KR100838473B1 - System and method of by wireless using r.f. measuring location - Google Patents

Abstract

An intelligent wireless location system and method using RF(Radio Frequency) technology are provided to locate a moving object easily and precisely even in a shadow area like the inside of a building or the underground by using various kinds of RF devices. An RF tag(110) is attached to a moving object such as a person to transmit an RF signal. A plurality of RF beacons receive the RF signal from the RF tag, and calculate a distance from the RF tag by using TOF(Time Of Flight) technique. A hub(150) collects distance information from the RF beacons by communicating one of the beacons and locates the moving object by using triangulation. A controller(200) monitors position of the moving object by using location information of the moving object received from the hub. The RF beacons include a plurality of slave beacons(120,130) placed in the same indoor space(161,162), receiving the RF signal from the RF tag, and calculating the distance from the RF tag by using TOF technique, and a master beacon(140) communicating with the slave beacons and collecting the distance information from each of the slave beacons.

Description

Intelligent wireless indoor location tracking system using R.F technology and its method {System and method of by wireless using R.F. measuring location}

1 is a block diagram of an intelligent wireless indoor location tracking system using RF technology according to the present invention.

2 is a flowchart showing an intelligent wireless indoor location tracking method using RF technology according to the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

110... RF tag

120, 130, 140... RF Beacon

150... Beacon

161, 163... Indoor space

200... controller

The present invention relates to an intelligent wireless indoor location tracking using RF technology, and more particularly, RF technology enabling accurate identification and tracking of which floor in a building in a shaded area such as indoor or underground. The present invention relates to an intelligent wireless indoor location tracking system and a method thereof.

Currently, Location Based Service (LBS) is actively developed and developed based mainly on the outdoors such as Cell-id method using mobile communication base station, GPS method using satellite, A-GPS (GPS + base station) method, and terrestrial dedicated base station method. However, all of them have a vulnerability that is only monitored as being inside when the moving object enters the interior or basement.

Location tracking for people, robots, and objects moving indoors, not outdoors, 1) Location tracking using RFid reader location, 2) Location tracking using Zigbee receiver (Beacon or Detector), 3) CRICKET, ACTIVE Location tracking using ultrasound such as BAT, iGS, etc., 4) location tracking using vision, and 5) location tracking using Laser.

Location tracking using RFid reader or Zigbee receiver has the advantage of using the existing generalized technology, but it is a zone detection technology rather than location tracking, so it requires more quantity as reader or receiver requires precision to increase the accuracy. In addition, the installation cost is expensive because the expert has to carefully adjust the design or installation when applied to the field.

Location tracking using ultrasonic waves such as CRICKET, ACTIVE BAT, iGS, etc. has the advantage that the location tracking accuracy is very good and the terminal can be made relatively inexpensive, but the basic space to recognize the location is small. As a result, the installation cost increases.

Location tracking using vision has a weak point to environmental changes and lighting conditions, and location tracking using laser is very precise location tracking compared to other means, but it is very expensive and has limitations in daily use. .

Accordingly, the present invention proposes a location tracking system that is easy to track the location of a person, robot, object, etc. while indoors, has a practical, accurate location tracking accuracy, and can be used commercially.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an intelligent wireless indoor location tracking system and method using RF technology that can accurately identify and track which floor in a building is located in a shadow area such as indoors or underground. have.

"Intelligent wireless indoor location tracking system using RF technology" according to the present invention for achieving the above object,

By using the time of flight (TOF) technique and the triangulation method, which is used as a position tracking method using laser or ultrasound in RF technology, the positional accuracy with practical meaning is realized. That is, the propagation propagation time between different RF chips is detected, the distance between the two RF chips is estimated by multiplying the speed of RF, and the location is detected using triangulation.

Such a preferred embodiment of the "intelligent wireless indoor location tracking system using RF technology" according to the present invention,

An RF tag attached to a moving object such as a person or an object requiring position tracking and transmitting an RF signal;

A plurality of RF beacons for receiving an RF signal transmitted from the RF tag and calculating a distance from the RF tag using a TOF method;

A hub configured to perform communication with a specific RF beacon among the plurality of RF beacons, collect calculated distance information between the plurality of RF beacons and RF tags, and estimate a position of the mobile body using triangulation;

And a controller for monitoring the position of the moving object by using the position estimation information of the moving object transmitted from the hub.

Here, the plurality of RF beacons are located in one room, a plurality of slave RF beacons for receiving the RF signal transmitted from the RF tag, and calculates the distance to the RF tag using a TOF method;

And a master RF beacon configured to communicate with the plurality of slave RF beacons in RF and collect distance information transmitted from each slave RF beacon.

In the above, the RF beacon and the hub are characterized in that the interface data via CAN (Controller Area Network) or RS 485 communication.

The hub is characterized in that for transmitting the position estimation information to the controller via Ethernet communication.

In addition, a preferred embodiment of the "intelligent wireless indoor location tracking method using RF technology" according to the present invention,

Detecting radio wave propagation time by receiving RF signals transmitted from RF tags attached to a moving object in a plurality of RF beacons located in one indoor space;

Estimating a distance between two RF beacons by multiplying the propagation propagation time detected by the plurality of RF beacons by the speed of RF;

Detecting the position of the moving object by triangulation using the estimated distance information between the two RF beacons;

And transmitting the detected position information of the moving object to a controller.

Hereinafter, described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of the present invention. If it is determined that the detailed description of the known function or configuration related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

1 is a block diagram of an "indoor wireless location tracking system using RF technology" according to the present invention.

Here, reference numeral 100 denotes an entire indoor space in which the moving object moves, and reference numeral 110 denotes an RF tag attached to a moving object such as a person or an object requiring position tracking and transmitting an RF signal.

Also, reference numerals 120, 130, and 140 denote a plurality of RF beacons for receiving the RF signal transmitted from the RF tag 110 and calculating a distance from the RF tag 110 using a TOF method. A plurality of slave RF beacons 120 and 130 that receive the RF signals transmitted from 110 and calculate a distance to the RF tag 110 using a TOF method, and the plurality of slave RF beacons 120 and 130. ) And a master RF beacon 140 for communicating with RF and collecting distance information transmitted from each slave RF beacon.

In addition, the reference numeral 150 performs communication with a specific RF beacon 140 of the plurality of RF beacon to collect the calculated distance information between the plurality of RF beacons (120, 130) and the RF tag 110, triangulation method Denotes a hub for estimating the position of the movable body, and reference numeral 200 denotes a controller for monitoring the position of the movable body using position estimation information of the movable body transmitted from the hub 150.

According to the present invention configured as described above, when a moving object (person, robot, etc.) to which the RF tag 110 is attached transmits an RF signal while moving in one interior space 161, the interior space 161 The slave RF beacons 120 and 130 mounted at a predetermined position (usually at the ceiling) receive RF signals transmitted from the RF tag 110, respectively, and use the existing TOF method to perform the RF tag 110. Calculate the distance between and.

Each of the slave RF beacons 120 and 130 having calculated the distance to the RF tag 110 transmits the calculated distance information to the master RF beacon 140 using the RF method. Here, the master RF beacon 140 acts as a slave RF beacon and at the same time acts as a master.

The master RF beacon 140 transmits the distance information calculated by the slave RF beacons and its own distance information to the hub 150 using the CAN communication method or the RS485 communication method. Here, the use of the hub 150 is a method for reducing the installation cost when effective location tracking in a large building consisting of several floors.

The hub 150 estimates the distance between the slave RF beacons 120 and 130 by multiplying the RF speed by the distance information of each RF beacon transmitted from the master RF beacon 14, and then using a conventional triangulation method. Will track the position of.

When the location tracking of the moving object is completed, the location tracking information of the moving object is transmitted to the controller 200 through Ethernet communication, and the controller 200 monitors the location tracking information of the transmitted moving object, so that the moving object can be located anywhere in the basement or indoors. It will track your location accurately.

2 is a flow chart showing an "intelligent wireless location tracking method using RF technology" according to the present invention.

As shown therein, a step (S101) of transmitting an RF signal from an RF tag mounted on a mobile body, and a plurality of RF beacons located in one room, respectively, receives the RF signal transmitted from the RF tag attached to the mobile body. Detecting a propagation propagation time (S103), estimating a distance between two RF beacons by multiplying the propagation propagation time detected by the plurality of RF beacons by the speed of RF (S105), and the estimated two RF beacons Detecting the position of the moving object by triangulation using distance information between the signals (S107), and transmitting to the controller to monitor the position information of the detected moving object (S109).

In this way, the intelligent wireless indoor location tracking method using the RF technology according to the present invention transmits an RF signal from an RF tag mounted on the moving object as in step S101, and in step S103, Each RF beacon receives RF signals transmitted from the RF tag attached to the moving object, detects (calculates) the propagation propagation time using the TOF method, and transmits them to the hub. It is preferable to apply the well-known TOF method as a method of detecting the propagation propagation time using a TOF here.

Thereafter, in step S105, the hub estimates the distance between two RF beacons by multiplying the propagation propagation time detected by the plurality of RF beacons by the speed of RF, and in step S107, a general triangular shape using the estimated distance information between the two RF beacons. Surveying method detects the position of the movable body.

Next, it transmits to the controller to monitor the position information of the detected moving object in step S109, the controller can monitor the position on the screen, it is possible to track the position of the moving object at any location in the basement or indoors.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described specific preferred embodiments, and various modifications can be made by any person having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the gist of the present invention claimed in the claims. Of course, such changes will fall within the scope of the claims.

According to the present invention described above, there is an advantage that can accurately grasp and track which floor in a building in a shaded area, such as indoors or underground, where the mobile is located.

In addition, it is possible to implement a wireless indoor location tracking system at low cost using RF technology, TOF method and triangulation method, there is an advantage to provide a wireless indoor location tracking system that can be used practically and commercially.

Claims (7)

In the indoor location tracking system that can wirelessly track the location of the moving object located indoors, An RF tag attached to a moving object such as a person or an object requiring position tracking and transmitting an RF signal; A plurality of RF beacons for receiving an RF signal transmitted from the RF tag and calculating a distance from the RF tag using a TOF method; A hub for performing communication with any one of the plurality of RF beacons, collecting calculated distance information between the plurality of RF beacons and the RF tags, and estimating the position of the mobile unit using triangulation; Intelligent wireless indoor location tracking system using the RF technology, characterized in that it comprises a controller for monitoring the position of the moving object using the position estimation information of the moving object transmitted from the hub. The RF beacon of claim 1, wherein the plurality of RF beacons are located in one room, receive a plurality of RF signals transmitted from the RF tag, and calculate a distance from the RF tag using a TOF method. ; An intelligent wireless indoor location tracking system using RF technology, comprising a master RF beacon for communicating with the plurality of slave RF beacons and collecting distance information transmitted from each slave RF beacon. delete The intelligent wireless indoor location tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the hub transmits position estimation information to the controller through Ethernet communication. 5. The RF of claim 1 or 4, wherein the hub multiplies the RF speed by the propagation propagation time calculated from the respective RF beacons, and estimates distance information between arbitrary RF beacons as a result. Intelligent wireless indoor location tracking system using technology. In the indoor location tracking system that can wirelessly track the location of the moving object located indoors, Detecting radio wave propagation time by receiving RF signals transmitted from RF tags attached to a moving object in a plurality of RF beacons located in one indoor space; Estimating a distance between two RF beacons by multiplying the propagation propagation time detected by the plurality of RF beacons by the speed of RF; And detecting the position of the moving object by triangulation using the estimated distance information between the two RF beacons. According to claim 6, Intelligent wireless indoor location tracking method using the RF technology, Intelligent wireless indoor location tracking method using the RF technology, characterized in that further comprising the step of transmitting to the controller to monitor the detected position information of the moving object.

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