Locator beacon and radar application for mobile device
A locator beacon, method and system for identifying a first-in-line device, including: a first antenna configured to send a first signal; a second antenna configured to send a second signal and spaced apart from the first antenna such that a delta value between a first Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) value of the first signal and a second RSSI value of the second signal measured at a predefined location, is within a range of values; a receiver for receiving wireless signals configured to receive an authentication signal from a mobile device adapted to measure the first and second RSSI values, the authentication signal including authentication data related to the measured RSSI values; and a processing unit, configured to determine whether the mobile device is the first-in-line device based on whether a delta value between the first RSSI value and the second RSSI value is within a predefined value range.
1. A locator beacon comprising:
(a) a first antenna configured to send a first signal;
(b) a second antenna configured to send a second signal, said second antenna spaced apart from said first antenna such that there is a delta value between a first Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) value of said first signal and a second RSSI value of said second signal, wherein said delta value is non-proportionately higher when said signals are measured closer to said antennas, and non-proportionately lower when said signals are measured farther away from said antennas;
(c) a receiver adapted to receive wireless signals, said receiver configured to receive an authentication signal from a mobile device adapted to measure said first RSSI value and said second RSSI value, said authentication signal including authentication data related to said measured RSSI values;
(d) a processing unit, said processing unit configured to determine whether said mobile device is a first-in-line device based on whether said delta value between said first RSSI value and said second RSSI value is within said predefined range of values; and
(e) a third antenna configured to send a third signal, said third antenna located in a known position relative to said first and second antennas,
wherein said authentication data is further related to a third RSSI value of said third signal measured by said mobile device, and
wherein said processing unit is further configured to determine a direction between said mobile device and said locator beacon, based on said authentication data.
2. The locator beacon of claim 1 , wherein said first antenna is predefined to have a signal transmission strength which differs from a signal transmission strength of said second antenna by a known value.
3. The locator beacon of claim 1 , further comprising:
(g) a fourth antenna configured to send a fourth signal, said fourth antenna located in a known position relative to said first, second and third antennas such that measuring said first, second and third RSSI values and a fourth RSSI value of said fourth signal enables a measuring device to determine a direction between said measuring device and the locator beacon.
4. The locator beacon of claim 1 , wherein said first and second antennas define an axis along which a line runs, such that said predefined approximate location intersects said line.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said authentication data includes said first and second measured RSSI values.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein said authentication data includes said delta value.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said processing unit is further configured to identify a mobile device owner based on said authentication signal received from said mobile device, wherein said authentication signal includes a unique user identifier related to said mobile device owner.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
(f) a fourth antenna configured to send a fourth signal, said fourth antenna located in a known position relative to said first, second and third antennas,
wherein said authentication data is further related to a fourth RSSI value of said fourth signal measured by said mobile device, and
wherein said processing unit is further configured to determine a direction between said mobile device and said locator beacon, based on said authentication data.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein said processing unit is further configured to determine whether said mobile device is in a respective predefined position based on whether said delta value is within a predefined range of values specific to said respective predefined position.
10. A method for identifying a location of a device, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a first device including:
(i) a first antenna configured to send a first signal;
(ii) a second antenna configured to send a second signal, said second antenna spaced apart from said first antenna such that there is a delta value between a first Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) value of said first signal and a second RSSI value of said second signal wherein said delta value is non-proportionately higher when said signals are measured closer to said antennas, and non-proportionately lower when said signals are measured farther away from said antennas;
(iii) a receiver adapted to receive wireless signals, said receiver configured to receive an authentication signal from a mobile device adapted to measure said first RSSI value and said second RSSI value, said authentication signal including authentication data related to said measured RSSI values;
(iv) a processing unit, said processing unit configured to determine whether said mobile device is a first-in-line device based on whether said delta value between said first RSSI value and said second RSSI value is within said predefined range of values; and
(v) a third antenna configured to send a third signal, said third antenna located in a known position relative to said first and second antennas,
wherein said authentication data is further related to a third RSSI value of said third signal measured by said mobile device, and
wherein said processing unit is further configured to determine a direction between said mobile device and said locator beacon, based on said authentication data
(b) broadcasting said first signal from said first antenna;
(c) broadcasting said second signal from said second antenna;
(d) receiving a signal from a second device, said second device being wirelessly-enabled and measuring said first RSSI value of said first signal and said second RSSI value of said second signal; and
(e) calculating a relative distance of said second device to one of said first and second antennas by measuring said delta value between said first RSSI value and said second RSSI value when said signal are measured at a predefined approximate location.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of:
(f) identifying a second device owner based on said signal received from said second device, wherein said signal includes a unique user identifier related to said second device owner.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein said first antenna and said second antenna are embodied on a single substrate.
13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:
(f) broadcasting the third signal from the third antenna;
(g) broadcasting a fourth signal from a fourth antenna, said first, second, third and fourth antennas positioned in a known configuration; and
(h) identifying a direction in which said mobile device is located relative to said first, second, third and fourth antennas, based on said known configuration.
14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of:
(f) adjusting power of one of said first and second antennas, step (f) being performed before step (b).
15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of:
(f) providing said first antenna having a first transmission strength and said second antenna having a second transmission strength different from said first transmission strength by a predefined intensity, step (f) being performed before step (b).
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein said first antenna is embodied on a first substrate and said second antenna is embodied on a second substrate.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein said signal from said second device includes said first and second measured RSSI values.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein said signal from said second device includes said delta value.