Frequency channel diversity for real-time locating systems, methods, and computer program products
Provided are architectures, systems, methods, and computer program products for real-time object locating and position determination using frequency channel diversity for transmitting and receiving position determination signals including bursts of location signals. Channelized frequency diversity of a short burst of small location signals that “hop” across multiple frequency channels is used to collectively produce a quasi-wideband position determination signal. Object tags operating with frequency channel diversity for transmitting location signals of position determination signals require low power consumption, but can still efficiently provide adequate position determination signals for reliable position determination.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, from at least one receiver configured to detect a location signal according to a first signal polarity, a first instance of the location signal;
receiving, from at least one receiver configured to detect the location signal according to a second signal polarity different than the first signal polarity, a second instance of the location signal;
determining, by a processor, a position of an object based on at least one of the first instance of the location signal and the second instance of the location signal, wherein the location signal is transmitted from at least one tag configured to transmit the location signal according to the first signal polarity and the second signal polarity.
2. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one receiver configured to detect the location signal according to the first signal polarity is configured to monitor a first frequency channel and a second frequency channel different than the first frequency channel.
3. A method as defined in claim 2 , wherein the at least one receiver configured to detect the location signal according to the second signal polarity is configured to monitor the first frequency channel and the second frequency channel.
4. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one receiver configured to detect the location signal according to the first signal polarity is configured to monitor a first set of frequency channels and a second set of frequency channels different than the first set of frequency channels.
5. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein a first one of the at least one tag is configured to transmit the location signal according to the first signal polarity, and a second one of the at least one tag is configured to transmit the location signal according to the second signal polarity.
6. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein a controller of the at least one tag is configured to dynamically adjust a time duration of a burst of the location signal.
7. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein a controller of the at least one receiver is configured to discard the location signal in response to the location signal being outside of an acceptable range of values.
8. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising measuring a first arrival time of the first instance of the location signal and a second arrival time of the second instance of the location signal, wherein the determining of the position of the object is based on the first and second arrival times.
9. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one receiver configured to detect the location signal according to the first signal polarity is a same receiver as the at least one receiver configured to detect the location signal according to the second signal polarity.
10. A system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first receiver is a same receiver as the second receiver.
11. A system comprising:
a first receiver configured to receive a location signal transmitted at a first signal polarity;
a second wireless receiver configured to receive the location signal transmitted at a second signal polarity, wherein the first signal polarity is at a different polarity than the second signal polarity;
a controller configured to determine a position of an object based on the location signal as received at the first wireless receiver and as received at the second wireless receiver.
12. A system as defined in claim 11 , wherein the first receiver is configured to monitor a first frequency channel and a second frequency channel different than the first frequency channel.
13. A system as defined in claim 12 , wherein the second receiver is configured to monitor the first frequency channel and the second frequency channel.
14. A system as defined in claim 11 , wherein the first receiver is configured to monitor a first set of frequency channels and a second set of frequency channels different than the first set of frequency channels.
15. A system as defined in claim 11 , further comprising tags configured to transmit the location signal according to the first signal polarity and the second signal polarity.
16. A system as defined in claim 11 , wherein the tags are configured to dynamically adjust a time duration of a burst of the location signal.
17. A system as defined in claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to discard the location signal in response to the location signal being outside of an acceptable range of values.
18. A system as defined in claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to measure a first arrival time of a first instance of the location signal and a second arrival time of a second instance of the location signal, and the determination of the position of the object is based on the first and second arrival times.