Systems and methods for welding asset tracking are disclosed. In some examples, a welding asset tracking system may comprise an asset tracking network of tags, hubs, and/or gateways retained by welding assets within a welding area. The asset tracking network may obtain and/or communicate to an asset tracking server welding data related to one or more of the welding assets, as well as position data obtained via an internal and/or external positioning system. In this way, the welding asset tracking server may continually receive updated information regarding each welding assets identity, location, and/or use. This updated information may be used by a welding asset manager to locate welding assets, allocate assets to different welding jobs, as well as determine whether assets should be brought in for maintenance and/or whether new assets should be acquired.

A system and methods for estimating the location of a mobile device are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a mobile device receives an ultrasound signal lacking an identification of the source of the ultrasound signal. One or both of the mobile device or a server identify which of a plurality of beacons transmitted the ultrasound signal based on the time at which the mobile device received the ultrasound signal and the time at which the mobile device received a wireless electromagnetic signal prior to receiving the ultrasound signal. One or both of the mobile device or the server estimate a location of the mobile device based on the identified beacon and on the times at which the mobile device received the wireless electromagnetic and ultrasound signals.

Aspects of the present disclosure are related to a positioning, navigation, timing, ranging, or beacon transmission system apparatus which utilizes and exploitsrelayed, delayed, or virtual timing marker transmissions of GPS, GPS alternative, GNSS, PNT, electronic, optic, acoustic, or similar signals. Traditional low-to-high waveform change timing markers, in navigation or GPS signals, can be easily altered and require unshareable, high-resolution, high-capacity channels. However, as described herein, the use of relayed transmission pathways can eliminate cumbersome traditional nanosecond synchronization of navigation transmitters or exploit inclusion of happenstance neighborhood transmitters.

A method and system for providing location information to a mobile device includes providing an apparatus with a beacon. The apparatus stores identification information associated with the apparatus, and obtains information describing the correspondence between location information and apparatus identification information to determine the location of the apparatus from the stored identification information. The apparatus transmits the location information to the beacon which transmits the information to the mobile device. In addition, information defining movement of a mobile device through a navigation zone includes an array of beacons that are in communication with each other. The mobile device is provided at a first location in the navigation zone and communicates with a first beacon to indicate its proximity to the first beacon. The device moves through the zone to other locations and communicates with another beacon in proximity to the second location to indicate its proximity to the second beacon.

A method and system for providing location information to a mobile device includes providing an apparatus with a beacon. The apparatus stores identification information associated with the apparatus, and obtains information describing the correspondence between location information and apparatus identification information to determine the location of the apparatus from the stored identification information. The apparatus transmits the location information to the beacon which transmits the information to the mobile device. In addition, information defining movement of a mobile device through a navigation zone includes an array of beacons that are in communication with each other. The mobile device is provided at a first location in the navigation zone and communicates with a first beacon to indicate its proximity to the first beacon. The device moves through the zone to other locations and communicates with another beacon in proximity to the second location to indicate its proximity to the second beacon.

Provided is a system (10) for remote activation of an emergency radio beacon by a Search and Rescue (SAR) party, the system (10) comprising a controller (12) operatively arranged in signal communication with an emergency radio beacon (14), a positioning module (16) arranged in signal communication with the controller (12) and configured to operatively provide spatial positioning data to the controller (12), and a receiver (18) arranged in signal communication with the controller (12) and configured to operatively receive an activation signal (20). The controller (12) is configured to activate the beacon (14) upon receipt of the activation signal (20) and to provide the spatial positioning data of a potentially lost or distressed party to the beacon (14) for transmission along with an emergency signal (22).

Provided is a system (10) for remote activation of an emergency radio beacon by a Search and Rescue (SAR) party, the system (10) comprising a controller (12) operatively arranged in signal communication with an emergency radio beacon (14), a positioning module (16) arranged in signal communication with the controller (12) and configured to operatively provide spatial positioning data to the controller (12), and a receiver (18) arranged in signal communication with the controller (12) and configured to operatively receive an activation signal (20). The controller (12) is configured to activate the beacon (14) upon receipt of the activation signal (20) and to provide the spatial positioning data of a potentially lost or distressed party to the beacon (14) for transmission along with an emergency signal (22).

A tracking system determines a location of a tracking device associated with a user using one or more access points at the location. Each access point at the location is configured to detect and couple with the tracking device when the tracking device is within a communicative range of the access point. An access point provides updates on the tracking device's presence, as well as the tracking device's arrival to and departure from the communicative range of the access point, to a tracking server. The tracking server determines, from these updates, whether the tracking device is at the location. The user may be notified, via a mobile device, of the tracking device's location.

A tracking system determines a location of a tracking device associated with a user using one or more access points at the location. Each access point at the location is configured to detect and couple with the tracking device when the tracking device is within a communicative range of the access point. An access point provides updates on the tracking device's presence, as well as the tracking device's arrival to and departure from the communicative range of the access point, to a tracking server. The tracking server determines, from these updates, whether the tracking device is at the location. The user may be notified, via a mobile device, of the tracking device's location.

A tracking system determines a location of a tracking device associated with a user using one or more access points at the location. Each access point at the location is configured to detect and couple with the tracking device when the tracking device is within a communicative range of the access point. An access point provides updates on the tracking device's presence, as well as the tracking device's arrival to and departure from the communicative range of the access point, to a tracking server. The tracking server determines, from these updates, whether the tracking device is at the location. The user may be notified, via a mobile device, of the tracking device's location.