LOCAITON DETERMINATION IN AN INDOOR SPACE

1 . A method for locating a user within an indoor space, the method comprises: receiving by a computer, distance information about distances between multiple wireless tags that are positioned within the indoor space; wherein the distance information is obtained by the multiple wireless tags during a first type of distance estimation process that comprises wirelessly transmitting messages between the multiple wireless tags; determining locations of the wireless tags in the indoor space in response to the distance information and to calibration information indicative of an actual or estimated location of at least one wireless tag in the indoor space; receiving, from a user device, user device location information related to a location of the user device in relation to a sub-set of the wireless tags; determining a location of the user device within the indoor space in response to the user device location information and to locations of the wireless tags of the sub-set of wireless tags in the indoor space.

2 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the user device location information is obtained by applying a second type of distance estimation process that differs from the first type of distance estimation process.

3 . The method according to claim 2 wherein the second type of distance estimation process is based upon received signal strength indication (RSSI) measurements of beacons transmitted from the wireless tags of the sub-set of wireless tags; and wherein the first type of distance estimation is based upon tome of flight measurements.

4 . The method according to claim 1 wherein each wireless tag of the multiple wireless tags has a unique identifier that is included in messages transmitted by the wireless tag during the second type of second type of distance estimation process.

5 . The method according to claim 1 comprising: receiving a map of the indoor space, the map is indicative of shapes and orientations of multiple objects within the indoor space to which wireless tags are attached; determining spatial relationships between the multiple wireless tags based upon the distance information; and calculating the calibration information based upon similarities between a shape and an orientation of at least one object and between spatial relationships between objects that are attached to the at least one object.

6 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the multiple wireless tags comprise at least one hundred wireless tags and wherein a distance between adjacent wireless tags positioned on a same side of an object does not exceed 100 centimeters.

7 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the first type of distance estimation process comprises wirelessly transmitting Bluetooth low energy messages between the multiple wireless tags.

8 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the first type of distance estimation process comprises wirelessly transmitting wideband and narrowband messages between the multiple wireless tags.

9 . The method according to claim 1 comprising transmitting to the user device messages in response to the location of the user device.

10 . A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to execute the stages of: receiving by a computer, distance information about distances between multiple wireless tags that are positioned within an indoor space; wherein the distance information is obtained by the multiple wireless tags during a first type of distance estimation process that comprises wirelessly transmitting messages between the multiple wireless tags; determining locations of the wireless tags in the indoor space in response to the distance information and to calibration information indicative of an actual or estimated location of at least one wireless tag in the indoor space; receiving, from a user device, user device location information related to a location of the user device in relation to a sub-set of the wireless tags; determining a location of the user device within the indoor space in response to the user device location information and to locations of the wireless tags of the sub-set of wireless tags in the indoor space.

11 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 10 wherein the user device location information is obtained by applying a second type of distance estimation process that differs from the first type of distance estimation process.

12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11 wherein the second type of distance estimation process is based upon received signal strength indication (RSSI) measurements of beacons transmitted from the wireless tags of the sub-set of wireless tags; and wherein the first type of distance estimation is based upon tome of flight measurements.

13 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11 wherein each wireless tag of the multiple wireless tags has a unique identifier that is included in messages transmitted by the wireless tag during the second type of second type of distance estimation process.

14 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11 that stores instructions for receiving a map of the indoor space, the map is indicative of shapes and orientations of multiple objects within the indoor space to which wireless tags are attached; determining spatial relationships between the multiple wireless tags based upon the distance information; and calculating the calibration information based upon similarities between a shape and an orientation of at least one object and between spatial relationships between objects that are attached to the at least one object.

15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11 wherein the multiple wireless tags comprise at least one hundred wireless tags and wherein a distance between adjacent wireless tags positioned on a same side of an object does not exceed 100 centimeters.

16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11 wherein the first type of distance estimation process comprises wirelessly transmitting Bluetooth low energy messages between the multiple wireless tags.

17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11 wherein the first type of distance estimation process comprises wirelessly transmitting wideband and narrowband messages between the multiple wireless tags.

18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11 that stores instructions that when executed by the computer will cause the computer to transmit to the user device messages in response to the location of the user device.

19 . A device comprising an interface and a processor; wherein the interface is arranged to receive distance information about distances between multiple wireless tags that are positioned within the indoor space; wherein the distance information is obtained by the multiple wireless tags during a first type of distance estimation process that comprises wirelessly transmitting messages between the multiple wireless tags; wherein the processor is arranged to determine locations of the wireless tags in the indoor space in response to the distance information and to calibration information indicative of an actual or estimated location of at least one wireless tag in the indoor space; wherein the interface is arranged to receive, from a user device, user device location information related to a location of the user device in relation to a sub-set of the wireless tags; and wherein the processor is arranged to determine a location of the user device within the indoor space in response to the user device location information and to locations of the wireless tags of the sub-set of wireless tags in the indoor space.