Stationary electronic beacon with map

Abstract

An electronic beacon placed stationary in a known location. The beacon includes a map, stored therein, pertaining to a covered area. The map includes coordinates of the known location with reference to the map. The electronic beacon is configured to transmit at least a navigational signal. The electronic beacon has a radio transmitter to communicate the map to at least one moving device in the covered area.

Claims

1. An electronic beacon placed stationary in a known location, the beacon comprising a map, stored therein, pertaining to a covered area, the map comprising coordinates of said known location with reference to the map, the electronic beacon being configured to transmit at least a navigational signal, the electronic beacon comprising a radio transmitter to transmit the map to at least one moving device in the covered area; wherein the map further comprises position information received from said at least one moving device, the position information comprising a reference to the map; and wherein the position information received from said at least one moving device further comprises motion information, the motion information comprising at least speed information and direction information.

2. The electronic beacon of claim 1, wherein the navigational signal comprises local correction information for satellite navigational signals.

3. The electronic beacon of claim 1, wherein the map comprises changes responsive to information received from said at least one moving device.

4. The electronic beacon of claim 1, wherein the navigational signal comprises a distance measurement.

5. The electronic beacon of claim 1, wherein the navigational signal comprises compass bearing information.

6. The electronic beacon of claim 1, wherein the covered area is a geographical area in a vicinity of the electronic beacon that is represented on the map stored in the electronic beacon.

7. The electronic beacon of claim 1, wherein the covered area corresponds to a reception range of the navigational signal of the electronic beacon.

8. The electronic beacon of claim 1, wherein the covered area is greater than a reception range of the navigational signal of the electronic beacon.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be better understood when reading the following description and examining the annexed Figures. These Figures are given only as an illustration and by no means as a restriction of the invention.

(2) FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the essential components of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment implementing a road traffic management device;

(4) FIG. 3 shows an embodiment facilitating Navigation within a building; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows an embodiment for managing a shipping port.

(6) Identical, similar, or analogous elements share the same reference number throughout the Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS

(7) FIG. 1 illustrates the unique and novel combination of the present invention of a stationary electronic Beacon 100, a digital Map 200 stored therein in storage means 150, and a means of transmitting said Map to a mobile receiving device 300 that is Navigating using the Beacon's Navigational Signal 400. The transmission of the Map is facilitated by Processing Unit 110 retrieving the Map from storage means 150 and transmitting it via radio transmitter 160. This combination is enabling of the objectives and is necessary in all embodiments.

(8) A first representative embodiment of the present invention is a road traffic management device and is illustrated in FIG. 2. The Beacon 100 is placed at an intersection, preferably elevated above the road surface and co-located with or incorporating a traffic light controller. The Beacon in this embodiment is configured as a Differential GPS base station, receiving GPS satellite signals, computing a correction signal, and transmitting said correction signal as its Navigational Signal 400. The Beacon of this embodiment further contains short-range radio transmitter 160, which may be WiFi or the like, for two-way communication with mobile receiving devices 300 installed in cars. The Navigational Signal may be communicated via the radio transmitter 160 or a separate transmitter without departing from the scope of the invention. In some embodiments the Navigational Signal may be included as information in the Map rather than transmitted separately.

(9) A Map 200 comprising information about the Covered Area 250 is stored within the Beacon. The Map in this embodiment may contain dimensions and positions of traffic lanes, curbs, pedestrian crosswalks and the like. The Map would also typically contain status of traffic lights, if present, and would be updated whenever status is changed.

(10) As a vehicle 310 approaches the intersection, it comes within the transmission range of the Beacon and starts receiving periodic Map updates. Once a Map is received and the vehicle's location relative to the Map is determined, the vehicle may communicate its location, speed, and intended travel path to the Beacon.

(11) This information is then incorporated into the Map and transmitted to all other vehicles navigating within the Covered Area. If the Beacon also incorporates a traffic light controller function, the operation of the lights may be adjusted based on status information received from vehicles.

(12) A second embodiment of the present invention is a Beacon placed in a building. The Navigational Signal 400 may be UWB radio or similar, that is capable of measuring the distance between the Beacon and a mobile receiving device. The Covered Area 250 comprises a floor of the building and the Map incorporates information about hallways 220, doors 210, rooms 230 and the like. Status of the doors 210 such as closed, open, or locked, may be included.

(13) A visitor enters the building carrying or wearing mobile receiving device 300, which starts receiving the Navigational Signal 400 and receives the Map of the building from the Beacon. The mobile receiving device can now determine its position on the Map, and communicates this position to the Beacon for incorporation into the Map. The Map can be subsequently displayed to the visitor, showing the building features and locations of other visitors. The map can also be archived and transmitted to a monitoring location. Such archival and transmission means are well known and are outside the scope of the present invention.

(14) A third embodiment of the present invention is a Beacon placed in a shipping port. The Navigational Signal 400 may be a short or medium range radio technology such as UWB or similar, that is capable of measuring the distance between Beacon and mobile receiving device. The Covered Area 250 may, as an example, include one loading bay where a crane 330 operates on tracks 270. A ship 320 is docked at the bay. The Map stored within the Beacon includes details of the Covered Area such as locations of the shipping containers 260, locations and motion information of forklifts 340 and workers 350. Each mobile receiving device 300 periodically receives updated Map from the Beacon, determines its position on the Map, and transmits its position and motion information to the Beacon. The Map is then updated, including any changes in location of shipping containers, and transmitted to all mobile receiving devices 300.

(15) In any case, the mobile receiving device utilizes the beacon's Navigation Signal and the beacon's known position to determine their own position on the Map. Methods for doing so are known which are specific to various types of beacons and Navigational Signals in the art.