Systems, apparatus and methods for variable rate ultra-wideband communications

专利摘要:
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media are disclosed for providing variable blink rate ultra-wideband (UWB) communications. Some embodiments may provide for a radio frequency (RF) tag including a motion sensor, processing circuitry, and a UWB transmitter. The motion sensor may be configured to generate one or more motion data values indicating motion of the RF tag. The UWB transmitter may be configured to transmit blink data at variable blink rates. The processing circuitry may be configured to receive the one or more motion data values from the motion sensor, determine a blink rate for the UWB transmitter based on the one or more motion data values, and control the UWB transmitter to wirelessly transmit the blink data at the blink rate. In some embodiments, the RF tag may include a UWB receiver and the blink rate may be controlled remotely by a system.
公开号:ES2601138A2
申请号:ES201690064
申请日:2015-06-04
公开日:2017-02-14
发明作者:Belinda Turner；Aitan Ameti；Edward A. Richley；Alexander Mueggenborg
申请人:ZIH Corp；
IPC主号:

专利说明:

System and procedure for variable speed ultra-wideband communications
SECTOR
The embodiments discussed herein are related to radio frequency (RF) communication and, more specifically, to systems, procedures, apparatus, computer readable media and other means to provide RF tags capable of providing ultra-broadband transmissions.
BACKGROUND
Ultra-wideband (UWB) is a radio frequency technology that employs large bandwidth communications that use a large part of the radio frequency spectrum (for example, bandwidths greater than 400 MHz). Despite the large bandwidths, UWB communications are limited by a channel capacity that defines a maximum possible theoretical number of bits per second of information that can be transported through one or more links in an area. Thus, the capacity of the channel can limit the number of UWB devices that can communicate simultaneously in a particular area. In this regard, areas to improve current techniques have been identified.
SHORT SUMMARY
Thanks to the effort, ingenuity and innovation applied, solutions have been developed that are described herein. In particular, computer readable systems, procedures, apparatus and media for variable speed UWB communications are described herein. Some embodiments may provide a radio frequency (RF) tag that includes a motion sensor, a UWB transmitter and processing circuits. The motion sensor can be configured to generate one or more motion data values that indicate the movement of the RF tag. The UWB transmitter can be configured to transmit intermittent data at variable intermittent rates. The processing circuits can be configured to: receive the one or more motion data values from the motion sensor; determine an intermittency rate for the UWB transmitter based on the one or more motion data values; and control the UWB transmitter to transmit the intermittent data wirelessly at the intermittent rate. For example, the UWB transmitter can be configured to transmit the intermittent data at a first intermittency speed or a second intermittency speed, where the first intermittency speed is different from the second intermittency speed. The processing circuits can be configured to control the UWB transmitter so that it transmits the intermittent data wirelessly at the first intermittency speed or the second intermittency speed based on the one or more movement data values.
In some embodiments, the UWB transmitter can also be configured to transmit the intermittent data at a third intermittency rate, where the third intermittency speed is different from the first intermittency speed and the second intermittency speed, and where the Processing circuits are configured to control the UWB transmitter to transmit the intermittent data wirelessly at the first intermittency speed, the second intermittency speed or the third


flashing speed based on the one or more movement data values.
In some embodiments, the motion sensor may include an accelerometer, a gyroscope and / or a compass (among other things) configured to generate the one or more motion data values.
In some embodiments, the processing circuits may also be configured to determine intermittent data. For example, intermittent data may include at least one of an identifier of the label, an indication of change of state of the intermittent speed and an indication of change of state of the orientation, among other things.
In some embodiments, the motion sensor may include a three-axis accelerometer configured to generate the one or more motion data values. The one or more movement data values may include an acceleration value on the X axis, an acceleration value on the Y axis and an acceleration value on the Z axis. The processing circuits can also be configured to control the UWB transmitter to transmit the intermittent data wirelessly at the first intermittency rate or the second intermittency rate by determining a value of the magnitude of the acceleration based on one or more of the acceleration value on the X axis, the acceleration value on the Y axis and the acceleration value on the Z axis.
In some embodiments, the processing circuits may also be configured to: determine a value of the magnitude of the acceleration based on the one or more movement data values; adjust the intermittent speed based on the value of the magnitude of the acceleration; and control the UWB transmitter to transmit the intermittent data wirelessly at the set intermittency rate.
In some embodiments, the processing circuits can also be configured to: determine a threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration; determine whether the value of the magnitude of the acceleration exceeds the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration; and, in response to determining whether the value of the magnitude of the acceleration does not exceed the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration, control the UWB transmitter to stop the transmission of the intermittent data wirelessly. In some embodiments, the processing circuits may be configured to, in response to determining that the value of the magnitude of the acceleration does not exceed the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration, adjust the intermittent speed and transmit the intermittent data in a manner wireless at the intermittent speed set.
In some embodiments, the UWB transmitter can be configured to transmit the intermittent data wirelessly through a tag signal having a bandwidth of more than at least one of 500 MHz and 20% of a center frequency of The tag sign.
In some embodiments, the UWB transmitter can be configured to transmit the intermittent data at the first intermittency rate or the second intermittency rate through a tag signal recognizable by a receiver such that the location of the RF tag can be determined by a tag localization system.
In some embodiments, the RF tag may also include a receiver configured to receive intermittent speed control data. The processing circuits can also be configured to


Determine the first flashing speed or the second flashing rate for the UWB transmitter based on the flashing speed control data.
In some embodiments, the processing circuits are further configured to: determine a direct motion signature based on the values of motion data received from the motion sensor over time; comparing the direct movement signature with one or more movement signatures, where each of the one or more movement signatures includes one or more threshold values of the movement data and associated duration values; and, in response to identifying a match between the direct motion signature and a first motion signature, control the UWB transmitter to transmit the intermittent data wirelessly at the first intermittency rate or the second intermittency rate.
Some embodiments may provide a method of communicating with a wireless receiver. The procedure may include: receiving, by circuits of an RF tag, one or more values of motion data from a motion sensor, wherein the RF tag includes the motion sensor and a UWB transmitter; the determination, by means of the circuits and based on the one or more movement data values, of an intermittent speed for the UWB transmitter; and the control, by means of the circuits, of the UWB transmitter to transmit the intermittent data wirelessly at the intermittent speed. For example, the motion sensor may include an accelerometer, a gyroscope and / or a compass configured to generate the one or more motion data values.
In some embodiments, the method may further include the determination of the intermittent data, wherein the intermittent data includes at least one of a tag identifier, an indication of status change of the intermittent speed and an indication of state change. of orientation, among other things.
In some embodiments, the motion sensor may include a three-axis accelerometer configured to generate the one or more motion data values. The one or more movement data values may include an acceleration value on the X axis, an acceleration value on the Y axis and an acceleration value on the Z axis. The determination of the intermittence speed may include in addition: the determination of a value of the magnitude of the acceleration based on one or more of the value of the acceleration on the X axis, the value of the acceleration on the Y axis and the value of the acceleration on the Z axis; and the determination of the intermittent speed based on the value of the magnitude of the acceleration.
In some embodiments, the method may further include: determining a value of the magnitude of the acceleration based on motion data; the adjustment of the intermittent speed based on the value of the magnitude of the acceleration; and control of the UWB transmitter to transmit the intermittent data wirelessly at the set intermittency rate.
In some embodiments, the procedure may also include: determining a threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration; the comparison of the value of the magnitude of the acceleration with the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration; and, in response to determining that the value of the magnitude of the acceleration does not exceed the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration, the UWB transmitter control to stop the transmission of the intermittent data wirelessly. In some embodiments, the method may include, in response to determining that the value of the magnitude of the acceleration does not exceed the threshold value of the magnitude of


the acceleration, adjustment of the intermittent speed and the transmission of the intermittent data wirelessly at the adjusted intermittency speed.
In some embodiments, the method may also include the transmission of intermittent data wirelessly, via the UWB transmitter, through a tag signal having a bandwidth of more than at least one of 500 MHz and % of a central frequency of the tag signal. The procedure may include, additionally or alternatively, the transmission of the intermittent data wirelessly, by means of the UWB transmitter, through a label signal recognizable by a receiver such that a tag location system can determine the tag RF
In some embodiments, the method may further include: determining a direct motion signature based on the values of motion data received from the motion sensor over time; the comparison of the direct movement signature with one or more movement signatures, wherein each of the one or more movement signatures includes one or more threshold values of the movement data and associated duration values; and, in response to the identification of a match between the direct movement signature and a first movement signature, the control of the UWB transmitter to transmit the intermittent data wirelessly at the intermittent rate.
In some embodiments, the RF tag of the method may further include a UWB receiver. The procedure may further include: receiving intermittent speed control data wirelessly, with the UWB receiver; and determining the flashing rate for the UWB transmitter based on the flashing rate control data.
Some embodiments may provide a system. The system may include one or more RF tags, a receiver and an apparatus (for example, a server and / or other processing device). Each RF tag may include: a motion sensor configured to generate motion data values that indicate the movement of the RF tag; and a UWB transmitter configured to transmit intermittent data wirelessly at varying intermittency rates based on motion data values. The receiver can be configured to receive intermittent data wirelessly. The device can be configured to: receive intermittent data from the receiver; and determine the tag location data indicating an RF tag location based on the intermittent data.
In some embodiments, the receiver can also be configured to: receive first intermittent data wirelessly from the RF tag at a first intermittent speed and receive a second intermittent data wirelessly from a second RF tag at a second speed of intermittency, where the first intermittency speed is different from the second intermittency speed.
In some embodiments, the apparatus can also be configured to: determine at least one of the data obtained from the tag and the location data of the tag based on the intermittent data from the RF tag; determine the intermittent speed control data based on at least one of the data obtained from the label and the location data of the label; and provide the RF tag with intermittent speed control data.


Some embodiments may include an apparatus for determining event data, comprising: processing circuits configured to: correlate at least one RF tag with a participant; correlate at least one motion sensor of the at least one RF tag with the participant; receive the intermittent data transmitted by the at least one tag; determine the location data of the tag based on the intermittent data; receive motion data originating from the at least one motion sensor; and determine event data based on the comparison of tag location data with kinetic models and movement data with motion signatures.
In some embodiments, the processing circuits may also be configured to: determine an intermittent rate for an ultra-broadband (UWB) transmitter of the at least one RF tag based on the event data; and provide the intermittency control data defining the intermittency rate to the at least one RF tag.
In some embodiments, the motion data may include an acceleration value on the X axis, an acceleration value on the Y axis and an acceleration value on the Z axis. The processing circuits can also be configured to: determine a value of the magnitude of the acceleration based on one or more of the value of the acceleration on the X axis, the value of the acceleration on the Y axis and the value of the acceleration on the Z axis; and determine the intermittent speed based on the value of the magnitude of the acceleration.
In some embodiments, the intermittent data may include at least one of an indication of status change of the intermittent speed and an indication of state change of orientation.
In some embodiments, the processing circuits configured to compare motion data with the motion signatures may include processing circuits configured to: determine a direct motion signature based on the motion data received from at least one motion sensor; compare the direct motion signature with the motion signatures, where each of the motion signatures includes one or more threshold values of motion data and associated duration values; and, in response to identifying a correspondence between the direct movement signature and a first movement signature, determine event data based at least in part on the first movement signature.
Some embodiments may include a procedure for determining event data, including: the correlation of at least one RF tag with a participant, through the processing circuits of an apparatus; the correlation of at least one motion sensor of the at least one RF tag with the participant, through the processing circuits; the reception of intermittent data transmitted by the at least one RF tag, through the processing circuits; the determination of the location data of the RF tag based on the intermittent data, by means of the processing circuits; the reception of motion data originating in the at least one motion sensor, through the processing circuits; and the determination of the event data based on the comparison of the location data of the RF tag with kinetic models and the movement data with motion signatures, by means of the processing circuits.
In some embodiments, the method may further include, by means of the processing circuits: the determination of an intermittent rate for an ultra-broadband transmitter (UWB) of the at least one RF tag based on the event data; and the provision of speed control data from


intermittence that define the intermittency rate to the at least one RF tag.
In some embodiments, the movement data may include an acceleration value on the X axis, an acceleration value on the Y axis and an acceleration value on the Z axis. The procedure may further include, by means of the circuits of processing: the determination of a value of the magnitude of the acceleration based on one or more of the value of the acceleration on the X axis, the value of the acceleration on the Y axis and the value of the acceleration on the Z axis; and the determination of the intermittent speed based on the value of the magnitude of the acceleration.
In some embodiments, the intermittent data may include at least one of an indication of status change of the intermittent speed or an indication of state change of orientation.
In some embodiments, comparing motion data with motion signatures may include: determining a direct motion signature based on the motion data received from at least one motion sensor; the comparison of the direct movement signature with the movement signatures, wherein each of the movement signatures includes one or more threshold values of the movement data and associated duration values; and, in response to the identification of a match between the direct movement signature and a first movement signature, the determination of the event data based at least in part on the first movement signature.
Some embodiments may include a system for determining event data, including; a plurality of RF tags; and an apparatus that includes processing circuits configured to: correlate at least one RF tag of the plurality of RF tags with a participant; correlate at least one motion sensor of the at least one RF tag with the participant; receive the intermittent data transmitted by the at least one RF tag; determine the location data of the tag based on the intermittent data; receive motion data originating from the at least one motion sensor; and determine event data based on the comparison of tag location data with kinetic models and movement data with motion signatures.
In some embodiments, the processing circuits may also be configured to: determine an intermittent rate for an ultra-broadband (UWB) transmitter of the at least one RF tag based on the event data; and provide the intermittency control data defining the intermittency rate to the at least one RF tag.
In some embodiments, the motion data may include an acceleration value on the X axis, an acceleration value on the Y axis and an acceleration value on the Z axis. The processing circuits can also be configured to: determine a value of the magnitude of the acceleration based on one or more of the value of the acceleration on the X axis, the value of the acceleration on the Y axis and the value of the acceleration on the Z axis; and determine the intermittent speed based on the value of the magnitude of the acceleration.
In some embodiments, the intermittent data may include at least one of an indication of status change of the intermittent speed and an indication of state change of orientation.
In some embodiments, the processing circuits configured to compare motion data


with motion signatures they can include processing circuits configured to: determine a direct motion signature based on the motion data received from at least one motion sensor; compare the direct motion signature with the motion signatures, where each of the motion signatures includes one or more threshold values of motion data and associated duration values; and, in response to identifying a correspondence between the direct movement signature and a first movement signature, determine event data based at least in part on the first movement signature.
In some embodiments, the at least one RF tag may include: the at least one motion sensor; an ultra-broadband (UWB) transmitter configured to transmit intermittent data at varying intermittency rates; and tag processing circuits configured to: receive motion data from at least one motion sensor; determine an intermittent speed for the UWB transmitter based on the movement data values; and control the UWB transmitter to transmit the intermittent data wirelessly at the intermittent rate.
In some embodiments, the at least one motion sensor may include an accelerometer configured to generate motion data.
In some embodiments, the UWB transmitter may be configured to wirelessly transmit the intermittent data through a tag signal having a bandwidth of more than at least one of 500 MHz and 20% of a center frequency of The tag sign.
In some embodiments, the at least one RF tag may further include a receiver configured to receive intermittent speed control data from the apparatus; and the tag processing circuits are further configured to determine the flashing rate for the UWB transmitter based on the flashing rate control data.
In some embodiments, the tag processing circuits may also be configured to: determine a direct motion signature based on the motion data; comparing the direct movement signature with one or more movement signatures, where each of the one or more movement signatures includes one or more threshold values of the movement data and associated duration values; and, in response to identifying a match between the direct motion signature and a first motion signature, control the UWB transmitter to transmit the intermittent data wirelessly at the intermittent rate.
Some embodiments may include circuits and / or means configured to implement the procedures and / or other functionalities discussed herein. For example, one or more processors and / or other machine components can be configured to implement the functionalities analyzed herein based on instructions and / or other data stored in memories and / or other non-transient computer-readable media.
Some embodiments are illustrated in the attached figures and in the following description in relation to the football sport. However, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure, the concepts of the invention described herein are not limited to football and can be applied to other different applications including, without limitation, other events. sports or events of


group (for example, where you can follow several people of interest in an area that has a channel capacity) such as baseball, basketball, golf, hockey, soccer, competitions or car or motorcycle races, competitive events and the like.
5 These characteristics are described below, as well as additional features, functions and detailsof the various embodiments. Similarly, the embodiments are also described below.corresponding and additional.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
10 Having thus described some embodiments in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which:
Figure 1 shows an example radiofrequency location system, according to some embodiments;
Fig. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of an example radio frequency tag, according to some embodiments;
Figure 3 shows a schematic block diagram of an example radio frequency tag, according to some embodiments;
Figures 4A-4C show example objects that include coupled radio frequency tags, according to some embodiments;
Figures 5A-5E show example UWB transmission architectures, according to some embodiments;
Figure 6 shows a schematic block diagram of example circuits, according to some embodiments;
Figure 7 shows a flow chart of an example procedure for communication with a wireless receiver 30, according to some embodiments;
Figure 8 shows a flow chart of an example procedure for communication with a wireless receiver, according to some embodiments;
Figure 9 shows a flow chart of an example procedure for a remote control system of the intermittency rate of an RF tag, according to some embodiments;
Figure 10 shows a flow chart of an example procedure for remotely controlling the intermittency rate of an RF tag, according to some embodiments;
Figure 11 shows an example of the motion data generated by a radio frequency tag, according to some embodiments;
Figure 12 shows an example of the motion data generated by a radio frequency tag, 10


according to some embodiments;
Figure 13 shows an example of the values of the magnitude of the acceleration of a radio frequency tag, according to some embodiments; Y
Figures 14A-18 show flowcharts of examples of procedures that can be used to provide performance analytics according to some embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The embodiments will be described in more detail in what follows with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show some embodiments contemplated herein, but not all. In fact, several embodiments can be implemented in many different ways, and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; instead, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure meets the applicable legal requirements. Equal numbers refer to equal elements throughout the document.
The procedures, systems, devices and software products described herein can be used to provide object monitoring based on one or more RF tags attached to the objects. RF tags can be configured to transmit ultra-broadband (UWB) tag signals that include intermittent data. To preserve the capacity of the channel (for example, when multiple tags are monitored simultaneously), avoid interference and signal collisions and reduce power consumption, among other things, RF tags can be configured to transmit intermittent data to time intervals or intermittent variable speeds.
In some embodiments, the variable flashing speed can be controlled based on the output of a motion sensor coupled to the object. The motion sensor can be part of the RF tag or can be housed in the object independently, and can be configured to communicate with the RF tag through a cable or wireless transmission. For example, the motion sensor may include a three-axis accelerometer and / or a 9D / 6D / 4D orientation sensor. The flashing speed can be controlled in various ways based on the values of motion data generated by the motion sensor. In some embodiments, the intermittency rate can be reduced when the movement data values indicate that the object is stopped and can be increased when the movement data values indicate that the object is moving. In this sense, RF tags of objects that are inactive and / or otherwise are not of interest can be deactivated or turned off (for example, by reducing the flashing speed).
In some embodiments, the RF tag may include a receiver and / or a UWB transceiver. The intermittency rate of the RF tag can be controlled remotely, such as through a remote server or system. For example, the system can be configured to determine and transmit to the RF tag intermittent speed control data that can activate, deactivate and / or change the variable intermittency speed. The system can be configured to determine the intermittent speed control data based on various factors, including sensor data extracted from the tag signal and / or intermittent data, such as the tag location data indicating a location


of the RF tag. The system can also be configured to programmatically control the intermittency rates of the RF tags in order to monitor objects of interest at specific times while reducing signal interference, collisions, energy consumption , etc. otherwise, RF tags that are not of interest (for example, at a specific time) would cause signal signals (for example, at a non-variable intermittency rate).
Example architecture
Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary location system -100-useful for calculating a location by means of an accumulation of location data or "time of arrival" (TOA) in a central processor / hub -108-, by means of the which TOA represent a relative journey time (“Time Of Flight”, TOF), from RTLS tags -102-registered on each receiver -106- (for example, a UWB reader, etc.). In some examples a timing reference clock is used, such that at least a subset of the receivers -106-can be synchronized in frequency, by means of which the relative TOA data associated with each of the data can be recorded. RTLS tags -102- by a counter associated with at least a subset of the receivers -106-. In some examples, a reference tag -104-, preferably a UWB transmitter, located at known coordinates, is used to determine a phase shift between the counters associated with at least a subset of the receivers -106-. The RTLS tags -102- and the reference tags -104-reside in a field of the active RTLS. The systems described herein may be referred to as "multilateralization" or "geolocation" systems, terms that refer to the process of locating a signal source by resolving an error minimization function of an estimate of the location determined by the difference in the time of arrival (“Difference in time of arrival”, DTOA) between the TOA signals received in several receivers -106-.
In some examples, the system comprising at least tags -102- and receivers -106-is configured to provide a precise two-dimensional and / or three-dimensional location (for example, resolutions below one foot), even in the presence of multipath interference , due in part to the use of short pulses of nanosecond duration whose TOF can be accurately determined using detection circuits, as in receivers -106-, which can be activated at the front edge of a received waveform. In some examples, this short pulse feature allows the system to transport the necessary data with a higher peak energy, but with lower average energy levels, than a wireless system configured for high-speed data communications, even if it works to meet the requirements of local regulations.
In some examples, to provide a preferred level of performance while overlapping regulatory constraints (for example, FCC and ETSI regulations), the -102 tags can be operated with an instantaneous bandwidth of -3dB of approximately 400 MHz and an average transmission of less than 187 pulses in an interval of 1 msec, provided that the packet speed is low enough. In these examples, the maximum expected range of the system, operating with a central frequency of 6.55 GHz is approximately 200 meters in examples where a 12 dBi directive antenna is used in the receiver, but the projected range will depend, in other examples of the gain of the receiving antenna. Alternatively or additionally, the scope of the system allows the detection of one or more tags -102- with one or more receivers positioned in a football stadium used in a context of


professional soccer. Such a configuration advantageously meets the limitations applied by regulatory bodies related to average and peak energy densities (for example, the equivalent isotropic radiated power density ("EIRP")), when same as time that optimizes system performance in relation to range and interference. In additional examples, label transmissions with a bandwidth of -3dB of approximately 400 MHz produce, in some examples, an instantaneous pulse width of approximately 2 nanoseconds that allows a location resolution greater than 30 centimeters.
With reference again to Figure 1, the object to be located has a tag attached -102-, preferably a tag that has a UWB transmitter, which transmits intermittent data (for example, several pulses at a burst rate of 1 Mb / s, such as 112 bits of carrier interrupt modulation (On-Off keying, OOK) at a speed of 1 Mb / s), and optionally, intermittent data comprising an information packet that uses OOK that may include, but It is not limited to, ID information, a sequential burst count or other desired information for object or personnel identification, inventory control, etc. In some examples, the sequential burst count (for example, a packet sequence number) of each tag -102-can be advantageously provided in order to allow correlation of TOA measurement data from several receivers -106- in a central processor / hub -108-.
In some examples, the -102-tag can employ UWB waveforms (e.g., low data rate waveforms) to achieve an extremely fine resolution due to its extremely short pulse durations (e.g., lower or equal to nanoseconds, such as 2 nsec (1 nsec up and 1 nsec down)). Thus, the information packet may have a short length (for example, 112 bits of OOK at a speed of 1 Mb / sec, in some example embodiments), which advantageously allows a higher packet speed. If each packet of information is unique, a higher packet speed results in a higher data rate; If each packet of information is transmitted repeatedly, a higher packet rate results in a packet repeat rate or a higher intermittency rate. In some examples, a higher packet repetition rate (for example, 12 Hz) and / or higher data rates (for example, 1 Mb / sec, 2 Mb / sec or the like) for each tag can result to larger data sets for filtering to get a more accurate location estimate. Alternatively or additionally, in some examples, a shorter length of the information packets, in addition to other packet speeds, data rates and other system requirements, may also lead to a longer battery life (e.g., a battery life of 7 years at a transmission rate of 1 Hz with a 300 mAh battery, in some current embodiments).
Tag signals can be received at a receiver directly from RTLS tags, or they can be received after being reflected on the route. The reflected signals travel a longer path from the RTLS tag to the receiver than the one that would travel a direct signal, and therefore are received later than the corresponding direct signal. This delay is known as echo delay or multipath delay. If the reflected signals are strong enough to be detected by the receiver, they can corrupt a data transmission through interference between symbols. In some examples, the -102-tag can employ UWB waveforms to achieve extremely fine resolutions due to its extremely short pulse durations (for example, 2 nsec). In addition, the signals may comprise short information packets (for example, 112 bits of OOK) at a somewhat high data burst rate (1


Mb / sec, in some exemplary embodiments) which advantageously allow packet durations to be short (for example, 112 microseg) while allowing pulsed times (e.g., 998 nsec) sufficiently longer than delays Echo expected, avoiding data corruption.
The reflected signals can be expected to weaken as the delay increases, due to the greater number of reflections and the greater distances traveled. Thus, above some value of the time between impulses (for example, 998 nsec), corresponding to some difference in path length (for example, 299.4 m), there will be no advantage in further increasing the time between impulses. (and, consequently reduce the speed of data bursts) for any given level of transmission power. In this way, minimizing the duration of packages allows you to maximize the battery life of a label, since its digital circuits only need to be active for a short time. It will be understood that different environments may have different expected echo delays, such that data burst rates and, therefore, different packet durations may be appropriate in different situations depending on the environment.
The minimization of packet duration also allows a tag to transmit more packets in a given period of time, although in practice the regulatory limits of the average EIRP can often provide a decisive limitation. However, a short duration of the packages also reduces the likelihood that packages of several labels overlap in time, causing a data collision. In this way, a minimum packet duration allows several tags to transmit a larger aggregate number of packets per second, allowing the tracking of the largest number of tags, or the tracking of a given number of tags at the highest speed.
In a non-limiting example, a length of 112 bit data packets (for example, with OOK encoding), transmitted at a data rate of 1 Mb / sec (1 MHz), can be implemented with a repetition rate of Transmitted labels of 1 transmission per second (1 TX / sec). Such an implementation can achieve a battery life of up to seven years, where the battery itself can be, for example, a compact 3-volt button-type battery of the BR2335 series (Rayovac), with a rate of 300 mAh battery charge. An alternative implementation may be a compact, 3 volt, generic button-type battery, of the CR2032 series, with a battery charge rate of 220 mAh, by which, as can be seen, the second generic battery of Button type can provide shorter battery life.
Alternatively or additionally, some applications may require repetition rates of higher transmitted tags to follow a dynamic environment. In some examples, the repetition rate of transmitted tags may be 12 transmissions per second (12 TX / sec). In these applications, it can also be seen that the battery life may be shorter.
The high transmission speed of the data bursts (for example, 1 MHz), together with the short length of the data packets (for example, 112 bits) and the relatively low repetition rates (for example, 1 TX / sec ), they provide two distinct advantages in some examples: (1) a greater number of labels can be transmitted with a lower probability of collision, regardless of the field of the labels, and / or (2) each transmission power of the transmission can be increased. independent label, properly considering the limitation of battery life, such that a total energy per individual data packet is lower


at a regulated average energy for a given time interval (for example, a time interval of 1 msec for a transmission regulated by the FCC).
Alternatively or additionally, the tag may transmit additional sensor or telemetry data to provide the receivers with information about the environment and / or the operating conditions of the tag. For example, the label can transmit a temperature to the receivers -106-. Such information can be valuable, for example, in a system that includes perishable goods or other refrigeration requirements. In this exemplary embodiment, the label can transmit the temperature at a repetition rate lower than the rest of the data packet. For example, the temperature can be transmitted from the label to the receivers at a rate of once per minute (for example, 1 TX / min), or in some examples, once every 720 times the data packet is transmitted, whereby the data packet in this example is transmitted at an example rate of 12 TX / sec.
Alternatively or additionally, the tag -102-can be programmed to transmit data intermittently to the receivers -106-in response to a signal from a magnetic command transmitter (not shown). The magnetic command transmitter may be a portable device, functioning to transmit to one or more of the tags -102-a 125 kHz signal, in some example embodiments, with a range of approximately 15 feet or less. In some examples, the tags -102-may have at least one receiver tuned to the transmission frequency of the magnetic command transmitter (for example, 125 kHz) and a functional antenna to facilitate the reception and decoding of the signal transmitted by The magnetic command transmitter.
In some examples, one or more additional tags, such as a reference tag -104-, may be placed inside and / or in the vicinity of a supervised region. In some examples, the reference tag -104-can be configured to transmit a signal that is used to measure the relative phase (eg, counting of free-running counters) of counters without resetting the receivers -106-.
One or more (for example, preferably four or more) receivers -106-are also placed at predetermined coordinates in the interior and / or in the vicinity of the supervised region. In some examples, the receivers -106-can be connected in the form of a "daisy chain" to advantageously allow a greater number of receivers -106-to be interconnected in a significant supervised region in order to reduce and simplify wiring , the provision of energy and / or the like. Each of the receivers -106-includes a receiver for receiving transmissions, such as UWB transmissions, and preferably, a packet decoding circuit that extracts a train of time-of-arrival (TOA) timing pulses, the transmitter ID , the packet number and / or other information that may have been encoded in the tag transmission signal (eg, description of the material, personnel information, etc.) and that is configured to detect the signals transmitted by the tags -102-and one or more reference tags -104-.
Each receiver -106-includes a temporary measurement circuit that measures the arrival moments (TOA) of the bursts of labels, with respect to its internal counter. The temporary measurement circuit is locked in phase (for example, the phase differences do not change and therefore the corresponding frequencies are


identical) with a common digital reference clock signal distributed through a wired connection from a central processor / hub -108-having a central timing reference clock generator. The reference clock signal establishes a common timing reference for the receivers -106-. Thus, several temporary measurement circuits of the respective receivers -106-are synchronized in frequency, but not necessarily in phase. Although there may typically be a phase shift between any given pair of receivers in the receivers -106-, the phase shift is easily determined using a reference tag -104-. Alternatively or additionally, each receiver can be synchronized wirelessly through virtual synchronization without a dedicated physical synchronization channel.
In some exemplary embodiments, the receivers -106-are configured to determine various attributes of the received signal. As the measurements are determined on each receiver -106-, in a digital format, instead of analog in some examples, the signals can be transmitted to the central processor / hub -108-. Advantageously, because the packet data and the measurement results can be transmitted to a memory of the receiver at high speeds, the receivers -106-can receive and process tag location signals (and corresponding objects) almost continuously . Thus, in some examples, the receiver memory allows to capture a high rate of bursts of tag events (eg, information packets).
Data cables or wireless transmissions can transport measurement data from receivers -106-to the central processor / hub -108- (for example, data datas may allow a transmission rate of 2 Mbps). In some examples, the measurement data is transmitted to the central processor / hub at regular query intervals.
Thus, the central processor / hub -108-determines or somehow calculates the location of the tag (ie, the location of the object) by processing the TOA measurements relative to various data packets detected by the receivers -106-. In some example embodiments, the central processor / hub -108-can be configured to resolve the coordinates of a tag using non-linear optimization techniques.
In some examples, TOA measurements from several receivers -106-are processed by the central processor / hub -108-to determine a location of the transmitted tag -102-by a differential analysis of the arrival time (DTOA) of the various TOA. The DTOA analysis includes a determination of the transmission time of the tag t0, whereby a path duration (TOF), measured as time elapsed from the estimated transmission time t0 of the tag to the respective TOA, graphically represents the radii of spheres centered on the corresponding receptors -106-. The distance between the surfaces of the corresponding spheres and the estimated coordinates of the location (x0, y0, z0) of the transmitted label -102- represents the measurement error for each corresponding TOA, and minimization of the sum of the errors of The squared TOA measurement of each receiver that participates in the location estimation using DTOA provides both the location coordinates (x0, y0, z0) of the transmitted tag and the instant of transmission of the t0 tag.
In some examples, the system described herein may be referred to as an "over-specified" or "over-determined" system. Thus, the central processor / hub -108-can calculate


one or more valid locations (i.e. the most correct ones) based on a set of measurements and / or one or more incorrect locations (i.e. less correct ones). For example, you can calculate a location that is not possible due to the laws of physics or that may be an outlier compared to other calculated locations. Thus, one or more algorithms or heuristics can be applied or to minimize said error.
The starting point for minimization can be obtained by first performing an area search in a thick mesh of x, y and z over a user-defined area, followed by a search for a maximum localized slope. The starting location for this algorithm is fixed, in some examples, at the average position of all active receivers. An initial area search is not needed, and optimization continues with the use of a quasi-Newtonian Davidson-Fletcher-Powell (DFP) algorithm in some examples. In other examples, a maximum slope algorithm can be used.
An algorithm of this type for error minimization, which can be referred to as a time error minimization algorithm, can be described by equation 1:
Where N is the number of receivers, c is the speed of light, (xj, yj, zj) are the coordinates of the j-th receiver, tj is the moment of arrival at the j-th receiver and t0 is the instant of tag transmission. The variable t0 represents the moment of transmission. Since t0 is not initially known, the instants of arrival, tj, as well as t0, refer to a common temporal basis, which in some examples is obtained from the instants of arrival. Consequently, the differences between the various arrival moments, as well as t0, are significant for the location determination.
The optimization algorithm to minimize the error ε in equation 1 may be the quasi-Newtonian Davidson-Fletcher-Powell (DFP) algorithm, for example. In some examples, the optimization algorithm to minimize the error ε in equation 1 may be a maximum slope algorithm. In each case, the seed of the algorithms can be an initial estimate of the location (x, y, z) that represents the two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) mean of the positions of the receivers -106-participating in the Determination of the location of the labels.
In some examples, the RTLS system comprises a receiver mesh, whereby each of the receivers -106-in the receiver mesh includes a receiver clock that is synchronized, with a phase shift initially unknown, with the clocks of The other receivers. The phase shift between any of the receivers can be determined using a reference tag that is located at known coordinates (xT, yT, zT). The phase shift serves to deduce the constant offset between the counters of the various receivers -106-, as described below.
In additional example embodiments, a number N of receivers -106- {Rj: j = 1, ..., N} are located at known coordinates (x, y, z) that are located respectively at distances d from a
RRR R
jjj j


reference label -104-, as indicated in equation 2:
5 Each receiver Rj uses, for example, a synchronous clock signal obtained from a common time-frequency base, such as a clock generator. Because the receivers are not reset synchronously, there is an unknown but constant shift Oj for each internal counter of free operation of the receiver. The value of the constant displacement Oj is measured in terms of the number of increments of the count with a fine resolution (for example, a number of nanoseconds for a system with a resolution of a
10 nanosecond).
The reference tag is used, in some examples, to calibrate the radiofrequency location system as follows: The reference tag emits a burst of signal at an unknown moment TR. After receiving the signal burst from the reference tag, a count N is measured in the
R
j
15 receiver Rj indicated in equation 3 by:
Where c is the speed of light and β is the number of count increments with a fine resolution per unit of time (for example, one per nanosecond). Likewise, each object tag Ti of each object to be located transmits a signal at an unknown moment τi to produce a count N, as indicated in the
i
j
equation 4:
25 on the receiver Rj where d is the distance between the object tag Ti and the receiver -106-Rj. It must be observed
i
j
that τi is unknown, but has the same constant value for all receivers. Based on the equality relationships expressed above for the Rj and Rk receivers and given the information in the reference tag -104-, the phase shifts expressed as differential count values are
30 determine in the manner indicated in equations 5a-b:
or,
where Δ is constant as long as d -d remains constant (which means that the receivers and the
j RR
k jk


Reference tags are fixed and there is no multipath situation) and β is the same for each receiver. It should be noted that Δ is a known quantity, since N, N, β, d / c and d / c are known. That is, the
j RRR R
k jkjk
Phase shifts between the Rj and Rk receivers can be easily determined based on the transmissions of the reference tag -104-. Thus, again from the above equations, for a transmission of a tag -102- (Ti) that reaches the receivers Rj and Rk, the following equations 6a-b can be deduced:
10 or,
Each instant of arrival, tj, can be referenced to a particular receiver (receiver "1") as indicated in equation 7:
The minimization, described in equation 1, can then be performed on the variables (x, y, z, t0) to reach a solution (x ', y', z ', t0').
Sample RF tags
Figure 2 shows a schematic block diagram of an example RF-200-card, according to some
25 achievements. The RF tag -200-can be configured to provide intermittent data at various intermittency rates, such as a receiver -106-like the one shown in Figure 1. The intermittency rates can be controlled based on the detected movement of the RF tag -200-, such that intermittent data communicates at a slower intermittency rate when the RF tag -200-is stopped (i.e., with a movement below a predetermined threshold) and at a speed
30 of relatively faster intermittency when the RF tag -200-is in motion (i.e., with a movement greater than a predetermined threshold). Thus, a larger number of RF tags -200-in a supervised area -125-can be used without overloading the capacity of the channel (for example, resulting in collisions, interference and / or loss of tag signal data ) in the supervised area -125-. Also, variable flashing speeds may allow the RF-200-tag to have lower consumption.
35 energy means and a longer battery life, because the energy can be conserved at the slowest flashing speeds.
The RF tag -200- can include a controller -202-, a motion sensor -204-, a UWB transmitter -206-, an antenna -208-, a power supply -210- and an analog initial stage - 212-. The controller -202-can be configured to perform one or more of the processing functionalities disclosed herein to control the transmission of intermittent data via the tag


RF -200-at variable intermittent speeds based on motion data (for example, indicating the movement of the RF tag -200-). For example, the controller -202- can be configured to programmatically determine an intermittent speed based on one or more values of motion data received from the motion sensor -204-. The controller -202-can be connected so that it can communicate with the motion sensor -204- and the UWB transmitter -206-. In some embodiments, the controller -202-may include a memory and / or other storage device configured to store the intermittent data (and / or associated packet data) to be transmitted at the determined intermittency rate.
The motion sensor -204-can be configured to generate one or more motion data values that indicate the movement of the RF tag -200-. In some embodiments, the motion sensor -204-may include an accelerometer, such as a three-axis accelerometer. In some embodiments, the motion sensor -204-may further include an orientation sensor (eg, a gyroscope and / or a compass) configured to provide a 9D / 6D / 4D orientation detection. For example, a three-axis accelerometer can be configured to generate the one or more values of the motion data, including an acceleration value on the X axis, an acceleration value on the Y axis and an acceleration value on the Z axis, based on the movement of the RF tag -200- by an object to which the RF tag -200- is attached. The controller -202-and / or the motion sensor -204-can be configured to determine a value of the magnitude of the acceleration based on one or more of the value of the acceleration on the X axis, the value of the acceleration in the Y-axis and the acceleration value on the Z-axis. The controller -202-can be configured to determine an intermittent speed based on the value of the magnitude of the acceleration and / or the duration value indicated by the duration of the value of the magnitude of the acceleration determined, as discussed in more detail below. A value of the magnitude of the acceleration can provide an indication of the amount and / or intensity of the RF tag movement -200-, as could be detected in the measurement cycle of the motion sensor -204-. In some embodiments, the controller -202-and / or the motion sensor -204-can be configured to track the values of the magnitude of the acceleration for several measurement cycles in order to determine the duration of the magnitude values of the acceleration (for example, sequential) of interest (for example, those that exceed a threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration for a duration that exceeds a threshold value of the duration).
In some embodiments, the controller -202-and / or the motion sensor -204-can be configured to determine the rates of movement intermittency based on the values of motion data indicating one or more motion events. An example of such a motion event may include user tapping on the motion sensor -204-, such that a tap can be used (for example, defined by motion data values indicating a magnitude and a tap duration) or more taps (for example, defined by movement data values that indicate the magnitude and duration in a predetermined time window) to activate an action, such as changing the flashing speed. Embodiments of this type are suitable for stationary objects (for example, where the movement data values caused by the movement of the tag do not interfere with the detection of the taps), where a tag can be activated / deactivated or they can select (for example, toggle between) the speeds based on the number of taps received in the predetermined time window. In another example, an RF tag can be placed in a hibernation mode (for example, based on control data from a remote system or other device) and activated based on a tap. In general, a tap can be detected based on the motion sensor -204-detects movement in


one or more of its axes and / or degrees of motion detection.
In some embodiments, the motion sensor -204-may, additionally or alternatively, include processing circuits (which may be the same or independent of the -202 controller) configured to generate motion data values that indicate movement in up to six degrees of freedom (for example, forward / backward, up / down, left / right, tilt, yaw and turn). The RF tag -200-can be configured to determine a value of the magnitude of the acceleration based at least in part on the rotational movements detected by the motion sensor -204-. In some embodiments, the motion sensor -204-may include a vibration switch and / or other motion detection device.
In some embodiments, the motion sensor -204-can be configured to generate values of the magnitude of the acceleration and acceleration vectors and / or to make other determinations related to the values of the magnitude of the acceleration (for example, as an alternative to the controller -202-). For example, the motion sensor -204-may include a memory configured to store the threshold values and / or the duration values of the motion data. In some embodiments, the controller -202-can be configured to program the motion sensor -204-, such as based on the threshold values and / or the duration values of the motion data received from the initial stage -212-y / or a UWB receiver / transceiver. The motion sensor -204- can be configured to provide an interruption signal (for example, through a motion sensor control pin -204-) that indicates that the movement data values measured by the motion sensor - 204-have exceeded a threshold value of motion data, such as for the duration defined by the duration value associated with the threshold value of motion data. For example, each of one or more threshold values and associated duration values of the motion data can also be associated with a different signal that the motion sensor -204 can provide to the controller -202- to control the variable intermittency speed.
The UWB transmitter -206-can be configured to transmit intermittent data at variable intermittency rates. For example, the UWB transmitter -206-can be configured to generate an electronic signal that includes intermittent data. The electronic signal may include pulses that each occupy the electromagnetic spectrum of UWB and contain intermittent data. The pulses can be repeated at variable time intervals that define the intermittent variable rates of the intermittent data. The UWB transmitter -206-can be connected with an antenna -208- to provide the electronic signal to the antenna -208- in order to radiate a wireless tag signal that includes intermittent data at varying intermittency rates. In some embodiments, the controller -202-can be configured to perform some or all of the functionalities discussed herein for the UWB transmitter -206-, or vice versa. In some embodiments, the UWB transmitter -206-can be configured to transmit the intermittent data wirelessly through a tag signal having a bandwidth of more than at least one of (for example, the lower of) 500 MHz and 20% of a central frequency (for example, for a bandwidth of -10dB). In another example, (for example, for a bandwidth of -3dB), the UWB transmitter -206-can be configured to transmit the intermittent data wirelessly through a tag signal that has a bandwidth of more than at least one of (for example, less than) 400 MHz and 20% of a center frequency. In some embodiments, bandwidth can be adjusted based on regulatory requirements for UWB communications (for example, some regulations may allow bandwidths exceeding 500 MHz). The tag signal can be recognized by the receiver -106-such that the location of the RF tag -200-can be


determine by means of a label location system, such as a reception concentrator -108- and / or a reception processing and distribution system -110-.
In some embodiments, intermittent data may include characteristics of the tag signal that allow the receiver -106-to recognize the tag signal in such a way that the location system can determine the location of the RF tag -200-. The intermittent data also comprises one or more label data packets. Such tag data packets may include any RF-200-tag data that are intended to be transmitted, such as a tag identifier (or "unique tag identifier" or "UID"), tag data and / or a label-individuals correlator. In some embodiments, the tag data packets may not include any individual data (for example, the tag-individuals correlator) and the association between individuals and tag identifiers can be carried out later, such as through the concentrator -108- and / or the -110-receiving system. In the case of systems of difference at the time of arrival (TDOA), the intermittent data can be or include a specific pattern, a code or an activator that detects the receiver -106- (or the processing and reception analytics system later) to identify that the transmission comes from a specific RF tag -200-. In some embodiments, the intermittent data may include sensor data generated by one or more sensors (for example, the sensors -312-and -304-shown in Figure 3 for the RF tag -300-), such as values of orientation data and / or movement data. In some embodiments, the intermittent data may include status indicators such as an indication of status change of the intermittent speed that may be included in one or more pulses of intermittent data subsequent to a change in the intermittence speed. The change of status indication of the flashing speed can also indicate the adjusted flashing rate. In another example, the intermittent data may include an indication of a state change of the orientation set to indicate the change in the orientation of the RF tag and / or the new orientation of the RF tag. The indication of change of orientation state may be included in one or more subsequent intermittent data pulses to a change in the orientation of the RF tag (for example, determined based on measurements from the motion sensor).
The antenna -208-can be configured to receive the electronic signal from the UWB transmitter -206-to facilitate the transmission of intermittent data at varying intermittency rates. The antenna -208-can include one
or more radiating elements configured to radiate the UWB tag signal. In some embodiments, the antenna -208-may include an antenna system configured to provide an improved transmission range and / or higher transmission speeds, such as an antenna system with several inputs and several outputs (MIMO) and / or other different antenna systems.
The power supply -210-can be configured to provide power to one or all of the other components of the RF tag -200-. The power supply -210-can be connected with one or more components, although only one connection with the controller -202 is shown in Figure 2 to avoid unduly complicating the disclosure unnecessarily. The -210-power supply may include one or more batteries, one or more energy storage devices and / or power control circuits (for example, torque converters, voltage boosters, voltage regulators, etc.). In some embodiments, the RF tag -200-can be configured to receive main and / or backup power from a solar panel, a motion generator and / or an RFID signal. In some embodiments, the RF tag -200-can be configured to receive main and / or reserve energy from heat and / or moisture generated by an object to which the


RF tag -200-. For example, heat or humidity can be used to provide main power, while power supply -210- (for example, one or more batteries) can provide backup and / or auxiliary power.
In some embodiments, the RF tag -200-may include an initial stage -212-. The initial stage -212 may include a wireless communication interface and / or a cable communication interface to allow configuration of the RF tag -200- and its functionalities. For example, the initial stage -212-can be configured to provide a 125 kHz wireless reception channel that allows configuration of the controller -202-in the manner discussed herein, such as through a wireless pen module optical, other tags (for example, a wireless mesh network), receivers -106-and / or any other appropriate source. In the initial stage -212-various appropriate types of wireless reception technologies can be used, including electromagnetic fields, Bluetooth, WiFi, UWB, near-field communication, etc. In another example, the initial stage -212-may include a universal serial bus (USB), Ethernet and / or other cable power (for example, to charge the power supply -210-) and / or data interface that is can connect to another programming device. Some examples of data types or configurations that can be provided through the initial stage -212-may include the tag identifier and / or other tag data, flashing speeds, motion signatures and / or data to control the flashing speeds based on the movement of the tag (for example, associations between movement data values and / or movement signatures with various flashing speeds, flashing speed control data, threshold values of the magnitude of the acceleration, tag-individuals correlator, etc.).
Figure 3 shows a schematic block diagram of an example RF-300 card, according to some embodiments. The RF tag -300-may include a controller -302-, a motion sensor -304-, a UWB transceiver -306-, an antenna -308-, a power supply -310- and sensors -312-. The above analysis of the RF tag -200-can be applied to the RF tag -300-partially or in full.
The sensors -312-may include one or more of a proximity detector (for example, a near field communication (NFC) sensor, a diagnostic device, a triangulation positioner, a proximity interrogator, a dilation sensor of the pupil (for example, placed in glasses or on a visor near the eyes), a hydration sensor configured to monitor the loss of sweat or the rate of sweat loss (for example, placed on a mesh or shirt next to the back), a heat sensor, an accelerometer to measure acceleration (for example, which can be the same or a different component of the motion sensor -304-), an environmental sensor to measure environmental measurements such as ambient temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed, air quality or composition, a heart rate sensor, a blood pressure monitor, a blood chemistry sensor set rado to monitor the levels of one or more of carbon dioxide, oxygen, potassium, calcium, sodium, hematocrit, temperature and pH, etc. In some embodiments, the sensor data from the sensor -312-can be transmitted (for example, as intermittent data and / or independent data) to a receiver.
Another type of sensor may include a triangulation positioner. A "triangulation positioner" is a type of sensor that detects the position. In some embodiments, the triangulation positioner (also known as the Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver) can be configured to receive clock data transmitted by one or more geostationary satellites (a satellite in a known position or that can be


know) and / or one or more ground-based transmitters (also in known or known positions), compare the received clock data and obtain a "position calculation". The position calculation can be included among the sensor data that can be transmitted (for example, as intermittent data through the UWB tag signal and / or as independent data) to a receiver.
In another embodiment, a triangulation positioner may include one or more cameras or image analyzers that receive light or heat emitted or reflected, and then analyze the images received to determine the location of an object or sensor. Although a triangulation positioner can transmit data wirelessly, it is not an RF tag because it does not transmit a TOA timing pulse or a tag signal that can be used in a reception hub -108 to calculate the location. Instead, a positioner by triangulation detects the position and performs its own calculation of the position, which can thus be used by the reception concentrator -108- to reinforce and / or improve its tag location data.
In some embodiments, one or more sensors -312-may be co-located with the RF tag -300-or may be located in another area of the individual or object that has the RF tag -300- attached. Thus, sensors -312-can provide sensor data to monitor health, fitness, activities and / or performance, which is also referred to herein as health data. In some embodiments, the data obtained from the sensor of any type of sensor may have an influence on the communications on the communication channel of the tag signal (for example, a UWB communication channel), such as on receivers -106- . In that sense, the system can be configured to concentrate the data of some or all of the sensors on the communications channel (for example, UWB) of the tag signal.
The UWB transceiver -306-can be configured to perform some or all of the functionalities discussed herein for the UWB transmitter -206-. The UWB transceiver -306-can also include a UWB receiver. In some embodiments, the receiver may be an RF receiver that does not use UWB signals. Here, the RF tag can include a UWB transmitter and a separate receiver. The UWB receiver (and / or other RF receiver) can be configured to receive data wirelessly (for example, through the antenna -308-) of the receiver -106-, the reception hub -108-and / or the reception processing and distribution system -110-, or another communication source for the control of the variable flashing speed of the tag -300-on the server side, among other things. For example, the UWB receiver can be configured to receive intermittent speed control data. The controller -302-can also be configured to determine the flashing rate for the UWB transmitter based on the flashing speed control data. In some embodiments, the UWB transceiver -306 may include a separate UWB transmitter and UWB receiver circuits and / or hardware.
In some embodiments, the RF tag -300-may also include an initial stage -314-, for which the above analysis relative to the initial stage -212- may be applicable. In some embodiments, such as where the UWB transceiver -306- and / or another UWB receiver is used, the initial step -314- (for example, as a wireless receiver) may be omitted. Similarly, if an initial stage is used to program the RF tag -200-, the RF tag -200- may not include a UWB receiver or a UWB transceiver.
Sample label / Correlation between sensor positioning and participant


Figure 1 shows a supervised area -120-. The supervised area -120-may include a plurality of positions in one or more periods of time. The plurality of positions can be divided into one or more regions, called zones. Each zone can be described by one or more coordinate systems, such as a local NED (north-east-down) system, a latitude-longitude system or even a yard line system like the one that could be used for a game American football A location is a description of a position, or a plurality of positions, within the supervised area. For example, a field marker at the intersection of the south goal line and the west out-of-band line at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC could be represented as {0,0,0} in a local NED system , or latitude 35,225336 N, longitude 80.85273 W, altitude 751 feet in a latitude-longitude system, or simply "goal line of the Panthers" in a system of yard lines. Because different types of location systems or different zones of a single location system can use different coordinate systems, a Geographic Information System or a similar supervised area database can be used to associate the location data. A type of Geographic Information System that describes at least one playing field can be referred to as field data.
Figures 4A-C show some exemplary objects that can provide information to a performance analytics system according to some embodiments. Figure 4A shows a player -402- (for example, a soccer player) wearing a team that has RF tags attached -102-according to some embodiments. In particular, the player drawn -402-is wearing shoulder pads that have -102-tags affixed to opposite sides thereof. This positioning can advantageously provide a high emission position for each RF tag -102-, thus increasing its communication efficiency.
There may be additional sensors -312-coupled to the equipment worn by the player -402-, such as accelerometers, magnetometers, path duration sensors, health monitoring sensors (for example, blood pressure sensors, heart monitors, sensors breathing, humidity sensors, temperature sensors, etc.), lighting sensors, among other things. Additional sensors -312 can be attached to shoulder pads, helmet, footwear, rib protectors, elbow pads, shirt, pants, an inner mesh, gloves, bracelets, wristbands and the like. In some embodiments, the motion sensor -304-may be located, alternatively or additionally, separated from the tag -102-, such as in the locations discussed herein for the sensors -312-.
The sensors -312- (and / or the motion sensor -304-) can be configured to communicate with the receivers (for example, the receivers -106- of Figure 1) directly and / or indirectly through the labels of RF -102-or other transmitters. For example, in one embodiment, a sensor -312-can be connected, by cable (for example, perhaps through cables sewn on a shirt or an inner mesh) or wirelessly, to RF -102-con tags in order to provide sensor data to RF tags -102-, which are thus transmitted to receivers -106-as intermittent data of the tag signal. In some embodiments, a plurality of sensors (not shown) can be connected to a dedicated antenna and / or a transmitter (for example, placed in the helmet) that can transmit the sensor data to one or more receivers.
Figure 4B shows a referee -406-wearing a team that has RF tags -102-and sensors -312-attached according to some embodiments. In the embodiment depicted, the RF -102 tags


They can be attached to the referee's shirt, close to the opposite shoulders. The sensors -312-may be positioned on the wristbands worn by the referee, as shown. The sensors -312-can be configured to communicate with the receivers (for example, the receivers -106-of Figure 1) directly or indirectly through the RF -102-tags and / or other transmitters as previously discussed in relationship with figure 4A.
As discussed in greater detail below, the positioning of the sensors -312- (for example, an accelerometer) near the referee's wrists can allow the reception processing and distribution system -110-the determination of movements or activities of the -406-concrete referee to be used in the determination of events (for example, winding the game clock, first chance, goal or the like). The referee -406-may also carry other equipment, such as a penalty flag -408-, which may also include an RF -102-coupled tag in order to provide additional data to the -110 reception distribution and processing system -. For example, the reception processing and distribution system -110 may use the location data of the penalty flag tag -408-to determine when the referee is only carrying the penalty flag -408-versus when the referee is using the penalty flag -408-to indicate an event, such as a penalty (for example, throwing the penalty flag -408-).
Figure 4C shows an example of a ball -410-having tags -102-coupled or integrated according to some embodiments. Additionally, sensors -312-on ball -410-, such as accelerometers, path duration sensors, etc. can be coupled or integrated. In some embodiments, the sensor -312-can be connected, by cable or wirelessly, to the RF tag -102-in order to provide sensor data to the RF tag -102-which is then transmitted to the receivers -106- (for example, as part of the intermittent data of the UWB tag signal). In some embodiments, the sensor -312 can transmit sensor data to the receivers regardless of the tag -102-, as discussed above in relation to Figure 4A.
In some embodiments, after the RF tags -102-and / or the sensors -312-of Figures 4A-4C are coupled to the objects, they can be correlated with said objects. For example, in some embodiments, the tag identifier and / or sensor identifiers ("unique IDs") may be correlated with an object profile (or "participant profile", where the object is a participant) (for example, John Smith runner, Fred Johnson - line line or ID 027 - one of several game balls, etc.) and stored in a remote database that can be accessed by the performance analytics system as it is analyze in more detail below. Each participant profile may also include or be correlated with various data including, but not limited to, biometric data (e.g. height, weight, health data, etc.), function data, team ID, performance statistics , among other things.
In some embodiments, said participant profile or function data may be previously defined and stored in association with the unique tag or sensor identifiers. In other embodiments, the system can also "learn" the participant's profile or function data as a result of the label received or sensor data received, training data, game data, event data and / or similar. For example, in some embodiments the system may determine that a tag or sensor is not correlated with a participant profile and can analyze the data received from the tag and / or the sensor to determine possible participant functions, etc., which will then They can be sorted and selected / confirmed by the system or by a user after being displayed by the system. In some


embodiments, the system can determine possible participant functions (i.e., participant function data) based on the participant's location data (eg, movement patterns, alignment position, etc.) determined.
In some embodiments, as described in greater detail below, the system may also update the participant's profile or function data (ie, to produce a set of data for the participant that is much more robust than the one established. in the initial record) as a result of the data received from the label or the sensor, the training data, the game data, the event data and / or the like. In some embodiments, the participant's profile and / or function data can be used in a performance analytics system to weigh the participants' actions during the analysis and help determine what is happening, such as in the determination of formations, games, events, etc.
ARCHITECTURE OF TRANSMISSION OF THE ID OF THE LABEL AND SENSOR DATA
Figures 5A-5E show block diagrams of various different architectures that can be used to transmit signals from one or more labels and sensors to one or more receivers of a reception processing and analytical system according to the embodiments of the invention. In some embodiments, the depicted architectures can be used in conjunction with the -110-receiving analytical and processing system of Figure 1. In some embodiments, one or more of these architectures can be used together in a single system.
Figure 5A shows an RF tag -102-which can be configured to transmit a tag signal to one or more receivers -106- (for example, as also shown in Figure 1). The one or more receivers -106- can transmit a signal from the receiver to the reception location concentrator / motor -108-.
The RF -102-tag can generate and / or store (for example, in a memory) a tag identifier ("tag UID") and / or tag data, as shown. The label data may include useful information, such as version information (for example, the firmware version installed), maintenance information (for example, the date of the last maintenance of the label), configuration information and / or a label broker-individuals. The tag-individuals correlator may comprise data indicating that a supervised object (for example, a participant) is associated with a specific RF tag -102- (for example, name, uniform number and equipment, data biometric, the position of the label on the individual, for example, the right wrist). In some embodiments, the RF tag -102 may store the tag-individuals correlator when the tag is registered or otherwise associated with an individual. Although shown as an independent field for illustrative purposes, one of ordinary skill in the art can readily appreciate that the tag-individuals correlator can be part of any tag data or even be omitted from the tag data.
The tag signal transmitted from the location RF tag -102-to the receiver -106-may include "intermittent data", since they are transmitted at selected intervals. The label designer or system designer can adjust this "intermittency rate" to meet the requirements of the application and / or be variable as described herein. In some embodiments, the variable flashing rates may be consistent for one or all of the tags and / or may depend on the data. As discussed above, intermittent data may include characteristics of the tag signal that


they allow the receiver -106-to recognize the tag signal so that the location system can determine the location of the location RF tag -102-. The intermittent data also comprises one or more label data packets. Said tag data packets may include any tag data -102-that are intended to be transmitted, such as in the embodiment shown in Figure 5A, a tag UID, the tag data and / or a correlator of tags-individuals. The intermittent data may be or include a specific pattern, a code or an activator that detects the receiver -106- (or the subsequent reception processing and analytics system) to identify that the transmission is derived from an RF tag -102- ( for example, a UWB tag).
Receiver -106-can be configured to wirelessly receive the tag signal, which may include intermittent data and tag data, as discussed above. In some embodiments, the receiver -106-can pass the received tag signal directly to the reception location hub / motor -108-as part of its reception signal. In some embodiments, the receiver -106-may perform a processing on the received tag signal. For example, the receiver could extract the intermittent data and / or the tag data from the tag signal and transmit the intermittent data and / or the tag data to the receiving location hub / motor -108-. The receiver may transmit a temporary measurement to the reception location concentrator / motor -108-, such as a TOA measurement and / or a TDOA measurement. The temporary measurement could be based on a clock time generated or calculated on the receiver, it could be based on a receiver offset value as explained above, it could be based on a system time and / or it could be based on the difference in the moment of arrival between the tag signal of the RF tag -102- and the tag signal of a reference RF tag (for example, the tag -104- of Figure 1). The receiver -106-can be configured to, additionally or alternatively, determine a signal measurement from the tag signal (such as an indication of the strength of the received signal (RSSI), a signal address, a polarity of the signal or a phase of the signal) and transmit the signal measurement to the reception location concentrator / motor -108-.
Figure 5B shows the RF tag -102- and the sensor -312-, which can be configured to transmit tag signals and sensor signals, respectively, to one or more receivers -106-and -566-. The -566 receivers can include receivers that are dedicated to receiving sensor data, while the -106 receiver can be configured to receive tag data. The one or more receivers -106-and -566-can thus transmit signals from the receiver to the reception location concentrator / motor -108-. In some embodiments, one or more receivers -106-and / or -566-may share physical components, such as a housing and / or an antenna.
The RF -102-represented tag may comprise a tag UID and tag data (such as a tag-individuals correlator) and transmit a tag signal comprising intermittent data, as discussed in relation to the figure 5A above. The sensor -312-can generate and / or store a sensor UID, sensor metadata (for example, a sensor-individual correlator, the type of sensor, the firmware version of the sensor, the date of the last maintenance, the units in which environmental measurements, etc.) and sensor data (for example, measured) are transmitted. In some embodiments, the "additional stored sensor data" of the sensor -312-may include any data intended to be transmitted, such as to the RF tag -102-, a reference tag (for example, -104-of the Figure 1), a sensor receiver -566-, a receiver -106- and / or the reception location concentrator / motor -108-.


Sensors such as sensor -312-can be configured to detect and / or determine one or more environmental conditions (for example, temperature, pressure, pulse, heartbeat, rotation, speed, acceleration, radiation, position, chemical concentration, tension, movement) and store or transmit "environmental measurements" as sensor data that are indicative of such conditions. To clarify, the term "environmental measurements" includes measurements related to the environment close to the sensor, including without limitation, environmental information (for example, temperature, position, humidity, etc.), information related to the health of an individual, physical condition, activities and / or performance, and / or movement data values (for example, indicating the movement of the RF tag) captured by a motion sensor. Environmental measurements can be stored or transmitted in analogue or digital manner, and can be transmitted as individual measurements, as a set of individual measurements and / or as summary statistics. For example, the temperature in degrees Celsius can be transmitted as {31}, as {33, 32, 27, 22, 20, 23, 27, 30, 34, 31} or as {27.9}. In some embodiments, the sensor-individual correlator could be determined at least in part from one or more environmental measurements.
As shown in Figure 5B, the RF tag -102-can be configured to transmit the tag signal to the receiver -106-and the sensor -203-can be configured to transmit a sensor signal to the sensor receiver -566 -. The sensor signal may comprise one or more sensor information packages. Said sensor information packets may include any sensor data or sensor information -312-that is intended to be transmitted such as, for example in the embodiment shown, the sensor UID, the additional sensor data stored, the sensor correlator- individuals and / or environmental measurements (for example, including movement data values). A signal from the receiver from the receiver -106- and a sensor signal from the receiver from the sensor receiver -566- can be transmitted via a wired or wireless communication to the reception location hub / motor -108-, such as shown.
Figure 5C depicts the sensor -312-communicating through the RF tag -102-according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, one or more sensors -312-may be part of (i.e. reside in the same housing or mounting structure) the RF tag -102-. For example, the motion sensor -204 may reside in an RF tag assembly structure -200-which includes (for example, among others) a controller -202-, a UWB transmitter -206- and / or a antenna -208-. Alternatively or additionally, one
or more sensors -203-may be different from (i.e., non-residents in the same housing or mounting structure) the RF tag -102-but may be configured to communicate wirelessly or via cable communication with the tag of RF -102-.
In some embodiments, the RF tag -102-, the sensor -312-, or both, can generate and / or store a tag-sensor correlator indicating an association between an RF tag -102- and a sensor -312 (for example, tag UID / sensor UID, distance from the tag to the sensor in a particular room, set of sensors associated with a set of tags, types of sensors associated with a tag, etc.). In some embodiments, both RF tag -102-and sensor -312-can be configured to store the tag-sensor correlator.
In some embodiments, the sensor -312-can be configured to transmit sensor data (for example, stored and / or measured) through a sensor signal to the RF tag -102-. The sensor signal can


Understand one or more sensor information packages. For example, the sensor information packets may comprise the sensor UID, a sensor-individual correlator, the additional sensor data stored, the sensor-label correlator and / or the environmental measurements. The RF -102 tag can be configured to locally store some or all of the sensor information packets and can pack the sensor information packets into one or more tag data packets for transmission to the receiver - 106-as part of a tag signal, or simply pass them as part of the tag signal. In that sense, the intermittent data transmitted by the tag -102-at variable intermittent speeds may include sensor data received from one or more sensors (for example, the motion sensor -304-and / or the -312-sensors Figure 3).
Figure 5D illustrates an example communication structure for a reference tag -504- (for example, the reference tag -104-of Figure 1), a location RF tag -502-, a sensor -503 and two -506-receptors according to one embodiment. The reference tag -504-represented is a location RF tag and therefore can include tag data, a tag UID, and is capable of transmitting tag data packets. In some embodiments, the reference tag 504 may be part of a sensor and therefore may be capable of transmitting sensor information packets.
The sensor -503-shown transmits a sensor signal to the reference RF tag -504-. The reference RF tag -504-can store locally some or some of all the sensor information packets and can pack the sensor information packets into one or more tag data packets for transmission to the receiver -506- as part of a tag signal, or simply pass them as part of your tag signal.
As discussed above in relation to Figure 1, the receivers -506- of Figure 5D are configured to receive tag signals from the location RF tag -502- and the reference tag -504-. Each of these tag signals may include intermittent data, which may comprise tag UIDs, tag data packets and / or sensor information packets. Each of the receivers -506-transmits signals from the receiver through a wired or wireless communication to the reception location hub / motor -508-, as shown.
Figure 5E illustrates an example communication structure between a location RF tag -502-, a plurality of receivers -506- and various types of sensors including, without limitation, a sensor -503-, a diagnostic device -533 -, a triangulation positioner -543-, a proximity positioner -553- and a proximity tag -563- according to various embodiments. In the embodiment shown, none of the sensors -503-, -533-, -543-, -553-form part of an RF location tag -502-ni of the reference tag -504-. However, each can comprise a sensor UID and additional sensor data stored. Each of the sensors represented -503-, -533-, -543-and -553-transmits sensor signals comprising sensor information packets.
In the embodiment shown, the receiver -506-is configured to receive a tag signal from the location RF tag -502- and a sensor signal directly from the sensor -503-. In said embodiments, the sensor -503-can be configured to communicate in a communication protocol that is common to the RF location tag -502-, as will be apparent to a common expert in the field in view of the present disclosure. .


Figure 5E depicts a type of sensor referred to herein as "proximity interrogator." The proximity interrogator -523-may include operating circuits to generate a magnetic, electromagnetic or any other field detectable by a location RF tag -502-. Although not shown in Figure 3E, a proximity interrogator -523-may include a sensor UID and other data obtained from the label and the sensor, or information as discussed above.
In some embodiments, the proximity interrogator -523- functions as a proximity communication device that can activate a location RF tag -502- (for example, when the location RF tag -502- detects the field produced by the proximity interrogator -523-) to transmit intermittent data with an alternate intermittency pattern or intermittency rate. The RF location tag can initiate a previously programmed (and usually faster) intermittency rate to allow more location points to follow an individual. In some embodiments, the location RF tag may not transmit a tag signal until activated by the proximity interrogator -523-. In some embodiments, the location RF tag -502-can be activated when the location RF tag -502-moves near (for example, within the vicinity of communication with) a proximity interrogator -523- . In some embodiments, the location RF tag can be activated when the proximity interrogator -523- moves near the location RF tag -502-.
In other embodiments, the location RF tag -502-can be activated when a button is pressed or a switch is activated on the proximity interrogator -523-or on the location RF tag itself. For example, a proximity interrogator -523-could be placed on the starting line of a race track. Each time a car passes the start line, an RF-tag -502-mounted on the car detects the proximity interrogator signal and is activated to transmit a tag signal indicating that a turn has been completed. As another example, a proximity interrogator -523-could be placed in a Gatorade refrigerator. Each time a player or other participant fills a glass of the refrigerator, an RF-502-mounted location tag on the participant detects the proximity interrogator signal and is activated to transmit a tag signal indicating that Gatorade has been consumed . As another example, a proximity questioner -523-could be placed in a medical car. When paramedics use the medical car to pick up a participant (for example, a player) and take it to the locker room, an RF-tag -502-mounted on the participant detects the proximity interrogator's signal and is activated to transmit a tag sign indicating that they have withdrawn from the game. As explained, any of these subsequently activated tag signals may differ from previously activated tag signals in terms of any aspect of the analog and / or digital attributes of the transmitted tag signal.
Figure 5E represents another type of sensor that is generally not carried by an individual, but is referred to herein as a "diagnostic device." However, like other sensors, diagnostic devices can measure one or more environmental conditions and store the corresponding environmental measurements in analog or digital form.
Although the diagnostic device -533-represented is not carried by an individual, it can generate and store a sensor-individuals correlator for association with environmental measurements made in relation to


With a specific individual. For example, in one embodiment, the diagnostic device -533- can be a blood pressure meter that is configured to store the blood pressure data of several individuals as environmental measurements. Each set of environmental measurements (for example, blood pressure data) can be stored and associated with a sensor-individual correlator.
The diagnostic device -533-shown is configured to transmit to the sensor receiver -566-a sensor signal comprising sensor information packets. The sensor information packets may comprise one or more of the sensor UIDs, additional stored data, environmental measurements and / or the sensor-individual correlator, as discussed above. The sensor receiver -566-may associate some or all of the data in the sensor information packets with other data stored in the sensor receiver -566-or with data stored or received from other sensors, diagnostic devices, labels RF location -502- or reference tags. The sensor receiver -566-transmits a sensor signal from the receiver to a reception location hub / motor -508-.
Another type of sensor shown in Figure 5E is a triangulation positioner -543-. A "triangulation positioner" is a type of sensor that detects the position. The triangulated positioner -543-shown includes a sensor UID, additional stored sensor data and environmental measurements as discussed above.
In some embodiments, the triangulation positioner (also known as the Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver) receives the clock data transmitted by one or more geostationary satellites (a satellite in a known or known position) and / or one or more ground-based transmitters (also in known or known positions), compares the received clock data and performs a "position calculation". The position calculation can be included in one or more sensor information packages as environmental measurements.
In another embodiment, a triangulation positioner comprises one or more cameras or image analyzers that receive light or heat emitted or reflected, and then analyze the images received to determine the location of an individual or sensor. Although a triangulation positioner can transmit data wirelessly, it is not a location RF tag because it does not transmit intermittent data or a tag signal that can be used by a reception location concentrator / motor -508-to calculate the location . On the contrary, a triangulation positioner detects the position and calculates the position that the reception location concentrator / motor -508 can then use as environmental measurements.
In one embodiment, a triangulation positioner could be combined with a location RF tag.
or a reference tag (not shown). In such embodiments, the triangulation positioner could calculate and transmit its position calculation to one or more receivers through the RF location tag. However, the reception location concentrator / motor would calculate the location of the tag based on the intermittent data received as part of the tag signal and not based solely on the calculation of the position. The position calculation would be considered as environmental measurements and could be included in associated sensor information packages.
As will be apparent to a common expert in the field, position calculations (for example, calculations of the


GPS receiver position) are not as accurate as location calculations (for example, location calculations based on the UWB waveform) performed by the structured reception location concentrator / motor according to various embodiments of the invention. Not to mention that position calculations cannot be improved using known techniques. For example, various influences, including atmospheric conditions, can cause GPS accuracy to vary over time. One way of controlling this is to use a Global Differential Positioning System (DGPS) comprising one or a network of stationary triangulation positioners that are placed in a known position, and the coordinates of the known position are stored in memory as sensor data. Additional stored. These triangulation positioners receive clock data from geostationary satellites, determine a position calculation, and emit a difference between the position calculation and the stored coordinates. This DGPS correction signal can be used to correct these influences and significantly reduce the estimated location error.
Another type of sensor shown in Figure 5E is a proximity detector -553-. A "proximity detector" is a type of sensor that detects the identity in an area (for example, a local area) that is small with respect to the supervised area -100-of Figure 1. For a common expert in the field they will be evident many different ways of detecting identity (for example, a unique ID or other identifier for a detected object or individual) in view of the present disclosure including, without limitation, the reading of a linear bar code, the reading of a two-dimensional barcode, reading a near field communication (NFC) tag, reading an RFID tag such as a UHF tag, an HF tag or a low frequency tag, an optical recognition device characters, a biometric scanner or a facial recognition system.
In some embodiments, a proximity detector detects an attribute of an individual (or a wristband, tag, brand, card, badge, clothing, uniform, suit, telephone, ticket, etc. of an individual). The identity detected by a proximity detector can be stored locally in the proximity detector -553-as shown and transmitted to a sensor receiver -566-as environmental measurements through one or more sensor information packets.
In some embodiments, a proximity detector -553-may have a defined position, which is often stationary, and may be associated with a location in the supervised area -100-of Figure 1. For example, a proximity detector - 553-could be located on the finish line of a race track, at the entrance of a stadium, with a diagnostic device, on the goal line or on the goalpost of a soccer field, in a Base or batter base of a baseball diamond, or in a similar fixed location. In such embodiments in which the proximity detector is stationary, the coordinates of the proximity detector position and a sensor UID could be stored in a database of the supervised area (not shown) which can be accessed by one or more than the receivers -506-, -566-, the reception location concentrator / motor -508- and / or other components of the reception processing and analytical system -110-. In embodiments in which the proximity detector is mobile, a position calculation with a triangulation positioner could be determined, or the proximity detector could be combined with a location RF tag and located by the location location concentrator / motor. reception -508-. Although they are shown as independent fields for illustrative purposes in Figure 5E, the identity information and the position calculation could comprise part of the additional sensor data stored, the environmental measurements, or both.


In one embodiment, the proximity detector could be associated with a reference tag (for example, the tag -104-of Figure 1) whose position is registered in the database of the supervised area. In other embodiments, the proximity detector is mobile, so that it can be transported as needed. For example, a proximity detector -553- could be located in a medical car, a first chance marker, a diagnostic device, a goalpost, or it could be transported by a paramedic or a security guard. In an embodiment in which the proximity detector -553-is mobile, it would typically be associated with a location RF tag or a triangulation positioner such that that location can be determined (for a location RF tag) or position (for a positioner by triangulation) at the moment the identity is detected.
In the embodiment in which the proximity detector includes a location RF tag, the receiver location concentrator / motor -508-would locate the associated location RF tag, and a label data filter / sensor data would associate the tag location data for the associated location tag as the position of the proximity detector, at the same time that the identity of an associated individual would be determined from any received sensor information packets. In the alternative embodiment in which the proximity detector includes a triangulation positioner, the triangulation positioner would perform a position calculation that could be stored as additional stored sensor data and / or environmental measurements, and transmitted as one or more packets. of sensor information. In one embodiment, the sensor information packets for a proximity detector can include both the identity information detected and a position calculation.
Another type of sensor shown in Figure 5E is a proximity tag -563-. A proximity tag has a fixed position and an identification code (for example, a sensor UID). The proximity tag -563- may further comprise additional sensor data stored, as shown. The proximity tag -563-shown is configured to be read by the proximity detector -553-. In some embodiments, the proximity detector -553- may also be configured to write information on the proximity tag -563-.
A proximity tag -563-can be a sticker, a card, a tag, a passive RFID tag, an active RFID tag, an NFC tag, a ticket, a metal plate, an electronic device, electronic paper, a surface tinted, a solar clock or otherwise a machine-readable or visible identification device such as those known in the art. The coordinates of the position of the proximity tag -563- are stored in such a way that the reception location concentrator / motor -508-can access them. For example, in one embodiment, the position coordinates of a proximity tag -563- could be stored in a field database or a database of the supervised area that can be accessed via a network, or could be stored locally as additional data stored in the proximity detector -553-.
In some embodiments, a position of the proximity tag -563- is encoded in the proximity tag itself -563-. For example, the coordinates of a position of the proximity tag -563-could be encoded in a passive RFID tag that is placed in that position. By way of another example, the coordinates of a position of the proximity tag -563-could be encoded in a printed barcode that is placed in that position. As another example, a proximity tag -563


comprising an NFC tag could be coded with the "end zone" of the location, and the NFC tag could be placed in or near an end zone in the Bank of America stadium. In some embodiments, the stored coordinates of the proximity tag -563-may be offset from the actual coordinates of the proximity tag -563-in a known or determined amount.
In one embodiment, a proximity tag -563- such as an NFC tag may be encoded with a position. When a sensor such as a proximity detector approaches the NFC tag, it can read the position, then transmit the position in a sensor information packet to the sensor receiver -566'-and eventually to the receiving location concentrator / motor -108-. In another embodiment, a proximity tag -263- such as a barcode tag may be encoded with an identification code. When a smartphone with a proximity detector (such as a barcode imager) and a triangulation positioner (such as a GPS chip, a GPS application or a similar device) approaches the code label of bars, you can read the barcode identification code, determine a position calculation from the received clock data, and then transmit the identity and position calculation to the sensor receiver -566'-and eventually to the reception location concentrator / motor -106-as part of one or more sensor information packages.
In the embodiment shown, each of the triangulation positioner -543- and the proximity detector -553- are configured to transmit sensor signals that transport sensor information packets to the sensor receiver -566'-. The sensors -543-, -553-represented, like any sensor analyzed herein, can transmit sensor signals through wired or wireless communication protocols. For example, any proprietary or standard wireless protocol (for example, 802.11, Zigbee, ISO / IEC 802.15.4, ISO / IEC 18000, IrDA, Bluetooth, CDMA or any other protocol) could be used for the sensor signals. Alternatively or additionally, any standard or proprietary cable communication protocol (for example, Ethernet, parallel, serial, RS-232, RS-422, USB, Firewire, I2C, etc.) could be used. Similarly, the sensor receiver -166'-and any receiver analyzed herein could use similar wired and wireless protocols to transmit signals to the reception location concentrator / motor.
In one embodiment, after receiving the sensor signals from the triangulation positioner -543- and the proximity detector -553-, the sensor receiver -566'-can associate some or all of the sensor information packet data received with others data stored in the sensor receiver -566'-, or with data stored or received from other sensors (for example, sensor -503-), diagnostic devices -533-, location RF tags -502- or Reference RF -504-. Said associated data is referred to herein as "associated sensor data". In the embodiment shown, the sensor receiver -566'-is configured to transmit to the receiving location concentrator / motor -508-some or all of the received sensor information packets and any associated sensor data in part of a signal from receiver sensor
In one embodiment, a smartphone comprising a proximity detector (such as a bar code imager) and a triangulation positioner (such as the GPS chip) can associate a given identification code from a code of bars with a position calculation from clock data received as associated sensor data and transmitted to the concentrator / motor location of


reception -508-a sensor information packet that includes said associated sensor data. In another embodiment, the smartphone could transmit to another sensor receiver a first sensor information package including the identification code and the unique identifier of the smartphone, the smartphone could transmit a second sensor information package to the sensor receiver. including the calculation of the position and the unique identifier of the smartphone, and the sensor receiver could associate the calculation of the position with the identification code based on the unique identifier of the smartphone and transmit to the reception location concentrator / motor - 508-said associated sensor data. In another embodiment, the sensor receiver could determine a first temporary measurement associated with the first sensor information package and a second temporary measurement associated with the second sensor information package that could be used, together with the sensor UID, by the receiving location concentrate / motor -508-, to associate the first sensor information package with the second sensor information package.
In one embodiment, the reception location concentrate / motor -508- receives signals from the receiver from the receiver -506- and sensor signals from the receiver from the sensor receivers -566-, -566'-. In the embodiment shown, the receiver -506-can receive intermittent data from the location RF tag -502-, and transmits to the receiving location concentrator / motor -508-some or all intermittent data, perhaps with temporary measurements or additional signal measurements. In some embodiments, the temporary measurements or the signal measurements may be based on a tag signal received from a reference RF tag (for example, the reference tag -104-of Figure 1). The receiver location concentrator / motor -508-collects intermittent data, temporary measurements (for example, arrival time, difference in arrival time, phase) and / or signal measurements (for example, signal strength). signal, signal direction, signal polarization, signal phase) from the -506-receivers and calculates the tag location data for the -502-tags as discussed above in relation to Figure 1 In some embodiments, the 506 receivers can be configured with appropriate RF filters, such as to filter potentially interfering signals or reflections close to the playing field or to another area to be monitored.
The reception location concentrator / motor -508-can also access the stored data or the clock data of a local storage and a network location. The receiving location concentrator / motor -508-uses this information to determine the location data of the tag for each location RF tag. You can also associate the data obtained or extracted from the tag signals transmitted from one or more location RF tags with information or data obtained or extracted from sensor signals transmitted from one or more sensors.
In addition to the TOA or TDOA systems described previously, other real-time location systems (RTLS) such as systems based on the indication of the received signal strength by means of a reception location concentrator / motor -108- could potentially be implemented. Any RTLS system that uses RF location tags, including those described herein, may require considerable processing by the receiving location hub / motor -108-to determine the tag's location data from the data. flashers received from the labels. These may require a temporary measurement and / or a signal measurement in addition to the intermittent data, which preferably include a tag UID. In contrast, in other systems, such as Global Positioning Systems (GPS), location data is determined based on position calculation.


transmitted from a GPS transmitter (also called a GPS receiver or GPS tag) that includes information calculated on the location where the tag was placed (i.e., coordinates determined on the tag through triangulation of the satellite signal, etc.) when the position calculation was determined or stored. Thus, GPS information typically refers to additional information that is transmitted along with an ID of the GPS transmitter before a sensor receiver receives the transmission.
A host device or GPS end-stage server can receive the GPS information and simply analyze the position calculation (as opposed to calculating the position information on the host device) and the GPS transmitter ID in a data record . This data record can be used as a calculation of the GPS position, or it could be converted to a different coordinate system to be used as a calculation of the GPS position, or it could be further processed with DGPS information to be used as a calculation of the GPS position.
Returning to Figure 5C, the location RF tag -102-shown is used to transport (sometimes referred to as concentrating) the sensor information packets to a receiver -106-. In some embodiments, although not shown, several sensors -203- can transmit sensor signals that transport sensor information packets to the location RF tag -102-. Said sensor information packets can be associated with intermittent data transmitted to the receiver -106-.
In one embodiment, the receiving location concentrator / engine -108-can analyze the sensor information packets of the received tag data packets and associate said sensor information packets with the location RF tag -102-which transmitted the sensor information packet. Thus, the receiving location concentrator / motor -108-may be able to determine the location data of the tag, which may comprise a location and other data (e.g., tag data, tag UID, correlator of Individual-tags, sensor-individual correlator, additional stored sensor data, environmental measurements, sensor-tag correlator, identity information, position calculation, etc.) from one or more tags or sensors. Such data and information can be transmitted to the processing and reception analytics system -110-.
In some embodiments, once the receiving location concentrator / engine -108 determines an estimate of the location of a location RF tag -102-in the time period of the tag signal, the location concentrator / engine -108-of reception can also associate an estimate of the location with the tag data packet included in the intermittent data of said tag signal. In some embodiments, the estimation of the tag signal location can be used as tag location data for the tag data packet. In some embodiments, the receiving location concentrator / engine -108-may use a Geographic Information System (GIS) to refine an estimate of the location, or to map an estimate of the location in a coordinate system into an estimate of the location in a different coordinate system, in order to provide an estimate of the location for the label data packet.
In one embodiment, the estimated location for the tag data packet can be associated with any data in the tag data packet, including a tag UID, other tag data and, if included, one or more packets. of sensor information, including the sensor UID, additional stored sensor data and environmental measurements. As environmental measurements


they can include a calculation of the position of a positioner by triangulation (for example, a GPS device), the reception location concentrator / motor -108-could analyze the position calculation and use it to refine the location estimate for the Tag data package.
Preferably, the reception location concentrator / engine -108-can access a database of individuals to determine the tag-individual correlators or the sensor-individual correlators. Individuals' data (for example, an individual's profile) can be stored on a server, in a label memory, in a sensor memory or in other storage that can be accessed through a network or system of communication, including tag data or additional sensor data stored as explained above.
In some embodiments, by comparing the data that has been accessed using a sensor correlator-individuals, the reception location concentrator / engine -108-can associate an individual with a sensor information packet received from a sensor , and / or can associate an individual with said sensor. Because the reception location concentrator / motor -108-can associate an estimate of the sensor position with a sensor information package, the reception location concentrator / motor -108-can also estimate an individual's position for The associated individual.
In another embodiment, by comparing the data that has been accessed using a tag correlator-sensors, the receiving location hub / motor -108-can associate a sensor with a tag data packet received from a tag RF location -102-. Because the reception location concentrator / motor -108-can associate a location estimate with a label data packet, the reception location concentrator / motor -108-can also create an estimate of the sensor location for the associated sensor. By comparing a location estimate for a location RF tag with an estimate of the sensor location or an estimate of the sensor position, the receiving location concentrator / motor -108-can associate an RF tag location with a sensor, or you can associate a label data package with a sensor information package. The receiving location concentrator / motor -108-could also determine a new or refined label-sensor correlator based on this association.
In another additional embodiment, the receiving location concentrator / motor -108-can associate a location RF tag with an individual, or can associate a tag data packet with an individual by comparing a location estimate to an RF location tag with an estimate of an individual's location or an estimate of an individual's position. The reception location concentrator / engine -108-could also determine a new or refined label correlator-individuals based on this association.
In one embodiment, the reception location concentrator / motor -108-can associate a sensor with an individual, or can associate a sensor data packet with an individual by comparing a location estimate for a sensor with an estimate of the location of an individual or an estimate of the position of an individual. The reception location concentrator / motor -108-could also determine a new or refined sensor correlator-individuals based on this association.
Data obtained or extracted from tag signals transmitted from one or more RF tags of


Location is referred to herein as "data obtained from the tag" and will include, without limitation, tag data, tag UID, tag-individual correlator, tag-sensor correlator, tag data packets, data intermittent, temporary measurements (e.g. arrival time, difference in arrival time, phase), signal measurements (for example, signal strength, signal direction, signal polarization, signal phase) and tag location data (for example, including estimates of tag location). The data obtained from the tag is not obtained from the location RF tag, but instead is obtained from the information transmitted by the location RF tag. The information or data obtained or extracted from the sensor signals transmitted from one or more sensors is referred to herein as "data obtained from the sensor" and should include, without limitation, sensor UID, additional sensor data stored, correlator of sensor-individuals, environmental measurements, sensor information packages, position calculations (including estimates of sensor position), position information, identity information, sensor-tag correlator and associated sensor data. Data obtained or extracted from the individual's stored data are referred to herein as "individual profile information", "participant profile information" or simply "profile information" and should include, without limitation, label correlator -individuals, sensor-individuals correlator, identity information, name, uniform and equipment number, biometric data, label position in the individual. In various embodiments, the reception location concentrator / engine -108-can transmit to the reception processing and analytical system -110-data obtained from the labels, data obtained from the sensors, individual profile information, various combinations of the themselves and / or any GIS information, the terrain database, the supervised area database and the individuals database.
Additional UWB transmission architectures that can be used in some embodiments for communications with the variable rate intermittency RF tags controlled by motion data discussed herein, are described in more detail in US Pat. . nº
9.002.485 entitled "Method, apparatus and product of a computer program for execution models and determination of analytics and event generation based on real-time data for nearby moving objects", which is incorporated as a reference in its entirety.
In some embodiments, the tag signals transmitted from the RF tags can be processed to determine the data obtained from the tag for performance analytics. For example, the reception concentrator -108-and / or the reception processing and distribution system -110-can perform the processing to provide the determination, analysis, monitoring and / or program presentation of the activities of the player, the events of the game, among other things. Additional details regarding the techniques for providing performance analytics based on the tag signals are described in greater detail in US Pat. No. 9,002,485, which is incorporated by reference above.
Figure 6 shows a schematic block diagram of example circuits -600-, some of which or all of them may be included in an RF tag (for example, RF tags -102-, -200- and / or -300), the receiver -106-, the reception concentrator -108- and / or the reception processing and distribution system -110-. According to some exemplary embodiments, circuits -600-may include various means, such as one or more processors -602-, memories -604-, communication modules -606- and / or input / output modules -608-.


As referred to herein, a "module" may include hardware, software or firmware configured to perform one or more specific functions. In this sense, the means of the circuits -600 such as those described herein can be realized as, for example, circuits, hardware elements (for example, a properly programmed processor, combinational logic circuits, integrated circuits and / or the like) , a computer program product comprising computer-readable program instructions stored in a computer-readable non-transient medium (for example, memory -604-) that can be executed by an appropriately configured processing device (e.g., the processor -602-), or some combination thereof.
For example, the processor -602-can be performed as several means including one or more microprocessors with complementary digital signal processor (s), one or more processors without any complementary digital signal processor, one or more coprocessors, one or more multi-core processors, one or more controllers, processing circuits, one or more computers, various different processing elements including integrated circuits such as, for example, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit, application specific integrated circuit) or FPGA (field programmable gate array), or some combination thereof. Therefore, although illustrated in Figure 6 as a single processor, in some embodiments, the processor 602 may comprise a plurality of processing means. The plurality of processing means can be carried out in a single calculation device or they can be distributed in a plurality of calculation devices configured collectively to function as circuits -600-. The plurality of processing means can be in operative communication with each other and can be collectively configured to perform one or more functionalities of the circuits -600-described herein. In an exemplary embodiment, the processor -602-can be configured to execute instructions stored in a memory -604-or otherwise accessible to the processor -602-. These instructions, when executed by the processor -602-, can cause the circuits -600-to execute one or more of the functionalities described herein.
Whether configured by hardware, firmware / software methods, or a combination thereof, the processor -602-may comprise an entity capable of performing operations according to the embodiments of the present invention if it is configured accordingly. Thus, for example, when the processor -602-is performed as an ASIC, an FPGA or the like, the processor -602-may comprise hardware configured specifically to perform one or more operations described herein. By way of another example, when the processor -602-can be performed as an executor of instructions, such as those that may be stored in memory -604-, the instructions can specifically configure the processor -602-to perform one or more algorithms, procedures or operations described herein. For example, the processor -602-can be configured to run operating system applications, firmware applications, media player applications, media editing applications, among other things.
The memory -604-may comprise, for example, a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory and some combination thereof. Although illustrated in Figure 6 as a single memory, the memory -604-may comprise a plurality of memory components. The plurality of memory components can be performed in a single calculation component or distributed in a plurality of calculation components. In several


embodiments, the memory -604-may comprise, for example, a hard disk, a random access memory, a cache memory, a flash memory, a compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), a solid state memory , a read-only digital versatile disc (DVD-ROM) memory, an optical disk, circuits configured to store information, integrated circuits, chemical / biological memory, paper or some combination thereof. Memory -604-can be configured to store information, data, applications, instructions or the like, in order to allow circuits -600-to perform various functions according to example embodiments discussed herein. For example, in at least some embodiments, the memory -604-can be configured to temporarily store input data for processing by the processor -602-. Additionally or alternatively, in at least some embodiments, the memory -604-can be configured to store program instructions for execution by the processor -602- and / or data for processing by the processor -602-. The memory -604-can store information in the form of static and / or dynamic information. Circuits-600-can store and / or use this stored information -600-during the course of carrying out its functionalities.
In some embodiments, such as when the circuits -600-are made in an RF tag (for example, the RF tag -200-shown in Figure 2), one or more processors -602-and / or may be included memories -604-in the controller -202-, the motion sensor -204- and / or the UWB transmitter -206-.
The communications module -606-can be realized as any component or means realized in circuits, hardware, a computer program product comprising computer readable program instructions stored in a computer readable medium (for example, memory -604- ) and executable by means of a processing device (for example, processor -602-), or any combination thereof that is configured to receive and / or transmit data from / to another device, such as, for example, a few second circuits -600-and / or the like. In some embodiments, the communications module -606- (as well as other components discussed herein) can be performed at least partially as, or otherwise controlled by, the processor -602-. In this sense, the communications module -606-can be in communication with the processor -402-, such as by means of a bus. The communications module -606-may include, for example, an antenna, a transmitter (for example, UWB), a receiver, a transceiver, a network interface card and / or hardware and / or firmware / software support for Allow communications The communications module -606-can be configured to receive and / or transmit any data that can be stored through the memory -604-using any protocol that can be used for communications. The communications module -606-may, additionally and / or alternatively, be in communication with the memory -604-, the input / output module -608- and / or any other component of the circuits -600-, as per middle of a bus The communications module -606-can be configured to use one or more communication protocols such as, for example, UWB (for example, IEEE 802.15.4), near-field communication (NFC), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (for for example, an 802.11 protocol, etc.) radio frequency systems (for example, 900 MHz, 1.4 GHz and 5.6 GHz communication systems), infrared, mobile broadband, GSM, GSM with EDGE, CDMA, quadband and other cellular protocols, VoIP and / or any other appropriate protocol.
The input / output module -608-may be in communication with the processor -602-to receive an indication of an input and / or provide an audible, visual, mechanical or other output. In that sense, the input / output module -608-can include means to perform analog to digital and / or digital to analog conversions. For example, the input / output module -608-may include support for a screen,


a touch screen, a keyboard, a button, a clickable wheel, a mouse, a joystick, an image capture device, a microphone, a speaker, a biometric scanner and / or other input / output mechanisms. In some embodiments, such as when circuits -600-can be implemented as an RF tag, the input / output module -608-may include one or more sensors, such as a motion sensor -304-and / or the sensors -312-shown in the figure. 3.
In embodiments where the -600-circuits can be implemented as a system, a server or a database, aspects of the input / output module -608-can be reduced compared to embodiments where -600-circuits can be implemented as an end user machine or other type of device designed for complex user interactions. In some embodiments (as with other components discussed herein), the input / output module can even be removed from the -600- circuits. Alternatively, as in embodiments in which the circuits -600-are made as a server or a database, at least some aspects of the input / output module -608-can be performed in an apparatus used by a user who is in communication with the circuits -600-. The input / output module -608 may be in communication with the memory -604-, the communications module -606- and / or any other components, such as by means of a bus. Although more than one input / output module and / or other components may be included in the circuits -600, only one is shown in Figure 6 to avoid complicating the disclosure in excess (for example, like the other components analyzed In the present memory).
In some embodiments, circuits -600-may perform the processes and example algorithms discussed herein. For example, a non-transient computer-readable storage medium can be configured to store firmware, one or more application programs and / or other software, which includes instructions and other sections of computer-readable program code that can be executed to control the processors of the circuit components -600-to implement various operations, including the examples shown above. Thus, a series of computer-readable program code sections can be performed on one or more computer program products and can be used, with a device, a server, a database and / or other programmable devices, to produce the machine implemented processes analyzed herein.
Any computer program instructions and / or other code can be loaded into a computer, a processor or the circuits of another programmable device to produce a machine, such that the computer, the processor or other programmable circuits that execute the code may be the means to implement various functions, including those described herein. In some embodiments, one or more external systems (such as a remote data calculation and / or storage system in the cloud) can also be used to provide at least some of the functionalities discussed herein.
As described above and as will be appreciated based on this disclosure, various embodiments may be implemented as procedures, media, devices, servers, databases, systems and the like. Accordingly, the embodiments may comprise various means including entire hardware or any combination of software and hardware. Also, the embodiments may take the form of a computer program product in at least one non-transient computer-readable storage medium that has computer-readable program instructions (eg, computer software) made in a storage medium. Any storage media readable by


Appropriate computer including non-transient hard drives, CD / DVD-ROM, flash memory, optical storage devices, quantum storage devices, chemical storage devices, biological storage devices, magnetic storage devices, etc.
The embodiments have been described above with reference to the block diagrams of the components, such as functional modules, system components and circuits. Below is an analysis of flowcharts of an example process that describe the functionalities that can be implemented by one or more components discussed above. Each block of the block diagrams and the process flow diagrams, and the combinations of block diagrams and process flow diagrams, respectively, can be implemented by various means including computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be loaded into a general purpose computer, a specific purpose computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, such as the processor -602-, to produce a machine, such that the program product IT includes the instructions that are executed on the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to create means to implement the functions specified in the flowchart blocks or block diagrams.
These computer program instructions can also be stored in a non-transient computer-readable device (for example, memory -604-) which can indicate to a computer or other programmable data processing device that works in a specific way, in such a way so that the instructions stored in the computer readable storage device produce a manufactured article that includes computer readable instructions to implement the functions discussed herein. Computer program instructions can also be loaded into a computer or other programmable data processing device to make a series of operational steps performed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions that are executed in the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps to implement the functions analyzed herein.
Consequently, the blocks of the block diagrams and the illustrations of the flow charts support combinations of means to perform the specified functions, combinations of steps to perform the specified functions and means of program instructions to perform the specified functions. It will also be understood that each block of the block diagrams and the process flow diagrams, and the combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and the process flow diagrams can be implemented by hardware-based specific purpose computer systems that perform the specified functions or stages, or combinations of specific purpose hardware and computer instructions.
ULTRA BROADBAND VARIABLE SPEED COMMUNICATIONS
Figure 7 shows a flow chart of an example procedure -700 for communication with a wireless receiver, according to some embodiments. The procedure -700-can be carried out by means of an RF tag (for example, the RF tag -102-, -200-, -300-and / or other devices configured and / or properly manufactured), such as by means of circuit circuits. processing and / or a controller, to communicate UWB tag signals at variable intermittency rates with one or more receivers -106-. In


In some embodiments, several RF tags -102-can be configured to simultaneously perform the procedure -700-in a supervised area -125-, as shown in Figure 1.
The procedure -700- can start at -702- and continue with -704-, where the processing circuits of an RF tag can be configured to receive one or more motion data values from a motion sensor. The movement data values can be generated by a motion sensor, and can be examples of the environmental measurements discussed above. In some embodiments, the controller -202-and / or the UWB transceiver -206-can be configured to receive the one or more motion data values of the motion sensor -204-. The motion sensor -204-can be configured to generate the movement data values and provide the movement data values to the RF -200- tag processing circuits.
As discussed above, in some embodiments, the motion sensor may include an accelerometer, a gyroscope and / or a compass configured to measure the movement of the RF tag. Although the control of the intermittency speed is analyzed herein as based on the motion data values of a motion sensor, in some embodiments, the intermittency rate can be controlled, additionally or alternatively, by one or more values. different measurements of one or more different types of sensors.
In -706-, the RF tag processing circuits may be configured to determine an intermittency rate for a UWB transmitter based on the one or more motion data values. Thus, the intermittency rate can be determined as a variable intermittence rate having a frequency (for example, defining emission intervals for intermittent data transmissions) that depends on the one or more movement data values. For example, the UWB transmitter can be configured to transmit intermittent data at a first intermittency speed or a second intermittency speed, in which the first intermittency speed is different from the second intermittency speed, or a third intermittent speed which is different from the first flashing speed and the second flashing speed, etc.
Although one or more different types of motion sensors and / or accelerometers may be used, in some embodiments the RF tag may include a three-axis accelerometer configured to generate motion data values that include an axis acceleration value. X, a value of the acceleration in the Y axis and a value of the acceleration in the Z axis. Figure 11 shows an example of the movement data -1100 generated in time by an RF tag, according to some embodiments. Motion data -1100 may include acceleration values on the X axis -1102-, acceleration values on the Y axis -1104- and acceleration values on the Z axis -1106-. Each of the acceleration values -1102-1106-is measured and represented on a force scale g of -2 to +2.
Motion data -1100-show example motion data values that are characteristic of an object (eg, a person) moving at increasing speeds between periods of motion stop, where the motion sensor is located in the region of the Shoulder pads, as shown in Figure 4A for RFID tag -102-. The orientation of the motion sensor causes most of the acceleration to be detected in the acceleration values on the Z axis -1106-. In some


realizations, movement data may indicate events and / or actions of interest. For example, motion data captured before instant -1108-indicates that the object is walking. In another example, before the instant -1110-, the axial acceleration values indicate that the object has stopped moving. In another additional example, before the instant -1112-, the axial acceleration values indicate that the object is jogging, running or otherwise moving at a speed that is greater than the one before the instant -1108-, as indicated by the increase in the amplitude of the axial acceleration values before the instant -1112-. As discussed in greater detail below, the events and / or actions defined by the movement data values are referred to herein as "motion signatures." Thus, each of the movement data values before the instants -1108-, -1110-and -1112-may be associated with or indicate a movement signature for walking, stopping and running, respectively.
Figure 12 shows an example of the motion data -1200-generated in time by a second RF tag, according to some embodiments. Motion data -1200-is captured simultaneously to motion data -1100-, except for the use of an RF tag that is arranged on the back of the shoulders, approximately next to the shoulder blade. Here, the RF tag associated with the motion data -1200-is in a different orientation than the RF tag that generated the motion data -1100-. Motion data -1200-may include acceleration values on the X axis -1202-, acceleration values on the Y axis -1204- and acceleration values on the Z axis -1206-. The different orientation of the RF tag placed on the object results in the greatest stop of the acceleration being detected by the acceleration values on the X-axis -1202- (for example, instead of the acceleration values on the axis Z -1106-analyzed above for motion data -1100-).
The processing circuits can also be configured to determine a value of the magnitude of the acceleration based on one or more of (for example, all of) the value of the acceleration on the X axis, the value of the acceleration on the axis Y and the value of the acceleration on the Z axis. For example, the value of the magnitude of the acceleration can be determined as the square root of the sum of each of the values of the acceleration on the X axis, the acceleration in the Y axis and the acceleration on the Z axis squared.
In another example, the value of the magnitude of the acceleration can be determined as the sum of the absolute values of each of the values of the acceleration on the X axis, the acceleration on the Y axis and the acceleration on the Z axis. Figure 13 shows an example of the values of the magnitude of the acceleration -1300- of a radio frequency tag, according to some embodiments. Here, the values of the magnitude of the acceleration -1300-are determined based on the sum of the absolute values of the values of the acceleration on the X-axis -1102-, the values of the acceleration on the Y-axis -1104-y the acceleration values on the Z axis -1106-of the movement data -1100-shown in Figure 11.
In some embodiments, motion signatures can be defined based on the values of the magnitude of the acceleration. With reference to Figure 13, each of the motion data values before instants -1108-, -1110-and -1112-may be associated with or indicate a motion signature for walking, stopping and running, respectively.
In some embodiments, the values of the magnitude of the acceleration can be determined from several RFID sensors / tags that have different orientations and locations in the object. These values of the magnitude of the acceleration (and / or their acceleration values on the axes) can be combined in various ways


in the form of a program to determine an activity and / or movement signatures with a finer detail. For example, motion data associated with an RFID tag in the shoulder region may indicate that a player is raising arms, while motion data associated with an RFID tag in the chest region may indicate that the player It is also jumping in the air. Thus, a movement signature associated with a player jumping to try to catch the ball may include the particular combination of movement data values and / or values of the magnitude of the acceleration of the RFID tags located in the chest regions and shoulders.
The processing circuits can also be configured to determine the intermittent speed based on the value of the magnitude of the acceleration. For example, the RF tag may include data mapping (for example, stored in a memory) that associates those values of the magnitude of the acceleration with several predetermined intermittency rates. In some embodiments, the RF tag can be configured to operate in a plurality of states, each state being associated with a different intermittency rate based on the movement data values. For example, in a first state where the movement data values indicate that the RF tag is at rest, the intermittency speed can be set to off or at a very low transmission rate. In a second state where the movement data values indicate that the RF tag is moving slowly, the intermittency rate can be adjusted to a low transmission rate. In a third state where the movement data values indicate that the RF tag is moving rapidly, the intermittency rate can be adjusted to a fast transmission rate. In some embodiments, the flashing rates may vary from 0 Hz (for example, when the RF tag has been deactivated and / or otherwise set to not transmit intermittent data) up to 200 Hz (for example, when the RF tag has been activated and / or when motion data suggests that an associated object has moved).
In some embodiments, the intermittent data may include an indication of a change in the state of the flashing speed. For example, after determining that the flashing rate should be changed, the indication of changing the status of the flashing rate may be included with the flashing data for one or more (e.g., 3) pulses of the flashing data transmission at the updated flashing speed. The change of status indication of the flasher can be used to more accurately determine the start and / or stop of a supervised activity and / or event. For example, in the context of a football match, an indication of a change in the status of the turn signal indicating that the flashing speed has been changed to the speed of fast transmission may indicate that a game has started on the field.
In some embodiments, the RF tag may include a user input device, such as a switch, a button, etc. Used to control the speed of flashing. By means of the user input device, a user carrying the RF tag may be able to activate / deactivate the RF tag, change the flashing speed and / or send the status information included in one or more pulses of the intermittent data. The RF tag may include an external light emitting diode (LED) and / or other display device configured to provide feedback to the action performed by the user.
In -708-, the processing circuits can be configured to determine the intermittent data. Intermittent data can be sent by means of the tag signal transmitted by the RF tag, such as at regular query intervals defined by the flashing rate. As discussed above,


intermittent data may include characteristics of the tag signal and / or a pattern, a code, an alphanumeric character, a character string or an activator that allow the receiver -106-to recognize the tag signal in such a way that it can determine the location of the RF tag -102-. Additionally or alternatively, the intermittent data may comprise one or more packets of tag data such as the tag identifier, the tag data and / or a tag-individual correlator. In some embodiments, intermittent data may also include sensor data, such as movement data values generated by the motion sensor and / or any other sensor data generated by one or more sensors included with and / or in communication with RF tag.
In some embodiments, the intermittent data may also include information on changing the orientation status. For example, the accelerometer can be configured to provide a detection of the 9D / 6D / 4D orientation so that a change in the orientation of the RF tag can be detected based on the movement data values. In response to determining a change in orientation, the RF tag can be configured to include the indication of change of orientation status with the intermittent data for one or more pulses.
In some embodiments, the processing circuits may be configured to determine some or all parts of the intermittent data based on access to the intermittent data of an RF tag memory. For example, the RF tag can program, code and / or otherwise store intermittent data such as the tag identifier, and can be accessed for transmission to one or more receivers -106 of the intermittent data stored with the tag signal.
In -710-, the processing circuits can be configured to control the UWB transmitter to wirelessly transmit the intermittent data at the intermittent speed. For example, the intermittent data and the intermittency rate can be incorporated into an electronic signal that is generated by the UWB transmitter -206- and is provided to the antenna -208- for the UWB transmission of the tag signal. In that sense, the processing circuits can control the UWB transmitter so that it transmits the intermittent data at a first intermittency speed, a second intermittency speed or a third intermittency speed, etc. based on the one or more movement data values. The tag signal that includes the intermittent data at the intermittent rate can be received by one or more receivers -106- for program-based determination (for example, based on the data obtained from the tag determined from the signal of received label), the analysis, the monitoring and / or the presentation of activities, events, among other things associated with the participants that carry RF tags. The procedure -700-can then continue with -712-and finish. In some embodiments, the intermittent data may be transmitted by means of a UWB tag signal having a bandwidth of more than at least one of 500 MHz and 20% of a central frequency of the tag signal.
As discussed above, intermittent data transmitted by the RF tag may include motion data, such as axial acceleration values and / or acceleration magnitude values. In some embodiments, the RF tag can be configured to use a temporary memory model to transmit motion data as intermittent data. For example, the motion sensor can be configured to collect motion data at 50 Hz for 5 seconds with an intermittent speed of 10 Hz, resulting in 250 data points that take 25 seconds to fully transmit for


analysis. Thus, the temporary memory model allows data to be collected over time with a finer detail than would be possible with a specific intermittency rate. Once the movement data has been collected, they can then be processed to provide an analysis and determination of activities with a finer detail.
Figure 8 shows a flow chart of an example procedure -800-for communication with a wireless receiver, according to some embodiments. For example, the RF tag can perform the procedure -800-after and / or simultaneously with the -700-procedure to communicate RF tag signals at varying intermittency rates with one or more receivers -106-.
The procedure -800-can start at -802- and continue at -804-, where the RF tag processing circuits can be configured to receive one or more motion data values from a motion sensor. In -806-, the processing circuits may be configured to determine a value of the magnitude of the acceleration based on the one or more movement data values. The analysis in -704-and -706-of the -700-procedure can be applied in -804-and -806-totally or partially. For example, the value of the magnitude of the acceleration can be based on one or more directional values of the magnitude generated by an accelerometer. Alternatively or additionally, the accelerometer can be configured to determine and / or generate the value of the magnitude of the acceleration and / or the value of the acceleration vector, which can be provided to the processing circuits.
In -808-, the processing circuits may be configured to determine if there was a change in the value of the magnitude of the acceleration. The processing circuits may be configured to monitor changes in time of the values of the magnitude of the acceleration and / or the movement data values. The changes may be caused, for example, by the movements of the objects bearing the RF tag -102-in the course of a supervised activity or execution. For example, an object can start moving from a stop, which can cause the motion detector to detect the movement and reflect it (for example, as a continuous flow of data) in the values of the magnitude of the acceleration and / or movement data values.
In response to determining a change in the value of the magnitude of the acceleration, the procedure -800-may continue at -810-, where the processing circuits may be configured to determine a threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration. The threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration can define a minimum value of the magnitude of the acceleration to start and / or continue with the transmission of the tag signal. In some embodiments, the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration can be stored in the RF tag, such as in a memory. In some embodiments, the value of the magnitude of the acceleration may also be associated with and / or include a threshold value of the duration, indicating the time duration during which the measured magnitude of the acceleration must exceed the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration in order to be considered to have exceeded the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration. With reference to Figure 13, for example, the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration -1302-can be defined in 0.2 g. Therefore, the values of the magnitude of the acceleration -1300-which are greater than 0.2 g can exceed the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration -1302-while the values of the magnitude of the acceleration -1300-which they are less than 0.2 g may not exceed the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration -1302-.
In some embodiments, such as when a sensor other than a motion sensor is used to


To control the variable intermittency speed, the processing circuits can be configured to compare the values of the sensor data with a threshold value of the corresponding sensor data. For example, if a proximity sensor (for example, an NFC sensor) is used, the sensor data can be compared with a threshold such that the RF tag emits when the proximity sensor is inside
or outside a threshold distance (for example, determined by the strength of the signal received from the NFC signals) with respect to another proximity sensor and / or RF tag (for example, carried by a different object).
In -812-, the processing circuits may be configured to determine whether the value of the magnitude of the acceleration exceeds the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration. The threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration can be calibrated to the values of the magnitude of the acceleration generated by the motion sensor. For example, it is possible for an individual who is sitting or otherwise stationary to generate only values of the magnitude of the acceleration that are less than the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration. On the contrary, an individual who is walking, running, jumping and / or otherwise moving can generate values of the magnitude of the acceleration that are greater than the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration. In some embodiments, the processing circuits may be configured to determine whether a plurality of values of the magnitude of the acceleration has exceeded the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration for a duration defined by the threshold value of the duration.
In response to the determination that the value of the magnitude of the acceleration exceeds the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration, the procedure -800-may continue at -814-, where the processing circuits may be configured to adjust the speed of intermittency based on the value of the magnitude of the acceleration. For example, data mapping by associating values of the magnitude of the acceleration with several predetermined intermittency rates can be used to determine an adjusted intermittency rate based on the change in the value of the magnitude of the acceleration with respect to an earlier value. of the magnitude of the acceleration. In some embodiments, the RF tag may include one or more of a predefined states of the flashing speed, such as a low / low flashing speed, an intermediate flashing speed and a high flashing speed.
In -816-, the processing circuits may be configured to control the UWB transmitter to wirelessly transmit the intermittent data at the intermittent rate. The previous analysis in -710-of procedure -700-can be applied in -816-. The procedure -800-can then continue with -818-and end.
Returning to -812-, in response to determining that the value of the magnitude of the acceleration does not exceed the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration, the procedure -800-may continue at -820-, where the processing circuits may be configured to control the UWB transmitter to stop wireless transmission of intermittent data. Alternatively, the processing circuits may be configured to adjust the intermittent speed when the value of the magnitude of the acceleration does not exceed the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration, such as to reduce the intermittence speed. The procedure -800-may then return to -806-, where the processing circuits may be configured to continue determining values of the magnitude of the acceleration (for example, subsequent ones) to control the intermittency speed.
Returning to -808-, in response to determining an absence of changes in the value of the magnitude of the


Acceleration, the procedure -800-can continue in -816-, where the processing circuits may be configured to control the UWB transmitter to transmit the intermittent data at the intermittent speed (for example, without adjusting). In some embodiments, the processing circuits may be configured to determine the absence of changes based on the comparison of a difference between two values of the magnitude of the acceleration (eg, sequential and / or otherwise separated in time) with a change threshold value. When the difference does not exceed the change threshold value, the processing circuits can be configured to determine an absence of changes (for example, sufficient) in the two values of the magnitude of the acceleration. For example, the change threshold value can be defined by a margin of error of the motion sensor and / or can be set to a higher value, such as to reduce the frequency of the flashing speed settings.
In some embodiments, the RF tag processing circuits can be configured to adjust the intermittency rate based on the values of motion data captured over a period of time. The period of time can be predefined and can be used to avoid excessively frequent and / or unwanted changes in the speed of intermittency that could otherwise occur.
As discussed above, the processing circuits can be configured to detect one or more motion signatures based on the values of motion data received in time from one or more motion sensors. A motion signature can define an event and / or an action that can be performed by the object equipped with or otherwise associated with the RF tag that can be detected by the motion sensor and that can be used as a basis for Adjust the flashing speed. In the example of a supervised football match, it can be determined that an individual is running (that is, a "running" movement signature) based on the movement data values over time, resulting in an increased intermittency speed , or it can be determined that he is sitting (ie, a "sitting" movement signature) or otherwise not involved in the supervised activity of interest, resulting in a reduced intermittency rate.
Other movement signatures can be defined based on the context of the supervised activity. For example, movement signatures can be defined to correspond to the movement of a player at the beginning of a soccer game (i.e., a game start event) as a basis for starting and / or increasing the speed of intermittency. Motion signatures can be defined to correspond to the movement of a player at the end of a football game (i.e., an end-of-game event) as a basis for stopping and / or reducing the speed of intermittency. In another example, a movement signature can be defined to correspond with a player who sits (for example, on a bench) as a base to stop or reduce the speed of intermittency.
In some embodiments, a motion signature may include and / or be based on multiple (eg, a continuous flow) values of motion data captured over time. Virtually, any type of movement that can be detected by the motion sensor (for example, in time) can be used to define a motion signature. The processing circuits can be configured to determine a direct motion signature based on the values of motion data received from the motion sensor, and to compare the direct motion signature with one or more stored motion signatures.
In response to detecting a motion signature (for example, that a direct motion signature matches or corresponds sufficiently with a stored motion signature), the processing circuits are


can be configured to adjust the intermittency speed accordingly. For example, a motion signature can be defined by movement data values that indicate that the object has started the movement above a threshold value, followed by subsequent movement data values that indicate that the movement above the threshold value It has been maintained for a predetermined length of time. Similarly, a motion signature can be defined by movement data values that indicate that the object has stopped or not moved enough to exceed a threshold amount, followed by subsequent movement values that indicate that the movement by Below the threshold amount has been maintained for a predetermined length of time. In that sense, a motion signature may include and / or define an idle time during which the flashing speed may remain unchanged despite detecting a motion that would otherwise cause an adjusted flashing rate. In some embodiments, a motion signature may include a plurality and / or a sequence of motion data threshold values and their associated duration values. The procedure -800-can then continue with -818-and end.
Figure 9 shows a flow chart of an example method -900-for controlling a remote system of the intermittency rate of an RF tag, according to some embodiments. The method -900-may allow the intermittency rate of an RF tag to be controlled by an RF location system, such as by one or more of a receiver -106-, a reception hub -108-and / or a reception processing and distribution system -110-of the RF location system -100-shown in figure 1. The procedure -900-can be performed by an RF tag (for example, the RF tag -102- , -200-, -300-and / or other devices properly configured and / or manufactured), such as through the processing circuits and / or a controller. In some embodiments, the -900-procedure can be performed with one or more of the -700-and -800-procedures by the RF tag.
The -900-procedure can start at -902-and continue at -904-, where the RF tag processing circuits can be configured to receive intermittent speed control data. The reception concentrator -108-and / or the reception processing and distribution system -110-can send the intermittency control data via one or more transmitters. Like the receivers -106-shown in Figure 1, the one or more transmitters can be arranged in or near the supervised area -125- to provide the intermittent speed control data to the tags -102-. In some embodiments, the receivers -106-may include transmitters and / or may be transceivers.
In some embodiments, the intermittent speed control data may be received by the antenna -308-and / or the UWB transceiver -306- (or a UWB receiver, such as when the RF tag -300-no includes a transceiver and / or includes a UWB transmitter and a separate UWB receiver) of the RF -300- tag. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, the intermittent speed control data can be received by means of an initial stage -212-and / or -314-, such as a non-UWB transmitter using technologies that include Bluetooth, WiFi and / or near field communication among other things. Here, RF tags can be programmed before an alternative supervised activity or in addition to the real-time remote control system through UWB communications.
In -906-, the RF tag processing circuits may be configured to control the UWB transmitter to stop or initiate the wireless transmission of the intermittent data based on the intermittent speed control data. For example, you can allow the location system


of tags deactivate and activate the various tags -102-within the supervised area as desired, such as to maintain the power consumption of the RF tag, reduce the use of channel capacity and reduce collisions and signal interference of etiquette, among other things. Some example criteria that can be used to determine if a tag is to be activated are described in more detail below.
or deactivate in relation to procedure -1000-and Figure 10. In some embodiments, the intermittent speed control data may indicate a threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration and / or one or more threshold control values of the applicable flashing speed.
In -908-, the processing circuits may be configured to determine whether the intermittency speed control data indicates a specific intermittency speed. Alternatively or additionally to the RF location system that provides a binary activation / deactivation control of the intermittent speeds and / or the control threshold values, the system can also be allowed to provide intermittency control data that they control directly the flashing speed of a specific RF tag.
In response to determining that the flashing speed control data indicates a specific flashing rate, the procedure -900-may continue at -910-, where the processing circuits may be configured to determine a flashing rate for the transmitter of UWB based on the intermittent speed control data. The flashing speed can be adjusted to the specific flashing speed defined by the flashing speed control data. In some examples, the intermittency speed control data may indicate an intermittency speed that is different from the intermittency speed indicated by the movement data values generated by the motion sensor. The processing circuits can be configured to prioritize the movement data values over the intermittent speed control data in case of an inconsistency with respect to the intermittent speed, or vice versa. In some embodiments, the intermittency control data may include mapped data indicating a different association between the movement data values and / or the magnitude values of the acceleration with the variable intermittency rates. The processing circuits can be configured to determine the flashing rate based on the flashing rate control data by updating the mapped data (e.g. stored).
In -912-, the processing circuits may be configured to control the transmitter to wirelessly transmit the intermittent data at the intermittent rate. The analysis in -710-of the procedure -700-can be applied in -912-. The -900-procedure can then continue on -914-and end.
Returning to -908-, in response to determining that the intermittency speed control data does not indicate a specific intermittency speed, the procedure -900-may continue at -916-, where the processing circuits may be configured to determine the flashing speed for the UWB transmission by performing the procedure -700-and / or -800-. For example, the flashing speed can be determined based on the values of motion data generated by the motion sensor. Procedure 900 may then continue at -912-and end at -914-.
Figure 10 shows a flowchart of an example -1000-procedure for controlling so


Remote flashing speed of an RF tag, according to some embodiments. The -1000-procedure can allow remote control of the flashing speed of one or more RF tags. For example, the intermittency rate of an RF tag can be adjusted based on alternative factors.
or in addition to various sensor data generated by the RF tag sensors. The procedure -1000-can be performed by one or more components of an RF location system, such as receivers -106-, the reception concentrator -108- and / or the reception processing and distribution system -110-shown in Figure 1 and / or other appropriate devices, systems or devices. In some embodiments, some or all steps of the -1000-procedure can be performed by the RF tag, such as with the RF tag processing circuits.
The -1000-procedure can start at -1002-and continue at -1004-, where one or more receivers can be configured to receive intermittent data at variable intermittent rates by means of UWB tag signals sent from an RF tag . For example, the receivers -106-shown in Figure 1 may be configured to receive the tag signals of the RF tag -102-. In some embodiments, the one or more receivers may also be configured to provide intermittent data to the reception hub -108- and / or the reception processing and distribution system -110-.
In -1006-, an apparatus (for example, the reception concentrator -108- and / or the reception processing and distribution system -110-) can be configured to determine the data obtained from the label and / or the data from label location based on intermittent data. For example, the data obtained from the tag may include data obtained or extracted from the tag signal and / or intermittent data, and may include tag data, tag identifier, tag correlator-individuals, tag correlator-sensors , label data packets, intermittent data, temporary measurements (e.g. arrival time, difference in arrival time, phase), signal measurements (for example, signal strength, signal direction, polarization of the signal, signal phase), environmental measurements (for example, including movement data values) and / or tag location data (for example, including tag location estimates, etc. The location data of the tag tag can indicate the location of the RF tag and can be determined based on the UWB tag signal described above.
In -1008-, the apparatus may be configured to determine intermittent speed control data for the RF tag based on the data obtained from the tag and / or the tag location data. As discussed above, the intermittent speed control data can control whether the RF tag should start or stop the transmissions and / or can indicate a specific intermittency rate at which to transmit the intermittent data. RF tags can be activated or deactivated remotely for any appropriate purpose. For example, they can be activated to monitor one or more specific objects that are of interest at any given time. Similarly, objects that have RF tags attached that are not of interest at a given time can have their RF tags disabled (or with a reduced intermittency speed) to preserve the channel's capacity for RF tags of interest , among other things (for example, lower energy consumption of RF tags, collision reduction and interference between signals, etc.).
In some embodiments, the intermittency control data can be calculated based on the


less in part in the tag location data. For example, and with reference to Figure 1, the tag location data may indicate that a particular player carrying tags attached is on the sideline, off the field, or otherwise not of interest with respect to to the supervised activity (for example, a football match). Here, the intermittency speed control data can be generated and provided to said RF tags in such a way that being RF tags stop the emission of tag signals and / or reduce their intermittency rates. The tag location data may also indicate that another player who has a tag attached is on the field, in the meeting, on the line of attack, or in another mode of interest with respect to the supervised activity. Here, the intermittency speed control data can be generated and provided to said RF tags such that these RF tags initiate the emission if they are deactivated and / or increase their intermittency rates.
In some embodiments, the intermittency control data can be calculated based at least in part on the data of the participants. For example, the role of the participant may include participant profile data such as the role of the participant in the game or sporting event (for example, what position a player is assigned), the participant's identification data (for example, name, age, etc.), biometric data, participant analysis data, team ID, performance statistics and / or the like. The device can be configured, based on generating appropriate intermittent speed control data, to enable or disable RF tags based on the identity of the object that each RF tag is attached and / or the function of the object in the context of a supervised activity. For example, RF tags associated with players who are not involved in a game (for example, defensive players when the offense is on the field) can be disabled. In another example, a player's RF tags can be activated when the player enters the field and / or is otherwise determined to be of interest.
In some embodiments, the flashing speed control data sent to an RF tag may include tag location data and / or participant function data. For example, the RF tag processing circuits can be configured to determine if the object is of interest based on the tag's location data and / or the participant's function data, and control the intermittency rate of UWB accordingly.
In -1010-, the device can be configured to provide the RF tag with intermittent speed control data. The analysis in -904-of the procedure -900-can be applied in -1010-. For example, the intermittent speed control data can be sent to a UWB receiver and / or a transceiver -306-of the -300-tag via a UWB transmission, such as from one or more transceivers and / or transmitters located near the supervised area -125-.
In -1012-, the device can be configured to determine if supervision is complete. For example, the determination may be based on one or more predefined activation events such as the end of the match, the end of an extension (for example, the score is tied at the end of the regulated time), the end of a quarter, a Dead time, among other things.
In response to determining that the supervision has not been completed, the procedure -1000-may return to -1004-, where the apparatus can continue to receive intermittent data from the RF tags at varying intermittence rates. In response to determining that supervision has been completed, procedure -1000


You can continue on -1014-and finish.
DETERMINATION OF THE ACTIVITY
Figures 14A-18 show flowcharts of process examples -1400-1800-that can be used to provide performance analytics according to some embodiments. The procedures -1400-1800 can be performed using a performance analytics system, which may include a -110-receiving and distribution system with various processing engines that receive intermittent data from the concentrators and use the intermittent data to determine Program form supervised activity events. In US Pat. No. 9,002,485, incorporated by reference above, further details of the performance analytical systems, applicable in some embodiments, are analyzed.
Figure 14a illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary -1400 procedure for performance analytics using a location system according to some embodiments. The process can begin at -1402-, where one or more tags (for example, the tags -102-shown in Figure 1) can be correlated with an object, such as a participant (for example, a player, the referee, the ball, etc.) of an activity. Additionally, in some embodiments, one or more sensors (for example, the sensors -204-shown in Figure 2, and the sensors -304-and -312-shown in Figure 3) may be correlated with a participant in -1404 -. The tags -102- (and optionally sensors) can be attached to the participants, such as players, referees, balls, field markers, penalty flags, other game equipment, and reference markers on a playing field (by example, reference markers that define the limits). For example, in the case of players or referees, labels and / or sensors may be coupled to equipment, uniforms, etc. worn by players or referees.
In -1406-, intermittent data is received from one or more tags -102-. Additionally, in some embodiments, other data obtained from the labels and data obtained from the sensors, such as from the sensors associated with the participant, can be received with the intermittent data or separated from the intermittent data in -1408-. In some embodiments, the data obtained from the sensors may include motion data values of the motion sensors.
In -1410-, the location data of the label is determined (for example, perhaps by means of the reception location concentrator / motor -108-) from the intermittent data. The function data for the participant is received in step -1412-.
In some embodiments, each participant may be associated with one or more tags -102- and / or one or more sensors (for example, several tags -102- and sensors may be coupled to the equipment of an individual player, to provide a location and a multidimensional location or more precise orientation data). A system filter -110-can process the continuous input stream of the tag location data to identify the tags -102-that are associated with a given participant (for example, several tags attached to a player, a ball, an arbitrator, etc.). The filter can correlate the location data of the tags associated with several tags -102-where the various tags -102-are associated with the same participant (for example, a player or a referee), to provide more accurate data regarding the activities of a participant Once the tag location data is mapped with a


given participant, they can be routed to an appropriate engine (for example, a player dynamics engine, a referee dynamics engine, a ball engine, a field marker engine, etc. for an activity of a football match) based at least in part on the function data received and said correlation. Additionally, in some embodiments, the data obtained from the sensors from various sensors (including motion data values of the motion sensors) that are associated with a given participant can be similarly correlated.
In embodiments where the tag location data is routed to a player dynamics engine, the player dynamics engine (for example, system -110-) can receive from the filter the continuous flow of data obtained from the players. tags correlated with the participant, and optionally, other data obtained from the tags / sensors. In other embodiments, depending on the type of participant, the following process can be performed by other appropriate engines, such as the referee's dynamics engine, the ball engine, the field marker engine, etc.
In -1414-, the player dynamics engine can compare the data obtained from the labels and the player function data received with a plurality of dynamic / kinetic models of the players to determine the dynamics of the players (for example , multidimensional player location information) of each participant (for example, a player).
Additionally, in some embodiments, the data obtained from the received sensors can be used in comparison with a plurality of dynamic / kinetic models of the players to determine the dynamics of the players in -1416-. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the received data obtained from the sensors may include values of motion data captured by a motion sensor of a tag -102-. The movement data values can be compared with motion signatures to determine the dynamics of the players in -1416-. For example, each movement signature may also have specific dynamics associated with it.
In -1418-, the player dynamics engine can determine player location data for each player (for example, player dynamics or multidimensional player location information), such as location, a change in location, orientation, speed, acceleration, deceleration or the like. The dynamics engine of the players can thus provide a continuous flow of output of the location data of the players, such as a team building engine, a game engine, an event engine or the like.
Figure 14B illustrates a flow diagram of another exemplary process -1450 for performance analytics using a location system according to some embodiments. The process -1450-can start at -1420-, where one or more tags (for example, tags -102-) can be correlated with a participant (for example, a player, a referee, the ball, etc.). Additionally, in some embodiments, one or more sensors (for example, sensors -204-) may be correlated with a participant in -1422-.
In -1424-, intermittent data is received from one or more tags -102-. Additionally, in some embodiments, other data obtained from the labels and data obtained from the sensors, such as the sensors -204-associated with the participant, can be received with the intermittent data or separated from the intermittent data in -1428-. Tag location data is determined (for example, perhaps by


the reception location concentrator / motor -108-) from the intermittent data in step -1426-.
In -1430-, a player dynamics engine can receive data obtained from the tags for the tags -102-where the data obtained from the tags can be indicative of a player's location (for example, unlike the position of an arbitrator, the location of a field marker, etc.). Additionally, in some embodiments, other data obtained from the tags and sensors, such as sensors -204-associated with the player, can be received with intermittent or separate data from intermittent data in -1428-.
In some embodiments, in -1430-, the player dynamics engine may optionally receive player function data for the player, such as comparing a tag identifier of the data obtained from the tags with a database of player functions.
In -1432-, the player dynamics engine can thus compare the data obtained from the labels (and optionally the player function data) with a plurality of dynamic / kinetic models of the players to determine the dynamics of the players (for example, multidimensional player location information) of each player. Additionally, in some embodiments, the data received from the sensors can be used in comparison with a plurality of dynamic / kinetic models of the players to determine the dynamics of the players in -1434-. In some embodiments, the movement data values generated by the motion sensors in a tag -102- and received as intermittent data can be compared with motion signatures.
In -1436-, the player dynamics engine can determine the location data of the players for each player, such as the location, a change in location, orientation, speed, acceleration, deceleration or the like.
In -1438-, player function data can be created or updated, such as in a database of player functions, based on player location data. For example, if the participant function data for the particular participant already exists in a participant function database, the participant function data can be updated or changed based on an analysis of the participant's location data . If the participant function data for a particular participant does not exist in the participant function database, you can create a participant function data entry for that particular participant and store it in the database. Thus, the performance analytics system can learn the functions of the participants as a result of the analysis of the dynamics of the participants (location data of the participants).
In some embodiments, the data of the functions of the participants (for example, data of the functions of the players) may comprise data of the participant's profile such as the function of the participant in the game or sporting event (for example, what position does assigned a player), biometric data, participant analysis data, team ID, performance statistics and / or the like. For example, the participant's role data may additionally include data related to a player's usual pace, the pattern with which a player typically runs, how long it takes for a player to start from an attack line, etc. Some embodiments may learn and update one or more sections of the player's function data based on the analysis of the participant's location data. For example, the system


Performance analytics can identify that the position assigned to a player may have changed based on changes in player location data and player dynamics, or the system can identify a player's usual step or pattern of Run typical by analyzing the location data of the players (and / or other data obtained from the tags / sensors), and then updating the player's function data accordingly.
Figure 15 illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary -1500 procedure for player dynamics (for example, of a -110- system) according to some embodiments. The process can start at -1502-, where the location data of the tags for the tags -102- are received. In some embodiments, said tag location data can be determined by a reception location hub / motor -108-based on the intermittent data transmitted by the tags -102-. Additionally, in some embodiments, other data obtained from the tags and the sensors (for example, including movement data values), such as the sensors -204-, can be received, with the tag location data or regardless of the location data of the labels. In -1504-, the player dynamics engine can retrieve the player function data from a database based on the tag ID (or participant ID) of the data obtained from the tags. In -1506-, the dynamics engine of the players can use the data of the players' function, the dynamic / kinetic models of the players (for example, of one or more databases of dynamic / kinetic models of the players ), movement signatures, tag location data, and, optionally, other data obtained from tags and / or data obtained from sensors to determine player dynamics (e.g., multidimensional location information of players) for each specific player, such as location, change of location, speed, acceleration, deceleration, orientation or the like. In -1508-, the player dynamics engine can provide a continuous outflow of player dynamics (for example, location data of the participants) over time, such as a team building engine, a game engine, an event engine or the like.
Figure 16 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary -1600 procedure for an equipment forming motor (for example, of a -110- system) according to some embodiments. The procedure -1600-can start at -1602-, where a continuous flow of player dynamics data (for example, player location data) is received (for example, from a player dynamics engine), which can comprise intermittent data, tag location data, sensor data and other player dynamics data for a plurality of players. In -1604-, a team training engine can retrieve field data and training models from one or more databases, and compare the continuous flow of player dynamics data, along with the field data , with the plurality of training models. The team formation engine can analyze the continuous flow of player dynamics data over time to determine a probable formation, or a set of probable formations (for example, the probability that a formation is occurring or a formation is being formed concrete) in -1606-. For example, the team formation engine can determine the most likely team formation (or an orderly list of probable formations) at a particular instant of time. In -1608-, the equipment formation engine can provide a continuous output flow of the formations against time (for example, formation data), such as a game engine, an event engine or the like.
Figure 17 shows a flow chart of an exemplary -1700 procedure for a game engine (per 10


example, of a system -110-) according to some embodiments. The process can begin in -1702-, where a continuous flow of player dynamics data (for example, data from player dynamics and a team building engine, respectively) is received (for example). location of players) and a continuous flow of team formation data over time (for example, training data). In some embodiments, additional data may be received, such as a continuous flow of referee dynamics data, a continuous flow of ball data against time, a continuous flow of field marker data and / or the like to further improve the Determination accuracy or help generate game data. In -1704-, the game engine can retrieve game models from one or more databases and compare the continuous data streams received with the plurality of game models. The game engine can analyze continuous data streams along with game models to determine a probable game, or a set of probable games, at -1706-. In -1708-, the game engine can analyze the continuous flow of data to determine the status of a particular game, such as starting a game, in progress, stopping the game or the like. To determine that it has been formed, initiated, completed, etc. a game, the game engine can weigh and analyze the data flows received and compare them with the game models to generate an ordered list of one or more probable game events and include an associated probability that the data received will match each model or specific pattern. In -1710-, the game engine can provide a continuous flow of game output against time (e.g. game data), such as a game engine, an event engine or the like.
Figure 18 illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary -1800 procedure for an event engine (for example, of a -110- system) according to some embodiments. The procedure -1800-can start at -1802-, where a continuous flow of dynamics data is received (for example, from a player dynamics engine, a team building engine and a game engine, respectively) players (for example, location data of players), a continuous flow of team formation data against time (for example, training data) and a continuous flow of game data against time (for example, game data). In some embodiments, continuous streams of additional data may be received, such as a continuous stream of dynamics data from the referee, a continuous stream of ball data against time, a continuous stream of field marker data, a continuous stream of climatological and / or similar data to help generate continuous flows of event data.
In -1804-, the event engine can process the continuous flows of data received to determine and generate events during, or in conjunction with, a game. In some embodiments, the event data can be determined based on the comparison of the tag location data and the movement data with the motion signatures.
In -1806-, the event engine can provide continuous streams of event data output to various storage, analysis and / or control systems, such as, without limitation, to a historical data store, a display system, a game operations system, a camera control system, a team analytics system, a league analytics system, a statistics system, an XML provider system / IM provider and / or the like. In some embodiments, the event engine can be configured to determine an intermittent rate for an ultra-broadband transmitter (UWB) of the tag -102 based on the event data. For example, event data may indicate that the object is walking, running, jumping, etc. Different events defined by the event data can be associated with different intermittency rates. The UWB receiver labeled -102-can be configured to


Receive intermittence speed control data that defines the intermittency speed, and you can adjust your intermittency speed accordingly.
Many modifications and others will occur to an expert in the field to which these inventions belong.
5 embodiments of the inventions presented herein, with the advantage of the teachings presented in the above descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it should be understood that the inventions should not be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. In addition, although the above descriptions and associated drawings describe exemplary embodiments in the context of certain
For example combinations of elements and / or functions, it should be appreciated that alternative embodiments may provide different combinations of elements and / or functions without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this sense, for example, different combinations of elements and / or functions to those explicitly described above are also contemplated as can be stated in some of the appended claims. Although specific terms are used herein, they are used
15 only in a generic and descriptive sense and not for limiting purposes.

权利要求:
Claims (21)
[1]
1. Radio frequency (RF) tag, comprising:
5 a motion sensor configured to generate one or more motion data values indicating theRF tag movement;
an ultra-wide band transmitter (UWB) configured to transmit the intermittent data at a first intermittency speed or a second intermittency speed, in which the first intermittence speed is different from the second intermittency speed; Y
processing circuits configured for:
receive the one or more data values from the motion sensor; Y
15 control the UWB transmitter to wirelessly transmit the intermittent data at the first intermittency speed or the second intermittency speed based on the one or more movement data values.
The RF tag according to claim 1, wherein the UWB transmitter can also be configured to transmit the intermittent data at a third intermittency rate, in which the third intermittency speed is different from the first speed of intermittence and the second intermittency speed, and in which the processing circuits are configured to control the UWB transmitter to wirelessly transmit the intermittent data at the first intermittence speed, the second speed of
25 intermittence or third intermittence speed, etc. based on the one or more movement data values.
[3]
3. RF tag according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensor includes an accelerometer
configured to generate the one or more movement data values. 30
[4]
4. RF tag according to claim 1, wherein:
the processing circuits are further configured to determine the intermittent data; Y
The intermittent data includes at least one of an indication of change of status of the flashing speed or an indication of change of orientation status.
[5]
5. RF tag according to claim 1, wherein:
The motion sensor includes a three-axis accelerometer configured to generate the one or more motion data values;
the one or more movement data values include an acceleration value on the X axis, an acceleration value on the Y axis and an acceleration value on the Z axis; Y

The processing circuits are further configured to control the UWB transmitter to wirelessly transmit the intermittent data at the first intermittency rate or the second intermittency rate by determining a value of the magnitude of the acceleration based on one or more of the
5 value of the acceleration on the X axis, the value of the acceleration on the Y axis and the value of the acceleration on the Z axis.
[6]
6. RF tag according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuits are further configured to:
10 determining a value of the magnitude of the acceleration based on the one or more movement data values;
adjust the intermittent speed based on the value of the magnitude of the acceleration; Y
15 control the UWB transmitter to wirelessly transmit the intermittent data at the set intermittency rate.
[7]
7. RF tag according to claim 6, wherein the processing circuits are further configured to:
20 determine a threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration;
determine whether the value of the magnitude of the acceleration exceeds the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration; Y
25 in response to determining that the value of the magnitude of the acceleration does not exceed the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration, control the UWB transmitter to wirelessly stop transmitting the intermittent data.
[8]
8. RF tag according to claim 1, wherein the UWB transmitter is configured to transmit from
30 wirelessly intermittent data through a tag signal that has a bandwidth of more than at least one of 500 MHz and 20% of a central frequency of the tag signal.
[9]
9. RF tag according to claim 1, wherein the intermittent data includes an identifier of the
label. 35
[10]
10. The RF tag according to claim 1, wherein the UWB transmitter is configured to transmit the intermittent data at the first intermittency rate or the second intermittency rate through a label signal recognizable by a receiver of such so that the location of the tag signal can be determined by a tag tracking system.
[11]
11. The RF tag according to claim 1, further comprising a receiver configured to receive intermittent speed control data and in which the processing circuits are further configured to determine the first intermittent speed or the second speed of flashing for the UWB transmitter based on the flashing speed control data.

[12]
12. RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuits are further configured to:
5 determine a direct motion signature based on the values of motion data received at the time of the motion sensor;
comparing the direct movement signature with one or more movement signatures, wherein each of the one or more movement signatures includes one or more threshold values of movement data and associated duration values; Y
In response to identifying a match between the direct movement signature and a first movement signature, control the UWB transmitter to wirelessly transmit the intermittent data at the first intermittency speed or the second intermittency speed.
[13]
13. Procedure implemented in a communication machine with a wireless receiver, comprising:
the reception, by means of the circuits of a radio frequency (RF) tag, of one or more motion data values of a motion sensor, in which the RF tag includes the motion sensor and an ultra-broadband transmitter 20 (UWB);
the determination, by means of the circuits and based on the one or more movement data values, of an intermittent speed for the UWB transmitter; Y
25 the control, via the circuits, of the UWB transmitter to wirelessly transmit the intermittent data at the intermittent speed.
[14]
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the motion sensor includes an accelerometer
configured to generate the one or more movement data values. 30
[15]
15. A method according to claim 13, further comprising determining the intermittent data, and wherein the intermittent data includes at least one of an indication of change of state of the intermittent speed or an indication of change of state of the orientation.
A method according to claim 13, wherein:
The motion sensor includes a three-axis accelerometer configured to generate the one or more motion data values;
The one or more movement data values include an acceleration value on the X axis, an acceleration value on the Y axis and an acceleration value on the Z axis; Y
Intermittence rate determination includes:

the determination of a value of the magnitude of the acceleration based on one or more of the value of the acceleration on the X axis, the value of the acceleration on the Y axis and the value of the acceleration on the Z axis; Y
the determination of the intermittency speed based on the value of the magnitude of the acceleration.5
[17]
17. Method according to claim 13, further comprising:
the determination of a value of the magnitude of the acceleration based on the movement data;
10 the adjustment of the intermittent speed based on the value of the magnitude of the acceleration; Y
UWB transmitter control to wirelessly transmit intermittent data at the set intermittency rate.
A method according to claim 17, further comprising:
the determination of a threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration;
the comparison of the value of the magnitude of the acceleration with the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration; Y
20 in response to determining that the value of the magnitude of the acceleration does not exceed the threshold value of the magnitude of the acceleration, control the UWB transmitter to wirelessly stop transmitting the intermittent data.
A method according to claim 13, further comprising wirelessly transmitting, via the UWB transmitter, the intermittent data through a tag signal having a bandwidth of more than at least one of 500 MHz and 20% of a central frequency of the tag signal.
[20]
20. The method of claim 13, wherein the intermittent data includes an identifier of the tag.
[21]
21. A method according to claim 13, further comprising wirelessly transmitting, via the UWB transmitter, the intermittent data through the tag signal recognizable by a receiver such that the RF tag can be determined by a tag localization system.
[22]
22. Method according to claim 13, further comprising:
the determination of a direct motion signature based on the values of motion data received at the time of the motion sensor;
40 comparing the direct motion signature with one or more motion signatures, in which each of the one or more motion signatures includes one or more threshold values of motion data and one or more associated duration values; Y

In response to identifying a match between the direct motion signature and a first motion signature, control the UWB transmitter to wirelessly transmit the intermittent data at the intermittent speed.
23. A method according to claim 13, wherein the RF tag further comprises a receiver ofUWB and also includes:
wireless reception, with the UWB receiver, of the intermittent speed control data; Y
10 determining the flashing rate for the UWB transmitter based on the flashing rate control data.
[24]
24. System, comprising:
15 one or more radio frequency (RF) tags, including each RF tag:
a motion sensor configured to generate motion data values that indicate the movement of the RF tag; Y
20 an ultra-broadband (UWB) transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit intermittency data at variable intermittency rates based on motion data values; Y
a receiver configured to wirelessly receive intermittent data; and 25 an apparatus configured to:
receive intermittent data from the receiver; Y
30 determine the tag location data by indicating a location of an RF tag based on the intermittent data.
[25]
25. System according to claim 24, wherein:
35 The receiver is also configured to:
wirelessly receive first intermittent data from the RF tag at a first intermittent rate; Y
40 wirelessly receiving the second intermittent data of a second RF tag at a second intermittency rate, in which the first intermittency rate is different from the second intermittency rate.
[26]
26. System according to claim 24, wherein the apparatus is further configured for

determine at least some data obtained from the tag and location data from the tag based on the intermittent data from the RF tag;
determine the intermittent speed control data based on the data obtained from the at least one tag and the location data of the tag; Y
Provide intermittent speed control data to the RF tag.

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同族专利:

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公开号 | 公开日

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ES2601138B1|2018-01-26|

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ES2601138R1|2017-05-03|

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法律状态:
2018-01-26| FG2A| Definitive protection|Ref document number: 2601138 Country of ref document: ES Kind code of ref document: B1 Effective date: 20180126 |

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2019-04-02| PC2A| Transfer of patent|Owner name: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION Effective date: 20190327 |

优先权:

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申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题

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ES201690064A|ES2601138B1|2015-06-04|2015-06-04|System and procedure for variable speed ultra-wideband communications|

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PCT/US2015/034267|WO2015187991A1|2014-06-05|2015-06-04|Systems, apparatus and methods for variable rate ultra-wideband communications|ES201690064A| ES2601138B1|2015-06-04|2015-06-04|System and procedure for variable speed ultra-wideband communications|