A terrestrial based positioning system includes a plurality of location anchors configured to transmit and receive ultra-wide band (UWB) signals. In another aspect, a location tag configured to transmit and receive UWB signals uses signals transmitted by location anchors to determine its current position. In some implementations, a location tag may use Global Positioning System (GPS) signals or a combination of UWB and GPS signals to determine a current location. The location anchors are organized into zones used by the locations tags to determine a current position based in UWB signals. In some implementations, the locations anchors automatically create the necessary zones. Location anchors may also automatically determine the position of other location anchors. In yet other implementations, the location anchors relay data transmitted by a location tag. In addition, a location anchor may transmit GPS signals that can be used by standard GPS receivers.

An example arrangement for calculating navigation paths for objects in a building may include: a transmitter for position signals; a mobile communications terminal associated with the object receiving the signals, then transmitting the position signals to a server; and a storage unit storing a building information model. The server receives the signals from the terminal, then, based on the received signals and building data, generates a navigation path for the object from a start point to a destination.

A system for determining a user's path is described. The system comprises a location server arranged to receive location data of a communication device associated with the user, the location data defining the detected position of the communication device at a number of different points in time, the location server further arranged to receive sequence data associated with the location data indicative of the order in which the location data was determined; path determining means for determining the user's path passing through points defined by the received location data and the associated sequence data; and a comparator for comparing the determined path of the user with one or more predetermined user paths; wherein the location server processes the received location data depending upon the result of the comparison and corrects the determined user path with the processed location data.

A processor may receive an indication form a radio frequency identification (RFID) device that a mobile device is in a predetermined area. The processor may send a private key on a first frequency at a first time to the mobile device. The processor may receive a communication request from the mobile device that may contain a public decryption key. The processor may send encrypted configuration information and encrypted state information to the mobile device. In some embodiments, an RFID device, may identify that a mobile device is within a predetermined area. The RFID device may send a tag to the mobile device. The RFID may send a notification to a communicator that the tag has been sent. The RFID may acquire the encrypted configuration information and encrypted state information form the communicator. The RFID device may push the encrypted configuration information and the encrypted state information to the mobile device.

A processor may receive an indication form a radio frequency identification (RFID) device that a mobile device is in a predetermined area. The processor may send a private key on a first frequency at a first time to the mobile device. The processor may receive a communication request from the mobile device that may contain a public decryption key. The processor may send encrypted configuration information and encrypted state information to the mobile device. In some embodiments, an RFID device, may identify that a mobile device is within a predetermined area. The RFID device may send a tag to the mobile device. The RFID may send a notification to a communicator that the tag has been sent. The RFID may acquire the encrypted configuration information and encrypted state information form the communicator. The RFID device may push the encrypted configuration information and the encrypted state information to the mobile device.

A mobile wireless terminal includes a transmission and reception circuit including an antenna that transmits and receives wireless signals, and a processor. The processor receives, via the antenna, a wireless signal from a wireless device, and calculates a location of the mobile wireless terminal based on a variation in strength of the wireless signal over an arbitrary time interval. Then, the processor determines, based on the calculated location of the mobile wireless terminal, whether a distance from the mobile wireless terminal to the wireless device is less than a predetermined threshold, and when the distance is determined to be less than a predetermined threshold, transmits a request, via the antenna, for information associated with the wireless device. Upon receipt of the information associated with the wireless device, in response to the request via the antenna, the processor controls a display device to display the information associated with the wireless device.

In accordance with an embodiment, a positioning apparatus comprises a first interface and a processor. The first interface receives a positioning signal. The processor sets an interval for searching the positioning signal with a first interface to a first searching interval, sets the interval for searching the positioning signal to a second searching interval which is shorter than the first searching interval if it is determined that the positioning signal is received through searching in the first searching interval and uses the positioning signal received through searching in the second searching interval to specify a position of the positioning apparatus.

The disclosure includes implementations for determining a position of a vehicle using millimeter wave narrow beamforming. A method may include receiving a set of training packets that each uniquely identify a position on a portion of a roadway where the vehicle is located. Each of the training packets included in the set may be associated with only one of the millimeter wave narrow beams. The method may include identifying a training packet included in the set of training packets that has a highest receive power level among the set of training packets. The method may include determining the position uniquely identified by the training packet having the highest receive power level. The method may include determining positional information for the vehicle based on the position uniquely identified by the training packet having the highest receive power level. The positional information may describe a location of the vehicle on the roadway.

A system for determining a location within an area defined by a grid of radio-frequency (RF) tag circuits includes RF exciters that are configured to emit unmodulated RF energy. The grid of the RF tag circuits are configured to receive the unmodulated RF energy from one or more of the RF exciters and to emit modulated RF energy. Each RF tag circuit may store information associated with a location of the RF tag circuit within the area and the modulated RF energy emitted from each RF tag circuit may carry the information.

A system for determining a location within an area defined by a grid of radio-frequency (RF) tag circuits includes RF exciters that are configured to emit unmodulated RF energy. The grid of the RF tag circuits are configured to receive the unmodulated RF energy from one or more of the RF exciters and to emit modulated RF energy. Each RF tag circuit may store information associated with a location of the RF tag circuit within the area and the modulated RF energy emitted from each RF tag circuit may carry the information.