Each of multiple entities has a respective attached mobile unit that transmits, periodically, a first radio message with identity information of the corresponding entity. At least three base stations receive the first radio message; and based thereon, forward, via a transmission line, the identity information and timing information indicating when the first radio message was received. A central unit communicatively connected to the at least one transmission line receives, via the transmission line, the identity and timing information from the base stations, and based thereon determines a position of the respective entity. Each mobile unit alters an energy density at which the first radio message is transmitted in response to a trigger input being generated depending on a position of the mobile unit relative to a stationary reference. Thus, the energy resources in the mobile units can be economized while attaining a desired positioning accuracy wherever needed.

Various embodiments provide systems and methods for selecting one of a number of location determination services supported by a monitoring system. The monitoring system may include a user attached monitor device configured to support a first subset of the location determination services and a user detached monitor device configured to support a second subset of the location determination services. In other cases, the monitoring system may include only a user attached monitor device or a user detached monitor device.

Various different techniques are used to determine a location of a device, including 3-dimensional (3D) mapping techniques as well as one or more of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) techniques, wireless signal detection techniques, and inertial sensor techniques. The locations determined by these various techniques are combined to determine the location of the device and/or user of the device. In addition to the location of the device, an orientation or direction of view of the device and/or user of the device can optionally be determined as well.

A tracking device broadcasts beacon signals that are separated in time by broadcast intervals. The tracking device determines the broadcast intervals based on a behavior model. The behavior model specifies one or more conditions, such as times of day within a 24-hour day, and associates a usage probability with each condition. A higher usage probability causes the tracking device to broadcast beacon signals at shorter broadcast intervals. A mobile device in communication with the tracking device can reconfigure the behavior model, either by modifying portions of the behavior model or by replacing the behavior model with a different behavior model. This allows the behavior model to adapt to different circumstances, such as different usage patterns during weekdays, weekends, and vacations.

A positioning method and apparatus for a mobile terminal, and a mobile terminal. After a first time period elapses, a main processor obtains M pieces of reliable navigation data from N pieces of buffered navigation data of the mobile terminal, and obtains K pieces of buffered position change data of the mobile terminal. The main processor combines the M pieces of reliable navigation data and the K pieces of position change data, to obtain position information of the mobile terminal in the first time period. The N pieces of navigation data are obtained through calculation by using a satellite navigation signal of the mobile terminal that is received during the first time period. The K pieces of position change data are obtained through calculation by using data that is obtained through monitoring by a sensor of the mobile terminal during the first time period.

A system for providing real-time always-on location is presented for maintaining the current location of a mobile device, while saving the battery by managing the GPS in a power-saving mode while the device is considered to be stationary. The system also provides a real-time location in an indoor environment where a GPS signal may not be available. Additionally, methods for driving detection are also presented.

In various embodiments, position of a user device is estimated by scanning for WLAN packets transmitted within range of the user device, the scanning to include a plurality of phases which are progressed through until WLAN information sufficient to identify at least a threshold number of WLAN APs is obtained, the plurality of phases including an active scanning phase in which the RF module transmits probe request packets and receives one or more probe response packets, and one or more passive scanning phases in which the RF module listens for one or more packets without first transmitting request packets, extracting WLAN information indicating an identity of one or more WLAN APs from the one or more probe response packets or the one or more listened for packets, and providing the WLAN information to a WPS to obtain an estimate of the position of the user device.

A tag is configured to provide information that enables a processor or other computing device to locate the tag and any asset associated with the tag in an area. The tag incorporates a motion sensor responsive to movements of the tag above a predetermined rate and a predetermined magnitude. In response to the movements above the predetermined rate and magnitude, the motion sensor generates a voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold. An energy-saving process exploits the tag's microcontroller's transitions between a sleep state and an awake state. While asleep, the microcontroller maintains a clock and data in memory, and monitors an input from the motion sensor. In response to voltages at the input over the predetermine threshold, the microcontroller receives signals from one or more nearby beacon nodes in a network operating in the area, process the signals and transmit information based on the processed signals, for a position determination.

Techniques for controlling sampling rates in non-causal positioning applications are provided. An example method for controlling a sampling rate in a mobile device includes determining one or more positions based on external signal information, such that the one or more positions are determined at a position fix rate, storing sensor information associated with one or more sensors at a sensor sampling rate, calculating a position estimate based on a non-causal analysis of the one or more positions and the sensor information, such that the non-causal analysis utilizes past, present and future positions and the corresponding past, present and future sensor information, comparing the position estimate to a Quality of Service (QoS) value, and modifying the position fix rate based on the comparison of the position estimate to the QoS value.

Systems and methods for improved geolocation in a low power wide area network are disclosed. One example method may include receiving an instruction to determine a geolocation of an end in a low power wide area network. An instruction may be transmitted to the end node for the end node to transmit a high-energy geolocation signal at a power of about 0.5 Watt to about 1 Watt. The end node may transmit the high-energy geolocation signal and a plurality of gateways of the low power wide area network may receive the high-energy geolocation signal. A plurality of receipt times may be identified. Each receipt time may be indicative of the time at which the high-energy geolocation signal was received by the respective gateway of the plurality of gateways. Based at least in part on the plurality of receipt times, a geolocation of the end node may be determined.