Locating apparatuses by means of audio signals using a deterministic data channel

摘要

A locating device for locating at least one apparatus which is arrangeable on board a transport unit, for example an aircraft, a locating system having such a locating device and at least one apparatus to be located, an aircraft having a locating system of this type, an associated method for locating at least one apparatus which is to be located and is arrangeable on board a transport unit, for example on board an aircraft, and a computer program for carrying out the method. The locating device includes a detecting unit for detecting a wireless audio signal transmitted by the apparatus to be located; and a computing unit for determining the distance of the apparatus to be located from the detecting unit based on the wireless audio signal and on a first information signal assigned to the audio signal and transmitted via a first deterministic data connection.

主权项

1. A locating device for locating at least one apparatus which is to be located and is arrangeable on board a transport apparatus, the locating device comprising:
a detector configured to detect an audio signal wirelessly transmitted by the at least one apparatus to be located; and a computer configured to:
(i) receive a first information signal transmitted from the at least one apparatus to be located via a wired first deterministic data connection;(ii) receive a second information signal output from the detector upon detection of the audio signal;(iii) determine a time of transmission of the wirelessly transmitted audio signal by one of:
equating a time of transmission of the audio signal with a time of reception by the computer of the first information signal; andsubtracting a known first information signal propagation time of the first information signal between the apparatus to be located and the computer from the time of reception by the computer of the first information signal; and(iv) determine a time of reception of the audio signal at the detector by one of:
equating a time of reception of the audio signal with the time of reception by the computer of the second information signal from the detector; orsubtracting a known second information signal propagating time between the detector and the computer from the time of reception of the second information signal by the computer; and(v) determine a sound propagating time of the audio signal from the at least one apparatus to be located to the detector based on a difference between:
the determined time of reception of the audio signal at the detector; andthe determined time of transmission of the audio signal; and(vi) determine a distance of the at least one apparatus to be located from the detector based on the determined sound propagating time of the audio signal, wherein the first information signal comprises sender address information about a logic sender address of the apparatus to be located and the computer is configured to determine the time of transmission of the audio signal based on the sender address information.