Plug-in network appliance
A plug-in network appliance is disclosed. In one aspect, a network appliance performs a bridge between two wireless communication formats. In another aspect, a network appliance is deployed to perform position location services. In another aspect, a mesh network comprising one or more network appliances is deployed. A mesh network comprising one or more network appliances may be deployed to perform position location services. A plug-in form factor is described. A network appliance may convert power received from a plug in a first format to power in a second format for powering various components. A network appliance may connect with a wireless network and/or a network connected through a plug. A plug-in network appliance may connect to a weight-bearing outlet. Various other aspects are also presented.
1. A method for tracking a mobile object within an indoor facility, the method comprising:
receiving a signal emitted from a tag attached to a mobile object at a mesh network, the signal emitted using a low power communication format, the mesh network comprising a plurality of network appliances in wireless communication with at least one other network appliance of the plurality of network appliances, each of the plurality of network appliances comprising at least one transceiver for wirelessly receiving and transmitting data according to a communication format and a power connection to an outlet of the indoor facility;
generating a time of flight measurement from the tag at least one of the plurality of network appliances using the time of flight from the tag to the at least one of the plurality of network appliances by measuring a phase difference between various frequencies in the signal;
transmitting the generated time of flight measurement through the mesh network to a position location engine using a high power communication format; and
generating at the position location engine positional location information for the mobile object based on the generated time of flight measurement.
2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising creating a model of the indoor facility, the model based on a plurality of time of flight measurements generated by the plurality of network appliances within the indoor facility without any tags present, and
wherein generating at the position location engine positional location information of the at least one object includes comparing the generated time of flight measurement between the tag and the at least one network appliance to the model.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the time of flight measurements are determined using Ultra Wide Band communications.
4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising synchronizing the plurality of network appliances to a master clock.
5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the signal emitted by the tag includes an ID associated with the tag and a current value of the tag clock (t 1 ),
wherein receiving the signal from the tag at the mesh network and generating the time of flight measurement from the tag includes the at least one plug-in network appliance, upon receipt of the signal, recording a current value of the plug-in network appliance clock (t 2 ), and
wherein the generated time of flight measurement is the difference between t 2 and t 1 .
6. A system for an indoor facility, the system comprising:
a wireless mesh network including a plurality of stationary devices distributed about the indoor facility, each stationary device comprising an enclosure, a processor positioned within the enclosure, at least one wireless local area network interface positioned within the enclosure and in communication with the processor, the wireless local area network interface comprising at least one transceiver for receiving and transmitting data according to an ultra wideband communication format, wherein the plurality of stationary devices wirelessly communicate with each other over the wireless mesh network;
a plurality of access points, each of the plurality of access points in communication with at least one the plurality of stationary devices; and
a position location engine in communication with each of the plurality of access points; and
a plurality of mobile objects within the indoor facility, each of the plurality of mobile objects comprising a tag for emitting on a continuous periodic basis a wireless position location tracking signal in a low power communication format for receipt by the plurality of stationary devices;
wherein a time of flight from each of the tags of each of the plurality of mobile objects to at least one of the plurality of stationary devices is determined by the at least one stationary device measuring the phase difference between the various frequencies in the wireless location tracking signals from each of the tags of the plurality of mobile objects are utilized to generate location information for each of the plurality of mobile objects by the position location engine.
7. The system according to claim 6 wherein the position location engine utilizes the time of flight measurements for each of the tags to determine location information for each of the plurality of mobile objects.
8. The system according to claim 6 wherein the indoor facility is a hospital.