SE536714C2

SE536714C2 - Methods, nodes and computer programs for positioning a device

Info

Publication number: SE536714C2
Application number: SE1251171A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Håkan Dackefjord
Original assignee: Nida Tech Sweden Ab
Priority date: 2012-07-06
Filing date: 2012-10-16
Publication date: 2014-06-10
Also published as: SE1251171A1

Abstract

33 ABSTRACT A method in o mobiie node (i OO) tor enobiing determinotion ot o position ot odevice (i iO). The method comprises receiving o positioning request messoge,including on identification ot the device (i iO). The method turther comprisestronsmitting on o|ert signoi to the device (i iO), inciuding the identiticotion ot thedevice (i iO). The method turther comprises receiving o response signoi trom thedevice (i iO), inciuding the identiticotion ot the device (i iO). The method turthercomprises coicuioting o distonce or o direction to the device (i iO) by meosuring the received response signoi, thereby enobiing ot determinotion ot the position ot the device (i iO). (Fig. i)

Description

METHODS NODES AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR POSITIONING OF ADEVICE Technico| tie|d

[0001] The present invention re|otes generally to methods, nodes, computer progrom ond o computer progrom product tor positioning ot o device.

Background ort

[0002] lt is known to identity the geogrophico| position ot mobile devices, suchos ce||u|or te|ephones, PDAs etc., by the oid ot so-co||ed triongu|otion. Theopproximote |oco|izotion ot the mobi|e devices is detined vio the sensing ot signo|strength ot the rodio ot ot |eost three rodio towers, i.e. bose stotions, ot the networkot the mobile device. Other positioning methods, such os Cell ID, CGI/TA, E-CGI ond A-GPS ore o|so ovoi|ob|e.

[0003] |t is turther known to identity the position ot |ost or sto|en obiects by the oidot GPS positioning meons. Obiects moy hereby be equipped with preterob|yconceo|ed GPS trockers, i.e. GPS receivers, which ore octuotob|e by o centerstotion or o user vio rodio communicotion to co||ect positioning doto tor the objecttrom GPS sote||ites. Such trocker is known trom tor instonce GB2483459 A orGB2484273 A. A drowbock with these types ot trockers is thot they require o cost|ymobi|e phone subscription ond o contigurotion ot tor instonce o GSM modem ondGPS receiver devices. Soid devices ore highly energy consuming ond theretoreneed to be equipped with re|otive|y bu|ky botteries which requires constont chorgingond operotor discip|ine in terms ot shutting the GPS trocker on ond ott to work osintended. The increosed cost, size, weight ond bu|kiness turther reduces the GPS trockers usobi|ity tor certoin opp|icotions wherein such porometers ore preterob|y l reduced, whereby their trocking obility is incopocitoted.

Summory ot invention[0004] An object ot the present solution is to olleviote some ot the disodvontogesot the prior ort ond to provide on improved device tor positioning objects which is cheoper during use ond monutocture ond con be l

[0005] A turther object ot the present solution is to provide on improved device tor positioning obiects which is more relioble ond robust.

[0006] According to one embodiment, o method in o mobile node is provided tor enobling determinotion ot o position ot o device, the method comprising: - receiving o positioning request messoge, including on identiticotion ot the device, - tronsmitting on olert signol to the device, including the identiticotion ot the device, - receiving o response signol trom the device, including the identiticotion ot the device, ond - co|cu|oting o distance or o direction to the device by meosuring the receivedresponse signo|, thereby enobling ot determinotion ot the position ot the device.[0007] According to onother embodiment, o method is provided, wherein - the positioning request messoge, including on identiticotion ot the device is received trom o remote node.[0008] According to onother embodiment, o method is provided, wherein - o response to the positioning request messoge including the co|cu|oteddistonce or o direction to the device ond o position ot the mobile node, is tronsmitted to the remote node.[0009] According to onother embodiment, o method is provided, wherein - the distonce to the device is co|cu|oted by meosuring the signo| strength or signo| deloy.[00i 0] According to onother embodiment, o method is provided, wherein - the direction to the device is co|cu|oted by determinotion ot o beoring to o strongest signo| strength.[00i i] According to onother embodiment, o method is provided, wherein - the node receives the response signo| trom the device in o tirst receivingdevice ond o second receiving device, wherein the second receiving device is o microphone device.[00i 2] According to onother embodiment, o method is provided, wherein - the microphone device turther receives o sound signo| trom the device.

[OOi 3] According to onother embodiment, o method is provided, wherein the node receives the response signo| trom the device in o third receivingdevice, wherein the third receiving device is o seporote ontenno device mountoble to the mobile node.[0014] According to onother embodiment, o method is provided, whereinthe method is repeotedly corried out.

[OOi 5] According to onother embodiment, o method in o device tor enoblingdeterminotion ot o position ot the device by o mobile node is provided, the method comprising: receiving on o|ert signo| trom the mobi|e node, inc|uding on identiticotion ot the device, o|erting the device by motching the received identiticotion with o pre- progrommed identiticotion ot the device, tronsmitting o response to the o|ert signo|, inc|uding the identiticotion ot thedevice motching soid received identiticotion, thereby enobling determinotion ot the position ot the device.

[OOi ó] According to onother embodiment, o method is provided, whereinthe response to the o|ert signo| is repeotedly tronsmitted.

[OOi 7] According to onother embodiment, o method in o remote node (i 20) tor determinotion ot o position ot o device is provided, the method comprising: tronsmitting o positioning request messoge, including on identificotion of the device, to o p|uro|ity of mobile nodes, receiving ot |eost one response to the positioning request messoge, includingo co|cu|oted distonce to the device from the mobile node, ond o position of the mobile node, determining o position of the device by co|cu|otion of the distonce of thedevice from the mobi|e node in combinotion with the position of the ot |eost one mobi|e device.

According to onother embodiment, o method is provided, wherein theposition of the device is determined whether within o predefinedgeogrophico| oreo or vo|ume ond/or whether the position of the device is within o predefined distonce from o geogrophico| point.[00i 8] According to onother embodiment, o method is provided, wherein on o|orm messoge is tronsmitted to on o|orm device upon determining thotthe position of the device is outside the predefined geogrophico| oreo orvo|ume ond/or whether the position of the device is beyond the predefined distonce from the geogrophico| point.[0019] According to onother embodiment, o method is provided, wherein the o|orm device comprises ot |eost one of the remote node, the mobi|e node or the device.[0020] According to onother embodiment, o method is provided, whereinthe geogrophico| point is defined by the |ocotion of o mobi|e node.

[0021] According to onother embodiment, o method is provided, wherein - the positioning request message is repeotedly tronsmitted.[0022] According to onother embodiment, o method is provided, wherein - when responses to the positioning request messoges ore received trom op|uro|ity ot mobile nodes, the position ot the device is co|cu|oted by use ot ony ot triongu|otion, or mu|ti|oterotion, or tri|oterotion.[0023] According to onother embodiment, o method is provided, wherein- the remote node is hosted by o mobi|e node.

[0024] According to on embodiment o mobile node is orronged to enob|e determinotion ot o position ot o device, wherein: the mobile node is orronged to receive o positioning request messoge, inc|uding on identiticotion ot the device, - the mobile node is orronged to tronsmit on o|ert signo| to the device, inc|uding the identiticotion ot the device, - the mobi|e node is orronged to receive o response signo| trom the device, inc|uding the identiticotion ot the device, ond - the mobi|e node is orronged to co|cu|ote o distonce or o direction to thedevice by meosuring the received response signo|, thereby enob|ing ot determinotion ot the position ot the device.

[0025] occording to on embodiment o device is orronged to enob|e determinotion ot o position ot the device by o mobi|e node, wherein: - the device is orronged to receive on o|ert signo| trom the mobi|e node, inc|uding on identiticotion ot the device, - the device is arranged to a|ert the device by matching the received identification with a pre-programmed identification ot the device, - the device is arranged to transmit a response to the a|ert signal , includingthe identification ot the device matching said received identification, thereby enab|ing determination ot the position ot the device.

[0026] According to an embodiment is a remote node arranged to determine a position ot a device, wherein: - the remote node is arranged to transmit a positioning request message, including an identitication ot the device, to a p|ura|ity ot mobile nodes, - -the remote node is arranged to receive at |east one response to thepositioning request message, including a ca|cu|ated distance to the device trom the mobile node, and a position ot the mobile node, - -the remote node is arranged to determine a position ot the device byca|cu|ation ot the distance ot the device trom the mobi|e node in combination with the position ot the at |east one mobi|e device.

[0027] According to an embodiment a computer program, comprising computerreadab|e code means, which when run in a mobi|e node arranged to enab|edetermination ot a position ot a device, causes the mobi|e node arranged to enab|e determination ot a position ot a device to pertorm the corresponding method.

[0028] The above methods and nodes and computer program may be contigured and imp|emented according to ditterent optiona| embodiments.

Brief description of drowinqs

[0029] The invention is now described, by woy of exomple, with reference to the occomponying drowings, in which:

[0030] Fig. 1 is on overview of o positioning solution.

[0031] Fig. 2 is on overview i||ustroting embodiments of o positioning solution.[0032] Fig. 3 is flow chort i||ustroting o procedure in o mobile node.

[0033] Fig. 4 is o flow chort i||ustroting o procedure in o device.

[0034] Fig. 5 is o flow chort i||ustroting o procedure in o remote node.

[0035] Fig. ó is o b|oc1< diogrom i||ustroting further embodiments of o positioning solution.

[0036] Fig. 7 is o b|oc1< diogrom i||ustroting further embodiments of o positioning so|ution with o computer environment.

[0037] Fig. 8A-C shows i||ustrotions of o distonce ond on oreo.

Description of embodiments

[0038] ln the following, o detoiled description of the invention wi|| be given. ln thedrowing figures, like reference numerols designote identico| or correspondinge|ements throughout the severo| figures. lt wi|| be opprecioted thot these figures ore for i||ustrotion only ond ore not in ony woy restricting the scope of the so|ution.

[0039] Fig. 1 shows on overview of o positioning system comprising o mobilenode 100, wherein the mobile node 100 moy comprise one of e.g. the following: o mobile phone, o smort phone, o toblet PC, ADSL router, wireless LAN occess device (Local Area Network), tiber-to-the-home termination device, access point tor wirelessdevice, mobile terminal, vehicle arranged terminal, home automation access unit,TV set top box, and similar network access points, not limiting to other units. Thepositioning system further comprises a device i iO to be positioned. The device i iOmay comprise tor instance any ot mobile phone, wireless LAN access device,access point tor wireless device, mobile wireless LAN access device, an RFID device(Radio Frequency identitication), a Bluetooth device, a ZigBee device, not limiting toother units. The device i iO may be arranged on other device that is to bepositioned. As can be seen in Fig. i, the mobile node is arranged to receive apositioning request message (A:i) including an identitication ot the device i iO.According to an embodiment, the positioning request message (A:i) may be senttrom a remote node i2O comprising tor instance a mobile node iOO, a mobiledevice, a personal computer, a web site, a virtual network client, a server, or anyother kind ot network connected unit, trom which it is possible to communicate witha mobile node iOO. The mobile node iOO is turther arranged to transmit an alertsignal (A32) to the device i iO, including the identitication ot the device i iO, toreceive a response signal (A:4) trom the device i iO, including the identitication otthe device i iO and tor calculating (A:ó) a distance or a direction to the device i iO by measuring the received response signal, thereby enabling ot determinationot the position ot the device i iO. The identitication may be tor example a MAC-address (Media Access Control), a SSID (Service Set ldentitier), an e-mail address, aSIP-address (Session |nitiation Protocol), an IP-address (Internet Protocol), a URL(Unitorm Resource Locator) or a URI (Unitorm Resource ldentitier), not limiting othertypes it identitications to be used. The signal may be tor example sent via TCP/UDPIP (Transter Control Protocol/User Datagram Protocol/Internet Protocol), WirelessLAN, http (Hypertext Transter protocol), https (http secure), as a SIP-message, or an e-mail, not limiting other suitable protocols tor carrying the signal.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the mobile node 100 is arranged toreceive the response signa| trom the device 1 10 in a tirst receiving device 180 anda second receiving device 190. The a|arm device 170, tirst receiving device 180,the second receiving device 190 and third receiving device 200 are shown in Fig.ó. According to one embodiment, the tirst receiving 180 device is an antennadevice. According to one embodiment the second receiving device 190 is amicrophone device. ln another embodiment, the second receiving device may be acamera. According to one embodiment, the microphone device is arranged todetermine the bearing to a strongest signa| strength ot the response signa|. Theresponse signa| may, in one embodiment, be an electromagnetic signa|. Accordingto one embodiment, the response signa| may comprise a sound signa|. A secondreceiving device 190 may be used to turther enhance the ability and/or accuracy indetermining the distance and direction to the device 1 10. ln one embodiment, themobi|e node 100 is arranged to receive a response signa| trom the device 1 10 in athird receiving device 200, wherein the third receiving device is a separate antennadevice mountab|e to the mobi|e node 100. A third receiving device 200 may beused to turther enhance the ability and/or accuracy in determining the distance and direction to the device 1 10.

[0042] According to an embodiment, the mobi|e node 100 is arranged totransmit a response to the positioning request message (A31) to the remote node 120, including the ca|cu|ated distance or a direction to the device 1 10. ln an ii embodiment, the response message oiso includes the o position ot the mobi|e nodei00. The position ot the mobile node i00 moy be determined by the mobi|e nodei00 by being orronged with ond using o GPS receiver, A-GPS tunctionoiity, Witienhonced GPS tunctionoiity or other enhonced GPS positioning techniques or being orronged to use triongulotion, triloterotion or mu|ti|oterotion using o mobi|e network.

[0043] lt o mobi|e network is used tor positioning o the mobi|e node i00, the position ot the mobi|e node i00 moy be provided by the mobi|e network.

[0044] Further, in the positioning system ot Fig. i, the device i i0 is orronged toreceive on o|ert signoi trom the mobi|e node i00 inc|uding on identiticotion ot thedevice i i0, oierting the device i i0 by motching the received identiticotion with opreprogrommed identiticotion ot the device i i0, tronsmitting o response to the o|ertsignoi, inc|uding the identiticotion ot the device i i0 motching soid receivedidentiticotion, thereby enobiing determinotion ot the position ot the device i i0.According to on embodiment, the device i i0 is odopted to repeotediy tronsmit theresponse to the o|ert signoi. Hereby, o risk thot tor instonce o remote node i20does not receive the response due to poor signoi strength/connectivity resu|ting e.g.trom the position ot the device i i0 or the mobi|e node i00 moy be reduced.Another odvontoge moy be, it the device i i0 chonges iocotion, it moy be possib|e to determine the new position.

[0045] Fig. 2, shows on overview ot the positioning system, comprising o p|uro|ityot mobi|e nodes i00. The positioning system turther comprises o remote node i20comprising tor instonce o mobi|e node i00. The remote node i20 is orronged totronsmit o positioning request messoge, inc|uding on identiticotion ot the device i i0, to o p|uro|ity ot mobi|e nodes i i0. Such p|uro|ity ot mobi|e nodes moy be oc|osed user group ot users which hove ogreed to use o specitic service, o rondomgroup ot mobi|e nodes i00 iocoted in the vicinity ot the remote node i20, on open user community which users moy subscribe to, on od hoc network, or o meshed i2 network, or similar. The remote node i20 is turther arranged to receive at |east oneresponse to the positioning request message, including a ca|cu|ated distance to thedevice i i0 trom the mobile node i00, and a position ot the mobile node i00 aswe|| as determining a position ot the device i i0 by ca|cu|ation ot the distance otthe device i i0 trom the mobi|e node i00 in combination with the position ot the at|east one mobi|e device i00. ln one embodiment, the remote node i20 is arrangedto ca|cu|ate the position ot the device i i0 using any ot triangu|ation, mu|ti|aterationor tri|ateration upon receiving responses to the position request message trom ap|ura|ity ot mobi|e nodes i i0. According to an embodiment, the remote node i20is hosted by a mobi|e node i00, i.e. the remote node i20 may itse|t be used to the determined the position ot the device i i0.

[0046] As may turther be seen in Fig. 2, in an embodiment, the nodes i00, i i0,and i20 comprises a processing unit 20i tor execution ot instructions ot computerprogram sottware, according to Fig. ó. The tigure turther shows a memory unit 202tor storage ot a computer program sottware and cooperation with the processingunit 20i . Such processing unit 20i and memory unit 202 may be provided by agenera| purpose computer, or a computer dedicated tor the nodes i00, i i0, and/or i20.

[0047] A procedure or method in a mobi|e node, tor examp|e a mobi|e node i00ot the positioning system tor enab|ing determination ot a position ot a device wi||now be described with reterence to Fig. 3. ln a tirst step Si 00, a positioningrequest message, including the identitication ot device i i0 is received in a mobi|enode i00. The positioning request message may tor instance be received trom aremote node i20. ln a next step Si i0, the mobi|e node i00 transmits an a|ertsigna| to the device i i0, including the identitication ot the device i i0. ln a nextstep Si 20, the mobi|e node i00 receives a response signa| trom the device i i0, including the device i i0. ln step Si 30, a ca|cu|ation ot a distance or direction to i3 the device i i0 is corried out in the mobile node i00 by meosuring the receivedresponse signal, thereby enobiing ot determinotion ot the position ot the device i i0. ln o turther possible step occording to one embodiment, o response to thepositioning request messoge including the coicuioted distonce or o direction to thedevice i i0 ond o position ot the mobile node i00 is tronsmitted to the remote nodei20. According to one embodiment, the distonce to the device i i0 is coicuioted bymeosuring the signoi strength or signoi deioy. According to one embodiment, thedirection to the device i i0 is coicuioted by determinotion ot o beoring to o strongest signoi strength.

[0048] Fig. 4 shows o procedure or method pertormed in o device, tor exompie odevice i i0 tor enobiing determinotion ot o position ot the device i i0 by o mobi|enode i00. ln o tirst step S200, the device receives on oiert signoi trom the mobi|enode i00, including on identiticotion the device i i0. ln o next step 2i0, thedevice i i0 is oierted by motching the received identiticotion with opreprogrommed identiticotion ot the device i i0. ln step 220, the device tronsmits qresponse to the oiert signoi, including the identiticotion ot the device i i0 motchingsqid received identiticotion, thereby enobiing determinotion ot the position ot thedevice i i0. According to one embodiment, the response to the oiert signoi is repeotediy tro nsmitted.

[0049] Fig. 5 shows o procedure or method pertormed in o remote node, torexompie o remote node i20 tor determinotion ot o position ot o device i i0. ln otirst step S300, o positioning request messoge is tronsmitted, including onidentiticotion ot the device i i0, to o p|uro|ity ot mobi|e nodes i i0. ln o next stepS3i0, the remote node i20 receives ot ieost one response to the positioningrequest messoge, including o coicuioted distonce to the device i i0 trom the mobi|enode i00, ond o position ot the mobi|e node i00. ln step S320, determining o position ot the device i i0 by coicuiotion ot the distonce ot the device i i0 trom the i4 mobile node i00 in combination with the position ot the ot ieost one mobi|e devicei00 is corried out in the remote node i20. According to one embodiment, whenresponses to the positioning request messoges ore received trom o plurolity otmobile nodes i i0, the osition ot the device i i0 is co|cu|oted b use ot on ot P Y Ytriqnguiotion, muitiiqterotion, or triioterotion. According to one embodiment, the remote node i20 is hosted by o mobi|e node.

[0050] ln on embodiment, not shown in the tigures, on i||ustrotive procedure moycomprise the to||owing steps. An obiect like o property, merchondise, or o person isprovided with o device, such os the device i i0, i.e. the device is ossocioted withthe obiect. At this stoge, the device is possive ond moy on|y receive signois. At ogiven point o user wonts to iocote the obiect, with the device ossocioted. Thot moybe, tor exompie, when o specitic obiect hos been sto|en, or |ost, o person moy beonticipoted os missing. The user moy vio o remote node register on instruction,which inc|udes on instruction to stort positioning. The remote node moy thon initiotepositioning, by tronsmission ot o positioning request to mobi|e nodes. Mobiie nodesthot ore reoched by the request, moy thon in turn tronsmit on oiert signoi to thedevice, the device ossocioted with the obiect desired to iocote. A user ot the mobi|enod moy not need to be owore ot the communicotion with o remote node or odevice. The device moy be octivoted. Mobiie nodes in the vicinity ot the device moybe obie to position the device, or ot ieost meosure o signoi, the device ossociotedwith the obiect desired to iocote. The received signoi ond position ot the mobi|enode, moy be tronsmitted by the mobi|e node to the remote node, wherein theremote node moy be obie to determine the position ot the device, ossocioted with the obiect, such thot the user moy be obie to iocote the sto|en, |ost or missing obiect. [005i] Fig. ó shows o block diogrom i||ustroting embodiments ot the so|ution withmobi|e nodes i00, device i i0 ond remote node i20. The remote node i20 moy be comprised by one ot the mobi|e nodes i00.

[0052] The remote node 120 moy be on opp|icotion orronged to operote in omobile node 100, tor example mobile node 100:A. ln on exomp|e where theremote node 120 is orronged to operote in such on environment, the remote node120 moy be copob|e ot utilizing positioning copobi|ities ot the mobile node 100:A,which the remote 120 is insto||ed on. The remote node 120 moy turther be copob|eto communicote with neighboring mobile nodes, such os mobile node 100:B ond100:C. The mobile nodes 100:B ond 100:C moy be in the vicinity ot the mobi|enode 100:A, or moy be remote|y |ocoted re|otive to the mobi|e node 100:Aincluding the remote node 120. Thereby moy the remote node 120 be enob|ed tocommunicote with both the mobi|e node 100:A os we|| os the mobi|e nodes 100:Bond 100:C, such thot the remote node 120 moy be copob|e to tronsmit positioning requests messoges ond receive responses to the positioning requests messoges.

[0053] The remote node 120 moy be orronged to communicote interno||y with theenvironment ot the mobi|e node 100:A vio stondord AP|'s (ApplicotionProgromming lntertoces) suitob|e tor tronsmission ot positioning requests messogesond reception ot responses, or other suitob|e techniques provided by tor exomp|eJovo or Android. For communicotion between the remote node 120 ond the mobi|enodes 100:B ond 100:C, ditterent communicotion meons moy be used, tor exomp|ePAN (Personol Areo Network) provided by Bluetooth. Another exomp|e is WLAN(Wireless Loco| Areo Network) provided by WiFi. Another exomp|e iscommunicotion bosed on TCP/UDP/IP (Tronster Control Protocol/user DotogromProtocol/Internet Protoco|) vio direct communicotion or provided vio Internet connections tor eoch ot the nodes.

[0054] Fig. 7 shows on i||ustrotion ot embodiments with the mobi|e nodes 100,device 1 10, remote node 120, o computer environment 130 tor operotion ot o remote node 120 ond o service c|ient 1ó0 tor using ot o positioning service. 1ó

[0055] The remote node 120 moy be orronged in the computer environment 130.

Exomples ot computer environments ore, network connected computer, opplicotionserver, web server, doto tocility, computer c|oud, hosting service, not |imiting theterm computer environment to other suitob|e terms tor o computer environment 130.The computer environment 130 moy be orronged such thot the remote node 120moy be enobled to communicote with mobi|e nodes 100. The communicotion moybe pertormed over the public Internet, or o virtuo| privote network over the Internet,or o c|osed TCP/lP-network, or on operotor/service provider specitic network tor positioning services, not |imiting the so|ution to use other types ot networks.

[0056] ln on exomple where the remote node 130 is centro||y locoted in ocomputer environment 130, such thot it moy be enobled to communicote withmobi|e nodes 100 ond thereby enobled to position o device 1 10, user ot theso|ution moy not proctico||y hove direct occess to the remote node 120. Theretore ouser ot the so|ution moy use o service c|ient 1ó0 to occess the remote node 120.Exomples ot o service c|ient 1ó0 moy be o web browser, o mobi|e opplicotioninsto||ed on o mobi|e device, or o dedicoted c|ient opplicotion tor occessing oremote node 120, not |imiting other c|ient solutions. A user ot the so|ution moy viothe service c|ient 1ó0 request positioning ot o |ost or sto|en item, by requesting theposition ot or distonce to the device 1 10 ottoched to the mentioned item. Anexomple ot usoge moy |ook occording to the to||owing. The user requestspositioning by usoge ot the service c|ient 1ó0. The id ot the device 1 10 moy beentered os port ot the request. A user moy on|y be o||owed to request o position oto device 1 10, by knowing the id ot the device 1 10. A user moy be outhorized bysome kind ot AAA-so|ution (Authenticotion Authorizotion Accounting) known by the person ski||ed in the ort, ond outside the scope ot this so|ution.

[0057] The service c|ient 1ó0 moy communicote with the remote node 130 vio http, https, or other suitob|e protoco|. The remote node 130 moy tronsmit o i7 positioning request message, inc|uding the id, to ot ieost one ot the mobi|e node(i00:A, i00:B, i00:C). The mobi|e nodes (i00:A, i00:B, i00:C) moy tronsmit theoiert signoi to the device i i0. The device i i0 moy receive the oiert signoi,including the id. By motching the received id, with o pre-progrommed id, the devicei i0 moy be oierted. Ali mobi|e nodes i00 moy not reoch the device i i0, with theoiert signoi. lt o device i i0 receives on oiert signoi with on id not motching the pre- progrommed id, the device i i0 moy ignore the oiert signoi.

[0058] The oierted device i i0 moy tronsmit the response to the oiert signoi,inc|uding the id, such thot the mobi|e nodes moy coicuiote the distonce ond/ordirection the device i i0.The coicuioted distonce ond/or direction moy betronsmitted to, or retrieved by the remote node i20, inc|uding the position ot themobi|e node i00. The remote node i20 moy use the distonce ond/or direction tothe device i00 ond the position ot the mobi|e node i00 determine o position ot thedevice i i0.

[0059] The remote node i20 moy present the position ot the device i i0 osgrophicoi presentotion occessibie by the service c|ients ió0, such os o directiontrom the service c|ient ió0 towords the device i i0, or present o iocotion ot the device i i0 on o mop, not |imiting other types ot presentotions.

[0060] Fig. 8o shows o b|oci< diogrom over o situotion wherein o device i i0 isot o certoin distonce trom o geogrophicoi point i40. The remote node i20 moy beorronged to determine whether the position ot the device i i0 is within o predetineddistonce D trom the geogrophicoi point i40, or it the device i i0 is outside thepredetermined distonce. According to one embodiment, the remote node i20determines the position by comporing the position ot the device i i0 with o setgeogrophicoi point i40 ond coicuiotes the distonce between them. According to onother embodiment os is turther disc|osed in Fig. 8c, the geogrophicoi point i40 is 18 detined by the |ocation ot o mobile node 100. The position ot the mobile node 100 may be dynamic.

[0061] Fig. 8b shows o block diagram over o situation wherein a device 1 10 ismoved trom a tirst position within a predetined geographica| area 150 to a secondposition represented by the dashed |ine outside the predetined geographica| area150. By adding a coordinates in a third dimension to the geographica| area 140,this may be considered as a geographica| vo|ume (not shown). The remote node120 may be arranged to determine whether the position ot the device 1 10 is withinthe geographica| area 140 or vo|ume. According to one embodiment, the remotenode 120 determines the position by comparing the position ot the device 1 10 witha set ot acceptab|e positions within or on the boundary ot the geographica| area140 or vo|ume. According to various embodiments the geographica| area 150 maybe determined by a user indicating on a map the area which should be determinedas inside or outside, or indicate boundaries on the map. A user may a|so indicatecoordinates in a coordinate system, as a way to determine the geographica| area 150, not |imiting other suitable way ot determining an area or a vo|ume.

[0062] The remote node 120 is turther arranged to transmit an a|arm message toan a|arm device (170) upon determining that the position ot the device 1 10 isoutside the predetined geographica| area 150 or vo|ume and/or whether theposition ot the device 1 10 is beyond a predetined distance D trom a geographica|point 140 which may be comprised by a mobile node 100. According to oneembodiment, the a|arm device 170 comprises at |east one ot the remote node 120,the mobi|e node 100 or the device 1 10. According to one embodiment, the remotenode 120 is arranged to repeated|y transmit a positioning request message to a p|ura|ity ot mobi|e nodes 100 in order to continuous|y determine the position ot the device 1 10. 19

[0063] This wi|| for instonce enoble o continuous trocking of one or o p|uro|ity ofdevices 1 10 from e.g. o remote node 120, 130 hosted by o mobile node 100, orfrom o service c|ient 160 wherein the olorm messoge wi|| worn o user of the mobilenode 100, service c|ient 160 or o person equipped with o device 1 10 if the device1 10 is tronsported beyond on o||owed geogrophicol point 140, oreo 150 orvo|ume. For instonce, the geogrophicol point 140 when defined by the mobile node100 moy be corresponding to o ce||u|or phone corried by o porent ond the device1 10 moy be corried by o chi|d, such thot the device is ossocioted with the chi|d,which is not o||owed to be further owoy from the porent thon o predefined distonceD. According to onother embodiment, the geogrophicol oreo 150 or vo|ume moycorrespond to the oreo of or vo|ume oround o building site ond devices 1 10 moybe orronged to too|s within the building site such thot eoch device is ossocioted with o too| which is not o||owed to |eove the building site.

[0064] ln the following o few exomples of positioning techniques is described.The exomples ore for i||ustrotion of how o device 1 10 moy be determined indirection, distonce, ond/or position. These exomples ore not |imiting other techniques to be used.

[0065] C|osest mobile node 100. The most bosic of the |ocotion determinotiontechniques, is to identify the |ocotion bosed on the mobile node 100 thot is c|osestto the device 1 10. This moy be done by looking ot the ossociotion between the device 1 10 ond the mobile node 100 or by meosuring signo| strength.

[0066] Colculotion of the opproximotely distonce between the c|ient device 1 10ond one or more mobi|e nodes 100. This technique is co||ed loterotion. The distonce moy be co|cu|oted bosed on signo| strength or timing informotion.

[0067] Received Signoi Strength lndicotion (RSSI) - Signoi strength is o meosurement on how strong|y o tronsmitted signo| is being received ot o porticulor distance trom the transmitter. The signal strength varies with distance, obstacles andintertering radio frequency signals. Multi path tading also attect the signal strength.ln Wi-Fi networks, the signal strength is detined as Received Signal Strengthlndication (RSSI). RSSI may be measured by the mobile node l00Link Qualitylndicator LQI is a metric ot the current quality ot the received signal. The LQI mayprovide an estimate ot how easily a received signal may be demodulated byaccumulating the magnitude ot the error between ideal constellations and the received signal over the 64 symbols immediately tollowing the sync word.

[0068] Time Ditterence ot Arrival (TDoA, also time ot tlight) - Distance may becalculated based on signal propagation time. Radio waves travel at a known speedthrough the wireless medium. Thus, it the time ot transmission and time ot signalarrival are known, the distance may be computed. Time Ditterence ot Arrival (TDoA)is an example ot such a technique. ln TDoA, the position may be computed based on the ditterence in time when the signal arrives at ditterent mobile nodes l00.

[0069] Angle (AoA) - |nstead ot timing intormation, angles may be used tocalculate the position. At each access point, the wireless signal arrives at a certainangle. By using geometric relationships between the angle ot arrival at two mobile nodes l00, the estimated location may be computed.

[0070] Triangulation and Trilateration, - When the location is estimated based onangle measurements trom three or more mobile nodes l00the method is reterred toas triangulation. The signal strength or timing intormation trom several access pointsmay also be used together to torm coverage circles and intersection points. lt thedistance trom at least three ditterent mobile nodes l00may be calculated, thistechnique is known as trilateration. With the use ot algorithms, the devices l l0mostlikely position may be pointed based on the intormation trom the ditterent mobilenodes l00. The more mobile nodes l00 that contribute in computing the location, the more likely it is to get an accurate approximation. 21

[0071] Location Patterning - None ot the above position determination techniquestake into account signa| propagation characteristics, such os reflection, attenuationond mu|ti-path tading. However, with the |ocation patterning technique, suchcharacteristics ot the actua| wireless medium considered in the position computation.This |ocation patterning technique may need ca|ibration, in order to record how thewire|ess signals propagate throughout the environment. During this ca|ibrationphase, RF characteristics and rea| wor|d data regarding how obstac|es attect thepropagation may be co||ected ond pre-stored in a database. This intormation maythen be compared with rea|-time intormation trom the mobile nodes i00to achieve a more accurate position approximation.

[0073] An embodiment ot a positioning system according to the so|ution has beendescribed. However, the person ski||ed in the art rea|izes that this may be varied within the scope ot the appended c|aims without departing trom the inventive idea.

[0074] A|| the described a|ternative embodiments above or parts ot anembodiment can be tree|y combined without departing trom the inventive idea as |ong as the combination is not contradictory.

Claims

1. i. A method in o mobile node (i OO) tor enobiing determinotion ot o position ot o device (i iO), the method comprising: - receiving o positioning request messoge, including on identiticotion ot the device (i iO), - tronsmitting on o|ert signoi to the device (i iO), inciuding the identiticotion ot the device (i iO), - receiving o response signoi trom the device (i iO), including the identiticotion ot the device (i iO), ond - coicuioting o distonce or o direction to the device (i iO) by meosuring the received response signoi, thereby enobiing ot determinotion ot the position ot the device (1 io).

2. The method occording to cioim i, wherein -the positioning request messoge, including on identiticotion ot the device (i iO) is received trom o remote node (i 20).

3. The method occording to cioim i or 2, wherein - o response to the positioning request messoge including the coicuioted distonce or o direction to the device (i iO) ond o position ot the mobile node (i OO), is tronsmitted to the remote node (i 20). 23

4. The method according to any ot c|aims i to 3, wherein -the distance to the device (i iO) is ca|cu|ated by measuring the signal strength or signal delay.

5. The method according to any ot c|aims i to 4, wherein -the direction to the device (i iO) is ca|cu|ated by determination ot a bearing to a strongest signa| strength. ó.

6. The method according to any ot c|aims i to 5, wherein -the node receives the response signa| trom the device (i iO) in a tirst receivingdevice and a second receiving device, wherein the second receiving device is a microphone device.

7. The method according to c|aim ó, wherein -the microphone device turther receives a sound signa| trom the device (i iO).

8. The method according to any ot c|aims i to 7, wherein -the node receives the response signa| trom the device (i iO) in a third receiving device, wherein 24 -the third receiving device is a separate antenna device mountable to the mobile node (i OO).

9. The method according to any ot claims i to 8, further comprising - repeatedly carrying out the method according to claims i-8. iO.

10. A method in a device (i iO) tor enabling determination ot a position ot the device (i iO) by a mobile node (i iO), the method comprising: - receiving an alert signal trom the mobile node (iOO), including an identitication ot the device (i iO), - alerting the device (i iO) by matching the received identitication with a pre- programmed identitication ot the device (i iO), - transmitting a response to the alert signal, including the identitication ot the device(i iO) matching said received identitication, thereby enabling determination ot the position ot the device (i iO). i i.

11. The method according to claim iO, wherein -the response to the alert signal is repeatedly transmitted. i2.

12. The method according to claim iO or i i, wherein -the device (i iO) is orronged to tronsmit o sound signo| in response to the o|ert signo|. i3.

13. A method in o remote node (i 20) tor determinotion ot o position ot o device (i iO), the method comprising: - tronsmitting o positioning request messoge, including on identiticotion ot the device (i iO), to o p|uro|ity ot mobile nodes (i iO), - receiving ot |eost one response to the positioning request messoge, including oco|cu|oted distonce to the device (i iO) trom the mobile node (i OO), ond o position ot the mobile node (i OO), - determining o position ot the device (i iO) by co|cu|otion ot the distonce ot thedevice (i iO) trom the mobile node (i OO) in combinotion with the position ot the ot |eost one mobile device (i OO). i4.

14. The method occording to c|oim i3, turther comprising - determining whether the position ot the device (i iO) is within o predetinedgeogrophico| oreo (i50) or vo|ume ond/or whether the position ot the device (i iO) is within o predetined distonce D trom o geogrophico| point (i 40). i5.

15. The method occording to c|oim i3 or i4, turther comprising - tronsmitting on o|orm messoge to on o|orm device upon determining thot the position ot the device (i iO) is outside the predetined geogrophico| oreo (i50) or 2ó vo|ume ond/or whether the position ot the device (i i0) is beyond the predetined distonce D trom the geogrophicoi point (i 40). ió.

16. The method according to ony ot cloims i3 to i5, wherein -the olorm device is comprised by ot |eost one ot the remote node (i 20), the mobi|e node (i 00) or the service c|ient (i 60). i7.

17. The method occording to ony ot cloims i2 to i5, wherein -the geogrophicoi point (i40) is detined by the iocotion ot o mobi|e node (i00). i8.

18. The method occording to ony ot cloims i2 to ió, wherein -the positioning request messoge is repeotediy tronsmitted. i9.

19. The method occording to ony ot cloims i3 to i 8, wherein - when responses to the positioning request messoges ore received trom o p|uro|ityot mobi|e nodes (i i0), the position ot the device (i i0) is coicuioted by use ot ony ot trionguiotion, or muitiioterotion, or triioterotion.

20. The method occording ony ot cloims i3 to i9, wherein -the remote node (i 20) is hosted by o mobi|e node (i 00). 27 2i.

21. A mobile node (i OO) orronged to enobie determinotion ot o position ot o device (i iO), wherein: -the mobile node (i OO) is orronged to receive o positioning request messoge, inciuding on identiticotion ot the device (i iO), -the mobi|e node (i OO) is orronged to tronsmit on oiert signoi to the device (i iO), inciuding the identiticotion ot the device (i iO), -the mobi|e node (i OO) is orronged to receive o response signoi trom the device (i iO), including the identiticotion ot the device (i iO), ond -the mobi|e node (i OO) is orronged to coicuiote o distonce or o direction to thedevice (i iO) by meosuring the received response signoi, thereby enobiing ot determinotion ot the position ot the device (i iO).

22. The node occording to cioim 2i , wherein -the mobi|e node (i OO) is orronged to receive the positioning request messoge, including on identiticotion ot the device (i iO) trom o remote node (i20).

23. The node occording to cioim 2i or 22, wherein -the mobi|e node (i OO) is orronged to tronsmit o response to the positioning request messoge including the coicuioted distonce or o direction to the device (i iO) ond o position ot the mobi|e node (i OO), to the remote node (i 20). 28

24. The node according to any ot c|aims 2i to 23, wherein -the distance to the device (i iO) is ca|cu|ated by measuring the signal strength or signal delay.

25. The node according to any ot c|aims 2i to 24, wherein -the direction to the device (i iO) is ca|cu|ated by determination ot a bearing to a strongest signa| strength.

26. The node according to any ot c|aims 2i to 25, wherein -the node is arranged to receive the response signa| trom the device (i iO) in a tirst receiving device and a second receiving device, wherein the second receiving device is a microphone device.

27. The node according to c|aim 26, wherein -the response signa| trom the device (i iO) comprises a sound signa|, received by the microphone device.

28. The node according to any ot c|aims 2i to 27, wherein - a third receiving device is arranged to receive the response signa| trom the device (i iO), wherein the third receiving device is a separate antenna device mountabie to the node. 29

29. A device (i i0) orronged to enobie determinotion ot o position ot the device (i i0) by o mobile node (i i0), wherein: -the device (i i0) is orronged to receive on oiert signoi trom the mobi|e node (i 00), inciuding on identiticotion ot the device (i i0), -the device (i i0) is orronged to oiert the device (i i0) by motching the received identiticotion with o pre-progrommed identiticotion ot the device (i i0), -the device (i i0) is orronged to tronsmit o response to the oiert signoi, includingthe identiticotion ot the device (i i0) motching soid received identiticotion, thereby enobiing determinotion ot the position ot the device (i i0).

30. The device occording to cioim 29, wherein -the device (i i0) is orronged to repeotediy tronsmit the response to the oiert signoi. 3i.

31. The device occording to cioim 29 or 30, wherein -the device (i i0) is orronged to tronsmit o sound signoi in response to the oiert signoi.

32. A remote node (i 20) orronged to determine o position ot o device (i i0), wherein: -the remote node (i 20) is orronged to tronsmit o positioning request messoge, including on identiticotion ot the device (i i0), to o piuroiity ot mobi|e nodes (i i0), -the remote node (i 20) is orronged to receive ot ieost one response to thepositioning request messoge, including o coicuioted distonce to the device (i i0) trom the mobile node (i00), ond o position ot the mobile node (i 00), -the remote node (i 20) is orronged to determine o position ot the device (i i0) bycoicuiotion ot the distonce ot the device (i i0) trom the mobi|e node (i 00) in combinotion with the position ot the ot ieost one mobi|e device (i 00).

33. The remote node (i 20) occording to cioim 32, wherein -the remote node (i 20) is orronged to determine whether the position ot the device(i i0) is within o predetined geogrophicoi oreo (i50) or vo|ume ond/or whetherthe position ot the device (i i0) is within o predetined distonce D trom o geogrophicoi point (i40).

34. The remote node (i 20) occording to cioim 32 or 33, wherein -the remote node (i 20) is orronged to tronsmit on oiorm messoge to on oiormdevice (X) upon determining thot the position ot the device (i i0) is outside opredetined geogrophicoi oreo (i 50) or vo|ume ond/or whether the position ot the device (i i0) is beyond o predetined distonce D trom o geogrophicoi point (i 40).

35. The remote node (i 20) occording to ony ot cioims 32 to 34, wherein the oiorm device (X) comprises ot ieost one ot the remote node (i 20), the mobi|e node (i 00) or the device (i i0). 3i

36. The remote node (i 20) according to any of c|aims 32 to 35, wherein -the geographica| point (iÅO) is defined by the |ocation of a mobile node (i OO).

37. The remote node (i 20) according to any of c|aims 32 to 36, wherein -the remote node (i 20) is arranged to repeatediy transmit a positioning request message.

39. The remote node according to any of c|aims 32 to 38, wherein -the remote node (i 20) is hosted by a mobi|e node (i OO).

40. A computer program, comprising computer readab|e code means, whichwhen run in a mobi|e node arranged to enab|e determination of a position of adevice according to any of the c|aims 2i to 28 causes the mobi|e node arranged toenab|e determination of a position of a device to perform the corresponding method according to any of the c|aims i to 9. 32 4i.

41. A computer progrom product, comprising o computer reodoble mediumond o computer progrom occording to cloim 40, wherein the computer progrom is stored on the computer reodoble medium.

42. A computer progrom, comprising computer reodoble code meons, whichwhen run in o device orronged to enoble determinotion ot o position ot the deviceby o mobile node occording to ony ot the cloims 29 to 3i couses the deviceorronged to enoble determinotion ot o position ot the device by o mobile node to pertorm the corresponding method occording to ony ot the cloims iO to 12.

43. A computer progrom product, comprising o computer reodoble mediumond o computer progrom occording to cloim 42, wherein the computer progrom is stored on the computer reodoble medium.

44. A computer progrom, comprising computer reodoble code meons, whichwhen run in o remote node orronged to determine o position ot o device occordingto ony ot the cloims 32 to 39 couses the remote node orronged to determine o position ot o device to pertorm the corresponding method occording to ony ot the cloims 13 to 20.

45. A computer progrom product, comprising o computer reodoble mediumond o computer progrom occording to cloim 44, wherein the computer progrom is stored on the computer reodoble medium.