SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING REAL-TIME LOCATION
A communication system with a master device configured to determine location information in real-time with respect to a portable device. The master device may direct one or more monitor devices to monitor communications that occur over a primary communication link. The monitor devices may sense characteristic information about the signal from the portable device, and communicate this characteristic information to the master device via an auxiliary communication link. The communication system may determine location of the portable device, authenticate the portable device, determine whether the portable device is authorized to allow or initiate an action, and command or enable an action with respect to equipment.
1 . A device for establishing real-time location information about a portable device, the device comprising:
a first communication interface operable to receive wireless communication transmissions from the portable device;
a second communication interface configured for communications with at least one fixed position device separate from the device;
wherein radio channel information is transmitted to the at least one fixed position device via the second communication interface;
wherein the radio channel information is received by the first communication interface from the portable device;
wherein the second communication interface is configured to obtain one or more device signal characteristics relating to a wireless communication received by the fixed position device from the portable device;
wherein the first communication interface includes a wireless interface;
wherein the second communication interface includes a wired interface; and
a controller operably coupled to the first communication interface and the second communication interface, wherein location information about the portable device is determined based on the one or more device signal characteristics.