Recursive real time positioning system setup method for immediate convergence of functional system setup

1. A method, for onboarding a set of positioning devices to a positioning system, comprising:

issuing a human-perceptible unconnected indicator from a first positioning device in the set of positioning devices;

issuing a second human-perceptible unconnected indicator from a second positioning device in the set of positioning devices;

wherein the positioning system exclusively identifies a failure to provide an adequate connection between the first positioning device and the second positioning device using the human-perceptible unconnected indicator and the second human-perceptible unconnected indicator;

detecting a connection using a wireless receiver on the first positioning device, wherein the connection is between the first positioning device and the second positioning device in the set of positioning devices; and

issuing, in direct and automatic response to the detecting of the connection, a human-perceptible connected indicator from the first positioning device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a position of the first positioning device using: (i) the wireless receiver; and (ii) multi-lateration conducted on a set of signals transmitted by the positioning system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the human-perceptible unconnected indicator is an audible text message; and

the human-perceptible unconnected indicator identifies an unconnected positioning device in the positioning system.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting an unconnected state using the wireless receiver on the first positioning device;

wherein the unconnected state is one of: (i) a non-line of sight condition with the second positioning device in the set of positioning devices; and (ii) an out of range condition with the second positioning device in the set of positioning devices; and

wherein the human-perceptible unconnected indicator is issued continuously from when the unconnected state is determined until when the connection is detected.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an unconnected state using a processor on the first positioning device;

wherein the human-perceptible unconnected indicator is issued continuously from when the unconnected state is determined until when the connection is detected; and

wherein the human-perceptible unconnected indicator is in the form of visible light.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein:

the human-perceptible connected indicator is issued continuously, from the first positioning device, after the connection is detected;

the human-perceptible unconnected indicator is in the form of visible light of a first color;

the human-perceptible connected indicator is in the form of visible light of a second color; and

the first color and the second color are different.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

determining a first distance between the first positioning device and the second positioning device using the set of positioning devices;

determining a second distance between the first positioning device and a third positioning device using the set of positioning devices;

determining a third distance between the second positioning device and the third positioning device using the set of positioning devices; and

wherein determining the unconnected state involves evaluating the first, second, and third distances.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a position value for an object using a set of signals transmitted from a subset of positioning devices in the set of positioning devices;

determining a position value for the first positioning device using a second set of signals transmitted from the subset of positioning devices;

determining a first distance value using the position value of the object and the position value for the first positioning device;

determining a second distance value from the object to the first positioning device using a signal transmitted from the first positioning device; and

detecting an unconnected state by evaluating the first distance value and the second distance value.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an unconnected state using a processor on the first positioning device;

wherein the unconnected state is inferred from preprogrammed knowledge, stored by the positioning system, of the size of the set of positioning devices.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the human-perceptible unconnected indicator and the second human-perceptible unconnected indicator are in the form of visible light of a first color;

the human-perceptible connected indicator is in the form of visible light of a second color; and

the first color and the second color are different.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for executing a method by a positioning system, wherein the method comprises:

issuing a human-perceptible unconnected indicator from a first positioning device in a set of positioning devices;

issuing a second human-perceptible unconnected indicator from a second positioning device in the set of positioning devices;

wherein the positioning system exclusively identifies a failure to provide an adequate connection between the first positioning device and the second positioning device using the human-perceptible unconnected indicator and the second human-perceptible unconnected indicator;

detecting a connection using a wireless receiver on the first positioning device, wherein the connection is between the first positioning device and the second positioning device in the set of positioning devices; and

issuing, in direct and automatic response to the detecting of the connection, a human-perceptible connected indicator from the first positioning device.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:

determining a position of the first positioning device using: (i) the wireless receiver; and (ii) multi-lateration conducted on a set of signals transmitted by the set of positioning devices.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein:

the human-perceptible unconnected indicator is an audible text message; and

the human-perceptible unconnected indicator identifies an unconnected positioning device in the set of positioning devices.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:

detecting an unconnected state using the wireless receiver on the first positioning device;

wherein the unconnected state is one of: (i) a non-line of sight condition with the second positioning device in the set of positioning devices; and (ii) an out of range condition with the second positioning device in the set of positioning devices; and

wherein the human-perceptible unconnected indicator is issued continuously from when the unconnected state is determined until when the connection is detected.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:

determining an unconnected state using a processor on the first positioning device;

wherein the human-perceptible unconnected indicator is issued continuously from when the unconnected state is determined until when the connection is detected; and

wherein the human-perceptible unconnected indicator is in the form of visible light.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein:

the human-perceptible connected indicator is issued continuously, from the first positioning device, after the connection is detected;

the human-perceptible unconnected indicator is in the form of visible light of a first color;

the human-perceptible connected indicator is in the form of visible light of a second color; and

the first color and the second color are different.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:

determining a first distance between the first positioning device and the second positioning device using the set of positioning devices;

determining a second distance between the first positioning device and a third positioning device using the set of positioning devices;

determining a third distance between the second positioning device and the third positioning device using the set of positioning devices; and

wherein determining the unconnected state involves evaluating the first, second, and third distances.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:

determining a position value for an object using a set of signals transmitted from a subset of positioning devices in the set of positioning devices;

determining a position value for the first positioning device using a second set of signals transmitted from the subset of positioning devices;

determining a first distance value using the position value of the object and the position value for the first positioning device;

determining a second distance value from the object to the first positioning device using a signal transmitted from the first positioning device; and

detecting an unconnected state by evaluating the first distance value and the second distance value.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:

determining an unconnected state using a processor on the first positioning device;

wherein the unconnected state is inferred from preprogrammed knowledge of the size of the set of positioning devices.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein:

the human-perceptible unconnected indicator and second human-perceptible unconnected indicator are in the form of visible light of a first color;

the human-perceptible connected indicator is in the form of visible light of a second color; and

the first color and the second color are different.

21. A positioning system comprising:

a first positioning device with: (i) a wireless receiver; (ii) a means for issuing a human-perceptible unconnected indicator; (iii) a means for issuing a human-perceptible connected indicator; and (iii) a memory; and

a second positioning device with a means for issuing a second human-perceptible unconnected indicator;

wherein the memory stores instructions to:

detect a connection between the first positioning device and the second positioning device via the wireless receiver; and

automatically issue the human-perceptible connected indicator in direct response to detecting of the connection;

wherein the positioning system exclusively identifies a failure to provide an adequate connection between the first positioning device and the second positioning device using the human-perceptible unconnected indicator and the second human-perceptible unconnected indicator.

22. The positioning system of claim 21 , wherein the memory further stores instructions to:

determine a position of the first positioning device using: (i) the wireless receiver; and (ii) multi-lateration conducted on a set of signals transmitted by the positioning system.

23. The positioning system of claim 21 , wherein:

the human-perceptible unconnected indicator is an audible text message; and

the human-perceptible unconnected indicator identifies an unconnected positioning device in the positioning system.

24. The positioning system of claim 21 , wherein the memory further stores instructions to:

detect an unconnected state using the wireless receiver on the first positioning device;

wherein the unconnected state is one of: (i) a non-line of sight condition with the second positioning device; and (ii) an out of range condition with the second positioning device; and

wherein the human-perceptible unconnected indicator is issued continuously from when the unconnected state is determined until when the connection is detected.

25. The positioning system of claim 21 , wherein the memory further stores instructions to:

determine an unconnected state using a processor on the first positioning device;

wherein the human-perceptible unconnected indicator is issued continuously from when the unconnected state is determined until when the connection is detected; and

wherein the human-perceptible unconnected indicator is in the form of visible light.

26. A method, for onboarding a set of positioning devices to a positioning system, comprising:

issuing a human-perceptible unconnected indicator from a first positioning device in the set of positioning devices;

detecting a connection using a wireless receiver on the first positioning device, wherein the connection is between the first positioning device and a second positioning device in the set of positioning devices;

issuing, in direct and automatic response to the detecting of the connection, a human-perceptible connected indicator from the first positioning device;

determining a position value for an object using a set of signals transmitted from a subset of positioning devices in the set of positioning devices;

determining a position value for the first positioning device using a second set of signals transmitted from the subset of positioning devices;

determining a first distance value using the position value of the object and the position value for the first positioning device;

determining a second distance value from the object to the first positioning device using a signal transmitted from the first positioning device; and

detecting an unconnected state by evaluating the first distance value and the second distance value.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for executing a method, wherein the method comprises:

issuing a human-perceptible unconnected indicator from a first positioning device in a set of positioning devices;

detecting a connection using a wireless receiver on the first positioning device, wherein the connection is between the first positioning device and a second positioning device in the set of positioning devices;

issuing, in direct and automatic response to the detecting of the connection, a human-perceptible connected indicator from the first positioning device;

determining a position value for an object using a set of signals transmitted from a subset of positioning devices in the set of positioning devices;

determining a position value for the first positioning device using a second set of signals transmitted from the subset of positioning devices;

determining a first distance value using the position value of the object and the position value for the first positioning device;

determining a second distance value from the object to the first positioning device using a signal transmitted from the first positioning device; and

detecting an unconnected state by evaluating the first distance value and the second distance value.

28. A positioning system comprising:

a first positioning device with: (i) a wireless receiver; (ii) a means for issuing a human-perceptible unconnected indicator; (iii) a means for issuing a human-perceptible connected indicator; and (iii) a memory; and

a second positioning device;

wherein the memory stores instructions to:

detect a connection between the first positioning device and the second positioning device via the wireless receiver;

automatically issue the human-perceptible connected indicator in direct response to detecting of the connection;

determine a position value for an object using a set of signals transmitted from a subset of positioning devices in the positioning system;

determine a position value for the first positioning device using a second set of signals transmitted from the subset of positioning devices;

determine a first distance value using the position value of the object and the position value for the first positioning device;

determine a second distance value from the object to the first positioning device using a signal transmitted from the first positioning device; and

detect an unconnected state by evaluating the first distance value and the second distance value.

29. The method of claim 26 , further comprising:

issuing a second human-perceptible unconnected indicator from a second positioning device in the set of positioning devices;

wherein the positioning system exclusively identifies a failure to provide an adequate connection between the first positioning device and the second positioning device using the human-perceptible unconnected indicator and the second human-perceptible unconnected indicator.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27 , wherein the method further comprises:

issuing a second human-perceptible unconnected indicator from the second positioning device in the set of positioning devices; and

exclusively identify a failure to provide an adequate connection between the first positioning device and the second positioning device using the human-perceptible unconnected indicator and the second human-perceptible unconnected indicator.