System for location recognition in indoor spaces

Abstract

A system for indoor location identification of electronic devices includes a retail store having a ceiling and a plurality of networked geo-context panels mounted on the ceiling. Each geo-context panel having a network communication device and an ultrasound transmitter capable of broadcasting ultrasonic pulses having a duration of less than 100 ms. At least one portable electronic device in the retail store receives and records the ultrasonic pulses to make a recording. The portable electronic device communicates the recording to at least one of the plurality of geo-context panels to enable the at least one of the geo-context panels to determine a precise location of the electronic device.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for indoor location identification, comprising:
 a retail store having a ceiling;   a plurality of networked geo-context panels mounted on the ceiling;   each geo-context panel having a network communication device and an ultrasound transmitter capable of broadcasting ultrasonic pulses having a duration of less than 100 ins,   a portable electronic device in the retail store for receiving and recording ultrasonic pulses to make a recording, and for communicating the recording to at least one of said plurality of geo-context panels to enable the at least one said geo-context panel to determine a precise location of the electronic device.   
     
     
         2 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a means for coarse localization in communication with at least one of said geo context panels to determine a general location of the portable electronic device, the geo-context panels utilize the general location to enable rapid determination of the precise location. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the geo-context panels form a constellation, and each of the geo-context panels in the constellation transmit ultrasonic pulses of a different frequency. 
     
     
         4 . The system as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the geo-context panels transmit ultrasonic pulses of a different frequency simultaneously. 
     
     
         5 . The system as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the ultrasonic pulses have a duration of less than 100 ins. 
     
     
         6 . The system as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the ultrasonic pulses have a duration of less than 20 ins. 
     
     
         7 . The system as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the ultrasonic pulses have a duration of less than 5 ins. 
     
     
         8 . The system as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the constellation generates at least seven different frequency ultrasonic pulses. 
     
     
         9 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device includes a network communication device that communicates the recording to at least one of said geo-context panels. 
     
     
         10 . The system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the recording is communicated within 100 ms from the time the recording is made. 
     
     
         11 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the geo-context panels communicate product information to the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the geo-context panels communicate product information to the portable electronic device, and the product information relates to products proximal to the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the geo-context panels communicate product information to the portable electronic device, and the product information relates to non-inventoried products of interest. 
     
     
         14 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the geo-context panels communicate discount coupons to the portable electronic device, and the discount coupons related to the products of interest are proximal to the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         15 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said geo-context panels use trilateration to determine the location of the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         16 . A system for indoor location identification, comprising:
 a retail store having a floor;   a plurality of co-planar geo-context panels mounted above the floor;   each panel including a wireless network access point and an ultrasound transmitter capable of communicating ultrasonic pulses in at least seven frequencies, to enable trilaterated identification of a location of the electronic device to within a three centimeter accuracy.   
     
     
         17 . The system as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the geo-context panels use the location of the electronic device to communicates data relating to a product of interest, where the product of interest is within a predetermined distance from the electronic device. 
     
     
         18 . The system as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the geo-context panels use the location of the electronic device to communicates offers to sell items relating to the product of interest. 
     
     
         19 . A geo-context system, comprising:
 a structure having a floor;   at least seven geo-context panels mounted above the floor in a co-planar arrangement for simultaneously broadcasting ultrasonic pulses, each said geo-context panels being capable of broadcasting an ultrasonic pulse having an ultrasonic frequency capable of being recorded by a portable electronic device using a sampling rate of at least 44 kHz;   the geo-context panels being enabled to communicate with at least one portable electronic device in communication with at least one of said geo-context panels and having a microphone for recording ultrasonic pulses at sampling rate of at least 44 kHz and for storing the recording;   the geo-context panels being enabled to receive recordings of the ultrasonic pulses to enable trilaterated identification of a location of the electronic device.   
     
     
         20 . The system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the sampling rate is at least 96 kHz.