An enhanced LOng RAnge Navigation (eLORAN) system may include a plurality of eLORAN transmitter stations, each configured to transmit respective eLORAN signals at different frequencies. An eLORAN receiver device may be configured to receive the respective eLORAN signals at different frequencies from each of the eLORAN transmitter stations, determine a correction factor based upon the received respective eLORAN signals, and apply the correction factor to determine a geographical position of the eLORAN receiver device.

An enhanced LOng RAnge Navigation (eLORAN) system may include a plurality of eLORAN transmitter stations, each configured to transmit respective eLORAN signals at different frequencies. An eLORAN receiver device may be configured to receive the respective eLORAN signals at different frequencies from each of the eLORAN transmitter stations, determine a correction factor based upon the received respective eLORAN signals, and apply the correction factor to determine a geographical position of the eLORAN receiver device.

In an embodiment an ultra-wideband indoor real-time location system for determining positions of mobile tag devices within a localizing area includes a plurality of UWB signal transmitters located at preset positions and defining the localizing area, wherein the UWB signal transmitters are configured to operate with synchronized clocks and transmit UWB signals based on a UWB frame format, and wherein the UWB frame format includes unique information content for the UWB signal transmitter and at least one mobile tag device comprising a signal reception unit configured to receive the UWB signals, a time detection unit configured to derive respective arrival time points for the received UWB signals, an identification unit configured to derive the unique information content from the received UWB signals and a control unit configured to process the unique information content and the arrival time points for at least a subset of the UWB signal transmitters in a localizing algorithm to derive a position of the mobile tag device with respect to the subset of the UWB signal transmitters.

In an embodiment an ultra-wideband indoor real-time location system for determining positions of mobile tag devices within a localizing area includes a plurality of UWB signal transmitters located at preset positions and defining the localizing area, wherein the UWB signal transmitters are configured to operate with synchronized clocks and transmit UWB signals based on a UWB frame format, and wherein the UWB frame format includes unique information content for the UWB signal transmitter and at least one mobile tag device comprising a signal reception unit configured to receive the UWB signals, a time detection unit configured to derive respective arrival time points for the received UWB signals, an identification unit configured to derive the unique information content from the received UWB signals and a control unit configured to process the unique information content and the arrival time points for at least a subset of the UWB signal transmitters in a localizing algorithm to derive a position of the mobile tag device with respect to the subset of the UWB signal transmitters.

Apparatus and methods are presented for synchronising a slave device signal to a reference timebase, in situations where the slave device lacks knowledge of the propagation delay for signals from the reference device, e.g. if the positions of one or both of the devices are unknown or classified, or the inter-device signal propagation distance is otherwise a-priori unknown. Reference signal propagation delay is determined using an exchange of signals between the devices, with each device using a differencing procedure for eliminating effects of receiver line bias and other hardware delays. In another aspect an exchange of signals between the devices is used to detect a time residual arising from an inaccurate propagation delay estimate. The synchronisation methods can be applied to a plurality of slave devices for providing a synchronised location network. In certain embodiments signals are transmitted wirelessly, while in other embodiments they are transmitted via a fixed line.

Apparatus and methods are presented for synchronising a slave device signal to a reference timebase, in situations where the slave device lacks knowledge of the propagation delay for signals from the reference device, e.g. if the positions of one or both of the devices are unknown or classified, or the inter-device signal propagation distance is otherwise a-priori unknown. Reference signal propagation delay is determined using an exchange of signals between the devices, with each device using a differencing procedure for eliminating effects of receiver line bias and other hardware delays. In another aspect an exchange of signals between the devices is used to detect a time residual arising from an inaccurate propagation delay estimate. The synchronisation methods can be applied to a plurality of slave devices for providing a synchronised location network. In certain embodiments signals are transmitted wirelessly, while in other embodiments they are transmitted via a fixed line.

A LORAN device may include a LORAN antenna, a LORAN receiver, an RF signal path extending between the LORAN antenna and the LORAN receiver and being subject to ambient RF interference, and an ambient RF interference canceller coupled in the RF signal path. The ambient RF interference canceller may include an ambient RF interference sensor configured to generate an estimated ambient RF interference signal based on the sensed ambient RF interference, and cancellation circuitry configured to cooperate with the ambient RF interference sensor to generate an ambient RF interference cancellation signal based upon the sensed ambient RF interference signal, and add the ambient RF interference cancellation signal to the RF signal path.

A positioning method, as well as the system of base stations (T1,T2,T3) and detector (I) is based on measuring the propagation time difference of externally controlled electromagnetic pulses (F1,F2,F3) and the arrival signals of the controlled base station during a measurement cycle (t1+t2). In one embodiment, a reference clock is not required for measuring propagation time differences, but instead, accurate fixed distances between base stations can be used as a reference. System calibration is rarely performed. It checks the mutual locations of base stations. This may be partially automated. The positioning system does not require any sensors.

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure comprises: at least one wireless communication module; and a processor, wherein the processor can control the wireless communication module to respectively receive a plurality of pieces of data from a plurality of external electronic devices, identify a time when each of the plurality of pieces of data has been received, and, when location information regarding the plurality of external electronic devices is included in the plurality of pieces of data, calculate the location of the electronic device by using a time difference in reception of the plurality of pieces of data and the location information regarding the plurality of external electronic devices. Various other embodiments are also possible.

In an embodiment a real-time location method includes sending, by a master beacon device and one or more beacon repeater devices, ultra-wideband beacon frames, wherein the ultra-wideband beacon frames are transmitted as interleaved pairs of ultra-wideband beacon frames, wherein each interleaved pair is sent either from the master beacon device or the one or more beacon repeater devices, wherein each interleaved pair includes a first ultra-wideband beacon frame and a second ultra-wideband beacon frame, and wherein, for each interleaved pair, the first ultra-wideband beacon frame and the second ultra-wideband beacon frame are transmitted with a master time delay, receiving, by one or more tag devices, at least one of the interleaved pairs of ultra-wideband beacon frames, receiving, by the one or more beacon repeater devices, at least one of the interleaved pairs of ultra-wideband beacon frames, receiving, by one of a plurality of tag response receptor units, at least one of the interleaved pairs of ultra-wideband beacon frames, sending, by the one or more tag devices, ultra-wideband tag response frames and receiving, by the one of the plurality of tag response receptor units, at least one of the ultra-wideband tag response frames.