WO2010150031A1

WO2010150031A1 - System for locating and registration of mobile units moving in zones defined by access points

Info

Publication number: WO2010150031A1
Application number: PCT/HU2010/000068
Authority: WO
Inventors: Attila Angyal
Original assignee: Attila Angyal
Priority date: 2009-06-23
Filing date: 2010-06-15
Publication date: 2010-12-29
Also published as: HUP0900395A2; HU0900395D0; HU227600B1

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a system for locating and registration of mobile devices. The system has one or more mobile device communicating with access points (AP) using wireless WiFi transmission. The AP are connected with a central server through a LAN. Zones are rendered to the certain AP in conformity with the topography of the building. The central server is continuously compiling, storing and recording data of log in and log off as zone information received from the AP, and on the basis of this it registers which mobile device stays in which zone in such a way, that for determining position and tracking, the system saves the identifiers of both the mobile devices and the network devices installed at the AP as zone information as well, as it stores the time of log in at the time of logging in, respectively it registers these identifiers according to the given zones.

Description

SYSTEM FOR LOCATING AND REGISTRATION OF MOBILE UNITS

MOVING IN ZONES DEFINED BY ACCESS POINTS

The subject of the invention is a wireless identifying, positioning and communicating system for locating and registration of mobile units moving in zones defined by fixed units, the said system is suitable for determining position and tracking movements of moving units e.g. of given patients, respectively doctors and health workers in given objects and forwarding, transmitting information for them with the help of the WiFi network with certain accuracy in given object.

There are more and more cases every day, where tracking, respectively determining the position of units moving from time to time with certain accuracy is necessary. During the determination of the position in several cases it is not necessary to determine exact geographical coordinates, but it is sufficient to determine that the respective unit stays within a given area, zone. So in given case it is enough to determine the position with an accuracy of 10-15 meters. A further- task is to transmit information for these units, or receive information from them, in given case with a data transmission of relatively high speed.

In health care, in hospitals, clinics, but in various other walks of life as well it is a frequent problem, that tracking the movements of health workers, doctors or even patients and determining their position in given time would be necessary. The same problem arises eg. in case of industrial facilities, storehouses, where the determination of position, and tracking the movements of workers, suppliers respectively machinery, devices and transmitting data for them is necessary in several cases.

The situation is similar in case of public institutions, ministries, authorities, city councils, where it is also necessary to track certain visitors, and in given case transmit information for them.

The state of the art method of determining a position is the method of identifying it with three known points, it gives definite data for determining the place. Mobile phone networks and certain RF networks apply this method. Its drawback is, that it requires definite radio frequency cover and needs extended, continuously functioning data processing capacity. In practical life such accuracy is often not needed, because the only requirement is to define the position or movements of people or objects, devices within a certain area.

In the state of the art, in the US patent application published on 10 July 2008 under No. WO 2008 082783 a method, apparatus, and electronic device for determining a location of a mobile device are disclosed. A receiver may asynchronously receive an access signal from at least three access points of a wireless local area network with the mobile device. A processor may measure an access signal strength for the access signal for each access point. A transmitter may transmit the access signal strengths to a location server to determine the location of the mobile device. The US 7 323 991 patent application published on 29 January 2008 makes known a system and method for identifying, locating, authorizing by proximity and communicating with equipment and personnel in a facility that generally employs a series of limited range transceivers for location determination and a distributed wireless data network for data transfer. The system employs unique RF transceiver tags on personnel and equipment that are each uniquely identified and registered with a facility control application that oversees activities in the facility. The tags are tracked by RF ^' communication based upon their proximity to one or more fixed-base networked access points and relays (which transfer location data by RF back to access points) within four range zones.

Location data on all tags is uploaded periodically to a location server that interfaces with the facility control server. Tag data is monitored by the facility control server to track, authorize and deauthorize certain data transfers, movements and activities in accordance with rules established for each tag (or type of tag) within the facility control server's application. Wireless networking (WiFi, for example), in combination with the RF-derived location information, allows the facility control server to correlate and transmit data to staff in conjunction with location and proximity. WiFi can transmit authorizations, deauthorizations and general data based upon triggers established by proximity and location. Likewise, data can be transmitted over WiFi from readers etc. from personnel and equipment located and identified by the system.

The WO 2004 073341 patent application published on 26 August 2004 makes known a method and a system for locating mobile terminals in an indoor communications environment are described. The system includes a plurality of distributed antennas 26 that are grouped into two or more antenna subsets. I, II, III which are covering different geographical indoor sectors. To each antenna subset an identification parameter I, II, III is assigned that denotes the sector covered by a particular antenna subset. A network node 28 is coupled to the distributed antennas 26 via a common signal path 30. The network node 28 includes a receiver component 34 for receiving via the common signal path 30 a signal including identification information relating to the identification parameter that is assigned to the antenna subset that has received the signal. The network node 28 further comprises a locator component for locating the mobile terminal on the basis of the identification information included in the signal.

The US 2008 143 513 patent application published on 19 June 2008 makes known an intrinsically safe communication and tracking system comprising an overlapping series of intrinsically safe WIFI units wherein said WIFI units contain one or more radio cards and one or more antennae, and said system further comprises communication devices, TAGs, and a CPU unit to monitor the system. Alternatively, intrinsically safe communication and tracking system may be used peer-to-peer. The system may contain client devices at least one client device chosen from the following: tracking software, voice recording, audio recording, signal strength testers, Ethernet capability, gas detector, digital camera, thermal imaging camera, temperature sensing equipment, and text messaging.; The CPU may also have additional capabilities at least one additional capability chosen from the following: ability to patch into external communication systems, housing of records, monitoring of employees as they enter or leave an area, encryption of communications, and sending a signal to a satellite. Also the intrinsically safe communication and tracking system may be used as an emergency rescue communications system comprising creating a system of overlapping mobile intrinsically safe WIFI units wherein a rescue team member adds another WIFI unit to the system as a mobile strength testing box reaches a predetermined level wherein said WIFI units contain one or more radio cards, one or more antennae, an internal power source, and tracking and communication ability said system further comprises a CPU to monitor all communications and track the rescuers, and said mobile strength testing box.

The US 2001 000 958 patent application published on 10 May 2001 makes known a system for locating and tracking tags within an awareness area including a first sub- awareness area and a second sub-awareness area. Each tag includes a transmitter configured to transmit a unique identifier periodically, and at least one tag is assigned to the first sub-awareness area. The system includes a first monitoring system associated with the first sub-awareness area and a second monitoring system associated with the second sub-awareness area.

The drawback of the systems applied currently is, that they are too complicated, because in case of several applications the mathematically accurate determination of the position is not necessary, only certain zone data, information are required, such as in which part of the space the given device can be found.

Determining the position with the triangulation method requires several points of reference and access points and a complex algorithm processing the position data should be applied on the server making the data management thus making this method too complicated and laborious.

A further problem is, that in case of the current systems to each fix unit must be separately connected and the parameters of connection must be saved. It creates a problem at the movements between the fix units and the connection can cease or clog.

When working out the solution according to the invention we aimed to produce such a solution, that is suitable for tracking and determining the position and movement and path of one or more mobile device with certain accuracy in a certain object, in given case in a building with the help of radio-frequency devices installed permanently.

When creating the solution according to the invention we realized, that

- if WiFi access points bordering on with each other, respectively partly lapping over are installed, and they are connected through a local network with a central server for data traffic and data processing,

- and zones are associated with the certain access points in conformity with the topography of the object or area,

- furthermore with the help of the central server in which zone the certain mobile devices stay is continuously registered, - these zone information are continuously stored, registered, are evaluated according to given viewpoints, and from these the path of certain mobile devices is determined, then the set aim can be achieved.

Furthermore we also realized, that for the tracking the distinctive identifier (MAC ^'' address) of both the mobile devices and the installed network devices must be saved when connecting, respectively with the recording of these identifiers according to zones, the current position and movement of the mobile device can be well tracked. So far the only issue was if a device was- allowed to enter a given network on basis of their MAC address, or they were excluded from it. During data sending and receipt this gives the position of the data request.

The invention is a wireless identifying, positioning and communicating system for locating and registration of mobile units moving in zones defined by fixed units, the said system has one or more mobile device functioning with wireless transmission, and access points functioning with wireless transmission, installed in an object, in given case in a building, the said access points are connected with a central server through a local area network, which is characterized by that, the system has access points installed in the object, in given case in building, and said access points bordered on with each other, respectively partly their action radius is overlapping, and so ensure WiFi data transmission, the system also has mobile devices communicating with the access points in a wireless way by WiFi data transmission, and the access points are connected to a central server through a local area network for data traffic and data processing, and zones are rendered to the certain access points in conformity with the topography of the object, in given case the building, furthermore the central server is continuously compiling, storing and recording the data of log in and log off as zone information received from the access points, and on the basis of this it registers which mobile device stays in which zone in such a way, that for determining position and tracking, the system saves the distinctive MAC address identifier of both the mobile devices and the network devices installed at the access points as zone information as well, as it stores the time of log in at the time of logging in, respectively it registers these identifiers according to the given zones.

In one preferred realization of the system according to the invention, the system keeps records of the zone information received from the certain mobile devices by time and it determines on basis of these data the path of the certain mobile devices, respectively the position of any mobile device at any given time.

In another preferred realization of the system according to the invention, the access points functioning with WIFI transmission are installed on one level of the object, in given case building, with action radius of 10-15m, in a distance of 20-3Om from each other, and said access points are connected in given case to a local area network.

In a further preferred realization of the system according to the invention, the access points functioning with WiFi transmission are installed on several levels of the object, in given case building, and they are connected to a local area network on each level. In a further preferred realization of the system according to the invention, the access points and certain mobile devices have data transmission of high speed of oneway and/or twoway between each other.

In a further preferred realization of the system according to the invention, the mobile device is a PDA or a similar manual data transmission device suitable for data transmission of one- or twoway data transmission having data input peripheral units, in given case keyboard, as well as visual display unit displaying data and/or information, in given case a display screen.

In a further preferred realization of the system according to the invention, the central server is connected with further data collecting and processing units, or it includes such a unit, handling and storing data, commands, information to be sent to or furthermore in given case received from the mobile devices.

In a further preferred realization of the system according to the invention, the data - collected in the central server and/or in the connecting data collecting and processing unit- can be accessed from and forwarded to a distant computer through an external data transmission network.

In a further preferred realization of the system according to the invention, the system is realized in health care as registry for health workers, nurses, administrators, patients in such a way, that the access points are installed on one or more levels of the building of the health care institution as object and the mobile devices as personal devices are placed on the nurses, doctors, and the position and movement of nurses and doctors are continuously tracked through the system, furthermore information, instructions are sent to them, respectively in given case the doctors, nurses send data, information through the mobile device for example regarding patients to the system, and said data, information are stored and/or processed in the central server and/or in the data collecting and processing unit connected to it, or forwarded through an external data transmission network to a distant computer system.

In a further preferred realization of the system according to the invention, the mobile devices as personal devices are placed on the patients as well, and the mobile device transmits continuously information on the condition of the patients from the medical instruments, diagnostic devices being on the patients connecting to it, for example blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature etc., respectively the system transmits back through the mobile device information on doctor's prescriptions, instructions, for example regarding diet, therapy etc. for the patient.

In a further preferred realization of the system according to the invention, the system is set up in industry, security, safeguarding, personnel protection, order defense in relative objects, in given case buildings such as general personal identification of people, and/or movement tracking in buildings, shopping centres, storehouses, in public institutions, and the mobile devices are placed on the people staying in the object and/or on machinery or devices. In a further preferred realization of the system according to the invention, certain access points in the given object, in given case building are located preferably along a path according to each other.

In a further preferred realization of the system according to the invention, for the proper handling and recording of the zone information, a zone topography of the zones, respectively zone systems rendered to the map of the object, in given case building, that can be handled electronically is set up in the server, on which the position and moving of certain mobile devices are displayed and tracked.

The solution according to the invention is furthermore set forth on basis of the attached figures:

The Fig 1 shows the schematic drawing of the general configuration of the system according to the invention in case of one level of an object.

The Fig 2 shows the course of zone changing.

The Fig 3 shows the flow chart of data traffic of the entering, respectively zone changing.

The Fig 4 shows the movement in the zones and tracking of path of a mobile device provided with a concrete identifier.

The Fig 5 shows the recording of movement of the mobile device in zones, by place and time.

The Fig 6 shows the tracking of path in case of zone systems realized in multilevel objects.

The Fig 1 shows the schematic drawing of the general configuration of the system according to the invention in case of one level of an object. In the figure 1 an object OB can be seen with the system according to the invention installed on one of its level LE. Regarding the general structure of the institutes, one or more corridor CO with the joining rooms RO, respectively places can be found on the level LE. The AP access points of the system according to the invention are strung on a local area network LAN, in given case a wire network, and they are placed along the corridor CO in certain distance, preferably in 25-3Om distance. The access points API, AP2....APn can be seen in the figure joining the server SE through the local area network LAN. The server SE includes in given case a data collecting and processing unit DA, or in given case the data collecting and processing unit DA is connected with the server SE, furthermore in given case the server SE is also connected with an external data transmission network INT.

The access points AP 1...APn are WiFi units of usual configuration, which are suitable for establishing radio frequency WiFi connection within a certain distance around them, typically within a circle of 15-2Om radius, respectively with the help of this connection performing a two-way communication offered by the WiFi system. The access points API....APn create zones ZNl, ZN2....ZNn belonging to them in the object OB, in given case in the buildings within the action radius of the radio frequency transmitted by them, within of which the WiFi communication is possible.

The Fig 1 furthermore shows the mobile devices MDl, MD2 MDn placed on the people, or on certain machinery, work devices. The zone information belonging to the position of the mobile device MD on a given person or device will give information about the whereabouts of the given person or device. The determination of the position takes place in such a way, that when the mobile device MD logs in the access point AP belonging to the given zone, then the given access point AP sends the identifier of the distinctive MAC address of the mobile device MD as well as the distinctive MAC address identifier belonging to the access point AP. This date is received by the server SE through the local area network LAN and treats it as zone information, keeps record of it and stores it continuously. So the actual position of the certain mobile devices MD can always be determined by the accuracy of zones ZN.

It can also be determined immediately if it is logged in to the access point AP belonging to the zone ZN in some of the zones ZN, whether the given mobile device MD is in the given object OB, in given case in the building. Together with this the movement of the people having mobile devices MD can be tracked from the path registration made by the server SE, respectively the position of the person having the given mobile device MD can be actually queried from this registry.

The system is able to track the movements of several mobile devices MD, it records them in the path registry belonging to the given mobile devices MDl, MD2....MDn. The certain data can be displayed at local level on the personal computer PC terminal connected to the server SE, respectively with the help of a worldwide computer network, the Internet they can be queried at optional places.

The Fig 2 shows the course of zone changing. In the figure 2 access points API, AP2 can be seen with a distance D from each other in the object OB, which determine the zones ZNl, ZN2 belonging to them with their action radius Rl, R2 from WiFi radio transmission. Furthermore a mobile device MD can be seen in the figure just passing from zone ZNl to the other zone ZN2. Furthermore a part of the local area network LAN in connection with the server SE can be seen here with access points API, AP2 joining to it.

In the starting position according to the Fig 2 the mobile device MD is logged in the access point API, which is registered by the server SE so, that the mobile device MD stays in the zone ZNl. This zone information has been transmitted to the server SE, when the mobile device MD connected first to the access point API, and the given access point API sent the distinctive MAC address identifier of the mobile device MD as well as the distinctive MAC address identifier belonging to the access point API to the server SE. As long as it is recorded this way, the given mobile device MD keeps on data communication with the system always through the point API, and the system handles the mobile device MD so that it is in the zone ZNl. During the zone changing shown in the Fig 2, the mobile device MD leaves the action radius Rl of access point API and enters the action radius R2 of access point AP2. Now the field strength of WiFi signal coming from the access point API physically decreases resulting from the movement of the mobile device MD, whereas the field strength of the access point AP2 increases. It is continuously measured by the mobile device MD. When resulting from the shift of the mobile device MD, the WiFi field strength of the access point AP2 becomes greater, than the WiFi field strength of the access point API, then the mobile device MD logs in the access point AP2. At the time of logging in, the access point AP2 sends the distinctive MAC address'identifier of the mobile device MD as well as the distinctive MAC address identifier of the access point AP2 to the server SE. Resulting from this the server SE and the system handle the mobile device MD so, that the mobile device MD is physically in the zone ZN2 belonging to the access point AP2. As long as it is recorded this way, the mobile device MD keeps on data communication with the data communication system through the access point AP2. In case of going on from the zone ZN2 belonging to the access point AP2, this log in process is repeated again, and the server SE determines the position of the mobile device MD in the actual zone ZN on the basis of the recently received data of log in registration.

The server SE handles the actual log ins, their time, their staying in the given zones ZNl, ZN2 and the length of its time, respectively apropos of it, it registers when and in which zone ZNl, ZN2 the given mobile device MD entered. From these zone information taking into consideration the floor plan of the object OB and the topographical position of certain access points AP it can be known, currently where, within which zone ZN the given mobile device MD can be found, and the path of the given mobile device MD can be determined, as well the duration of its stay in certain zones ZN.

When entering the network, the system checks the authorization of the mobile device MD. It happens in such a way, that the given access point AP sends the MAC address identifier of the mobil device MD wanting to enter to the server SE through the local area network LAN where verification takes place. If the mobile device MD wanting to enter has no authorization, the system refuses its entering and the process is over. The system in given case also records attempts of unauthorized entry, registering in which zone it happened and in given case it creates a warning signal about the presence of an unauthorized device, respectively person in the system.

Refusal of entry can also happen, if the mobile device MD has authorization for certain zones ZN, that is the person having the mobile device MD is allowed to stay in certain parts of the object OB, in given case building, but they leave them for a place where they have no authorization to stay. The system can send an alert or instruction to the person through the mobile device MD to leave the zone ZN, respectively can give a warning or alert to the central administrator of the system. In case the entering of the mobile device MD is permitted, the system lets it enter. At the same time the server SE stores the time of entry together with the MAC address identifier of both the mobile device MD to be entered, as well as the MAC address identifier of the device at the access point AP serving or receiving it, as zone information and this data is continuously monitored and tracked by the system. As the action radius of these devices is not very big within an object OB, with the use of the solution according to the invention it is easy to tell which mobile device MD joins which installed access point AP. In case the mobile device MD enters another zone ZN, then the system records it and saves it. So the movements of the mobile devices MD are continuously tracked, making it possible to tell exactly every time that the given mobile device MD belongs to device installed on which access point AP, it can be near by which.

The mobile device MD continuously monitors the field strength of the accessible access points AP, whether there- is a bigger field strength. For determining the position of the mobile devices MD, the devices installed at the stationary access point AP should generate a data transmission continuously, so that the mobile device MD always searches the unit installed at the fix .access point AP, the most powerful for it. It is in contradiction with the usual WiFi connection, where the mobile device MD does not look for another fix unit as long as the connection exists, it always communicates with it.

In case of the solution according to the invention, the mobile device MD is programmed so, that it should always search and log in the unit installed at the fix access point AP of highest field strength. The solution according to the invention is different in this regard as well from the existing WiFi and GSM systems. In case of GSM priority might be overwritten depending on how busy the system is. In case of the system according to the invention the aim is to achieve, that the device log in always at the highest field strength. It ensures as well, that the system identifies the given mobile device MD to the zone ZN it is actually the closest to.

The Fig 4 shows the movements in the zones ZN and tracking of path PA of a mobile device MD 027 provided with a concrete identifier. In case of a preferable realization of the solution according to the invention the devices installed at the fix access point AP in the object OB to be observed, in given case in a building, or area are placed preferably along such a path PA, where the movements of the mobile devices MD are rendering most likely. In the Fig 4 the access points AP1....AP7 located in the object OB and the zones ZN1....ZN7 set up this way can be seen. Furthermore the person having the mobile device MD 027 can be seen in the figure, whose movement was depicted along the given path PA. The person having the mobile device MD 027 starts from the zone ZNl, then stays several times between the zones ZN2, ZN3, and finally going through the zones ZN4, ZN5, ZN6 arrives into the zone ZN7.

The Fig 5 shows the recording of movement of the mobile device MD 027 in the zones ZNl ...ZN7 showed in the figure 4, by place and time. The table in the figure shows at what time the given mobile device MD 027 stayed in which zone, when entered it, respectively the actual position of the device in the last time. The server SE keeps records of zone information of every mobile device MD entering the object OB.

Projecting these records on the zone topography of the object OB, in given case of the building, the following information can be easily acquired and dispalyed:

- The actual position of each mobile device MD,

- The path of each mobile device MD, which zones ZN it passed through, where, when and how long it stayed,

- The number of mobile devices staying in a given place, in a given zone ZN, their identifiers, when and where they entered, for how long they have been staying in that zone, where they were before

- The actual number of all mobile devices MD staying on the whole area of the object, their identifiers, when and where they entered, for how long they have been staying in the area of the object.

Resulting from an improved building up and operating of the system, these information are completed by data sent to, respectively received from the certain mobile devices MD, as well as measurements results, respectively instructions, commands. These information belonging to each mobile devices MD can be acquired from the server SE, or on a local PC terminal, or through an external data transmission network INT far from it, by authorized people.

The Fig 6 shows the tracking of pathes PAl, PA2, PA3 in case of zone ZN systems realized in multilevel object OB. It is possible to form several zone ZN systems within an object OB, in given case in a building, next to each other or below each other on different levels LEl, LE2, LE3 of the object OB. This way the zones ZNl-I, ZN1-2, ZN1-3 assigned to the levels LEl, LE2, LE3 can be distinguished for the system. In order to handle and record properly the zone information, it is important to set up the zone topography of the zones respectively zone systems rendered to the map of object OB, in given case of the building, which can be handled electronically and where the position and movement of certain mobile devices MD can be displayed and tracked.

On basis of this zone topography it is always possible to determine whether a given mobile device MD is within the given zone system, and in positive case, where it can be found. At the same time a message or information can be forwarded to the given mobile device MD. On basis of the topography the system is able to track such movement of the mobile devices, where the mobile device MD does not move into the zone ZN directly next to it, but the person with the mobile device MD goes on another level within the building. The new log in can clearly define the zone ZN, and on basis of the topography of the zone systems the path can be tracked, giving information about the route as well. Possible, concrete realizations of the solution according to the invention are:

The necessary elements of the system: mobile devices, stationary units, one server.

Realization of mobile devices: devices suitable for WiFi connection, PDA, tablet PC,

Mobile device in given case in health care application, the one the doctor takes along (PDA) the one the patient takes along (PDA, or target device to be developed)

Realization of stationary units: usual WiFi wireless AP (access point),

Connection of stationary units: local area network LAN with the help of UTP network of starpoint,

Server: UNIX base with SQL data base storing the connection information, easy and fast queriable data management, no big storage requirement.

The local area network LAN can be of a usual local data network with wire, or a combination of wire and wireless network. It is important when installing local area network LAN, that every part of the network is in secure connection with the server SE, because in case this connection is broken, then the object OB, or a certain part of the object OB might be left without control.

The system according to the invention can be well applied in health care, in hospitals, clinics, where tracking of the movements, determining the position in given time, providing them with data and information of patients, doctors or health workers is necessary.

In industrial application, in settlements, stores, with the help of the mobile device fixed onto the transport vehicles, for example on trolleys, machinery, the movement of the given device can be tracked. If there is a new task of moving goods, it is easy to find the trolley closest to the given shelf and instruction can be given to move the goods. With this method the moving of goods and the length of the path of transport vehicles can be easily optimized.

The system according to the invention can be also well used in public institutions, ministries, offices, city councils, where it is also necessary to track a certain circle of visitors, in given case forwarding information for them.

For example in museums each visitor gets a mobile device, eg. a PDA with headphone. Their movements can be tracked and visual stationary or video pictures can be provided for them on the exhibited objects in the given room.

In case the given institution has an area excluded for visitors, then the security personnel can be alerted if a visitor enters the prohibited area, and that security guard can be sent there who is in the closest vicinity, as the position and movements of security personnel can also be tracked. It could be important for being able to keep increased security requirements under the present conditions. In case of certain applications the mobile device MD can be used as usual peripherals for data transmission, it can log in the Internet, respectively through it, it is possible to get access to distant data bases, computers and data, commands can be sent there, respectively received from there.

The advantages of the solution according to the invention are:

The system according to the invention can be used everywhere, where movement tracking, or determining the position of, or transmitting information for, or receiving information with 10- 15m accuracy from units moving temporarily, in given case with relatively high speed. It is typical considering the general situation of institutions, that in one building on one level there is one or more corridor and rooms and facilities joining them. Taking into consideration the action radius of WiFi units, it matches well with the human moving space, so it can be used in various places. With the help of the system the position of a given person or device can be determined with the accuracy of a few rooms, and the movement can be well tracked.

The system according to the invention is essentially a WiFi roaming, determining position and movement tracking with the help of the WiFi system, with certain accuracy. With the possibilities given by the WiFi system a stationary unit can serve 256-2=254 mobile units per access point AP. It makes possible widespread applications both in hospitals and in general institutions.

A great advantage of the system is, that it is not necessary to develop new hardware for it, as it can be run on the existing hardware elements. This costcutting makes it unexpensive. The mobile units can be data output-input peripherals, with them it is possible to realize continuous or temporary data out- and input.

It is possible to log in a network only once, and then the whole network can be used. It is important, because in the present system logging in and saving the parameters of log in is necessary separately for each stationary unit. It causes problems between the movements of stationary units and the connection can cease or clog.

The system works easier than other systems regarding the determination of position, respectively tracking of movements, because here it is not necessary to set up control gates, but the tracking is ensured by the system unperceivedly. A part of WiFi networks available in certain objects, buildings can be easily converted for being usable for the system according to the invention, or it can be further built in.

The system according to the invention can be well used in health care as a registry for nurses, administrators and patients. In this application the accuracy of cca. 10-15m conforming with a few hospital wards is sufficient.

The mobile device can continuously send information on the condition of the patient (blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature, etc.) respectively backward doctor's prescriptions, information, instructions, eg. diet, therapy etc. It is also possible to send information continuously through the system for nurses and doctors and it can be learnt from the system where they stay, where they can be found. From here it is only the question of a software to optimize the work of the people staying there.

A further preferable realization is in the fields of industry, security, safeguarding, personnel protection, order defense, such as general identification of people, movement tracking in buildings, shopping centres, storehouses, in public institutions. In these cases it is often sufficient the simple determination of the position, respectively the tracking of the person or device. In case of these applications it is also beneficial, that with the help of the system information can be sent for, respectively received from certain mobile devices with the help of the system with high speed.

List of references:

OB object, in given case building

LAN local area network

(with wire or wireless, respectively the combination of these)

SE server

PA path

PC personal computer terminal

ZN zone

MD mobile device

AP access point

LE level

CO corridor

RO room

R action radius

D distance

DA data collecting and processing unit

INT external data transmission network

MAC address identifier

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Wireless identifying, positioning and communicating system for locating and registration of mobile units moving in zones defined by fixed units, the said system has one or more mobile device (MD) functioning with wireless transmission, and access points (AP) functioning with wireless transmission, installed in an object (OB), in given case in a building, the said access points (AP) are connected with a central server (SE) through a local area network (LAN), characterized by that,

the system has access points (AP) installed in the object (OB), in given case in building, and said access points (AP) bordered on with each other, respectively partly their action radius (R) is overlapping, and so ensure WiFi data transmission, the system also has mobile devices (MD) communicating with the access points (AP) in a wireless way by WiFi data transmission, and the access points (AP) are connected to a central server (SE) through a local area network (LAN) for data traffic and data processing,

and zones (ZN) are rendered to the certain access points (AP) in conformity with the topography of the object (OB), in given case the building, furthermore the central server (SE) is continuously compiling, storing and recording the data of log in and log off as zone information received from the access points (AP), and on the basis of this it registers which mobile device (MD) stays in which zone (ZN) in such a way, that for determining position and tracking, the system saves the distinctive identifier (MAC address) of both the mobile devices (MD) and the network devices installed at the access points (AP) as zone information as well, as it stores the time of log in at the time of logging in, respectively it registers these identifiers according to the given zones (ZN).

2. System according to claim 1, characterized by that, the system keeps records of the zone information received from the certain mobile devices (MD) by time and it determines on basis of these data the path of the certain mobile devices (MD), respectively the position of any mobile device (MD) at any given time.

3. System according to claims 1 or 2, characterized by that, the access points (AP) functioning with WIFI transmission are installed on one level (LE) of the object (OB), in given case building, with action radius (R) of 10- 15m, in a distance (D) of 20-3Om from each other, and said access points (AP) are connected in given case to a local area network (LAN).

4. System according to any of claims 1 - 3, characterized by that, the access points (AP) functioning with WiFi transmission are installed on several levels (LE) of the object (OB), in given case building, and they are connected to a local area network (LAN) on each level (LE).

5. System according to any of claims 1 - 4, characterized by that, the access points (AP) and certain mobile devices (MD) have data transmission of high speed of oneway and/or twoway between each other.

6. System according to any of claims 1 - 5, characterized by that, the mobile device (MD) is a PDA or a similar manual data transmission device suitable for data transmission of one- or twoway data transmission having data input peripheral units, in given case keyboard, as well as visual display unit displaying data and/or information, in given case a display screen.

7. System according to any of claims 1 - 6, characterized by that, the central server (SE) is connected with further data collecting and processing units (DA), or it includes such a unit, handling and storing data, commands, information to be sent to or furthermore in given case received from the mobile devices (MD).

8. System according to any of claims 1 - 7, characterized by that, the data - collected in the central server (SE) and/or in the connecting data collecting and processing unit (DA) - can be accessed from and forwarded to a distant computer through an external data transmission network (INT).

9. System according to any of claims 1 - 8, characterized by that, the system is realized in health care as registry for health workers, nurses, administrators, patients in such a way, that the access points (AP) are installed on one or more levels (LE) of the building of the health care institution as object (OB) and the mobile devices (MD) as personal devices are placed on the nurses, doctors, and the position and movement of nurses and doctors are continuously tracked through the system, furthermore information, instructions are sent to them, respectively in given case the doctors, nurses send data, information through the mobile device (MD) for example regarding patients to the system, and said data, information are stored and/or processed in the central server (SE) and/or in the data collecting and processing unit (DA) connected to it, or forwarded through an external data transmission network (INT) to a distant computer system.

10. System according to claim 9, characterized by that, the mobile devices (MD) as personal devices are placed on the patients as well, and the mobile device (MD) transmits continuously information on the condition of the patients from the medical instruments, diagnostic devices being on the patients connecting to it, for example blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature etc., respectively the system transmits back through the mobile device (MD) information on doctor's prescriptions, instructions, for example regarding diet, therapy etc. for the patient.

11. System according to any of claims 1 - 8, characterized by that, the system is set up in industry, security, safeguarding, personnel protection, order defense in relative objects (OB), in given case buildings such as general personal identification of people, and/or movement tracking in buildings, shopping centres, storehouses, in public institutions, and the mobile devices (MD) are placed on the people staying in the object and/or on machinery or devices.

12. System according to any of claims 1 - 11, characterized by that, certain access points (AP) in the given object (OB), in given case building are located preferably along a path (PA) according to each other.

13. System according to any of claims 1 - 12, characterized by that, for the proper handling and recording of the zone information, a zone topography of the zones (ZN), respectively zone systems (ZNl-ZNn) rendered to the map of the object (OB), in given case building, that can be handled electronically is set up in the server (SE), on which the position and moving of certain mobile devices (MD) are displayed and tracked.