Methods for generating a layout of a particular environment utilizing antennas and a mobile device

1. A method for creating a location map using antennas in an ultra-wide band (UWB) network, the method comprising:

positioning a plurality of stationary antennas in a target environment;

determining a position of each of the plurality of stationary antennas relative to one another;

obtaining location measurements relative to a mobile device as it moves around the target environment;

generating a unique location map of the target environment using the location measurements, the location map being generated by illustrating a path traveled by the mobile device relative to the plurality of stationary antennas to provide the unique location map including representations of physical aspects of the target environment; and

displaying the unique location map including straight line segments corresponding to the path traveled by the mobile device,

wherein at least one of the positioning, determining, obtaining, generating and displaying are implemented by at least one processor.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising manually editing the displayed location map to select, remove and/or reposition the straight line segments.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

assigning locations of objects in the target environment on the location map and storing assigned location information in metadata associated with the location map.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising automatically determining map details based on relative positioning of the straight line segments on the displayed location map.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising creating a visual map using straight line segment data, line segment metadata and object location metadata.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating is preceded by marking the location map as the mobile device moves around the target environment to create metadata stored with the location map.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the metadata relates to physical features of the target environment.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target environment comprises one of an indoor environment and an outdoor environment.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining location measurements further comprises obtaining location measurements as the mobile device moves around walls, furnishings and other elements in the target environment.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is carried by a user and/or positioned on a remote controlled device and operated from a remote location.

11. A system for creating a location map using antennas in an ultra-wide band (UWB) network, the system including:

a calibration module configured to determine a position of each of a plurality of stationary antennas positioned in a target environment relative to one another;

a location module configured to obtain location measurements relative to a mobile device as it moves around the target environment;

a map generating module configured to generate a unique location map of the target environment using the location measurements, the location map being generated by illustrating a path traveled by the mobile device relative to the plurality of stationary antennas to provide the unique location map including representations of physical aspects of the target environment; and

a visual display configured to display the unique location map including straight line segments corresponding to the path traveled by the mobile device.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a user interface configured to allow a user to manually edit the displayed location map to select, remove and/or reposition the straight line segments.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the location module is further configured to assign locations of objects in the target environment on the location map and store assigned location information in metadata associated with the location map.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the map generating module is further configured to:

automatically determine map details based on relative positioning of the straight line segments on the displayed location map; and

create a visual map using straight line segment data, line segment metadata and object location metadata.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the location module is further configured to mark the location map as the mobile device moves around the target environment to create metadata stored with the location map.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the metadata relates to physical features of the target environment.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the target environment comprises one of an indoor environment and an outdoor environment.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the location module is further configured to obtain location measurements as the mobile device moves around walls, furnishings and other elements in the target environment.

19. A computer program product for creating a location map using antennas in an ultra-wide band (UWB) network, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code comprising:

computer readable program code to determine a position of each of a plurality of stationary antennas positioned in a target environment relative to one another;

computer readable program code configured to obtain location measurements relative to a mobile device as it moves around the target environment;

computer readable program code configured to generate a unique location map of the target environment using the location measurements, the location map being generated by illustrating a path traveled by the mobile device relative to the plurality of stationary antennas to provide the unique location map including representations of physical aspects of the target environment; and

computer readable program code to display the unique location map including straight line segments corresponding to the path traveled by the mobile device.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 , further comprising computer readable program code to create a visual map using straight line segment data, line segment metadata and object location metadata.