Method for Locating a Tag, in Particular of an Object And/or a Person within a Three-Dimensional Spatial Area and Location System

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This invention describes a method and system for highly accurate, real-time localization of movable tags attached to objects (like vehicles, aircraft, goods) or people within a three-dimensional space, such as inside buildings. The system uses ultra-wideband (UWB) radio modules both as 'anchors' (reference points with fixed known positions) and as 'tags' that are attached to the things or persons to be tracked. The tags and anchors form a UWB network that can route data between itself using mesh networking technology, allowing position calculations without relying on external systems (like GPS or WiFi) and even in complex environments or where direct communication to all anchors is blocked. The system also integrates inertial measurement sensors and barometric sensors for enhanced accuracy, and can use map data to further improve the reliability of determining positions and paths.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Locating firefighters or rescue teams inside burning or dangerous buildings during emergency operations.
• Tracking employees, visitors, or assets (like equipment or robots) in factories, hospitals, warehouses, or event venues for safety and efficiency.
• Guiding and monitoring security staff in large or complex buildings like airports, shopping malls, or museums.
• Tracking goods or containers within logistics hubs, warehouses, or cargo aircraft where GPS cannot operate.
• Monitoring movement of patients or vulnerable persons in care facilities for safety or restricted area compliance.
• Supporting navigation for staff or robots in construction sites, mines, tunnels, or underground facilities.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Significantly higher positioning accuracy inside buildings and three-dimensional spaces than GPS or conventional indoor systems.
• Works robustly when external signals (e.g., GPS) are unavailable or unreliable, such as indoors, underground, or in dense environments.
• Mesh networking allows expansion, redundancy, and flexibility—tags themselves help with network coverage and data routing, so fewer fixed anchors are needed.
• Enhanced reliability and safety for critical applications, enabling rapid deployment (e.g., for rescue missions) without extensive pre-installed infrastructure.
• Integration of multiple sensors (inertial, barometric, map data) improves position determination and enables plausibility checking and floor-level differentiation.
• The system can operate independently from existing communication infrastructure (WiFi/Bluetooth), lowering both deployment cost and complexity.

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Patent Abstract

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zur Ortung eines beweglichen Tags (T, RT) beziehungsweise Objekts innerhalb eines dreidimensionalen Raumbereichs (11). Dabei wird der Tag (T) mit dem Objekt, insbesondere einem Fahrzeug oder Fluggerät, verbunden wird, wobei der Tag (T) wenigstens ein Funkmodul im Ultra-Wide-Band, wie ein UWB-Funkmodul (17) aufweist, und wobei außerdem wenigstens zwei weitere UWB-Funkmodule (17) als Anker zur Definition fester Positionen im Raum positioniert werden. Das Verfahren zeichnet sich dadurch aus, dass eine Ortung des wenigstens einen Tags beziehungsweise des damit verbundenen Objekts mittels des im UWB-Netzwerk aus UWB-Funkmodulen (17) ermöglicht wird, wobei Datenpakete zur Positionsermittlung des Tags (T, RT) beziehungsweise Objekts innerhalb des UWB-Netzwerks zwischen den UWB-Funkmodulen (17) weitergeleitet werden. Des Weiteren wird noch ein entsprechendes Ortungssystem (10) beschrieben.