US 7,321,777 B2
Wireless communications system including a wireless device locator and related methods
Thomas Jay Billhartz, Melbourne, Fla. (US); Vivek Krishna, Palm Bay, Fla. (US); and Steve Kopman, Melbourne, Fla. (US)
Assigned to Harris Corporation, Melbourne, Fla. (US)
Filed on Sep. 13, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/531,487.
Application 11/531487 is a continuation of application No. 10/767794, filed on Jan. 29, 2004, granted, now 7,110,779.
Prior Publication US 2007/0026873 A1, Feb. 01, 2007
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04Q 7/20 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 455—456.2  [455/456.1; 455/456.5; 455/456.6; 342/457; 370/328] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wireless communications system comprising:
a plurality of wireless communications devices each having a device type associated therewith from among a plurality of different device types, and each device type having a known device latency associated therewith; and
a wireless device locator comprising
at least one antenna and a transceiver connected thereto, and
a controller for cooperating with said transceiver for transmitting a plurality of location finding signals to a target wireless communications device from among said plurality of wireless communications devices;
said target wireless communications device transmitting a respective reply signal for each of said location finding signals;
said controller of said wireless device locator also for
cooperating with said transceiver for receiving the reply signals,
determining a propagation delay associated with the transmission of each location finding signal and the respective reply signal therefor based upon the known device latency of said target wireless communications device, and
estimating a range to said target wireless communications device based upon a plurality of determined propagation delays.