Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
  • G01S13/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
  • G01S13/87—Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
  • G01S13/878—Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
  • G01S13/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
  • G01S13/74—Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
  • G01S13/76—Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems wherein pulse-type signals are transmitted
  • G01S13/765—Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems wherein pulse-type signals are transmitted with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
  • G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
  • G06K7/10009—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
  • G06K7/10366—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
  • G06K7/10415—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications the interrogation device being fixed in its position, such as an access control device for reading wireless access cards, or a wireless ATM
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
  • G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
  • G06K7/10009—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
  • G06K7/10366—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
  • G06K7/10475—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications arrangements to facilitate interaction with further interrogation devices, e.g. such that at least two interrogation devices may function and cooperate in a network of such devices

Definitions

• This invention relates to the sector of tracking devices.
• the invention relates to a personal tracking system and method.
• the tracking of the workers inside a predetermined area during harvesting periods would allow to their movements to be optimized, thus reducing harvesting times.
• Information of interest could comprise the position of the athletes at particular times, their speed of movement or their path, in such a way as to obtain statistics useful for assessing the performance and, if necessary, also checking for any irregularities during the sports activity and, possibly, not directly detected by the competition officials.
• the Bluetooth® technology has the advantage of already being widely used inside portable personal devices such as mobile phones, tablets and portable computers and they are characterized by low energy consumption and relatively low costs in terms of hardware.
• the devices which use a Bluetooth® transmission technique require a high computational complexity since the proximity analysis is based substantially on the power of the signal received by the device which is not linear with the actual distance travelled by the reference radio signal from the transmitter to the receiver, being increasingly imprecise the greater the distance travelled and has a localisation precision with errors in the order of a metre.
• This problem increases if there are two or more devices in communication using Bluetooth® technology which can generate interference which worsen further the quality of the signals detected and hence the data collected.
• the Bluetooth® technology although easily available and relatively inexpensive, is not very suitable if it is necessary to track several devices simultaneously, with a high precision and over a large area.
• Wi-Fi® technology although it is quite efficient for establishing a local transmission network for data transfer, has similar problems to Bluetooth® technology, in particular with regard to the non-linearity of the power of the signal with respect to the distance travelled and the consequent reduction in the accuracy of the measurements taken.
• the wireless technology in particular UWB, guarantees a relative freedom of design thanks to the communications protocols used which efficiently support the transmission of all the information needed for the tracking operation, in particular by means of measurable parameters such as the time of flight (TOF) and the time difference of arrival (TDOA).
• TOF time of flight
• TDOA time difference of arrival
• UWB technology overcomes the typical problem of Bluetooth® relative to the saturation of the channels and the problems relative to the interference with other sources, reaching a localisation precision with errors in the order of tens of centimetres.
• the devices which use a GPS technology are characterised by high energy consumptions and a considerable slowness in the finding of the signal by the tracking system, and they can be practically only used in outdoor environments and in order to achieve acceptable levels of measuring precision it would be necessary to use a particularly expensive device.
• the aspect of the heating of the devices is critical if the tracking device is to be worn by a person.
• the technical purpose which forms the basis of this invention is to provide a personal tracking system and method which overcomes at least some of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.
• the aim of this invention is to provide a tracking system and method which is simple and effective, in particular in terms of energy consumption, which at the same time allows accurate, precise and optimised data collection to be performed, guaranteeing simplicity of installation.
• the invention describes a personal tracking system which comprises: a plurality of wearable wireless transceivers; a plurality of antennas; a computing cloud. Each transceiver is configured to receive and transmit first wireless signals by means of a first transmission technique.
• Each antenna is configured for receiving and transmitting the first wireless signals from and to each wearable wireless transceiver by means of the first transmission technique and to receive and transmit second wireless signals from and to each other antenna by means of a second transmission technique.
• the plurality of antennas may also comprise a master antenna configured to receive the first and second wireless signals and transmits the second wireless signals to a portable terminal by means of a third transmission technique.
• FIG. 1 shows a possible operating configurations for a personal tracking system in accordance with this invention
• FIG. 2 shows a diagram relating to the transmission of signals between the components of the system
• FIG. 3 shows a block diagram relative to the method according to this invention.
• the numeral 1 in Figure 1 generically denotes a personal tracking system which comprises a plurality of wearable wireless transceivers 2 and a plurality of antennas 3, 3a.
• Each transceiver is configured to receive and transmit first wireless signals using a first transmission technique 4.
• the plurality of antennas is configured to receive and transmit the first wireless signals from and to each transceiver 2 by means of the first transmission technique 4 and to receive and transmit second wireless signals from and to each other antenna 3, 3a by means of a second transmission technique 5.
• each transceiver 2 and each antenna 3, 3a occurs using a first transmission technique 4, whilst the communication between the antennas are carried out using a second transmission technique 5.
• the plurality of antennas 3, 3a comprises a master antenna 3a which performs the function of collector to which all the signals of interest are conveyed, therefore both the first and the second wireless signals.
• Figure 1 explicitly indicates, by way of example and without limiting the scope of the invention, only the communications using the second transmission technique 5 between each antenna 3 and the master antenna 3a and not those which occur between the antennas 3 that, as described in more detail below, are aimed at defining a detection area "Z".
• the master antenna 3a will receive the first wireless signals from each transceiver 2 by means of the first transmission technique 4 and the second wireless signals from each other antenna 3 by means of the second transmission technique 5.
• the master antenna 3a comprises a legible memory support on which it is possible to store all the data contained in the wireless signals received from the master antenna 3a.
• the master antenna 3a also transmits the data collected, contained in the first and second wireless signals, to a portable terminal 7 by means of a third transmission technique 6.
• the portable terminal could be, for example, one between: smartphone, tablet, computer.
• the first transmission technique 4 is an Ultra Wide Band (UWB) technique characterised by radio frequency pulses of extremely limited time duration, in the order of nanoseconds, and which therefore make it possible to use a very wide spectral band, allowing the transmission of large quantities of data in a precise and accurate manner.
• UWB Ultra Wide Band
• the second transmission technique 5 is a Wi-Fi® technique, which allows the antennas 3, 3a to connect with each other through a local network by means of a protocol which is able to guarantee the correct transfer of the information between the antennas 3, 3a.
• the third transmission technique 6 is a Bluetooth® technique which provides an economical and secure method for the transmission of information between short range devices; in effect, since this technique is used solely for the transmission of the signals between the master antenna 3a and the portable terminal 7, which are both fixed, the drawbacks typical of this transmission technique are not significant, whilst it is possible to full exploit the advantages.
• each antenna 3, 3a is in communication with each transceiver 2 by means of the first communication technique 4 by which each antenna 3, 3a sends to each transceiver 2 the first wireless signal comprising information containing an identifier of the antenna 3, 3a which transmits the signal and the transmission time.
• the transceiver 2 After receiving the first wireless signal from the antenna 3 the transceiver 2 re-sends it to the antenna 3 adding further data relative to an identifier of the transceiver 2 and a second piece of time information regarding the retransmission time.
• Each antenna 3 will lastly add data relative to the time for receiving the first wireless signal, coming from a certain transceiver 2, generating the second wireless signal which will be transmitted, by means of the second transmission technique 5, to the master antenna 3a.
• the second wireless signals contain the same information contained in the first wireless signals with the addition of a piece of information relative to the time for receiving from a predetermined antenna 3, 3a the signal coming from a certain transceiver 2.
• the portion of second wireless signals relative to the data of the first wireless signals allows information to be obtained about the flight time of the wireless signals from each antenna 3 to each transceiver 2, whilst the characteristic part of the second wireless signals, that is to say, the time for receiving by a predetermined antenna 3, 3a the signal coming from a given transceiver 2, makes it possible to obtain information relative to the difference in time of arrival of the signals of a certain transceiver 2 to each of the antennas 3 with respect to the time of arrival of the signal received by the master antenna 3a.
• the first and second wireless signals contain raw data, that is to say, non-processed data, configured for containing information relative to at least one between: identity of a transceiver 2, identity of an antenna 3, 3a, time for transmitting the first wireless signal by a transceiver 2 and/or antenna 3, 3a, time for receiving the first signal wireless by a transceiver 2 and/or antenna 3, 3a.
• the position of the plurality of antennas 3, 3a delimits a detection area "Z" wherein each antenna 3, 3a occupies a vertex of the detection area "Z".
• each antenna 3, 3a is positioned at the corners of an area of pasture, in such a way that this coincides with the detection area "Z", thus optimising the efficiency in collection of signals coming from animals which move inside the area.
• each antenna 3, 3a at the vertices of an area inside of which an emergency situation has occurred which requires the intervention of specialized rescue personnel, in such a way that this coincides with detection area "Z" so as to optimise the monitoring of the movements of the rescue personnel.
• the plurality of antennas 3, 3a comprises four antennas 3, 3a which delimit a rectangular detection area
• the system 1 comprises a computing cloud 9 configured to receive the first and second wireless signals from a portable terminal 7 by means of a further transmission technique 8, for example using 4G type technology and standards.
• the computing cloud 9 is configured for storing the data contained in the first and second wireless signals, in particular the flight times of the wireless signals between each transceiver 2 and each antenna 3 with regard to the first wireless signals and the difference of the arrival times of a certain signal coming from a certain transceiver 2 to each antenna 3, 3a with regard to the second wireless signals.
• the computing cloud 9 is also configured to process the data collected by means of a suitable algorithm stored in the computing cloud 9 in such a way as to process the raw data, transforming it into information which can be immediately useful for tracking individual transceivers 2, transforming the first and second wireless signals into a processed wireless signal.
• Examples of information which may be obtained starting from the raw data collected and therefore contained in the processed wireless signal are: position of the transceivers 2 with respect to the plurality of antennas 3 and the master antenna 3a, speed of movement of the transceivers, trajectory of the transceiver.
• the computing cloud 9 is further configured for transmitting the processed wireless signal to the portable terminal 7 in such a way that the data contained in it can be displayed by a user.
• each antenna 3 of the plurality of antennas 3 is configured to communicate directly with the portable terminal 7.
• each transceiver 2 transmits the first wireless signal to each antenna 3 by means of the first transmission technique 4, subsequently, each antenna 3 will re-transmit the second wireless signal directly to the portable terminal 7 by means of the second transmission technique 5.
• the present invention further relates to a personal tracking method 10 which makes it possible to collect a set of data useful for the tracking, in particular, of an athlete during sports activities.
• the method 10 starts with a step "A" of preparing a personal tracking system made in accordance with the above description.
• the preparing step “A” comprises the sub-step “A1 " of positioning the plurality of antennas 3, 3a delimiting a detection area "Z”; for example, it is possible to position an antenna 3, 3a in each of the corners of a field of play, in such a way that the detection area "Z" delimited coincides with the field itself.
• the preparing step “A” also comprises a sub-step “A2" of transmitting third wireless signals by means of the second transmission technique 5 from each antenna 3, 3a to the master antenna 3a.
• the third wireless signals contain information which allows a relative positioning between each antenna 3 to be reconstructed. Once the position of the antennas 3, 3a has been uniquely defined, and having therefore delimited the measuring area "Z", it is possible to activate the tracking system 1 and start the collection of the data of interest.
• the method 10 comprises a step " ⁇ '" of transmitting the first wireless signals 12 by means of the first transmission technique 4 from each wireless transceiver 2 to each antenna 3, 3a.
• a step "C” the second wireless signals are transmitted from each antenna 3, 3a to a portable terminal 7.
• the step “C” comprises a first sub-step “C1 " of transmitting the second wireless signals 13 by means of the second transmission technique 5 from each antenna 3 to the master antenna 3a, the first wireless signals are propagated, in the form of second wireless signals, from each antenna 3 to the master antenna 3a, which had in turn received the first wireless signals also directly from each transceiver 2, with the addition of further data which is able to determine the time of arrival to each antenna 3, 3a of the first signal.
• a second sub-step "C2" of transmitting the second wireless signals by means of the third transmission technique 6 from the master antenna 3a to a portable terminal 7 the data collected by the master antenna 3a, contained inside the second wireless signals, are sent to a portable terminal 7, preferably a smartphone.
• the step “C” comprises a step “C3" wherein each antenna 3 transmits directly the second wireless signals to the portable terminal 7 by means of the second transmission technique 5.
• a step “D” of transmitting the second wireless signals 15 from the portable terminal 7 to the computing cloud 9 the signals are sent to a computing cloud 9 inside of which is stored the raw data contained in the signals in such a way that it can be subsequently processed.
• the raw data stored is processed in such a way as to obtain the information of interest in a form which can be immediately interpreted.
• This step "E” of processing the second wireless signals generating a processed wireless signal comprises a first sub-step “E1 " of storing 16a the second wireless signals in the computing cloud and a second sub-step “E2" of processing the second wireless signals by applying an algorithm stored in the computing cloud 9.
• the data processed can be retransmitted to the portable terminal 7 in such a way as to make it available to a user in a step "F" of transmitting the processed wireless signal from the computing cloud 9 to the portable terminal 7.
• a possible aspect of the invention also relates to a personal tracking plant which comprises a personal tracking system 1 as described above and a portable terminal 7 configured to receive the first and second wireless signals from a master antenna 3a transmitted by means of the third transmission technique 6 and propagating them, transmitting them to the computing cloud 9.
• the portable terminal 7 is configured to receive a processed signal generated by the computing cloud 9, comprising a processing of the data collected and contained in the second wireless signals obtained by applying an algorithm contained in the computing cloud 9.
• the portable terminal comprises a graphics interface designed to show at least one graphical representation of the data contained in the processed wireless signal.
• a tracking system 1 makes it possible to optimise the process for transmitting data from the individual transceivers 2 to the devices designed for analysing and processing the data collected.
• antennas 3, 3a characterised by a low energy consumption and constructional simplicity which communicate with each other and with transceivers in a wireless manner, eliminating therefore also the need to lay wiring which is bulky and complex to install.
• the possibility of transmitting the raw data to the computing cloud 9 means that the system has a greater efficiency and versatility resulting from the possibility to re-process and readapt the data collected if improved versions of the algorithm are developed by which the computing cloud 9 processes the raw data.
• this invention uses a plurality of transmission techniques; in this way it is possible to maximise the use of the advantageous features of each technique, thus minimising, preferably eliminating, the negative and disadvantageous aspects, allowing measurements to be obtained with high levels of precision with localisation errors of less than 40 centimetres. More specifically, the transmission of raw data from the transceivers 2 to the antennas 3, 3a by means of the UWB technique guarantees the speed of transmission, a good localisation precision and low interferences between the signals coming from the various sources.
• the Wi-Fi® transmission of the data between the antennas makes it possible to reduce the emission levels, preventing the saturation of the transmission channel and maintaining a high efficiency level.
• the Bluetooth® transmission between the master antenna 3a and the portable terminal 7 makes it possible to reduce the costs and the manufacturing complexity, at the same time guaranteeing high compatibility between the devices involved irrespective of the type of portable terminal 7 used.

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Citations (7)

• 2017
  • 2017-06-07 IT IT102017000062080A patent/IT201700062080A1/it unknown
• 2018
  • 2018-06-06 WO PCT/IB2018/054041 patent/WO2018224970A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (7)

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