The global positioning system (GPS) and other like satellite and terrestrial positioning systems have enabled navigation services for devices in outdoor environments. Meanwhile, as satellite positioning is of limited use for indoor environments, locating devices in indoor environments encounter a lot of challenges.
As the implementation of Internet of Things (IoT) gets popular, the needs for indoor location service emerge. For example, a client (e.g. an application, a server, or a user) may need to know the location of each indoor device for various scenarios such as the products in the store or the navigation in the public buildings. Various techniques have developed for determining mobile device location indoors, e.g., using signals from access points (APs) and/or other devices using WiFi and/or short-range wireless protocols such as BLUETOOTH®. However, one major drawback of the present technology is that the client needs to manually sets and updates the location information of the indoor devices via WLAN or Internet. Therefore, how to provide the location information of the indoor devices automatically is an important problem to be solved.
It is an objective of the invention to provide a communication apparatus, in order to solve the above problem.
An embodiment of the invention provides a method for a location tracking, applied to a mobile device, an indoor access point (AP) and at least one indoor Internet of Things (IoT) device, comprising: receiving, by the indoor AP, a first set of location information of the mobile device from the mobile device at outdoor, wherein the first set of location information is determined according to a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS); determining, by the indoor AP, a second set of location information of the indoor AP according to the first set of location information; determining, by the indoor AP, a third set of location information of the at least one indoor IoT device according to the second set of location information; and transmitting, by the indoor AP, the third set of location information to the at least one indoor IoT device; wherein the first set of location information, the second set of location information and the third set of location information are related to GNSS coordinates, angle of arrival (AoA) information and ranging information.
An embodiment of the invention provides a method for a location tracking, applied to a location tracking system (LTS) comprising a mobile device, an indoor access point (AP) and at least one indoor Internet of Things (IoT) device, comprising: obtaining, by the mobile device, a first set of location information of the mobile device according to a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS); determining, by the mobile device, a second set of location information of the indoor AP according to the first set of location information; transmitting, by the mobile device, the second set of location information to the indoor AP; determining, by the indoor AP, a third set of location information of the at least one indoor IoT device according to the second set of location information; and receiving, by the at least one indoor IoT device, the third set of location information from the indoor AP.
These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims, which refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, electronic equipment manufacturers may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not in function. In the following description and in the claims, the terms “include” and “comprise” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “include, but not limited to . . . ”. Also, the term “couple” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct electrical connection. Accordingly, if one device is coupled to another device, that connection may be through a direct electrical connection, or through an indirect electrical connection via other devices and connections. In addition, the operation “determine” may be replaced by the operation “compute”, “calculate”, “obtain”, “generate”, “output, “use”, “choose/select”, “decide” or “is configured to”.
In the location tracking system 100, the mobile device 110 and the indoor AP 120 can be seen as an initiator station (ISTA) or a responder station (RSTA) according to direction (i.e., transmission direction). The mobile device 110 is the ISTA and the indoor AP 120 is the RSTA. Or, the mobile device 110 is the RSTA and the indoor AP 120 is the ISTA. In addition, the indoor AP 120 and an indoor IoT device 130 can be seen as an ISTA or an RSTA according to direction (i.e., transmission direction). The indoor AP 120 is the ISTA and the indoor IoT device 130 is the RSTA. Or, the indoor AP 120 is the RSTA and the indoor IoT device 130 is the ISTA.
Step S200: Start.
Step S202: The indoor AP receives a first set of location information of the mobile device from the mobile device at outdoor, wherein the first set of location information is determined according to a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).
Step S204: The indoor AP determines a second set of location information of the indoor AP according to the first set of location information.
Step S206: The indoor AP determines a third set of location information of the at least one indoor IoT device according to the second set of location information.
Step S208: The indoor AP transmits the third set of location information to the at least one indoor IoT device.
Step S210: End.
According to the process 20, the location tracking system 100 determines a second set of location information of the indoor AP 120 according to a first set of location information of the mobile device 110, and determines a third set of location of the at least one indoor IoT device 130 according to the second set of location information of the indoor AP 120. Therefore, the location information of the indoor AP 120 and the at least one indoor IoT device 130 are provided/updated automatically instead of being set manually.
Realization of the process 20 is not limited to the above description. The following embodiments of the invention may be applied to realize the process 20.
In an embodiment of the invention, the first set of location information, the second set of location information and the third set of location information are related to (e.g., comprise) GNSS coordinates, angle of arrival (AoA) information and ranging information. In an embodiment of the invention, the AoA information comprises an AoA related to the mobile device 110 and the indoor AP 120 and/or an AoA(s) related to the indoor AP 120 and the at least one indoor IoT device 130. In an embodiment of the invention, the ranging information comprises a range between the mobile device 110 and the indoor AP 120 and/or a range(s) between the indoor AP 120 and the at least one indoor IoT device 130.
In an embodiment of the invention, the indoor AP 120 receives a request frame for requesting the ranging information (e.g., from the mobile device 110), and transmits the ranging information (e.g., to the mobile device 110) in response to the request frame. In an embodiment of the invention, the mobile device 110 obtains the AoA information according to at least one first measurement. In an embodiment of the invention, the indoor AP 120 obtains the at least one AoA information according to at least one second measurement. In an embodiment of the invention, the GNSS coordinates are World Geodetic System-1984 Coordinate System (WGS-84) coordinates.
In an embodiment of the invention, the mobile device 110 transits a first capability (e.g., a request capability) of the mobile device 110 to the indoor AP 120, to inform that the mobile device 110 supports a Fine Time Measurement (FTM) Responder and that a Vendor information element (IE) communicated by the mobile device 110 supports an auto locator function. In an embodiment of the invention, the indoor AP 120 transits a second capability to the mobile device 110 and the at least one indoor IoT device 130 (e.g., in a beacon frame), to inform that the indoor AP 120 supports an FTM Initiator and that a Vendor IE communicated by the indoor AP 120 supports the auto locator function. In an embodiment of the invention, the at least one indoor IoT device 130 transits a third capability (e.g., a request capability) of the at least one indoor IoT device 130 to the indoor AP 120, to inform that the at least one indoor IoT device 130 supports the FTM Responder and that a Vendor IE communicated by the at least one indoor IoT device 130 supports the auto locator function.
In an embodiment of the invention, the second set of location information is determined according to the first set of location information periodically, to update the second set of location information. In an embodiment of the invention, the second set of location information is determined according to the first set of location information, when an event occurs (e.g., the mobile device 110 enters indoors). In an embodiment of the invention, the third set of location information is determined according to the second set of location information periodically, to update the third set of location information.
In an embodiment of the invention, the first set of location information is received in a first frame (e.g., a local measurement report (LMR) frame). In an embodiment of the invention, the first frame comprises a first auto locator field (e.g., a first auto locator IE). The first auto locator field comprises the first set of location information. In an embodiment of the invention, the first frame comprises a time of delivery (ToD) field and a time of arrival (ToA) field. The ToD field and the ToA field are used for the indoor AP 120 to obtain the ranging information.
In an embodiment of the invention, the third set of location information is transmitted in a second frame (e.g., an FTM frame). In an embodiment of the invention, the second frame comprises a second auto locator field (e.g., a second auto locator IE). The second auto locator field comprises the third set of location information. In an embodiment of the invention, the request frame has an auto locator frame format.
Step S300: Start.
Step S302: The mobile device obtains a first set of location information of the mobile device according to a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).
Step S304: The mobile device determines a second set of location information of the indoor AP according to the first set of location information.
Step S306: The mobile device transmits the second set of location information to the indoor AP.
Step S308: The indoor AP determines a third set of location information of at least one indoor IoT device according to the second set of location information.
Step S310: The at least one indoor IoT device receives the third set of location information from the indoor AP.
Step S312: End.
According to the process 30, the location tracking system 100 determines a second set of location information of the indoor AP 120 according to a first set of location information of the mobile device 110, and determines a third set of location information of the at least one indoor IoT device 130 according to the second set of location information of the indoor AP 120. Therefore, the location information of the indoor AP 120 and the at least one indoor IoT device 130 are provided/updated automatically instead of being set manually.
Realization of the process 30 is not limited to the above description. The following embodiments of the invention may be applied to realize the process 30.
In an embodiment of the invention, the mobile device 110 obtains first location information of the mobile device 110 according to the GNSS, when the mobile device 110 enters indoors (e.g., home, office or mall).
In an embodiment of the invention, the first set of location information comprises a first GNSS coordinate of the mobile device 110, an AoA information and ranging information. The AoA information comprises an AoA related to the mobile device 110 and the indoor AP 120, and the ranging information comprises a range between the mobile device 110 and the indoor AP 120. In an embodiment of the invention, the mobile device 110 transmits a first request frame for requesting the ranging information to the indoor AP 120. The indoor AP 120 determines the ranging information in response to the first request frame. Then, the mobile device 110 receives the ranging information from the indoor AP 120. In an embodiment of the invention, the mobile device 110 obtains the AoA information according to at least one first measurement.
In an embodiment of the invention, the second set of location information comprises a second GNSS coordinate of the indoor AP, at least one AoA information and at least one ranging information. The at least one AoA information comprises at least one AoA related to the indoor AP 120 and the at least one indoor IoT device 130, and the at least one ranging information comprises at least one range between the indoor AP 120 and the at least one indoor IoT device 130. In an embodiment of the invention, the indoor AP 120 transmits a second request frame for requesting the at least one ranging information to the at least one indoor IoT device 130. The at least one indoor IoT device 130 determines the at least one ranging information in response to the second request frame. Then, the indoor AP 120 receives the at least one ranging information from the at least one indoor IoT device 130. In an embodiment of the invention, the indoor AP 120 obtains the at least one AoA information according to at least one second measurement.
In an embodiment of the invention, the GNSS comprises (e.g., is) a Global Positioning System (GPS), a Globalnaya Navigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema (GLONASS), a BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) or a Galileo Navigation Satellite System, but is not limited herein. In an embodiment of the invention, the first GNSS coordinate and the second GNSS coordinate are WGS-84 coordinates.
In an embodiment of the invention, the mobile device 110 transmits a first capability (e.g., a request capability) of the mobile device 110 to the indoor AP 120, to inform that the mobile device 110 supports an FTM Responder and that a Vendor IE communicated (e.g., transmitted and/or received) by the mobile device 110 supports an auto locator function. In an embodiment of the invention, the indoor AP 120 transmits a second capability to the mobile device 110 and the at least one indoor IoT device 130 (e.g., in a beacon frame), to inform that the indoor AP 120 supports an FTM Initiator and that a Vendor IE communicated by the indoor AP 120 supports an auto locator function. In an embodiment of the invention, the at least one indoor IoT device 130 transmits a third capability (e.g., a request capability) of the at least one indoor IoT device 130 to the indoor AP 120, to inform that the at least one indoor IoT device 130 supports an FTM Responder and that a Vendor IE communicated by the at least one indoor IoT device 130 supports an auto locator function.
In an embodiment of the invention, the mobile device 110 determines the second set of location information according to the first set of location information periodically, to update the second set of location information. In an embodiment of the invention, the mobile device 110 determines or updates the second set of location information according to the first set of location information, when the mobile device 110 enters indoors. In an embodiment of the invention, the indoor AP 120 receives the updated second set of location information from the mobile device 110, after the mobile device 110 updates the second set of location information. That is, the second set of location information is updated periodically, or is updated when an event occurs. In an embodiment of the invention, the indoor AP 120 determines the third set of location information according to the second set of location information periodically, to update the third set of location information. In an embodiment of the invention, the at least one indoor IoT device 130 receives the updated third set of location information from the indoor AP 120, after the indoor AP 120 updates the third set of location information. That is, the third set of location information is updated periodically.
In an embodiment of the invention, the second set of location information is transmitted in a first frame (e.g., a local measurement report (LMR) frame). In an embodiment of the invention, the first frame comprises a first auto locator field (e.g., a first auto locator IE). The first auto locator field comprises the second set of location information. In an embodiment of the invention, the first frame comprises a time of delivery (ToD) field and a time of arrival (ToA) field. The ToD field and the ToA field are used for the mobile device 110 to obtain the ranging information.
In an embodiment of the invention, the third set of location information is transmitted in a second frame (e.g., an FTM frame). In an embodiment of the invention, the second frame comprises a second auto locator field (e.g., a second auto locator IE). The second auto locator field comprises the third set of location information. In an embodiment of the invention, the first request frame (e.g., an FTM request frame) and the second request frame (e.g., a radio measurement request frame) have an auto locator frame format.
Then, the AP 420 transmits a radio measurement request frame to the IoT devices 430. The IoT devices 430 determine ranges between the AP 420 and the IoT devices 430 in response to the radio measurement request frame, respectively, and transmit the ranges to the AP 420, respectively. The AP 420 obtains AoAs related to the AP 420 and the IoT devices 430 according to measurements. The AoAs correspond to the IoT devices 430, respectively. Accordingly, the AP 420 determines the coordinate information of the IoT devices 430 according to the coordinate information of the AP 420, the ranges and the AoAs, and transmits the coordinate information of the IoT devices 430 in an FTM frame to the IoT devices 430.
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To sum up, the present invention provides a location tracking system and a corresponding method. The location tracking system comprises a mobile device, an indoor AP and an indoor IoT device(s). The location tracking system determines the location information of the indoor AP according to the location information of the mobile device, and determines the location information of the indoor IoT device(s) according to the location information of the indoor AP. In addition, the location information of the mobile device is checked periodically by the indoor AP, or is checked when an event occurs. When the location information of the mobile device is updated, in response, the indoor AP would update the second set of information accordingly. If the update occurs, the location information of the indoor IoT device(s) is determined again according to the updated location information of the indoor AP. Accordingly, the locations of the indoor AP and the indoor IoT device(s) are provide/updated automatically.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/344,080, filed on May 20, 2022. The content of the application is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63344080 | May 2022 | US |