A positioning system comprising a processing system (7; 9) configured to receive a first position estimate for a mobile device (7), and to receive data representative of an acoustic signal received by the mobile device (7) from one of a plurality of acoustic transmitter units (2, 3, 4, 5). For each of the acoustic transmitter units (2, 3, 4, 5), the processing system (7; 9) determines spatial likelihood data representative of a likelihood of the received acoustic signal having been transmitted by the respective acoustic transmitter unit by comparing a time-of-flight range value with a geometric distance value, representative of a distance between the acoustic transmitter unit and the first position estimate. The processing system (7; 9) processes the spatial likelihood data to identify a subset of the acoustic transmitter units, and processes information relating to the positions of the acoustic transmitter units in the identified subset and/or relating to the acoustic signals transmitted by the acoustic transmitter units in the identified subset, to determine a second position estimate for the mobile device (7).

A positioning system comprising a processing system (7; 9) configured to receive a first position estimate for a mobile device (7), and to receive data representative of an acoustic signal received by the mobile device (7) from one of a plurality of acoustic transmitter units (2, 3, 4, 5). For each of the acoustic transmitter units (2, 3, 4, 5), the processing system (7; 9) determines spatial likelihood data representative of a likelihood of the received acoustic signal having been transmitted by the respective acoustic transmitter unit by comparing a time-of-flight range value with a geometric distance value, representative of a distance between the acoustic transmitter unit and the first position estimate. The processing system (7; 9) processes the spatial likelihood data to identify a subset of the acoustic transmitter units, and processes information relating to the positions of the acoustic transmitter units in the identified subset and/or relating to the acoustic signals transmitted by the acoustic transmitter units in the identified subset, to determine a second position estimate for the mobile device (7).

An approach to obtain low latency association of the audio clock in a smartphone with an incoming RF message is to use an interrupt driven routine, where the receipt of the RF message preamble generates an interrupt that reads the audio clock counter since the start of the audio session. In some embodiments such an approach may be implemented on the specialized processing cores found in smartphones that control RF communication, sensor or audio processing.

An approach to obtain low latency association of the audio clock in a smartphone with an incoming RF message is to use an interrupt driven routine, where the receipt of the RF message preamble generates an interrupt that reads the audio clock counter since the start of the audio session. In some embodiments such an approach may be implemented on the specialized processing cores found in smartphones that control RF communication, sensor or audio processing.

A method and a system for generating a plurality of ranging sound signals for positioning a mobile device are provided. The method includes: each of a plurality of ranging signal generating devices, which are connected to an audio signal cable and are located at different positions in an area, generating a ranging sound signal based on a synchronization signal transmitted on the audio signal cable, whereby location of the mobile device within the area can be obtained based on records of the ranging sound signals made by the mobile device. Accordingly, a plurality of speakers connected in series are able to be controlled to reproduce ranging sound signals for positioning a mobile device.

A method and a system for generating a plurality of ranging sound signals for positioning a mobile device are provided. The method includes: each of a plurality of ranging signal generating devices, which are connected to an audio signal cable and are located at different positions in an area, generating a ranging sound signal based on a synchronization signal transmitted on the audio signal cable, whereby location of the mobile device within the area can be obtained based on records of the ranging sound signals made by the mobile device. Accordingly, a plurality of speakers connected in series are able to be controlled to reproduce ranging sound signals for positioning a mobile device.

Apparatuses, methods and storage medium associated with identifying a physical distance using audio channels are disclosed herein. In embodiments, an apparatus may include at least one speaker and microphone associated with an audio channel, which may be of a plurality of audio channels. The apparatus may include circuitry to identify an amount of time between times of transmission of a first ultrasonic signal, and receipt of a second ultrasonic signal received via the microphone. The second ultrasonic signal may be transmitted by an external device, which also may provide a time between receipt of the first signal and transmission of the second signal. The amount of time may be usable to determine a physical distance between the apparatus and the external device. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.

Apparatuses, methods and storage medium associated with identifying a physical distance using audio channels are disclosed herein. In embodiments, an apparatus may include at least one speaker and microphone associated with an audio channel, which may be of a plurality of audio channels. The apparatus may include circuitry to identify an amount of time between times of transmission of a first ultrasonic signal, and receipt of a second ultrasonic signal received via the microphone. The second ultrasonic signal may be transmitted by an external device, which also may provide a time between receipt of the first signal and transmission of the second signal. The amount of time may be usable to determine a physical distance between the apparatus and the external device. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.

A method for geolocating a mobile computing device within an indoor environment. One embodiment may comprise generating a geolocation request audio signal by a speaker of a first device starting at a first point in time, receiving, by a microphone of the first device, a reply audio signal from a second device, and extracting, by one or more processors of the first device, information encoded in the reply audio signal. The method may further comprise estimating, by the one or more processors, a receipt time by the first device for the reply audio signal and calculating a first time of flight (TOF) using the first point in time and the estimated receipt time for a second audio signal. The first device may comprise a smartphone and the second device may comprise a beacon located at a known location in an indoor environment.

A method for geolocating a mobile computing device within an indoor environment. One embodiment may comprise generating a geolocation request audio signal by a speaker of a first device starting at a first point in time, receiving, by a microphone of the first device, a reply audio signal from a second device, and extracting, by one or more processors of the first device, information encoded in the reply audio signal. The method may further comprise estimating, by the one or more processors, a receipt time by the first device for the reply audio signal and calculating a first time of flight (TOF) using the first point in time and the estimated receipt time for a second audio signal. The first device may comprise a smartphone and the second device may comprise a beacon located at a known location in an indoor environment.