WO2015114149A1 - Position determination of a user terminal by means of sound waves - Google Patents

Abstract

Arrangement (100) for the position determination of a user terminal (102) in a location area (104), wherein the arrangement (100) comprises the user terminal (102), a sound emitting device (106) designed to emit sound waves, a sound detector (108) designed to detect the emitted sound waves, and a position determination device (110). The position determination device is designed to determine the position of the user terminal (102) on the basis of time information with regard to the emission of sound waves by the sound emitting device (106) and with regard to the detection of the sound waves by the sound detector (108), and on the basis of position information, known in advance, concerning the position of one of the sound emitting device (106) or the sound detector (108), wherein one of the sound emitting device (106) or sound detector (108) is part of the user terminal (102) and the respective other is arranged at a position, known in advance, in the location area (104).

Description

 Determining the position of a user end device using sound waves

The invention relates to an arrangement for determining the position of a user terminal in a residence area, in particular in a building.

Moreover, the invention relates to a method for determining the position of a user terminal in a location area.

The invention further relates to a computer-readable storage medium.

The invention also relates to a program element.

Modern GPS (Global Positioning System, Global

Positioning system) technologies enable the worldwide

Localization and navigation using dedicated devices and mobile phones or tablets equipped with appropriate software and GPS modules. In the interior of buildings and others

The radio-based GPS does not work or does not function well enough in a user terminal's location, making such in-flight navigation solutions impossible or at least unreliable, even though there are many applications for them - in shopping malls, public buildings, hoteis, or hospitals. There are different solutions using WLAN and other wireless technologies, either with proximity or

Runtime measurements work, but all are relatively complex and, for the most part, are not very accurate.

It is still difficult to accurately locate user terminals in buildings or similar locations of a user terminal at a reasonable cost. It is an object of the present invention, in buildings or similar areas of residence of a user terminal to perform an accurate positioning of user terminals with reasonable effort. This object is achieved by an arrangement and a method for

 Location determination of a user terminal in a location area, solved by a computer-readable storage medium and by a program element with the features according to the independent claims. According to one embodiment of the present invention is a

Arrangement for determining the position of a user terminal in a

Location (for example, a building in which the user terminal is currently located, and in the position determination by means of GPS is not possible or not desired), the arrangement, the user terminal, a sound emitter, for emitting

 Sound waves is formed, a sound detector device (wherein either the sound emitting device of a plurality of sound emitters or the

A sound detector device may be formed by a plurality of sound detectors), which is designed (in particular with respect to the sound emitting device of another position) for (in particular time-delayed, i.e. after passing a distance between the sound emitting device and the sound detector device) detecting the emitted sound waves, and

 Position determining means for determining the position of the user terminal based on time information (for example, timings) regarding the emission of sound waves by the sound emitting means and detecting the sound waves by the sound detecting means and based on previously known position information regarding the position of one of the sound emitting means and sound detector device

is set up (especially in the residence area), wherein (especially only or exactly) one of the sound emitting device and the Scarf Idetektoreinrichtung is part of the user terminal and the other device (ie sound detection device or sound emitting device) is arranged at known positions in the location area (and is not part of the user terminal).

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for determining the position of a user terminal in a

In the method, sound waves are emitted by a sound emitting device, the emitted sound waves are detected by a sound detecting device, and the position of the user terminal based on time information regarding the emission of sound waves by the sound emitting device and the detection of the

Sound waves through the sound detection device and based on previously known position information regarding the position of one of

A sound emitting device and the sound detection device is determined, wherein one of the sound emitting device and the sound detection device is part of the user terminal and the other is arranged at a known position in the residence area. In a computer-readable storage medium according to an embodiment of the present invention, a user terminal positioning program is stored in a location area which executes program when executed by one or more processors (the user terminal and / or at least one communicable controller) is, controls the process steps described above or

performs.

A program element (computer program element) according to a

Embodiment of the present invention for determining the position of a user terminal in a location area has the above-described Process steps on (or performs) when it is executed by one or more processors (the user terminal and / or at least one communicable with it communicable control device). Embodiments of the present invention can be implemented both by means of a

Computer program, that is a software, as well as by means of one or more special electrical circuits, that is, in hardware, or in any hybrid form, that is, by means of software components and hardware components, realized. In particular, at a

Embodiment of the invention, the software at least partially as

App, i. as a downloadable and then installable software application, be designed for the user terminal.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a position determination in a location area (such as a

Building) of a user terminal using sound waves, i.

mechanical waves (usually pure longitudinal waves). Thus, the position determination of the user terminal is independent of the reception of radio waves, as is the case according to GPS. Due to their lower Propagationsgeschig speed compared to electromagnetic waves sound waves are predestined by means of a transit time measurement

Determine the position of the user terminal precisely. Since user terminals, such as mobile phones, usually already have a microphone (in particular for receiving speech signals) as a sound detector device or a speaker (in particular for the output of speech and other audio signals, for example music) as a sound emitter device can this hardware in an inventive arrangement synergistic to

Positioning using propagating sound waves are used. In the following, preferred developments of the arrangement, the

 Method, the computer-readable storage medium and the program element described. According to one embodiment, the sound detection device may be formed as a microphone of the user terminal. Many user terminals, such as mobile phones and tablet PCs, have a microphone through which in the

Normal operation of the user terminal is a voice input by a user is enabled, for example, to make calls or by means of

Voice recognition to the user terminal to transmit a control command.

According to the described embodiment, such a microphone can be used synergistically for detecting the sound signals used for the position determination. According to this embodiment, a particularly compact arrangement is possible, in which for forming the

Sound detector device no additional equipment is required. In order to distinguish between conventional speech data and sound signals to be used for position determination, the sound signals may be transmitted, for example, at a predetermined frequency interval (for example, outside of speech typical frequencies) and / or in a predetermined waveform and / or in a predetermined signal sequence.

According to one embodiment, the sound emitting device as

A plurality of separate sound sources (for example loudspeakers) that can be arranged at different positions in the location area and that do not form part of the user terminal. For a clear and precise position determination, the provision of three at different,

preferably fixed, locations in the residence area

Sound sources advantageous. For a coarser positioning also a smaller number is possible, for a further refinement of Positioning using redundancy effects, it is also possible to provide more than three sound sources.

According to one embodiment, the sound emitting device as

Speaker of the user terminal to be formed. Many user terminals, such as cellular phones and tablet PCs, have a speaker through which, during normal operation of the user terminal, a voice output or other audio output to a user is enabled, for example, to make phone calls or to listen to music. According to the described embodiment, such a loudspeaker can be used synergistically for generating or emitting the sound signals used for the position determination. According to this embodiment, a particularly compact arrangement is possible in which no additional equipment is required to form the sound emitting device.

According to one embodiment, the sound detection device may be referred to as

A plurality of separate sound detectors, which do not form part of the user terminal, can be arranged at different positions in the location area. For a clear and precise position determination, the provision of three sound detectors located at different, preferably fixed, positions in the location area is advantageous. For a coarser positioning also a smaller number is possible, for a further refinement of the position determination using

Redundancy effects is also the provision of more than three sound detectors possible.

According to one embodiment, the position determination device may be formed as part of the user terminal. According to this embodiment, the processor provided in any case in many user terminals can carry out the position determination by means of a corresponding software application and thus serve as a position-determining device. The corresponding

Control logic or the required calculation algorithms can be provided by means of a software element that can be stored in the user terminal (for example as an app). An apparatus adaptation of a commercially available user terminal (for example, a smartphone) can then be dispensed with.

According to one embodiment, the arrangement may comprise one or more control devices (for example computers, in particular servers) which are different from the user terminal and can be located inside and / or outside the location area. Such

Control device may optionally be communicably coupled to the user terminal, in particular via a mobile radio communication network or the Internet. It is also a wired communication of such

Control device with thus communicable coupled devices possible. The control device may also be communicably coupled to the sound emitting device and / or the sound detector device, in particular to control the emission of the sound waves and / or signals in the

Receive connection with the detected sound waves. Such a controller may, for example, be associated with the residence area (for example a shopping center). Then, the control device for

Example, the speakers of the shopping center so that they emit in a predetermined manner sound signals for determining the position of a user terminal. Alternatively or additionally, however, it is also possible to provide a central control device (for example a trusted server) which, from a central position, for example via the Internet, determines the position of many user terminals in several location areas (for example

various shopping centers) controls or monitors. According to one embodiment, the position determination device may be formed as part of the control device. In this case, the required resource for performing the positioning determinations may be centralized for multiple user terminals, so that the demands on the user terminals are then extremely limited. It is then sufficient for the control device to be sent the sound or sound signals provided with a respective time stamp and the control device to transmit the sound signals

Known position of the sound emitting device or the sound detection device, which is coupled to the user terminal sound communicable.

In one embodiment, the controller may be configured to provide the user terminal based on the determined position

provide location-based service. If the control device knows the current position of the user terminal in the location area, the control device can transmit data relating to the current position to the user terminal. For example, if a user of the user's terminal in a shopping mall walks along a particular retail store and this is recognized by the arrangement, information on that store may be displayed on the user's terminal, for example special offers. Other applications include the display of a map or an overview map of a shopping center, including a display of the current one

Position of the user on a display device (for example, an LCD display) of the user terminal, a signpost to an X-ray laboratory as

Guidance for a patient in a hospital or an indication of the user's position regarding a swimming pool in a hotel.

According to an embodiment, the position determining means for determining the position of the user terminal by means of a

Runtime determination or transit time measurement of the sound waves to be formed. The velocity of sound waves in air is known (-340 m / s). Is also the Time of the transmission of sound waves from the sound emitter and the time of receiving these sound waves at the located at another position sound detection device, and also the position of the sound emitter or the sound detection device is known, the other unknown position (the sound emitter or the Sound Detector) can be determined by using the procedure

different sound transmitters or different sound receivers

(preferably three times or more than three times) is repeated. The determination of the position of the user terminal by means of a transit time determination can also be carried out using triangulation.

According to one embodiment, the position determining device for determining a change in position (that is, motion information relating to a movement) of the user terminal by detecting a

Frequency shift between the emitted sound waves and the

be detected detected sound waves. By means of the acoustic Doppler effect it is possible, from the amount of a frequency shift between the emitted sound waves and the detected sound waves

To determine the relative speed between the sound source and the sound detector. From the sign of a frequency shift between the emitted sound waves and the detected sound waves, a direction of movement (approach or removal) can be determined. If the user together with the user terminal (and thus with sound detector or sound source) moves and the sound sources or sound detectors coupled to the user terminal remain stationary, the speed of the sound source can also be fixed

 Determine user and user device. This makes it possible to refine the information base for determining the current position of the user terminal and also to incorporate changes in position. The provision of the

Location-based services can be refined with knowledge of the direction of movement because in the near future it may be possible to anticipate desired services.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the sound waves that can be emitted by the sound emitting device and detectable by the sound detector device can be selected from infrasound (in particular frequencies less than 16 Hz), audible sound (in particular frequencies between 16 Hz and 20 kHz), ultrasound (in particular frequencies between 20 kHz and 1.6 GHz) and hypersonic (especially frequencies above ultrasonic frequencies). Because microphones from user terminals often have high sensitivity in the audible

 Frequency range of sound, the sound signals in this can

Frequency range are transmitted very precisely. A transmission of the sound signals in the ultrasonic range is advantageous because then no risk of overlapping with useful signals that are detected by the microphones of the user terminals (for example, language of a user).

According to one embodiment, the sound emitting device for

Emitting sound waves for position determination according to a

predetermined pattern, in particular at predetermined time intervals, be formed. Is the characteristic, pattern or sequence of

 Sound signals known with which the sound emitting device emits sound (in particular the distance between adjacent sound pulses, the width of a

Sound pulses and / or the frequency of a sound pulse), so it is by means of

Pattern recognition for the sound detection device better possible between sound signals for position determination and useful sound (for example, the

Speech input by a user).

According to one embodiment, the sound emitting device for

Laminating the sound waves emitted for determining the position for, in particular, simultaneous emitting of laminating sound, in particular Music or language, be educated. The transmission of sound waves for determining the position of user terminals (for example through loudspeakers in a shopping center) can possibly be perceived as disturbing. The overlay of Kaschier-Hörschall, d .h. Users perceived as pleasant sound such as music or human speech, the subjective perception of human users in the environment of

improve arrangement according to the invention. If the Kaschier Hörschall machine-separable differs from the positioning sound without a user perceives the position-determining sound as disturbing in view of the Kaschier Hörschalls, a reliable position determination of the user terminal as well as a pleasant sensation of the user is possible.

According to one embodiment, the user terminal (in particular when its microphone forms the sound detector device of the arrangement) may be configured to emit sound emission triggering signals for triggering the emission of sound waves through the sound emitting device. In this way it can be ensured that sound signals are transmitted only when this is necessary. Useless sending of scarf! can be avoided, thereby reducing the noise and energy consumption can be reduced. The user terminal can do this

 Transmit sound emission trigger signal directly to the sound emitting device. Alternatively, it is possible for the user terminal to use the

Acoustic emission trigger signal transmitted to a control device, which in turn forwards the sound emission trigger signal to the sound emitting device.

According to one embodiment, the device may include a recognizer (which may, for example, be part of the user terminal, in particular its processor) for detecting the presence or absence of the user Possibility of positioning the user terminal by the Global Positioning System (GPS). The recognizer may further be for triggering the position determination of the user terminal by the global positioning system in case of recognizing the

Presence or to trigger the position determination of the user terminal by means of the sound waves in the case of detecting the

Not to be established. If the user terminal contains a GPS module for position determination by the Global Positioning System (GPS) and recognizes the GPS module that has a

Positioning by means of GPS is currently not possible or not possible with sufficient accuracy (for example, because the user is staying with the user terminal in a building in which the GPS radio waves are not in

penetrate sufficient strength to enable a reliable position determination by means of GPS), so a recognizer (for example, a processor of the user terminal) recognize this fact and switch the operation of the user terminal to position determination by means of sound wave transit time measurement. It is also possible that the recognition device recognizes that the position determination by means of GPS is possible again at a later time (for example because the user together with the user terminal has left the building). The recognition device can then switch the operation of the user terminal back to position determination by means of GPS.

According to one embodiment, the user terminal may be a portable (i.e., user-portable) device,

in particular a mobile device or a tablet PC. Such devices often contain microphone and / or speakers, with a part of these already existing hardware components for position determination means

Sound waves can be shared synergistically in an arrangement according to the invention. According to one embodiment, the residence area may be a building, in particular a shopping center, a public facility, a hotel or a hospital. Since GPS radio signals often can not penetrate sufficiently in such buildings due to low signal strengths or the occurrence of reflections, is in such an environment the

 Position determination of a user terminal by means of sound waves particularly advantageous.

The arrangement may also include the residence area, in particular a building, as part of the arrangement. The arrangement may in particular

 Communication network, further formed in particular by a plurality of communicatively coupled nodes, wherein a user terminal can represent such a node and the arrangement can have one or more further nodes have.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following figures.

Figure 1 shows an arrangement for determining the position of a user terminal in a building according to an exemplary embodiment of the

Invention.

Figure 2 shows an arrangement for determining the position of a user terminal in a building according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 to FIG. 6 show different possibilities for the transmission of data and the performance of calculations in the context of a

Position determination of a cooperating with a control device User terminal in a building according to the exemplary

Ausführungsbetspielen the invention.

The same or similar components in different figures are provided with the same reference numerals.

Before embodiments shown in the figures are explained, some aspects of embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail. According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an LBS

(location-based services, location-based services) method for use in buildings, building complexes and the like created (for example, in tunnels or means of transport, such as subway). An exemplary

Embodiment can be implemented, for example, by means of a corresponding software application on a conventional mobile phone, without this having to have additional hardware. An aspect according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is not to measure the transit time of radio waves (ie electromagnetic waves) for location, but the transit time of sound waves, for example, with the microphone of the mobile phone received (or sent with the speaker of the mobile phone ) become. The sound waves can come from dedicated speakers installed in the building. However, they can also be emitted by loudspeakers already installed in the building. The sound waves can be transmitted by the transmitters at certain intervals. The transmission of the sound waves can also be initiated by the receiving device, for example, the receiving device, the him over a

Internet connection advertised transmitters (speakers) actively request to send a signal. The calculation of the position can be done in the receiving device. For this purpose, the position of the speakers is made known to the receiving device via an Internet connection. The calculation of the position can also take place on the server to which the receiving device via an Internet connection can notify the times of receipt of the acoustic signals. In this case, it is not necessary for the receiving device to detect the position of the

Speaker knows. The acoustic signals can be emitted in the audible range. In this case it is possible to cover them up with other sounds (for example music), so that they are not distracting. The acoustic signals can also be emitted in the ultrasonic range. FIG. 1 shows an arrangement 100 embodied as a communication network according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention

Position determination of a user terminal 102 in the form of a mobile station which is located in a residence area 104 in the form of a building. The arrangement 100 comprises the user terminal 102 denoted by X, the microphone of which forms a sound detector device 108 for detecting sound waves. The user terminal 102 is currently at a position within the building identified by the location coordinates rx. In addition, the arrangement 100 has four loudspeakers A, B, C, D, which are arranged at a fixed position in the building and at a distance from one another

Form sound emitter 106 and are each designed to emit sound waves.

The user terminal 102 has, as part of its corresponding program-technically set-up processor, a position determination device 110 which is used to determine the respectively current (and continuously changing) position r of the user terminal 102 based on a sound wave transit time measurement between the loudspeakers A, B, C, D and the sound detector device 108 of the user terminal 102 is formed. For this purpose, time information regarding the emission of sound waves through the speakers A, B, C, D the Schailemittereinrichtung 106 and the detection of the sound waves by the sound detector means 108 as well as previously known position information regarding the position of the individual speakers A, B, C, D of

Schailemittereinrichtung 106 used. The individual loudspeakers A, B, C, D of the Schailemittereinrichtung 106 are arranged on prior art and in this case fixed position in the residence area 104, namely

characterized by the respective location coordinates r _A , r _B , r _c and r _D respectively. If, as in FIG. 1, the position determination device 110 is provided in the user terminal 102, then the data transfer for determining the position of the user terminal 102 can be kept low since no recourse to remote processor resources is necessary to carry out the calculation.

The arrangement 100 also has two control devices 112, 114, which in the present case are each designed as server computers.

Controller 112 is communicably coupled to user terminal 102 and to controller 114 via the Internet 116 and may be a central control entity for controlling location determination in a plurality of location areas. For example, the controller 114 associated with the building may direct to the controller 112 and / or the user terminal 102 location coordinates of stationary speakers A, B, C, B of the

To convey the building. The control device 112 can also control the loudspeakers A, B, C, B for emitting sound waves with a predefinable characteristic. If a user is located outside the building, as in the constellation shown in FIG. 1, the user terminal 102 "denoted Y, then a GPS module of the user terminal 102 'can receive radio waves 150 from satellites 152 with the designations Si, Sn, Sm or Siv to determine its current location in accordance with GPS technology, because the radio waves 150 are due to poor radiation performance or due to reflections on the Buildings not penetrate into the building with sufficient intensity, the user terminal 102 in the building, the position determination by GPS is currently not or not possible with sufficient accuracy. A recognizer of the user terminal 102 according to the invention, which may be formed as part of the processor of the user terminal 102, may indicate the presence or absence of the possibility of

Location determination of the user terminal 102 by the global

Detect Positioning System (GPS). This can be done, for example, by the GPS module of the user terminal 102 determining the

Position r _x no longer or no longer sufficiently precise can accomplish. If the recognizer recognizes this fact, it can do so

Determine or trigger position determination of the user terminal 102 by means of the sound wave transit time measurement, which will be described in more detail below.

The position determination device 110 of the user terminal 102 is for determining the position r _{x of} the user terminal 102 by means of a

Measuring the transit time of the sound waves formed. In the example shown, each of the sound sources A, B, C, D emits a respective sound wave 154 (simultaneously or sequentially). Sound source A emits at time t _A i, starting from its location r _A, an acoustic wave 154 indicated by i, which propagates at the speed of sound and reaches user terminal 102 with the designation X at time t _A xi. Sound source B emits in a corresponding manner at time t _B i, starting from its location r _B, a sound wave 154 which propagates at the speed of sound and reaches the user terminal 102 with the designation X at a later point in time texi. Sound source C emits at time t _a, starting from its location r _c, a sound wave 154 which propagates at the speed of sound and reaches the user terminal 102 with the designation X at time tcxi. Sound source D emits at time t _D i, starting from its location r _D, a sound wave 154, the propagated at the speed of sound and reaches the user terminal 102 designated X at the time toxi. The user terminal 102 is aware of the location coordinates r _A , r _B , r _c or r _{D of} the sound sources A, B, C, D (for example, these can be transmitted from one of the control devices 112 or 114 to the user terminal 102, if this by means of

Recognition device is switched to position determination by means of sound waves). Using the relationship "velocity equal to path length per unit of time" on the movement of the sound waves 154 from the speakers A, B, C and D to the user terminal 102 can be deduced on its position, so that the location coordinates r _x can be determined ,

Optionally, the position determination device 110 for determining position changes or movement information regarding a movement of the user terminal 102 may be formed by detecting a frequency shift resulting from the acoustic Doppler effect between the emitted sound waves and the detected sound waves 154. Including such speed information, the accuracy of the

Position determination can be further improved. Each of the controllers 112, 114 may be configured to provide or provide a location-based service to the user terminal 102 based on the particular location. If the building is a shopping center, signals corresponding to the respective control devices 112, 114 can be transmitted to the user terminal 102 in order to be displayed on a

Display device of the user terminal 102 to allow the user, for example, a tour of the shopping center.

The emissable from the sound emitting device 106 and of the

Sound detection device 108 detectable sound waves can in

Frequency range of Hörschall lie, d. H. from the human ear be noticeable. In this frequency range, the speech-adapted microphones of user terminals 102 are particularly sensitive. In order to allow the user terminal 102 a reliable distinction between ambient noise and sound signals for position determination, the

Sound emitter 106 may be formed for emitting sound waves at predetermined time intervals and with a predetermined sound signal profile, these time intervals and the predetermined sound signal profile should be known to the user terminal 102 or should be made known via the communication network. The sound emitting device 106 may also be used for laminating the emitted for determining position acoustic

 Sound waves additionally Kaschier-Hörschall, especially music, send out. The sound emitted by the sound emitting device 106 is then perceived by users as more pleasant. The Kaschier Hörschall can be emitted simultaneously with the position-determining sound (the user terminal 102 then, for example by means of pattern recognition the

 Positioning sound can separate from the Kaschier Hörschall) or can alternately or intermittently emit either Kaschier Hörschall or positioning Hörschall. In order to minimize the power required to operate the device 100, the user terminal 102 may be configured to generate sound emission trigger signals to initiate the emission of sound waves through the device

 Sound emitter 106 emit. For example, only when the recognizer recognizes that position determination by GPS is currently not possible and position determination by means of sound waves is desired, can a control signal be transmitted from the user terminal 102 to one of the controllers 112, 114 so that these then the speakers A, B, C, D for emitting the sound waves 154 to

Control position determination. FIG. 2 shows an arrangement 100 for determining the position of a user terminal 102 in a location area 104 according to another

Exemplary embodiment of the invention, In the following, the essential differences between Figure 2 and Figure 1 will be described, reference being otherwise made to the description of Figure 1.

According to FIG. 2, the sound emitting device 106 is designed as a loudspeaker of the user terminal 102. This speaker may be used during normal operation of the user terminal 102, for example, for outputting voice signals during a user's telephoning. In order not to disturb this speech output even during telephoning and nevertheless to enable a simultaneous position determination by means of sound waves 154, the sound waves 154 emitted for determining the position of the loudspeaker can lie in the ultrasonic range and thus be inaudible to a user.

Accordingly, according to FIG. 2, the sound detector device 108 is in the form of four separate track detectors, for example microphones, arranged at different positions in the locating area 104. These are designed to detect the sound waves 154 emitted by the loudspeaker of the user terminal 102.

Also, according to FIG. 2, the position of the user terminal 102 can thus be determined by means of a transit time measurement of the sound waves 154. In the example shown, the sound source emits in the form of the loudspeaker of the X

designated user terminal 102 at time tx _f starting from its location r _x an i indicated sound wave 154, which propagates at the speed of sound. This reaches the microphone named a at time t _Xai , the microphone labeled b at time t _Xb i, the microphone with the

Designation c at the time txci and the microphone with the designation d for Time txdi. The times tx _ai , txbi, txci and txdi may be communicated to the user terminal 102 by the controller 114, which may be communicably coupled to the microphones a, b, c, d. The user terminal 102, in turn, the location coordinates r _a , i ^* b, r _c or r _{d of} the microphones a, b, c, d known. Using the relationship "velocity equal to path length per unit time" on the movement of the sound waves 154 from the user terminal 102 to the microphones a, b, c, d can be deduced its position and thus the location coordinates r _x can be determined FIG. 2 shows the position determining device 110 as part of the

Control device 112 may be formed. In this case, the user terminal 102 / or the controller 114 transmits over the Internet 116 the

Control means 112 data containing the transit times of the sound waves 154 and the positions of the microphones a, b, c and d. The actual calculation of the current location coordinate r _{x of} the user terminal 102 takes over the

Control device 112, so that a decentralized resource is sufficient and user terminals 102 manage without large computing capacity.

FIG. 3 to FIG. 6 show different possibilities for the transmission of data and the performance of calculations in the context of a

 Position determination of a cooperating with a respective control device 112 and 114 user terminal 102 in a building according to

exemplary embodiments of the invention. According to Figure 3, which corresponds to the architecture of Figure 1, the

Calculation (see reference numeral 300) of the location coordinates r _x at the user terminal 102, wherein the location coordinates r _{x can} then be transmitted to the control device 112/114 (see reference numeral 302). According to FIG. 4, which is similar to the architecture of FIG. 1, time information relating to the sound waves 154 and location coordinates of FIG

Sound sources A, B from the user terminal 102 as raw data to the

Control device 112/114 transmitted (see reference numeral 400), then takes place at the calculation (see reference numeral 402) of the location coordinates r _x . The location coordinates rx may then be communicated to the user terminal 102 (see reference numeral 404).

According to Figure 5, which is similar to the architecture of Figure 2, be

Time information regarding the reception of the sound waves 154 and

Location coordinates of the microphones a, b to the controller 112/114 transmitted (see reference numeral 500), which then transmit this as raw data to the user terminal 102 (see reference numeral 502). Then, the calculation (refer to reference numeral 504) of the location coordinates r _x at the user terminal 102 which knows the timings of the transmission of the sound waves through its speaker takes place.

According to Figure 6, which corresponds to the architecture of Figure 2, be

Time information regarding the sound waves 154 and location coordinates of

Microphones a, b transmitted to the controller 112/114 (see

Reference numeral 500). There is also the calculation (see reference numeral 504) of the location coordinates r _x , for which the times of sending the

Sound waves can be transmitted through the speaker of the user terminal 102 from the user terminal 102 to the controller 112/114 (see reference numeral 602). The location coordinates r _x are then transmitted to the user terminal 102 (see reference numeral 600).

FIGS. 3 to 6 thus show that a great variety of configurations are possible with regard to the locations of the calculations and the transmission of data. It should be noted that in the context of positioning

transmitted sound signals of the respective sound source should be assignable. For example, the transmitted sound signal itself may contain identification information for assigning the sound signal to the associated sound source. It is also possible that the sound sources in a controlled chronological order

 Send out sound signals. It is also possible to assign different sound signal characteristics to different sound sources, for example

different frequencies. Then, on the basis of the determination of the detected frequencies, an assignment to the sound source is possible if the associated communication partner device (in particular the user terminal or one of the control devices or a sound detector) has been informed of the assignment of the sound sources to the sound signal characteristics. It is also possible that a sound source such a communication partner device by

Communication message announces that and when it sends out a sound signal or has sent or which has this characteristics.

In addition, it should be noted that "having" does not exclude other elements or steps and "a" or "an" does not exclude a multitude. "It should also be noted that features or steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments also in combination with other features or steps of others described above

Embodiments can be used. Reference numerals in the

Claims are not intended to be limiting.

Claims

Patent claims An arrangement (100) for determining the position of a user terminal (102) in a location area (104), the arrangement (100) comprising:  the user terminal (102);  a sound emitting means (106) adapted to emit sound waves;  a sound detector means (108) adapted to detect the emitted sound waves;  a position determination device (110), which is used to determine the Position of the user terminal (102) based on time information regarding the emitting of sound waves by the sound emitter (106) and the detection of the sound waves by the sound detector means (108) and based on previously known position information regarding the position of one of the sound emitter means (106) and the Sound detector means (108) is arranged; and  recognizing means for detecting the presence or absence of the possibility of determining the position of the user terminal (102) by the global positioning system, for triggering the position determination of the user terminal (102) by the global  Positioning system in case of detecting the presence, and for triggering the position determination of the user terminal (102) is arranged by means of the sound waves in the case of detecting the absence of; wherein one of the sound emitting means (106) and the Sound detection device (108) is part of the user terminal (102) and the other one of the known position in the residence area (104) can be arranged or arranged. 2. Arrangement (100) according to claim 1, wherein the sound detection device (108) is designed as a microphone of the user terminal (102). 3. Arrangement (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the Schaliemittereinrichtung (106) as a plurality of, in particular as at least three, at different positions in the Aufenthaitsgebiet (104) can be arranged or arranged separate sound sources, in particular speakers, is formed. 4. Arrangement (100) according to claim 1, wherein the Schaliemittereinrichtung (106) is designed as a loudspeaker of the user terminal (102). 5. Arrangement (100) according to claim 1, 3 or 4, wherein the  Sound detector device (108) as a plurality of, in particular as at least three, at different positions in the location area (104) can be arranged or arranged separate sound detectors, in particular microphones, is formed. 6. Arrangement (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the Positionsbestim tion device (110) is formed as part of the user terminal (102). 7. Arrangement (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising at least one control device (112, 114) which is communicably coupled to the user terminal (102) or coupled, in particular via a Mobile communication network or the Internet (116). 8. Arrangement (100) according to claim 7, wherein the  Position determining device (110) as part of the at least one Control device (112, 114) is formed. 9. Arrangement (100) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the at least one Control device (112, 114) is formed, the user terminal (102) provide a location-based service based on the particular location. 10. Arrangement (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the Position determining means (110) for determining the position of the user terminal (102) is formed by means of a transit time determination of the sound waves. 11. Arrangement (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the Position determining device (110) for determining a change in position of the user terminal (102) by detecting a frequency shift, in particular by magnitude and / or sign, between the emitted Sound waves and the detected sound waves is formed. 12. Arrangement (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the of the sound emitting means (106) and emanating from the  Sound Detector (108) detectable sound waves are selected from infrasound, sound, ultrasound and hypersonic. 13. Arrangement (100) according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the A sound emitting device (106) for emitting sound waves for Position determination according to a predetermined pattern, in particular at predetermined time intervals, is formed. 14. Arrangement (100) according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the Sound emitting device (106) for acoustic lamination of the Positioning emitted sound waves is formed, in particular at the same time Kaschier Hörschall, especially music or voice, send out. 15. Arrangement (100) according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the user terminal (102) is designed to emit sound emission triggering signal for triggering the emission of sound waves by the sound emitter device (106). send out. 16. Arrangement (100) according to one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the user terminal (102) is a portable device, in particular a mobile radio device or a tablet PC. 17. A method for determining the position of a user terminal (102) in a location area (104), the method comprising:  Emitting sound waves by means of a sound emitting means (106); Detecting the emitted sound waves by means of a Sound detector means (108);  Determining the position of the user terminal (102) based on time information regarding the emission of sound waves by the user Sound emitting means (106) and detecting the sound waves by the sound detecting means (108) and based on previously known ones Position information regarding the position of one of  Sound emitting means (106) and the sound detecting means (108);  Detecting the presence or absence of the possibility of positioning the user terminal (102) by the global positioning system, triggering the position determination of the user terminal (102) by the global positioning system in case of detecting the presence, and triggering the position determination of the user terminal (102) by means of the sound waves in the case of the recognition of the absence;  wherein one of the sound emitting means (106) and the Sound detector means (108) is part of the user terminal (102) and the each other at a known position in the residence area (104) is arranged. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein in the location area (104), a position determination of the user terminal (102) by the global  Positioning system (GPS) is not possible in compliance with a predetermined accuracy criterion or at least temporarily impossible. 19. The method of claim 17 or 18, wherein the residence area (104) is a building, in particular selected from the group consisting of a Shopping center, a public institution, a hotel and a Hospital. 20. Computer readable storage medium containing a program for Position determination of a user terminal (102) is stored in a location area (104), which program, when executed by one or more processors (102, 110, 112, 114), performs the method of any one of claims 17 to 19 or controls. 21. A program element for determining the position of a user terminal (102) in a location area (104), which program element, when executed by one or more processors (102, 110, 112, 114), the method according to one of Claims 17 to 19 executes or controls.