Several embodiments of the invention provide for a system and processes for joint entity and object tracking using RFID and a detection network. The use of RFID and a detection network allows for the efficient detection, tracking, and recording of an entity path. Various embodiments of the invention allow the system to track the paths of entities through a space and to monitor the entities' interactions with objects in the space. In addition to tracking entities' paths, the system of some embodiments associates each entity with various objects that each entity interacts with, and uses targeted reads of the associated objects to distinguish and verify the paths associated with each entity. The paths and interactions of the entities with objects in the space are then recorded and analyzed to provide insight about the different entities and about their interactions within the space.

Systems and methods track a first object when continuous tracking information for the first object is not available. The systems and methods detect when the tracking information for the first object is not available. A last time of a last determined location of the first object is determined and a second object closest to the last determined location at the last time is determined. The location of the first object is associated with a location of the second object if tracking information for the first object is not available.

Methods and systems to provide location and navigation information to a user within a building. In an embodiment, low power radars may be used to locate and track a user. Moreover, the systems and methods described herein may take advantage of the known layout of a building, or may ascertain the layout using the radar devices. This information may be used to direct a user from a current location to a desired destination. In some contexts, such as stores, radio frequency ID (RFID) tags may be used to identify a particular destination, such as a particular product in a particular aisle in a store. Multiple persons may be tracked as they move about the building, so that the more frequently used paths may be identified for moving from point to point. These identified paths may then be used in constructing a path for a user who needs directions.

Methods and systems to provide location and navigation information to a user within a building. In an embodiment, low power radars may be used to locate and track a user. Moreover, the systems and methods described herein may take advantage of the known layout of a building, or may ascertain the layout using the radar devices. This information may be used to direct a user from a current location to a desired destination. In some contexts, such as stores, radio frequency ID (RFID) tags may be used to identify a particular destination, such as a particular product in a particular aisle in a store. Multiple persons may be tracked as they move about the building, so that the more frequently used paths may be identified for moving from point to point. These identified paths may then be used in constructing a path for a user who needs directions.

A range between a first wireless device and a second wireless device is estimated using a first mechanism based on messages transmitted over a first communication channel. The first communication channel is associated with a first radio access technology capability of the wireless devices. One or more metrics indicative of an accuracy of the range estimates provided by the first mechanism are obtained. A second mechanism to estimate a range between the first wireless device and the second wireless device may be implemented in favor of the first mechanism when the metric fails to satisfy a criterion. The second mechanism is based on unicast messages transmitted over a second communication channel. The second communication channel is associated with a second radio access technology capability of the wireless devices and may be the same as, or different from, the first communication channel.

A range between a first wireless device and a second wireless device is estimated using a first mechanism based on messages transmitted over a first communication channel. The first communication channel is associated with a first radio access technology capability of the wireless devices. One or more metrics indicative of an accuracy of the range estimates provided by the first mechanism are obtained. A second mechanism to estimate a range between the first wireless device and the second wireless device may be implemented in favor of the first mechanism when the metric fails to satisfy a criterion. The second mechanism is based on unicast messages transmitted over a second communication channel. The second communication channel is associated with a second radio access technology capability of the wireless devices and may be the same as, or different from, the first communication channel.

A wireless communication method in a network comprising one or several beacons and a plurality of end-points, comprising: sending by a beacon a timing message modulated according to a chirp spread spectrum format, receiving said timing message in one or several end-nodes a receiver, detecting said timing message aligning a local frequency reference and/or time reference of the end-node to the time reference of the transmitter by means of said timing message.

A positioning method includes: emitting an interrogator signal from an electronic device; detecting, by the electronic device, a response signal that is generated and emitted by a sensor among a plurality of sensors, in response to the interrogator signal; and acquire location information about the sensor by identifying the sensor based on the detected response signal. The response signal is generated based on transduction of the interrogator signal.

A system and method are provided for collaborative positioning of wireless nodes using pairwise range measurements and positioning technology type. The system includes a plurality of wireless nodes communicatively coupled to each other via a wireless network. The plurality of wireless nodes include a first wireless node that estimates a plurality of pairwise range estimates between the first wireless node and each neighboring wireless node of a set of neighboring wireless nodes. The first wireless node receives the current position estimate and the positioning technology type of each neighboring wireless node and assigns a weight value to each neighboring wireless node based on the positioning technology type. The first wireless node computes an initial position estimate for the first wireless node based on the assigned weight value, the current position estimate, and a pairwise range estimate and determines a final position estimate for the first wireless node.

The present disclosure relates to a plurality of autonomous mobile robots. A plurality of autonomous mobile robots comprise a first mobile robot including an antenna configured to transmit and receive signals, and a second mobile robot including a first antenna and a second antenna disposed on a front area of a main body thereof to transmit and receive signals to and from the antenna of the first mobile robot. The second mobile robot comprises a control unit configured to determine a relative position of the first mobile robot using the signal received by the first antenna and the second antenna.