Method, apparatus, and computer program product for employing a spatial association model in a real time location system
An example method includes determining that first locations of a first location tag and second locations of a second location tag indicate that the first location tag is moving at a different rate than the second location tag; and, in response to determining that the first and second locations indicate that the first location tag is moving at a different rate than the second location tag at a first time, determining a distance magnitude between the first location tag and the second location tag at the first time; comparing the distance magnitude to a reference distance; and determining, based on the comparing of the distance magnitude to the reference distance, whether the first and second locations indicate that a type of movement of an asset is rotational.
1. A method to identify a type of movement of an asset having a first location tag affixed thereto and a second location tag affixed thereto at a reference distance from the first location tag, the method comprising:
determining whether first locations of the first location tag and second locations of the second location tag indicate that the first location tag is moving at a different rate than the second location tag; and
in response to determining that the first and second locations indicate that the first location tag is moving at a different rate than the second location tag at a first time:
determining a distance magnitude between the first location tag and the second location tag at the first time;
comparing the distance magnitude to the reference distance; and
when a difference between the distance magnitude and the reference distance at the first time does not exceed a threshold, identifying the type of movement of the asset as a turn or a spin.
2. The method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising
when the difference between the distance magnitude and the reference distance at the first time exceeds the threshold at the first time, determining that at least one of the first locations or at least one of the second locations is erroneous and not indicative of the type of movement of the asset.
3. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the reference distance corresponds to a spatial association model associated with the asset.
4. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein determining whether the first locations and the second locations indicate that the first location tag is moving at a different rate than the second location tag comprises determining that the first locations indicate that the first location tag is stationary and determining that the second locations indicate that the second location tag is moving.
5. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the asset is a human being.
6. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the asset is an object.
7. An apparatus to identify a type of movement of an asset having a first location tag affixed thereto and a second location tag affixed thereto at a reference distance from the first location tag, the apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is configured by instructions stored in the memory to cause the apparatus to:
determine whether first locations of the first location tag and second locations of the second location tag indicate that the first location tag is moving at a different rate than the second location tag; and
in response to determining that the first and second locations indicate that the first location tag is moving at a different rate than the second location tag at a first time:
determine a distance magnitude between the first location tag and the second location tag at the first time;
compare the distance magnitude to the reference distance; and
when a difference between the distance magnitude and the reference distance at the first time does not exceed a threshold, identify the type of movement of the asset as a turn or a spin.
8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured by instructions stored in the memory to cause the apparatus to,
when the difference between the distance magnitude and the reference distance at the first time exceeds the threshold at the first time, determine that at least one of the first locations or at least one of the second locations is erroneous and not indicative of the type of movement of the asset.
9. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 , wherein the reference distance corresponds to a spatial association model associated with the asset.
10. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured by instructions stored in the memory to cause the apparatus to determine that the first locations and the second locations indicate that the first location tag is moving at a different rate than the second location tag by determining that the first locations indicate that the first location tag is stationary and determining that the second locations indicate that the second location tag is moving.
11. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 , wherein the asset is a human being.
12. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 , wherein the asset is an object.
13. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause an apparatus to:
receive first blink data from a first location tag affixed to an asset;
receive second blink data from a second location tag affixed to the asset at a reference distance from the first location tag;
determine whether first locations of the first location tag and second locations of the second location tag indicate that the first location tag is moving at a different rate than the second location tag; and
in response to determining that the first and second locations indicate that the first location tag is moving at a different rate than the second location tag at a first time:
determine a distance magnitude between the first location tag and the second location tag at the first time;
compare the distance magnitude to the reference distance; and
when a difference between the distance magnitude and the reference distance at the first time does not exceed a threshold, identify a type of movement of the asset as a turn or a spin.
14. The computer program product as defined in claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to,
when the difference between the distance magnitude and the reference distance at the first time exceeds the threshold at the first time, determine that at least one of the first locations or at least one of the second locations is erroneous and not indicative of the type of movement of the asset.
15. The computer program product as defined in claim 13 , wherein the reference distance corresponds to a spatial association model associated with the asset.
16. The computer program product as defined in claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to determine that the first locations and the second locations indicate that the first location tag is moving at a different rate than the second location tag by determining that the first locations indicate that the first location tag is stationary and determining that the second locations indicate that the second location tag is moving.
17. The computer program product as defined in claim 13 , wherein the asset is a human being.
18. The computer program product as defined in claim 13 , wherein the asset is an object.