A method and device for realizing beam alignment are disclosed. The method may include: when first signals are received by two analog subarrays having a same polarization using receiving beams with a same beam direction, acquiring the first signals and the phase center difference therebetween; maintaining the beam direction, changing the phase center difference between the two analog sub-arrays for the first time, and acquiring second signals and the first changed phase center difference; maintaining the beam direction, changing the phase center difference for the second time, and acquiring third signals and the second changed phase center difference; and estimating a DOA of a received signal according to the obtained information, and directing the centers of the receiving beams to the estimated DOA.

Using a phase interferometry method which utilizes both amplitude and phase allows the determination and estimation of multipath signals. To determine the location of an object, a signal that contains sufficient information to allow determination of both amplitude and phase, like a packet that includes a sinewave portion, is provided from a master device. A slave device measures the phase and amplitude of the received packet and returns this information to the master device. The slave device returns a packet to the master that contains a similar sinewave portion to allow the master device to determine the phase and amplitude of the received signals. Based on the two sets of amplitude and phase of the RF signals, the master device utilizes a fast Fourier transform or techniques like multiple signal classification to determine the indicated distance for each path and thus more accurately determines a location of the slave device.

Using a phase interferometry method which utilizes both amplitude and phase allows the determination and estimation of multipath signals. To determine the location of an object, a signal that contains sufficient information to allow determination of both amplitude and phase, like a packet that includes a sinewave portion, is provided from a master device. A slave device measures the phase and amplitude of the received packet and returns this information to the master device. The slave device returns a packet to the master that contains a similar sinewave portion to allow the master device to determine the phase and amplitude of the received signals. Based on the two sets of amplitude and phase of the RF signals, the master device utilizes a fast Fourier transform or techniques like multiple signal classification to determine the indicated distance for each path and thus more accurately determines a location of the slave device.

An apparatus, method, or computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out a method for determining one or more directions of arrival of one or more coherent or incoherent signals with a single radio frequency channel. The apparatus may comprise: a plurality of antenna elements (110) configured to determine the one or more coherent or incoherent signals; a plurality of radio frequency switches (120) configured to selectively activate one or more of the plurality of antenna elements; and a radio frequency combiner (140) configured to combine a plurality of radio frequency signals from one or more selectively activated antenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements.

An apparatus, method, or computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out a method for determining one or more directions of arrival of one or more coherent or incoherent signals with a single radio frequency channel. The apparatus may comprise: a plurality of antenna elements (110) configured to determine the one or more coherent or incoherent signals; a plurality of radio frequency switches (120) configured to selectively activate one or more of the plurality of antenna elements; and a radio frequency combiner (140) configured to combine a plurality of radio frequency signals from one or more selectively activated antenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements.

A method for obtaining the direction of a signal incoming to a communication device is provided using a modal antenna that has multiple modes corresponding to multiple radiation patterns with a single feed.

A method for obtaining the direction of a signal incoming to a communication device is provided using a modal antenna that has multiple modes corresponding to multiple radiation patterns with a single feed.

Methods directed to finding algorithms designed to estimate the angle of arrival of signals incoming to a communication device by using a modal antenna having multiple radiation patterns are provided. In particular, a method can include obtaining a gain of the modal antenna at each of a plurality of angles. The method can include obtaining a gain variation at each angle. The method can include obtaining a signal strength variation at each angle. The method can include determining a difference between the gain variation and the signal strength variation at each angle. The method can include determining a difference value based at least in part on the difference between the gain variation and signal strength variation.

Methods directed to finding algorithms designed to estimate the angle of arrival of signals incoming to a communication device by using a modal antenna having multiple radiation patterns are provided. In particular, a method can include obtaining a gain of the modal antenna at each of a plurality of angles. The method can include obtaining a gain variation at each angle. The method can include obtaining a signal strength variation at each angle. The method can include determining a difference between the gain variation and the signal strength variation at each angle. The method can include determining a difference value based at least in part on the difference between the gain variation and signal strength variation.

A system for managing data related to at least one leaf node device, the system including a location processing engine located on a server that is remote from the at least one leaf node device; at least one point of interest (POI) device for collecting data relating to at least one leaf node device and transmitting the collected data with a timestamp using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE); at least one reader node device for receiving the collected data from the point of interest (POI) device using BLE and transmitting the collected data to the location processing engine; and a database of the known locations of POI devices, wherein the known locations are used as a basis for determining the location of the at least one leaf node device that communicated with the POI device.