Positioning System and Method

Abstract

A method and system for providing location information to a mobile device includes providing an apparatus with a beacon. The apparatus stores identification information associated with the apparatus, and obtains information describing the correspondence between location information and apparatus identification information to determine the location of the apparatus from the stored identification information. The apparatus transmits the location information to the beacon which transmits the information to the mobile device. In addition, information defining movement of a mobile device through a navigation zone includes an array of beacons that are in communication with each other. The mobile device is provided at a first location in the navigation zone and communicates with a first beacon to indicate its proximity to the first beacon. The device moves through the zone to other locations and communicates with another beacon in proximity to the second location to indicate its proximity to the second beacon.

1 . A method of providing location information to a mobile device, comprising:
 providing an apparatus with a beacon, in which the apparatus stores identification information associated with the apparatus;   the apparatus obtaining information describing the correspondence between location information and apparatus identification information to determine the location of the apparatus from the stored identification information;   the apparatus transmitting the location information to the beacon; and   the beacon transmitting the location information to the mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the correspondence between location information and apparatus identification information is based on a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, LDAP. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the correspondence between location information and apparatus identification information is stored at the apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 2 , in which the location information provided to the mobile device is converted into a position in a predetermined mapping zone stored at the mobile device. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 3 , in which the location information provided to the mobile device is converted into a position in a predetermined mapping zone stored at the mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . A method of determining information defining movement of a mobile device through a navigation zone, comprising:
 providing the navigation zone with an array of beacons, in which each of the beacons in the array is in communication with one or more other beacons in the array;   providing a mobile device at a first location in the navigation zone;   the mobile device communicating with a first beacon in proximity to the first location to indicate its proximity to the first beacon;   the mobile device moving through the navigation zone to a second location and communicating with a second beacon in the array in proximity to the second location to indicate its proximity to the second beacon;   the mobile device providing the second beacon with information defining the direction of movement of the mobile device between the first and second locations; and   the second beacon communicating with the first beacon to share the relative positions of the second and first beacons, based on the direction of movement of the mobile device.   
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , further comprising providing navigation information to the mobile device between two locations based on the relative position of beacons respectively located at each of the two locations. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , in which providing navigation information comprises determining an optimal route between the two locations, in which the optimal route is a pathway which passes the fewest number of beacons. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 6  in which the mobile device determines information defining the direction of movement of the mobile device between the first and second locations based on a sensor in the device, in which the sensor may be a magnetic compass. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 6  in which the mobile device further communicates to the second beacon information relating to the signal strength of signals received by the mobile device at the second location from a plurality of beacons in the array, and the second beacon uses the received information to define its position relative to each of the plurality of beacons from which signals are received by the mobile device. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 6  in which the second beacon provides information to a third beacon defining the location of the first beacon relative to the second beacon, the third beacon determining its location relative to the first beacon using the received information. 
     
     
         12 . A system for providing location information to a mobile device, comprising:
 an apparatus storing identification information associated with the apparatus;   a beacon provided in proximity to the apparatus;   wherein the apparatus is configured to obtain information describing a mapping between location information and apparatus identification information to determine the location of the apparatus from the stored identification information;   the apparatus is configured to transmit the location information to the beacon; and   the beacon is configured to transmit the location information to the mobile device.   
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 12  in which the apparatus has a fixed location and is a computer or a fixed-line telephone. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 12  in which the beacon is arranged to communicate with the mobile device using Bluetooth Low Energy, BLE. 
     
     
         15 . A system for determining information defining movement of a mobile device through a navigation zone, comprising a plurality of beacons distributed over a navigation zone, in which each of the plurality of beacons is in communication with one or more other beacons of the plurality of beacons;
 wherein a first beacon in proximity to a first location is arranged to receive information from a mobile device confirming it is in proximity to the first beacon;   a second beacon in proximity to a second location is arranged to receive information from a mobile device confirming it is in proximity to the second first beacon;   the second beacon is further configured to receive information defining the direction of movement of the mobile device between the first and second locations; and   the second beacon is arranged to communicate with the first beacon to share the relative positions of the second and first beacons, based on the received information relating to the movement of the mobile device.   
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 15  further comprising a plurality of systems of  claim 12 , in which each of the plurality of beacons is provided in proximity to a respective apparatus in a respective one of the systems according to  claim 12  and is arranged to transmit location information to the mobile device.