A communication unit includes: a plurality of wireless communication units configured to perform wireless communication with another communication device; and a control unit configured to estimate a relative position of the other communication device relative to the communication unit, wherein the control unit estimates the relative position of the other communication device on the basis of a plurality of distance measurement values indicating a distance between each of the plurality of wireless communication units and the other communication device obtained by each of the plurality of wireless communication units performing wireless communication with the other communication device, and a position characteristic including a position of each of the plurality of wireless communication units in the communication unit.

According to one embodiment, an information collection system comprises a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor. The transmitter emits a signal. The receiver receives the signal. The processor calculates a distance between the transmitter and the receiver from a strength of the signal received by the receiver. The processor calculating the distance between the transmitter and the receiver from the strength of the signal for each of the signals received during a first interval, and using an average distance as the distance between the transmitter and the receiver, the average distance being obtained by averaging the plurality of calculated distances.

According to one embodiment, an information collection system comprises a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor. The transmitter emits a signal. The receiver receives the signal. The processor calculates a distance between the transmitter and the receiver from a strength of the signal received by the receiver. The processor calculating the distance between the transmitter and the receiver from the strength of the signal for each of the signals received during a first interval, and using an average distance as the distance between the transmitter and the receiver, the average distance being obtained by averaging the plurality of calculated distances.

A global resource locator (GRL) device can be used to track a physical asset. The GRL device can a semiconductor chip with a processor and a timing device. The semiconductor chip can generate a timing signal. The GRL device can include a blockchain, a communication device, and a memory in logical communication with the processor. The memory can store an identifier, a public key, a private key, and a hash. The communication device can communicate wirelessly with an authenticated radio source, the micro sized timing device, and the blockchain. Each authenticated radio source can be located at a respective reference location. The communication device can receive wireless timing signals from at least three authenticated radio sources. The GRL device can be affixed to a product.

A global resource locator (GRL) device can be used to track a physical asset. The GRL device can a semiconductor chip with a processor and a timing device. The semiconductor chip can generate a timing signal. The GRL device can include a blockchain, a communication device, and a memory in logical communication with the processor. The memory can store an identifier, a public key, a private key, and a hash. The communication device can communicate wirelessly with an authenticated radio source, the micro sized timing device, and the blockchain. Each authenticated radio source can be located at a respective reference location. The communication device can receive wireless timing signals from at least three authenticated radio sources. The GRL device can be affixed to a product.

A method, apparatus and computer readable storage medium are provided for determining the installation positions of radio devices. Signal propagation time parameters are obtained with each signal propagation time parameter associated with an installation position and an observation position. Each signal propagation time parameter represents a respective signal propagation time value of radio signal(s) traveling between the respective installation and observation positions. A signal propagation time parameter is selected for defining a coordinate system. First point coordinates are selected to represent the installation position associated with the selected signal propagation time parameter, and second point coordinates are selected to represent the observation position associated with the selected signal propagation time parameter. For each installation position represented by the first point coordinates, respective point coordinates are determined that represent the respective installation position at least partially based on the signal propagation time parameter and the first and second point coordinates.

A method, apparatus and computer readable storage medium are provided for determining the installation positions of radio devices. Signal propagation time parameters are obtained with each signal propagation time parameter associated with an installation position and an observation position. Each signal propagation time parameter represents a respective signal propagation time value of radio signal(s) traveling between the respective installation and observation positions. A signal propagation time parameter is selected for defining a coordinate system. First point coordinates are selected to represent the installation position associated with the selected signal propagation time parameter, and second point coordinates are selected to represent the observation position associated with the selected signal propagation time parameter. For each installation position represented by the first point coordinates, respective point coordinates are determined that represent the respective installation position at least partially based on the signal propagation time parameter and the first and second point coordinates.

A method for positioning a robot at start-up includes: when the robot is started up, controlling the robot to rotate in a preset rotation direction in a start-up positioning region; determining position information about a rotation path of the positioning transmitting unit according to the preset rotation direction and a set of at least three different position distances, where the at least three different position distances are between the positioning transmitting unit and the two positioning receiving units disposed at the different fixed positions and are determined during a rotation process; using a direction extending from the center position of the rotation path to a position of the positioning transmitting unit when the robot stops rotation as orientation information of the robot; and using the center position of the rotation path and the orientation information of the robot as start-up positioning information of the robot.

A method for positioning a robot at start-up includes: when the robot is started up, controlling the robot to rotate in a preset rotation direction in a start-up positioning region; determining position information about a rotation path of the positioning transmitting unit according to the preset rotation direction and a set of at least three different position distances, where the at least three different position distances are between the positioning transmitting unit and the two positioning receiving units disposed at the different fixed positions and are determined during a rotation process; using a direction extending from the center position of the rotation path to a position of the positioning transmitting unit when the robot stops rotation as orientation information of the robot; and using the center position of the rotation path and the orientation information of the robot as start-up positioning information of the robot.

A personnel location and monitoring system enables on-scene commanders in austere environments to identify, location and manage personnel. The present invention establishes a localized network of geolocation-capable transceivers which can thereafter provide communication capabilities with specially-equipped users as they ingress and egress an austere environment. Each user is equipped with an Individual Geospatial Locational Unit which provides data via a datalink with one or more of the anchors, and ultimately with a base station. From such data and the datalink itself the location of the user as well as the user's biomedical condition can be ascertained. As confidence of the location of the user drops below a predetermined threshold and/or the biomedical condition of the user raises concern with respect to the user's well-being, the present invention modifies the communication and geolocation protocols to prioritize communication and data transfer with such a user.