Method, system and computer program product for positioning and synchronizing wireless communications nodes

Abstract

An asset positioning method and system () rapidly and accurately determine the special location of wireless nodes distributed in three-dimensional space. Furthermore, as a by-product, every node also determines the relative offset and drift of every other node's clock, so that it is possible for all nodes to carry out a precise synchronized action (). The positioning and synchronization protocol has significant implications for a broad range of wireless networking infrastructure and applications. For instance, the rapid availability of accurate location information greatly simplifies and optimises the implementation of ad-hoc networks and sensor-based applications (). Additionally, the synchronized node operations facilitate the development of new applications, such as phase-locked arrays, in which several low power transmitters coordinate to form a powerful group transmitter. Since the positioning protocol yields rapid responses and positional accuracy in the range of a few centimeters, the positioning protocol permits mobile nodes to be tracked while they are moving.