DE10033537A1 - Methods and arrangements in a telecommunications system - Google Patents

Abstract

In a communication network, the user of an electronic device, for example a mobile telephone or a hand-held computer, and a destination are each provided with a short-range radio transceiver. A set of devices exist between the user and the target, each device being provided with a short-range radio transceiver. The parts provided with a short-range radio transceiver form a communication network to be used by the user of the electronic device. The user uses the communication network to estimate the distance to the target by calculating the number of jumps. As an alternative, the delay time between the devices is determined and can therefore be used to estimate the distance between the user and the target or a transceiver with an absolute position. DOLLAR A The main advantages of the invention are that an ordinary mobile station provided with short-range radio communication can be used and that the invention can be used inside buildings.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to location positioning systems. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and an arrangement that a user of an electronic Device, for example a cell phone or one hand-held computer with a short-range Radio equipment, with an approximate estimate of the Distance to certain points in the area.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED FIELD

Nowadays, a distance measurement is made using Radio by using a system for navigation and Positioning like a GPS (global positioning system or Global Positioning System). The measurement will also performed by cell identities in Cellular radio networks are checked and positions in such cells are measured.

According to US 5,525,999, the global positioning system (GPS) comprises 24 satellites orbiting the earth at a distance of 20,000 km. The 24 satellites are distributed so that there are four satellites in each of the six orbital planes, which form an approximately north-south orbit at an angle of 55 degrees to the equator. Each satellite orbits in about 12 stellar hours. The satellites use spread spectrum techniques to repeatedly broadcast their current time versions, current ephemeris data and identification numbers (SVIDs).

One problem with the existing GPS systems is that the user must be provided with a receiver, which is specially designed and expensive for this purpose.

There is another problem with the existing GPS system in that it needs a clear view. So the GPS is Not suitable for use in urban areas and can be used within not used by buildings.

Furthermore, a mobile station using the GPS system must Contact at least three satellites to get an accurate 2D Provide position.

According to US 4,701,934, any user of the GPS Systems, anywhere in the world, accurate navigation information including a three-dimensional position, one Derive speed and time of day.

Navigation findings based on GPS on measurements of propagation delay times from GPS Signals from the orbiting satellites to the user be sent out. Usually a reception of Signals from 4 satellites for an exact location in 4 Dimensions (width, length, height and time) are required. As soon as the receiver the appropriate signal propagation delays has measured the distance range to each satellite by multiplying each delay by the Speed of light calculated. Then the place and the Time found by solving a set of four equations, which the measured distances and the known locations of the Satellites included. The most precise skills of the Systems are made using onboard atomic clocks for everyone  Satellites and through ground tracking stations maintain the the satellite clock and the Monitor and correct circulation parameters continuously.

GSM-based positioning is used to geographically locate mobile phones and to distribute the positioning information to various applications. All existing mobile phones can potentially be positioned since no changes are required in the phone itself. Positioning is currently undergoing standardization. Activities run within ETSI and are derived from T1P1. It will be applicable for GSM 900 , DCS 1800 and the PCS 1900 . Positioning will likely be implemented in other standards in the future as well.

In WO 98/15150, by the applicant of the present Invention filed in September 1996 is a Method and device in a cellular mobile Telecommunication system, preferably the GSM system, disclosed to the geographic position of a mobile station to determine. The distance between the mobile station and one Radio base station becomes the propagation delay estimated. The propagation delay is calculated according to the Method of WO 98/15150 determines where the mobile station Access bursts to the base station that sends the Access delay of the incoming bursts in the same As with an ordinary handover measures. The access signal is referenced at the base station to the base station's internal signal burst arrival plan received with a delay. The time delay is in the Base station measured and recorded. The recorded Time delay corresponds to the wave propagation time of one Signal, which is between the base station and the Mobile station runs back and forth. No confirmation about Access bursts received are sent from the base station to the Mobile station is sent and therefore the handover attempt  completed. The connection between the mobile station and the previous base station is rebuilt. The measured Access delay is proportional to that Propagation delay and therefore also to the distance the mobile station. The position of the mobile station can be with good accuracy can be determined if values of at least three base stations can be obtained, albeit with fewer Accuracy if only two values are obtained. In addition can be an access delay known from earlier The method being measured is used together with the measurement be achieved with the method according to WO 98/15150 to determine the position of the mobile station.

In WO 98/36590, which filed on January 30, 1998 and the Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) by Bergkvist et al. is an arrangement and a method for transferring information in one Telecommunication system, which one Mobile communications system includes disclosed. The Method according to WO 98/36590 relates to the transmission of a Command that affects the mobile station to a not known switching center, which is a given Mobile station operated. The command is sent by a previously known short message service, e.g. B. SMS (Short Message Service) is used in the GSM system. The Command can be a prompt for the switching center form to determine the position of the mobile station, and is from a positioning node outside the Mobile communication system sent. WO 98/36590 relates also a method of sending data from the Switching center at the positioning nodes. The The invention also relates to a switching center and a System for performing the procedure.

In US 5,187,485, filed May 6, 1992 and the United States by James et al. transfer is a method of passively measuring the distance too  a target using four GPS satellites as Radiation sources and a GPS receiver on the Observation station for forming a bistatic Radar system reveals an arrival angle of the target too the observation station has been measured first and where the delay times from the reflected signal of the target can be measured and the position of the target is calculated can be. Four simultaneous non-linear equations of the four satellites are used. The path of the position of the target forms elliptical surfaces with respect to the four satellites and the observation station. The point at which intersect the elliptical surfaces the position of the target. If only the distance between the Target and the observation station of interest can this distance can be easily estimated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The term "encompasses / encompasses" when used in this application the presence of specified should be used Characteristics, integers, steps or components specify, but excludes the presence or addition of one or more characteristics, integers, steps, Components or groups of them are not.

The problem as disclosed in this disclosure is to provide a system which is the distance between a user one electronic device and a target can determine.

Another problem, as in this revelation disclosed resolves is the actual Define a user's position.

Another problem which is as in this revelation is solved is an inexpensive  To provide system that mentioned the above Solves problems.

In the solution according to the invention for the above Problems arise for the user of the electronic device and the target with a short-range Radio transceiver. Between the Users and the target there is a set of facilities each facility with a short-range Radio transceiver is provided. The parts that come with a Short-range radio transceivers are provided Communication network used by the user should. The user uses the communication network to the Distance to the target by calculating the amount of jumps to estimate. As an alternative, the delay time determined between facilities and can be used afterwards be the distance between the user and the target or the distance to a transceiver with an absolute estimate (fixed) position.

More specifically, the user who sends one Short-range radio transceiver SRT is provided Request for a goal, which also with is provided with an SRT. The prompt is from nearby Arranged transceivers receive the request Resend until the destination answers. The target sends one Answer to the user with the help of the facilities with nearby short-range radio transceivers. The distance is determined with the help of a counter, the Number of jumps between facilities between the User and the goal counts. Then the user can Distance using a given distance for everyone Estimate jump. The procedure using a Time delay can also be used if the Distance to the target is determined. The delay time for a signal to the target and / or a beacon one absolute position by a GPS or GSM or by  any other device may also be designated be used.

The term "Bluetooth" is a specific Ericsson Name of a small short-range transceiver.

In one embodiment of the method and disclosed here The arrangement Bluetooth can be used to send messages to send between the user and the destination, where Means between the user and the target as well are equipped with Bluetooth transceivers.

In one embodiment of the method and the arrangement, disclosed here, infrared light can be used to send messages between the user and the destination, taking facilities between the user and the target a device for communication with infrared light are provided.

The method and the system according to the invention can be found in same way as a GPS system or a GSM system Positioning, in combination with fixed transceivers, identified above and an absolute Have position, are used.

A purpose of the procedure, the system and the arrangement like discloses an inexpensive system for Estimating the distance between a user and one Provide goal.

Another purpose of the procedure, the system and the The arrangement disclosed here is a system to estimate a distance between a user and to provide a goal that is within buildings can be used.  

Another purpose of the process, the system and the The arrangement disclosed here is a system which only requires the user to use an electronic device and a short-range Transceiver is provided.

The main advantage of the process, the system and the Arrangement as disclosed is that ordinary Mobile stations with a short-range radio are provided, can be used.

An advantage of the procedure, the system and the arrangement like reveals that they are inside buildings can be used.

Another advantage of the process, the system and the Arrangement as disclosed is that it is for the Users are less expensive.

The system according to the invention can be used to blind people with information regarding products in their Close proximity in a store.

Another scope of applicability of the present Invention follows from the detailed below given description. However, it should be noted that the detailed description and specific examples, while being preferred embodiments of the invention specify, only to be cited for illustration, since various changes and modifications within the Basic idea and scope of the invention Those skilled in the art from this detailed description will result.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings show:  

Fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a communication system of the Bluetooth cells;

Fig. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a Bluetooth transceiver;

Fig. 3a, b, c a schematic view of three electronic devices that are equipped with a Bluetooth transceiver;

Figure 4a is a schematic view of two networks which are connected to one another via G, a gateway (router).

Figure 4b is a schematic view of three networks, which are interconnected via two gateways.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between time slots and frequency hops in a system using Bluetooth;

FIG. 6a is a schematic block diagram of a request signal from a mobile device, the distance information;

FIG. 6b is a schematic block diagram of a signal from the target, which is provided with distance information;

Fig. 7 is a flowchart of the method according to the invention;

Figure 8 is a schematic view of two piconets in a scatter net.

Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the use of TTL;

Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating two levels of encapsulation of the ICMP message;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an ICMP echo request or a response message format; and

Figure 12 is a diagram illustrating the ICMP timeout message format.

The invention will now be described in more detail below Reference to preferred exemplary embodiments thereof and with reference to the accompanying drawings described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In Fig. 1 a network is shown, which short-range or short-range radio cells with the cells 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160 comprises. Of course, a short-range radio network can only comprise two cells or much more than seven cells. However, in the case of Bluetooth transceivers, a maximum of seven devices can be connected to one another at the same time. A short-range radio cell is generated by a device, for example a mobile station, which is provided with a short-range or short-range radio transceiver or a fixed transceiver. A mobile station A creates a cell 100 , a mobile station C creates a cell 110 , a mobile station D creates a cell 120 , a mobile station E creates a cell 140 , a mobile station F creates a cell 150, and a mobile station G creates a cell 160 . A device B displays a short-range radio beacon with a GPS receiver or a GSM receiver. The position can also be known beforehand in the case of a fixed installation. The position of the device B can be determined with the aid of the receiver. The cell around B is designated 130. A short-range radio cell is much smaller than a cell generated by a base station (BS) in a normal mobile phone system. The radius of a short-range radio cell is between 10 and 100 m. When a considered mobile station equipped with a short-range radio transceiver moves, the short-range radio cell moves. A person who is provided with the mobile station A wishes to know the distance to a desired restaurant 200 at a location H which is provided with a short-range radio transceiver 210 . The arrows in FIG. 1 indicate an exemplary path of radio signals between the mobile stations to the destination H. It is noted that the distance from the restaurant to the mobile station A need not be the same as the route there since some cells may have moved away. In the event that the device B does not have a defined position and is an ordinary short-range radio cell, the maximum distance from A to the restaurant is d = 6 × 10 meters = 60 meters (6 jumps). In the event that device B is a beacon, the distance to device B can be determined as d '= 5 jumps = 50 meters. The restaurant is found within 10 meters of the beacon and the distance d to 60 meters. In this case, the exact position of the beacon is known, a fact that may be of interest. A better estimate of the distance on each jump can be provided using the "time delay method". The delay time method according to the aforementioned US 5,187,485 can be modified and used in a piconet that includes short-range radio equipment. The method according to US 5,187,485 uses GPS signals that are scattered from a target in order to determine the distance from the target to an observation station. The distance R _ot between the target and the observation station can be as

R _ot ≈ C (t _ito - t _i0 ) (1)

can be estimated, where C is the speed of light, t _{i0 is} the time for the satellite _signal to move from a satellite i to an observation point, which is already known from the conventional GPS approach. In equation (1) only the reflection from one satellite is required. The method according to US 5,187,485 can be used in a system which comprises transceivers which are provided with short-range radio communication. In this case, ti0 is the time for the short-range radio signals to move between two transceivers.

The so-called Bluetooth interface is an example of a modern small short-range radio interface that was originally intended as a replacement for cables between units. The term Bluetooth is used in this disclosure as an example of using short-range radio communication. However, the area of application has proven to be much wider. Printers, electronic calendars (PDAs), desktops, fax machines, keyboards, joysticks, and basically any digital device can be part of the short-range radio system. Beyond disconnected devices by replacing cables, short-range radio technology provides a universal bridge to existing data networks, a peripheral interface, and a mechanism for forming small private ad hoc groups of connected devices away from fixed network infrastructures. Designed to operate in a noisy radio frequency environment, the Bluetooth radio uses a quick confirmation and frequency hopping procedure to make the connection robust. Bluetooth radio modules avoid interference from other signals by jumping to a new frequency after sending or receiving a data packet, as shown in FIG. 5. Compared to other systems that operate in the same frequency band, the Bluetooth radio typically jumps faster and uses shorter data packets. This makes the Bluetooth radio more robust than other systems. The use of Forward Error Correction (FEC) limits the influence of random noise on long distance connections.

Bluetooth radios work in the unlicensed ISM Band at 2.4 GHz. A frequency hopping transceiver will applied to a disorder and a loss counteract. A shaped binary FM modulation is used applied to a transceiver complexity minimize. The net data rate is 1 Mb / s and a TDD (Time division duplex or time division duplex) procedure is used for a full duplex transmission.

The Bluetooth baseband protocol is a combination of circuit and packet switching as shown in FIG. 5. In Fig. 5, s1 denotes a time slot and p1 denotes a packet that covers three time slots. Time slots can be reserved for synchronous packets. Each packet is usually transmitted at a different hop frequency. A package nominally covers a single slot, but can be expanded to cover up to five slots. Bluetooth can support an asynchronous data channel, up to three simultaneous synchronous voice channels, or a channel that supports asynchronous data and synchronous voice at the same time. Each voice channel supports a 64 kb / s synchronous (voice) connection. The asynchronous channel can support an asynchronous connection of up to 721 kb / s in each direction while allowing 57.6 kb / s in the return direction, or a 432.6 kb / s symmetrical connection.

In FIG. 2, the different functional blocks of a system using short range radio transceiver, such as the Bluetooth, are shown. A radio unit 300 is connected to a connection control unit 310 , which provides the baseband. Connection control unit 310 is connected to a central processing unit, referred to as CPU, 320, which provides connection management. The CPU is connected to memory 360 , which provides software functions and consists of two memory units: an SRAM 330 and a FLASH 340 . The CPU 320 is connected to a host interface 350 . An SRAM is a fast temporary memory. The SRAM is a programmable ROM.

Fig. 8 shows two piconets A1 and B1 in a scatter net. The piconet A1 comprises four radio devices 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 ; and the piconet B1 comprises two devices 50 and 60 . In the piconet A1, the device 10 is a main or master device. A piconet is a collection of devices that are connected via Bluetooth technology in an ad hoc manner. A piconet starts with two connected devices, for example a portable PC and a cellular phone, and can grow to eight connected devices. All Bluetooth devices are peer units and have identical implementations. However, when a piconet is established, one unit will act as a master (a main unit) and the other or the others will act as subordinate slave unit or units for the duration of the piconet connection. A scattering network or an ad hoc network is a network which comprises several independent and non-synchronized piconets. In this disclosure, a master unit is the device in a piconet whose clock and hopping sequence are used to synchronize all other devices in the piconet. In this disclosure, a slave unit is any device in a piconet that is not the master unit.

The Bluetooth system supports point-to-point and point-to-multipoint connections. Several piconets can be built together and connected ad hoc, each piconet being identified by a different frequency hopping sequence. All users participating in the same piconet are synchronized to this hopping sequence. The topology can best be described as a multiple piconet structure, see Figure 8. However, ad hoc networks, referred to as a scattering network, are not yet commercially available.

The Bluetooth technology comes from Ericsson. You needed the need for wires, cables and connectors for and between wireless or mobile phones, modems, headphones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants or Personal Digital Assistants), computers, printers, projectors, local Networks, etc. and is the pioneer of new and complete other facilities and applications.

An ad hoc network could use Bluetooth devices as "Cells" can be constructed. An ad hoc network is a network which is dynamic with an unlimited number of points is built, d. H. a new facility can be connected to the network attached to cause it to grow. Techniques other than Bluetooth can be used to to construct an ad hoc network, for example Infrared light. When using Bluetooth devices, to form a network, every user is one (Bluetooth) contact with another user, part of the network. Bluetooth devices can be different Have areas. One can range from 1-10 meters and another may have a range of approximately Have 2-100 meters. By implementing a router, which is disclosed in more detail below, in a Bluetooth device so that a session between Facilities can be forwarded, an ad hoc Network can be constructed. An average professional understands that other short-range radio technologies are used can.  

In the system disclosed here, each Bluetooth Provide the transceiver with a router that uses a routing Protocol (routing protocol). The routers are Gateways that are used to send packets from one Pass on the Bluetooth transceiver to the next one. In a packet switching system refers to a route (a routing) on the process of choosing a path through which Packets are to be sent, d. H. routing is the process with which the host or gateway decides where to go Datagram is to be sent. Routers refer to any one Computer that makes such a choice. The gateways make routing decisions; this is their main purpose and the motivation to call it a router. The goal of one The routing protocol is the one used to deploy the Provide routings with the necessary information. In this one disclosed system, the routers are similar to those that be used in a TCP / IP network. The routers come with a protocol for handling address information Mistake. There is a routing on the Internet Routing Information Protocol (RIP) widely used protocol. Below are with router and the RIP are described in more detail. On Average specialist in the technical field of TCP / IP and the internet can be a simple router without any problems with a suitable protocol for an ad hoc network, e.g. B. on Support the Bluetooth transceivers.

In the Internet, IP routing is based on its destination IP address to determine where to put a datagram send is. The route is direct when the target machine is on network (in this case within the same network) Piconet, within the same line) on which the sending machine is attached; this can be called the final delivery step at the datagram Watch the broadcast. The route is indirect if that Datagram to be sent to a gateway for delivery got to. The general paradigm is that hosts  routed datagrams indirectly to the nearest gateway send; the datagrams move through the internet from Gateway to gateway until they are directly over a (fixed or mobile) network can be delivered.

In Fig. 4a is shown an example, which consists of two physical networks. In Fig. 4a is a machine with ₁₂ G both a network Net 1 and Net 2 is connected to a network. In order to act as a gateway, a machine G ₁₂ must capture packets on the network Net 1 that are intended for machines on the network Net 2 and must transfer them. Similarly, the machine G ₁₂ must capture and transfer packets on the Net 2 network intended for machines on the Net 1 network.

In the system shown in FIG. 4b, a gateway G34 must transmit from a network 3 to a network 4 all packets which are intended for machines on either the network 4 or the network 5 . As the size of the Internet increases, the task of gateways to make decisions about where to send packets would become more complex.

Gateways in a network, e.g. B. a TCP / IP network or an ad hoc network, form a interacting, with each other connected structure. Datagrams run from a gateway another until you reach a gateway that does that Can deliver the datagram directly to the addressee.

On the Internet, ordinary IP routing uses Algorithm an "internet routing table" on everyone Machine, the information about possible destinations and how can be reached, saves. Because both hosts as gateways also route (control) datagrams, both have IP Routing tables (routing tables). Whenever the IP routing software in a host or gateway Datagram, it queries the routing table to  make a decision about where to go the datagram send is.

There are several solutions to find and find on an Internet Select the intermediate gateways. Gateways in a TCP / IP network form a interacting interconnected Structure. Datagrams run from one gateway to one another until they reach a gateway that the datagrams can deliver directly. To hide information in order to Keep routing tables small, and to make routing decisions The IP routing software only makes it efficient Information about the target network addresses and not about the individual host addresses.

A software called "routed", and that Routing information program (RIP) was implemented originally from the University of California at Berkeley designed. The underlying RIP protocol is one uncomplicated implementation of vector distance routing for local networks. The RIP protocol is a protocol of a Class of algorithms called "distance vector algorithms", a distance vector protocol are known. The RIP protocol is intended to be able to host and gateway offset, information for calculating routes over an IP exchanged supported network. RIP is used to Forward information about routes to "destinations" that individual hosts, networks or a special destination that to forward a predetermined route (default route) can be used.

RIP divides into active and passive (quiet) Machines in front. Active gateways announce their routes others. Passive machines listen and update theirs Routes based on announcements, but take yourself none before. Gateways typically leave the RIP protocol run in an active mode while hosts run the passive Use mode.  

A gateway on which RIP is running in an active mode is sending one message every 30 seconds. The message contains Information from the current routing database of the Gateways is taken. Each message is made up of pairs, where each pair has an IP network address and an integer Distance to this network contains. RIP uses one "Jump count metric" to get the distance to a destination measure up. A gateway is defined in a RIP metric that there is a jump from directly connected networks, two Jumps from networks that can be reached via another gateway are, etc. So the number of jumps refers or jump count along a path from a given Source to a given destination on the number of Gateways that encounter a datagram along the path. It should be obvious that using Jump counts to calculate the shortest paths are not always produces optimal results.

The generality of the RIP protocol is also evident in the way that it transmits network addresses. The address format is not limited to be used by TCP / IP; it can be used with several network protocol peculiarities. In addition to normal IP addresses, the RIP uses the convention that the addresses 0.0.0.0 designate a preset route (default route). RIP puts a distance metric on every route it announces, including default routes. It is thus possible to arrange such that two gateways announce a default route. The final field of each entry in a RIP message, DISTANCE TO NET "i", contains an integer count of the distance to the specified network. Distances are measured in a number of gateway hops, but values are limited to the range of 1 to 15, the distance 16 being used to simplify infinity, ie no route (no path) exists.

Any host that implements RIP is assumed to have a routing table. This table has an entry for each destination that can be reached via the system described by the RIP. Each entry contains at least the following information:

• - the IP address of the destination;
• - a metric that shows the total cost to move a Represents datagrams from the host to this destination. This metric is the sum of costs that go to the networks belong to the target point when moving would be crossed;
• - the IP address of the next gateway together with the Path to the destination. If the destination is one of the directly connected networks, this part will not needed.
• - A mark (a flag) to indicate that Information about the route has changed recently. This is called the "route change flag".
• - Different timekeepers belonging to the route.

There is no difference between one over the IP layer ad hoc network and the Internet. A protocol for an ad hoc Network, based on a z. B. Bluetooth transceiver, can basically be constructed as an internet protocol. However, the implementation is different. The main difference between a router in an ad hoc network and a router on an internet is that the tables in one ad hoc network reconstructed much more often than in an Internet Need to become. There are already several algorithms for ad hoc networks. The choice of algorithms is for that current invention is not important. However, for that present invention important that an existing one functioning ad hoc network exists.  

As an effect of the scope of Bluetooth, it is known that each jump between facilities a maximum of 100 meters a normal case, without e.g. B. walls in its path. By using, for example, a time delay Measurement method can be a much more accurate distance for everyone Measure the jump (see below). The time delay is one Measurement of the propagation delay between two Transceivers. An average specialist in the field of Telecommunications understands that other methods are used could become. If a command similar to the UNIX command "Traceroute" is implemented, the Number of jumps between a user and a target be calculated.

A modified traceroute command is now disclosed with reference to FIG. 9. The system of Figure 1 is used here as an example. One of ordinary skill in the art understands that the traceroute command could be used for other systems that include a set of short-range radio transceivers. In contrast to the standard Internet traceroute command, the disclosed traceroute command calculates an estimate of the distance between a device and the user.

The traceroute command serves as a valuable network Debugging tool. The way he is currently has the advantage that it is implemented by all routers are automatically supported. The Existing traceroute command works by sending out of packages with a lifetime (time-to-live TTL) of one. TTL is a technique that works best in delivery systems Effort is being used to create endlessly circulating packets avoid. For example, each IP datagram is given an integer Assigned lifetime when it is generated. IP gateways decrement the TTL field if it is a datagram process and delete the datagram when the TTL counter Reached zero. The TTL method calculates the number of  Jumps and estimates a maximum distance. To one To provide a better estimate of the distance, the Delay time can be measured for each jump and in the "expired package" ("packet expired") are installed, the is sent back to the user. So a function must (a feature) compared to the existing internet to be added. This is done by average professionals in easily understood in the technical field.

In the example disclosed, sends a requesting Mobile station A a signal with the parameter TTL on 1 set, TTL1 = 1. In the first jump, the mobile station transmits C returns an ICMP [1] error message indicating that the Packet could not be forwarded because of the TTL has expired. The expression ICMP will come closer Details disclosed below. The distance between the Mobile station A and C is calculated to be 32 meters by one Time delay method is used. The package will then with the parameter TTL set to 2, TTL2 = 2, sent again and the second jump, at mobile station D, gives the TTL expired back. The distance between C and D becomes 10 Meters and the distance between the mobile stations A and D is thus estimated at 32 + 10 = 42 meters. The Process continues until the destination is reached. Then the packet is set to 3 again with the parameter TTL, TTL3 = 3, sent again and the third jump on which Mobile station E, returns the expired TTL. The distance between mobile station A and E becomes 42 + 27 = 69 meters estimated. Finally, the package comes back with the Parameter TTL set to 4, TTL4 = 4, sent and the fourth Jump, at the target mobile station B, returns that Signal has reached target B. The distance between the In this case, mobile stations A and B are set to 69 + 16 = 85 Meters estimated.

An example of using the traceroute command follows with reference to FIG. 1. If user A wanted to visit nice restaurant H and wanted to know the maximum distance there, he could run the "traceroute" command and count the number of hops as described above.

Determining the maximum distance with the information is easy.

Distance = <number of jumps <. x meters,

where x is a real number between 10 and 100, depending on the establishment.

The distance will likely be much smaller than this value, but it is a first rough estimate. In order to get a better estimate, the delay time of the transmission could be measured for each jump. In this way a much better result would be obtained. The following formula could be used:

Distance = X ₁ + X ₂ + X ₃ +. , , + X _n ,

where X _j , j = 1,. , ., n, which is the distance given by the delay time for each of the n jumps.

An average professional in the technical field understands that the distance could be calculated in real time. The Distance can also be pre-calculated from pre-calculated values or be interpolated. The distance measurement application could of course after several parameters to check the Improve distance estimation. It could be stationary Bluetooth devices (beacons) in the ad hoc networks exist that could be used as references. It would also be possible to set up the bluetooth cause a number of connections, each with different routes to the destination. The Distance could then be the average distance of this  Routes or calculated as the shortest distance of these routes become.

According to a further embodiment, a prompt via Bluetooth transceiver to one device in one "Radius" from z. B. sent two jumps to the position of the Determine establishment. If any facility in this radius knows its own position, e.g. B. the Facility using GPS or a differentiated GPS or a fixed transceiver, this can be your Report the position to the requesting institution.

According to yet another embodiment, the Beacons described above can be used to Determine the position of a facility. You can also include their margin of error, which depends on distinguishes the method of determining the position.

Figure 6a shows a diagram of a signal from a mobile station requesting information regarding the distance to a specific destination. The header includes a identifier of the transmitter (the id of the requesting mobile station), the receiver (the id of the destination) and other relevant information. The payload includes the request for information.

FIG. 6b shows a diagram of a signal from target information, which includes an estimate of the distance between the target and the requesting mobile station in a payload part. The header includes identification of the sender (the id of the destination), the recipient (the id of the requesting mobile station) and other relevant information.

The Internet Control Message Protocol (Internet Control Message Protocol), ICMP, is discussed below Details revealed. The ICMP enables gateways to  and control messages to other gateways or hosts send; ICMP establishes communication between the Internet Protocol software on one machine and the Internet Protocol software ready on another. Any one Machine can send ICMP messages to any other machine send. Thus, a host can use the ICMP to communicate with a to correspond to another gateway or another host. The main advantage of using ICMP hosts enable, is that this is a single Provides mechanism for all tax and Informational messages is used.

Typically the ICMP is one Error notification mechanism. It represents one Procedure for gateways ready that has an error notice the error to the original source too to report. The ICMP only reports error conditions to the original source; the source must have errors with individual Relate application programs and work to that Correct problem.

ICMP messages require two levels of encapsulation as shown in Figure 10. The ICMP message is encapsulated in an IP datagram, which is further encapsulated in a frame for transmission. To identify the ICMP, the datagram protocol field contains the value 1.

The ICMP echo request or response message format is now disclosed with reference to FIG. 11. Although each ICMP message has its own format, they all start with the same three fields: a message TYPE field with an 8-bit integer that identifies the message, an 8-bit CODE field that provides further information about the message type, and a 16-bit CHECKSUM field (ICMP uses the same additive checksum algorithms as IP, but the ICMP checksum only covers the ICMP message). In addition, ICMP messages reporting errors always include the header and the first 64 data bits of the datagram that is causing the problem.

The ICMP message can also be used for circular or to record extensive long routes, as below is explained. Because internet gateways take another leap using local tables Errors in routing tables for a routing cycle generate any destination D. A routing cycle can end there are two gateways, each a datagram for one Route destination D to the other, or it can consist of several Gateways exist. If multiple gateways have a routing cycle form, they each direct a datagram for a destination D to the next gateway in the cycle. If a datagram enters a routing cycle, it becomes endless around the cycle walk around. Each IP datagram includes a lifetime Counter, sometimes referred to as a jump counter, to prevent a datagram from being endless in the TCP / IP Internet circulates. A gateway decrements the lifetime counter whenever it processes the datagram and clears that Datagram when the counter reaches zero.

Whenever a gateway deletes a datagram because its hop count has reached zero or because a timeout has occurred while waiting for fragments of a datagram, it sends an ICMP timeout message back to the datagram's source by doing the one shown in FIG Format is used. The CODE field explains the type of timing. If the code value is zero, it means that the lifetime count has been exceeded. If the code value is "1", it means that the fragment reassembly time has been exceeded. A fragment reassembly refers to the task of collecting all fragments from a datagram. When the first fragment of a datagram arrives, the receiving host starts a timer and considers it an error if the timer expires before all parts of the datagram arrive. The code value "1" is used to report such an error to the transmitter; a message is sent for each such error.

FIG. 3a shows a PDA 500 using an "add-on" Bluetooth communication device 510 . The Bluetooth communication device, which is provided with an antenna, is inserted into a slot in the PDA. The Bluetooth communication device can be a PC card or a compact flash card which is provided with the Bluetooth chipset.

Figure 3b shows a PDA using a "built-in" Bluetooth communication device. Here the PDA is equipped with an antenna.

Fig. 3c shows a mobile telephone, the ( "built-in") communication device using a Bluetooth "built in", the mobile phone and the Bluetooth transceiver having different antennas.

The method disclosed here can be in a farm or a kindergarten used to the children / the cattle to pursue. Each animal can have a facility here is disclosed to be equipped and an alarm is sent to a central facility sent to the owner about it informs that a child / animal from the group of Runs away from children / animals.

The method disclosed here can also be used to construct an information system, based on a Bluetooth Network, be used, the distance and the direction can be estimated to different goals. The information can be done using a computerized speech system used to help blind people to themselves Orientate at home or in a supermarket. A map of the  Supermarkets can be saved in the establishment of users become. A number of fixed Bluetooth transceivers can be arranged at predetermined locations in the building. If the user is near certain predetermined Arrives in the store, the user can use Help z. B. a voice message to his mobile phone be informed of the type of products that are near the User are arranged.

In a fixed network, e.g. B. an Ethernet can do this here disclosed methods for error detection and Error localization can be used. If a mistake in a cable is caught, it is difficult these days Localize errors. Nowadays the only one available Information that the error is between two fixed electronic devices. To make the mistake find, the repairer must manually find every connection between check the electronic equipment and he must manually every part of every cable between devices check. Using the procedure as here reveals, it may be possible to find out where the There is an error, i. H. in what room after a faulty Facility to be searched, e.g. B. for a cable. On Average professional understands how to make a mistake Localize using the method disclosed here is.

Figure 7 shows a flow diagram illustrating the method disclosed herein. In block 710 , the user requests the distance to a restaurant H using a PDA. The PDA is equipped with a Bluetooth transceiver and sends a signal to neighboring devices in block 720 . When the signal reaches an adjacent facility, a counter is set to 1. In block 740 , the signal is sent to the following device until it reaches the destination with a predefined address. Each time the signal reaches a new device, the counter is incremented by 1, as described in connection with FIG. 7. If the signal has reached the destination using multiple paths, block 745 , an optimized value of the different paths is calculated, e.g. B. an average value or the smallest value, in block 750 , and the result is calculated. The result for the user is then displayed in block 760 with the aid of a display or a synthesized voice message. If the signal has reached the destination using only one path, the result is calculated using an algorithm using the amount of hops stored in the counter and then displayed in block 760 .

The invention as disclosed can be done using analog technology be used. However, a modem must be between TCP and the analog radio can be added.

It is obvious that the invention as it is here has been described in a variety of ways can be changed. Such changes are not considered Deviation from the basic idea and the scope of protection of the Viewed invention and it is intended that all such modifications as they are Average specialist in the technical field the scope of the following claims are included.

Claims (14)

1. A method for determining in a communication network a distance between a first point (A) and a second point (H, B), each of which is provided with an electronic device, the network comprising at least two electronic devices with a Short-range radio communication are provided, the method comprising:

• - Starting the communication by a requesting party in the first point (A); and
• Transfer of data packets from one electronic device to the next with the aid of routers,

characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:

• Sending a signal to at least one adjacent one of the devices, the signal comprising an identification of the second point (H, B),
• - routing the signal to the second point (H, B) using the identification;
• Using a traceroute command to determine a number of jumps for the signal between the first point (A) and the second point (H, B), each jump defining a distance value; and
• Generating a sum of the distance values for each jump, as an estimate of the total distance from the first point (A) to the second point (H, B).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the procedure using different routes is repeated and that an average of estimated distances is generated. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the procedure using different routes is repeated and that the smallest value of the estimated distances is selected. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a method for detecting jumps in one ring-like path is also used. 5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized characterized that the facilities with short-range Beacons statically arranged for radio transceivers include. 6. Method of determining the position of the first Device (A) using a method according to any one of claims 1-4 for requesting the position of a nearby facility that has a nearby position has knowledge, which about the Establishing position either one statically positioned facility or a mobile Establishment with a position knowledge could be. 7. Arrangement in a communication network for determination a distance between two points, a first point (A) and a second point (H, B) in a network, the each provided with an electronic device are, the network is a short-range radio communication and includes ad hoc technology, and wherein   - the communication is started by a requesting party in the first point (A); and

• Packets are transferred from one electronic device to the next by means of routers, characterized in that the arrangement comprises:
• - an electronic device for transmitting a signal to at least one neighboring device which is provided with short-range radio communication, the signal comprising an identification of the second point (H, B);
• - means for routing the signal to the second point (H, B) using the identification;
• means for using a traceroute command to determine the number of jumps between the first point (A) and the second point (H, B), each defining a distance value,
• means for generating the sum of the distance values for each jump as an estimate of the total distance from the first point (A) and the second point (H, B), and
• - A display, visual or audible, to show the user the estimated distance.

8. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the arrangement the estimated distance between the Point (A) and point (H, B) several times below Generated using different routes, and that the average value of the estimated generated Distances is calculated and displayed.   9. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the arrangement the estimated distance between the Point (A) and point (H, B) several times below Generated using different routes and that the smallest value of the generated distances is calculated and is shown. 10. The arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that a traceroute command is used to jump in to capture and avoid a ring-like path. 11. Arrangement according to claim 7 or 8, characterized characterized that the network with statically arranged Beacons are provided which are movable together with Facilities used with a Short-range radio communication are provided. 12. Arrangement in a communication system for determination the location of a facility using a Method according to one of claims 1-4 for requesting the position from a nearby, over a position Facility possessing knowledge, the over the Position knowledge institution either one statically positioned facility or a mobile Establishment with a position knowledge could be. 13. System in a communication network for determining a distance between a first point (A) and a second point (H, B), each of which is provided with an electronic device, the network comprising at least two electronic devices connected to a short-range Radio communications are provided, the system comprising:

• means for starting communication from a requesting party at the first point (A), and
• a device for transferring data packets from one electronic device to the next using routers,

characterized in that the system comprises means for

• Sending a signal to at least one adjacent one of the devices, the signal comprising an identification of the second point (H, B),
• Routing the signal to the second point (B) using the identification,
• Using a traceroute command to determine a number of jumps for the signal between the first point (A) and the second point (H, B), each jump defining a distance value, and
• Generating a sum of the distance values for each jump as an estimate of the total distance from the first point (A) to the second point (H, B).