A vehicle-use communication system includes an in-vehicle device and a portable device. The in-vehicle device transmits a signal from a plurality of transmitting antennas provided in a vehicle. The portable device measures the received signal strength of the signal transmitted from each of the plurality of transmitting antennas and transmits a response signal containing the received signal strength of each signal. The in-vehicle device receives the response signal and stores: small space information concerning a small space of a vehicle cabin; and large space information concerning being the entirety of the vehicle cabin. The in-vehicle device selects the small space information or the large space information in accordance with the situation, and determines whether the portable device is within the vehicle cabin on the basis of the selection of small space information or the large space information and the received signal strengths contained in the response signals.

A vehicle-use communication system includes an in-vehicle device and a portable device. The in-vehicle device transmits a signal from a plurality of transmitting antennas provided in a vehicle. The portable device measures the received signal strength of the signal transmitted from each of the plurality of transmitting antennas and transmits a response signal containing the received signal strength of each signal. The in-vehicle device receives the response signal and stores: small space information concerning a small space of a vehicle cabin; and large space information concerning being the entirety of the vehicle cabin. The in-vehicle device selects the small space information or the large space information in accordance with the situation, and determines whether the portable device is within the vehicle cabin on the basis of the selection of small space information or the large space information and the received signal strengths contained in the response signals.

A Bluetooth beacon for a luminaire assembly includes a module and an antenna associated with the module. The Bluetooth beacon is monted such that the antenna is communicatively visible from a light emitting side of the luminaire assembly. The Bluetooth beacon is configured to provide a signal extending a predetermined distance from the luminaire assembly such that a Bluetooth receiver on a user device can receive a signal from the Bluetooth beacon.

A Bluetooth beacon for a luminaire assembly includes a module and an antenna associated with the module. The Bluetooth beacon is monted such that the antenna is communicatively visible from a light emitting side of the luminaire assembly. The Bluetooth beacon is configured to provide a signal extending a predetermined distance from the luminaire assembly such that a Bluetooth receiver on a user device can receive a signal from the Bluetooth beacon.

A method for monitoring depth of a cave front in a cave-type mine. The method includes: providing a stationary reader device and mobile marker devices, each of the marker devices adapted to (i) emit an electromagnetic signal, (ii) detect strength of the signal emitted by another of the marker devices, and (iii) wirelessly transmit information related to the detected signal via the other marker devices to the stationary reader device; drilling a hole into a rock region of a mine, installing the mobile marker devices at sequential known depths within the hole; monitoring the reader device to detect a decrease in the strength of a signal emitted by a first marker device by a second marker device; and in response to a decrease being detected by the second marker device, inferring the depth of the cave front to be between the known depths of the first and second marker devices.

A method for monitoring depth of a cave front in a cave-type mine. The method includes: providing a stationary reader device and mobile marker devices, each of the marker devices adapted to (i) emit an electromagnetic signal, (ii) detect strength of the signal emitted by another of the marker devices, and (iii) wirelessly transmit information related to the detected signal via the other marker devices to the stationary reader device; drilling a hole into a rock region of a mine, installing the mobile marker devices at sequential known depths within the hole; monitoring the reader device to detect a decrease in the strength of a signal emitted by a first marker device by a second marker device; and in response to a decrease being detected by the second marker device, inferring the depth of the cave front to be between the known depths of the first and second marker devices.

A system and method for identifying a person's location at a school, hotel, office, business, restaurant or other venue and tracking the movements of that person during their visit to the venue. One or more wireless virtual beacons communicate with the person's electronic device. The virtual beacons provide the system with real-time data about the person's whereabouts, allowing for the confirmation and tracking of the person at the location. A first non-limiting example of use, include a company that provides food and beverage allowing the person to place an order for food and beverages on their electronic device and having the order delivered to the person at their current location as determined by the system. Another non-limiting example includes a company performing analytics on the time and movement of it's employees and customers.

A system and method for identifying a person's location at a school, hotel, office, business, restaurant or other venue and tracking the movements of that person during their visit to the venue. One or more wireless virtual beacons communicate with the person's electronic device. The virtual beacons provide the system with real-time data about the person's whereabouts, allowing for the confirmation and tracking of the person at the location. A first non-limiting example of use, include a company that provides food and beverage allowing the person to place an order for food and beverages on their electronic device and having the order delivered to the person at their current location as determined by the system. Another non-limiting example includes a company performing analytics on the time and movement of it's employees and customers.

A method and system for determining a position and orientation of a receiver relative to a transmitter includes transmitted positioning signals having different frequency components that define a common period. One or more of the transmitted positioning signal have identifiable phase characteristics relative to the start of the common period. The positioning signals are received at the receiver. A time point corresponding to the start of the common period is determined from the received positioning signals. The polarities of the received signals can then be determined based on properties of the positioning signals relative to the start of the common period and relative to properties of the transmitted positioning signals. These polarities can be used to track a signed position and uniquely associated orientation of the receiver relative to the transmitter.

A base station (10) according to the present invention includes a reception processing unit (104) that receives a signal for use in positioning transmitted from a terminal device, and a positioning processing unit (106) that computes the location of the terminal device using the signal for use in positioning.