addressed or routed to individual devices. In some
embodiments the message transmission units may be connected to the
server by a wired or wireless network. Some embodiments may use
synchronized clocks between the server and the message transmission
units or the beam transmission units that enable the transmission
units to transmit commands at appropriate synchronized times.
[0051] One or more embodiments may use radio frequency signals for
the transmission of the shaped beam signals or the messages. Some
embodiments may use light signals for these transmissions, either
visible or invisible light (such as infrared). The shaped beam
signals 105 and the signals 112 for transmission of messages 102
may use the same spectrum or different parts of the spectrum. Any
portion of the electromagnetic spectrum may be used for either type
of transmission. For higher frequency implementations, a
demodulation signal may also be sent from at last one of the
antennas, or separate antenna, so that the response unit may
demodulate the signals using the received demodulation signal,
since it is difficult to make a local oscillator for higher
frequencies. The demodulation process enables the response units to
extract the message from the carrier wave using the supplied
demodulation signal as one skilled in the art will recognize. Thus,
the response units in one or more embodiments may be implemented
with less sophisticated electronics to provide more energy
efficient, or smaller, or lower price implementations or any
combination thereof.
[0052] An illustrative embodiment of a transmission unit that
includes a shaped beam transmitter, and a message transmitter, may
include the following components. These components are for
illustration only; other embodiments may use different components
or may divide functionality into different units in keeping with
the spirit of the invention. An illustrative transmission unit
includes an industrial single board computer (SBC), an infrared
(IR) grid projector, and a number of radio frequency (RF)
transmitters that drive the shaped beam antennas. The server and
SBC computers are linked through a communications network, such as
a high speed Ethernet network and run custom software that
distributes graphics commands to appropriate transmitters. The SBC
receives commands and routes them to the transmitters at
appropriate intervals triggered off a local clock synchronized to
the server clock. It also drives the IR grid projector, and sends
back system health state commands, which are continuously monitored
and logged by the server.
[0053] Embodiments of the invention may utilize two shaped beams to
provide for location determination in an iterative manner, wherein
for example if the response units obtain equal power from each
beam, then they are for example located on a line between the two
signals. Through use of absolute power sensing in the response
units to determine the distance away from the transmitter unit, the
position may be determined. Alternatively, or in combination,
iterating through a set of ratio numbers associated with power and
sending that message to the area, wherein any response units that
are observing that power ratio respond with a message having a
identifier and at a time of output related to the identifier, the
system may detect the output and code and determine the location of
the particular response units for example by sampling IR images at
a given rate and detecting response units that assert a message at
a particular time with a particular code. The system may then
transmit the location with the code back so that the location
determination is performed in a combined effort.
[0054] Embodiments utilizing three or four shaped beams may provide
efficient location determination capabilities and enable location
determination local to the response units through comparison of the
ratios of the power from three or more shaped beams for example to
provide location determination along two or more axes.
[0055] The RF module may include an off-the-shelf transmitter board
such as an eZ430-RF2500T containing a microcontroller and an RF
transceiver. The Client SBC may communicate to the on-board
microcontroller via a UART interface. It may run a near real-time
operating system, such as a stripped down Linux. One or more
embodiments may be implemented as close to real-time in order to
keep a synchronized clock that has a resolution of better than 100
.mu.sec. This enables a high data rate through the 500 Kbaud
bandwidth without packet interference. Any other synchronization
threshold may be utilized depending on the desired accuracy and
cost of the system in keeping with the spirit of the invention.
[0056] The output power of the transmitter in one or more
embodiments is matched to the operating scenario, specifically to
the signal throw distance. To achieve an acceptable spatial
resolution the receiver may be operated in the middle of its
dynamic range and thus a nominal transmitter power is generally
chosen for a particular installation. Radio wave propagation is
such, that the power falls off with the square of the distance from
the transmitter, so for every two times increase in signal throw
distance, the transmitter power is thus be increased by a factor of
four. In certain high RF background noise environments, increasing
the power and operating closer to the top of the receiver dynamic
range may be beneficial since the effective RF interference is thus
reduced.
[0057] In IR grid projector may be an LED-based DLP projector
modified to use an IR source instead of the LED's. The gridding
code may include gray code frames with checksums and the frames may
be calculated in advance, stored on the SBC and cycled through at
an appropriate frame rate, for example such as 60 fps. Thus, a high
fidelity coordinate fix is available to the response units roughly
3 times per second in one or more embodiments of the invention. In
one or more embodiments, this enables cameras to detect the pattern
projected onto the area, for example using non-visible IR light for
distortion correction purposes. In one or more embodiments, if a
particular response unit is displaying a light that does not match
the pattern, for example if the response unit is not correctly
calculating its local position, the server may send out a message
for each unit to determine which response unit is incorrectly
determining its position. The server may command response units
iteratively to flash on and off to determine when response unit
that has calculated an erroneous position and instruct that
response unit to either turn off or to instruct the response unit
of its correct position. Embodiments may also command the response
units in parallel to transmit a coded IR series of on/off signals
to effectively display a code, or alternatively turn on or off at a
particular point in time, in order to determine which response unit
is at a particular location, that for example is erroneous.
[0058] One or more devices, termed response units in this
specification, are located in the local area 106. In some
embodiments there may be a large number of response units located
throughout the local area, for example in the thousands, tens of
thousands, hundred thousand or even higher range. These response
units 120 are configured to receive the shaped beam signals 105 and
the messages 102 from the server. The shaped beam signal receiver
121 and the message receiver 122 may be the same receiver if for
example the system transmits messages over the shaped beams or
using the same general frequency range, or may be different
receivers, for instance, using different frequencies or signal
types, e.g., radio or light based signals. The response units
include a processor 124 that uses the received shaped beam signals
to calculate the local position of the response unit. Based on this
local position, and on the messages received from the server, each
processor determines an individual response that is appropriate for
that particular response unit.
[0059] Responses by response units are executed by components that
are referred to as action modules herein. Each action module may
emit or modify one or more physical signals, such as light or sound
or any other physical signal including but not limited to tactile
signals, shock, temperature or any other type of signal. FIG. 1
illustrates a response unit with two action modules, 123a and 123b;
123a emits light and 123b emits sound. Other embodiments may use
different numbers and types of action modules. The overall system
provides a capability for multiple response units located at
different places in a local area to generate a location-dependent
output based on broadcasted signals 105 and messages 102. For
example, the system might be used for generating a light show with
complex shapes and patterns using a large number of response units
held by spectators in a stadium. Some embodiments may include color
LEDs in the response unit action modules to provide for color
displays. Other embodiments may have both LEDs and sound output in
the action modules to support synchronized light and sound
shows.
[0060] An illustrative embodiment of a response unit may include
the following components, which are for illustration only and other
embodiments may use other components or divide functionality into
different units. Such an embodiment can be packed into a small size
so that it can be easily wearable or easily held in one hand for
prolonged periods of time. (1) LEDs, for example with a power of
1.5 W. (2) A TI CC2500 RF transceiver, which provides a number of
transmission formats, modulation options, receiver fine-tuning and
frequency/power control, and data throughput of 500 Kbaud. (3) An
MSP430 family microcontroller with off-the-shelf library function
for communicating with the CC2500 and very low power usage, a good
choice for long-run shows such as music events. (4) An IR receiver
chip similar to a Vishay TSOP38456 operating at about 50 kHz and
with a wide directivity (>45.degree.). (5) A battery power
supply such as an alkaline AAA cell, coupled with a voltage booster
circuit, or a pair of CR2 batteries. (6) An electronics board that
houses the LED, RF Receiver, processor, and battery, housed in a
plastic shell that has a transparent diffusing window over the LED.
In addition, embodiments of the response units may also include
Internet Protocol communications elements or any other type of
addressable communications components. This enables one or more
embodiments to interact with the Internet, for example become part
of the Internet of Things (IoT), while other embodiments may
utilize messaging that does not include an IP address, so that the
response units remain anonymous from the viewpoint of the Internet.
Embodiments that do not utilize an IP address or IP communication
or other heavyweight communications protocols remain extremely
efficient from a bandwidth perspective.
[0061] In one or more embodiments, the system may be configured to
correct for potential distortion in the observed responses from the
response units. These distortions may arise in many ways, such as
from reflections or attenuation of signals, from interference of
other signals, or from the shape of the local area. For example, an
embodiment of the system may be used to create large images on a
stadium by providing light-emitting response units to the
spectators. The shape of the stadium stands may induce some
distortion in the displayed images. An embodiment of a system
installed in stadium is illustrated in FIG. 4. Server 101 is
connected by network switch 401 to six beam and message
transmitters 103. These six transmitters are installed to cover
large portions of the stands of stadium 402 with their shaped beam
signals 105.
[0062] One or more embodiments of the system may use special test
pattern messages to measure and correct for distortion. An
embodiment of such a system is illustrated in FIG. 5. Such test
pattern messages 501 may be sent and the response units 120 may
respond with visible outputs, such as lights 502. The system may
include cameras 130 that can observe these outputs and send the
observed images 503 to the server 101 for processing. By comparing
the observed images 503 from the systems' cameras to the ideal
expected images of the test patterns 501, the server can determine
the distortion induced by the environment. It can then apply
corrections 510 to the distortion so that subsequent outputs are
minimally distorted. These corrections may consist of various
transformations to images, including but not limited to
translations, rotations, expansions or contractions, warping, color
mapping, shading, and nonlinear transformations. The IR grid
projector may be utilized in one or more embodiments to drive IR
lights on the response units, such as lights 502 so that the test
pattern does not interfere with any visible light pattern output by
the response units. This embodiment enables run-time calibration
for example.
[0063] For example, in some embodiments distortion corrections may
include accounting for rotations and skewing of a plane of response
units relative to a desired plane for observing an image formed by
these response units. An analysis of the image distortion may
include determining a projective transform,
P = [ a 11 a 12 a 13 a 21 a 22 a 23 a 31 a 32 a 33 ]
##EQU00001##
[0064] that best transforms the observed pixels into the test
pattern pixels. For example techniques such as least squares
optimization can determine the optimal projection matrix that most
closely aligns the observed image with the test pattern. This
projective transform can then be applied to future images. For
example, each pixel i in the test pattern may be represented with a
point in homogeneous coordinates,
r i = [ x i y i 1 ] , ##EQU00002##
[0065] and each pixel i in the observed image may be represented
with a point in homogeneous coordinates,
s i = [ u i v i 1 ] . ##EQU00003##
[0066] A least squares determination of the optimal projection
transform P would then minimize the error
.SIGMA..sub.i|r.sub.i-Ps.sub.i|.sup.2.
[0067] In embodiments of the system with cameras, the cameras may
be standalone or they may be attached to or integrated with the
shaped beam transmission units. FIG. 1 illustrates both
possibilities, with one camera 130 attached to a beam transmission
unit 103, and two additional standalone cameras 130. Some
embodiments may use non-visible light frequencies, such as
infrared, for the generation and analysis of test patterns. As
illustrated in FIG. 5, in such embodiments the response units may
have for example infrared emitters 504, and the cameras 130 may
include infrared capture elements. For example, the cameras 130
might include monochrome industrial Ethernet cameras with IR
filters. A benefit of using non-visible light is that human
observers of the system may not see the test patterns or the
distortion correction process as it occurs.
[0068] In one or more embodiments, some or all of the response
units may also incorporate sensors. FIG. 1 illustrates a response
unit with an accelerometer sensor 125. Messages from the server
directing responses may then make such responses dependent on both
local sensor readings and on the calculated local position of each
response unit. For example, personnel on a work site could be given
response units that include a temperature sensor. These response
units could be commanded to emit a warning light or sound if the
temperature becomes dangerously high. Potential sensors may
include, but are not limited to, accelerometers, gyroscopes, rate
gyroscopes, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, magnetometers,
sensors of human physiology, depth sensors, motion sensors,
velocity sensors, or proximity sensors.
[0069] In some embodiments it may be desirable to transmit sensor
readings back from response units to the server. In these
embodiments some or all of the response units 120 may include
transmitters 126, and the server may be attached to one or more
receivers 131 to receive the messages 127 sent back from the
response units 120. In some embodiments the server may be
configured to send messages 102 requesting sensor data from the
response units. Some embodiments may include messages that specify
criteria for sensor readings, and instruct the response units to
send sensor data only if it meets the specified criteria. For
example, a server may poll periodically for sensor readings that
exceed a threshold.
[0070] In one or more embodiments, the response units may also
include one or more user input devices. Such devices might include
for example keypads, touchscreens, buttons, or joysticks. FIG. 1
illustrates an embodiment of a response unit 120 with an attached
keypad 128. As with the sensor data, the response units may be
configured with transmitters 126 to transmit user input back to the
server, and the server may be configured to poll for user input
data as desired.
[0071] The action modules in the response units may emit or modify
various types of physical signals, including, but not limited to,
light, sound, vibration, non-visible light, electricity, shock, or
buzzing, temperature or any other physical signal.
[0072] In some embodiments the response units may be capable of
being worn by a person. For example they may include a strap, pin,
clip, lanyard, or other attachment device to attach to clothing or
to parts of the body. Some embodiments may incorporate response
units into articles of clothing, caps or hats, or accessories such
as jewelry or watches. In other embodiments the response units may
be hand-held by a person.
[0073] Response units may calculate their local position using the
intensity of the shaped beam signals that they receive. In some
embodiments the intensity pattern of the shaped beam signals may be
approximately Gaussian; this pattern can simplify the calculation
of the local position.
[0074] FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of such Gaussian signals
and the position calculations. As shown, two shaped beam signals
105 are projected onto a plane approximately perpendicular to the
aim of the shaped beam antennas. Each of the Gaussian shaped beams
105 has an intensity I at location r 601 in this plane defined by
I=I.sub.0e.sup.-|r-r.sup.c.sup.|.sup.2.sup./2.sigma..sup.2, where
r.sub.c is the location in the plane of the center ray of the beam,
and I.sub.0 and .sigma. are constants characteristic of the beam
transmitter. For one of the two beams, the center ray's
intersection with the plane is at r.sub.1 602, and for the other
beam it is at r.sub.2 603. For Gaussian beams, the logarithm of the
intensity permits a simple calculation to determine local position
in the perpendicular plane. The natural logarithm of the intensity
is: ln I=ln I.sub.0-|r-r.sub.c|.sup.2/2.sigma..sup.2. Using the
relative intensity of two shaped beam signals with different center
rays r.sub.1, r.sub.2, where the two beams have identical shapes
but are aimed in different directions, the difference in the
logarithms of intensity is .DELTA. ln
I = - r - r 1 2 2 .sigma. 2 + r - r 2 2 2 .sigma. 2 = 1 2 .sigma. 2
( 2 r r 12 + r 12 2 ) , ##EQU00004##
where the rr.sub.12 term is the projection of the position along
the line joining the beam centers, and the |r.sub.12|.sup.2 is the
beam center distance squared. Terms .sigma..sup.2 and |r.sub.12|
are known characteristics of the beam intensity profiles; thus
rr.sub.12 can be calculated easily. As shown in FIG. 6, the
one-dimensional position along the line joining the beam centers, d
604 is given by
d = r r 12 r 12 . ##EQU00005##
This calculation requires only the use of addition and
multiplication or division, which enables the use of inexpensive
microcontrollers to accomplish this task quickly. The logarithm of
the signal intensity is often available directly since radio
receivers often provide received signal strength indicator (RSSI)
on a logarithmic scale.
[0075] In some embodiments the local position may be calculated by
response units using the relative intensity of multiple shaped beam
signals rather than their absolute intensity. This approach offers
the advantage of automatically compensating for many distortions of
beams that emanate from the same beam transmitter. If the
distortions occur equally for beams from the same receiver, then
the relative signal intensity of the beams remains the same in
spite of these distortions. Continuing the Gaussian signal example
from above, the intensity constant l.sub.o is not used in the
position calculation; thus only the relative intensity of the two
beams is used.
[0076] Accurate calculations of local positions depend in part on
the precision of the manufacturing, installation, and calibration
of the beam transmission units and the shaped beam signals.
Different embodiments may employ levels of precision that are
appropriate to their application. For example, embodiments may
allow local position to be accurate within 3 feet, within 1 foot,
or within 1 inch, or approximately 1 m, 0.3 m, 2.5 cm or any other
accuracy level as desired by the particular application.
[0077] Some embodiments use shaped beam antennas that project high
quality beams, and are well aligned in order for the calculated
position to be precise and reliable. Precision of antenna
fabrication enables the achievement of precise location
determination. In some embodiments the dimensions of the shaped
beam antennas may be maintained to 0.5 mm precision. In addition,
the beam directions may be aligned so that the beam spot
uncertainty at the Unit plane is below the expected location
accuracy to enable the desired accuracy. For a nominal operating
scenario with a desired accuracy of approximately 1 feet this
translates into an alignment precision of below 1 mrad. This
precision is achievable with commercial sighting and surveying
tools, and proper mechanical mounting should hold this alignment
indefinitely. In some embodiments the antennas may also have
additional absorbing elements to improve the beam shape and control
side lobes.
[0078] Some embodiments provide for the display of images on a set
of response units. For example, as mentioned above, an embodiment
of the system may be used to create large images, text messages and
videos or any combination thereof within an area such as a stadium
by providing light-emitting response units to the spectators. In
some of these embodiments, the server computer may store or
generate one or more graphical images and transmit messages to the
response units to display these images on the response units. Some
embodiments may treat each response unit as a pixel in the image.
The processor of each response unit may calculate its location, and
then determine the intensity and color of the light to emit from
the response unit based on its location and on the image messages
received from the server. The combination of all response units
forms an overall image. This is illustrated in FIG. 7, with server
101 sending shaped beams and messages via beam transmitter 103 to
local area 106. A large number of response units 120 are located in
the local area, each equipped to emit light and form a single pixel
of image 701. FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment with such image
display applied to an entire stadium 402. Here the image 701 is
spread across the stands of the stadium with each spectator
providing a pixel of the image. The server may also break an image
into sub-images and send different messages to groups of response
units to construct an overall image from the sub-images.
[0079] Messages from the server to display graphical images may in
some embodiments contain descriptions of one or more shapes. FIG. 9
illustrates an embodiment of a system using this type of graphical
message. For example, these messages 102 might identify the type of
shape 901, such as rectangle, triangle, circle, or any other shape;
points on the shape defining its perimeter 904; and the color of
the interior 902 and exterior 903 of the shape. These messages may
be broadcast to response units in local area 106, and each response
unit may determine based on its location whether it is in the
interior or exterior of the shape. Such techniques allow broadcast
messages 102 to control the display 910 generated by a possibly
large number of response units.
[0080] In some embodiments the messages with shapes might further
define the motion of shapes over time. For example a message might
include a velocity vector 920 that defines the direction and speed
of a shape's motion. Response units can use the motion data to
calculate their displays over time 910, 921. Such techniques make
communication between the server and the response units more
efficient since a single message can control changing displays over
a period of time.
[0081] In other embodiments the messages from the server may carry
additional information, such as timestamps for the current time,
other timing information for synchronization of actions, required
duration of motions, or descriptions of periodic or repeated
motions. Other embodiments may use more sophisticated graphics,
such as multi-layer shapes, parameterized shapes or curves, or
texture codes. In some embodiments the calibrated locations of the
transmitters, or the definition of the predefined shapes of the
shaped beam signals, may be sent to assist with calculation of
local positions.
[0082] In some embodiments the messages from the server may include
error detection codes or error correction codes 905. Since some
embodiments use broadcast messages from the server, it may not be
efficient in some embodiments to use acknowledgements or
retransmissions to ensure reliable communication. Embedding error
detection or correction codes into the messages improves the
reliability of these broadcast messages without complex
two-directional communication.
[0083] The local area for some embodiments of the system may
include, without limitation, a sports stadium (as illustrated in
402), sports field, concert hall, amphitheater, theater, track,
gymnasium, or arena.
[0084] Applications for some embodiments of the system may include
providing a virtual fence around a portion of a local area. FIG. 10
illustrates such an embodiment with virtual fence 1001 defined to
cover a portion of local area 106. In these embodiments response
units 120 may be equipped with feedback devices that are actuated
when a response unit moves out of or close to the boundary 1001 of
this virtual fenced-in portion. For example, the wearer of a
response unit might be given a shock 1002 to stop the wearer from
leaving the fenced-in portion.
[0085] In other applications in one or more other embodiments, the
system may provide warnings to other users about the approach or
entry of a device or user into a defined area. For example, in one
or more embodiments response units may be integrated into vehicles,
and defined areas of possible safety hazards may be defined and/or
otherwise detected by the system (somewhat similar to the virtual
fences described above). As a vehicle approaches such an area, an
embodiment of the response unit in the vehicle may detect its
position and inform the server of its approach. The server may in
turn send messages to other response units that may for example be
embedded into road signs or road reflectors or other vehicles.
These response units may be commanded to light up to alert other
drivers of the approach of another vehicle. Such as system may for
example be used to warn a vehicle of the approach of another
vehicle around a blind turn. In one or more embodiments, one or
more vehicles may also include an embodiment of the response unit
and automatically dim headlights, for example when within a
predefined distance from another of the response units mounted on
another vehicle, e.g., 100 meters or the local limit according to
the law at that location. One or more embodiments may also lower
the sound volume in the vehicle audio system, play an alert audio,
or otherwise prepare the vehicle for oncoming traffic based on
position as determine by a response unit accessible by the vehicle,
whether on the road or a sign or marker proximal to the vehicle, or
on or in the vehicle. Alternatively or in combination, one or more
embodiments may detect road conditions and tag the event with a
position, so that other vehicles approaching the road condition,
e.g., ice detected by the slip detection module in the vehicle
and/or accelerometers are alerted to the road condition at a
location and for example time. Road markers that may detect snow or
ice or water or any other physical condition and send a message
including the position is in keeping with the spirit of the
invention.
[0086] Other applications in other embodiments may include feedback
to sports players or coaches when a player moves into or out of a
prescribed location, area, or trajectory. FIG. 11 illustrates such
an embodiment that is used to check whether a football receiver in
practice may be practicing running a particular pattern. The player
might wear a response unit that lights up or turns a different
color if the player does not run the correct pattern. This feedback
might alert coaches that the player made an error. In the example
shown, player 1101 wearing a response unit is supposed to run a
pattern terminating at location 1102. Instead the player runs in
trajectory 1103, and his response unit provides visual feedback
1104 of the error.
[0087] FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of a system to award
prizes or otherwise indicate a subset of the response units. For
example, server messages might select particular locations for
awards and send messages to provide feedback to response units in
only those locations that they have won awards. The selection of
response units for awards or prizes may for example be random,
based on location, based on sensor readings, or based on user
input. Response units are distributed to spectators in a stadium
402. Various images are displayed throughout an event, but at some
point an announcement is made that only a portion of the spectators
will receive a prize. Then the display is changed to provide image
1201 in the stands, and spectators within that image will receive
the prize. Alternatively or in combination, a single response unit
1201a may be asserted or information otherwise displayed thereon in
a lottery style application, or to show information related to that
particular location in a museum, art gallery or scavenger hunt
scenario, or a row or other geometrical shape based set of response
units 1201b such as a winning row may be asserted or otherwise
provided with information or a capability.
[0088] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by
means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous
modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled
in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set
forth in the claims.
* * * * *