"Local Positioning System (LPS)" GPS variant

[King_Critter]

I have this idea... awesome, as usual. :P

In short, it's combining laser tag and video games into one kick-*** package. However, this thread really isn't about the idea as a whole. I put up a thread at one forum that I frequent most often about it, and it's gotten a good number of responses. If you want to check it out, to click here. (http://www.warboards.org/showthread.php?p=552466)

What this thread is about is the LPS system as I described it in the afore mentioned thread; (http://www.warboards.org/showthread.php?p=552466) the only thing I can't figure out.

To put it simply, it's GPS; but on a local scale. Why not GPS? Well, according to the Wikipedia page on it (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPS), GPSs are usually accurate to only 25 meters (50 feet). For integration into a laser-tag game, that's unacceptable.

I have no idea what technology this hypothetical LPS might use -- I've never actually heard of anything like this, and neither, apparently, has anyone on Warboards.

So that's why I'm asking you guys/girls -- if a bunch of geeks can't help me, then no one can. :P


(Ok, after re-reading the above post, I realize I may not be explaining my self very well. If you have any questions, just post them here.)

[jflaker]

GPS is based on maps and known signal speed. Being sufficiently far away, a satellite triangulates your position by listening to the coordinated signal arrival.

All 3 (OR MORE FOR BETTER ACCURACY) sats send a beacon simultaneously from known geostationary locations and the reciever, based on arrival time can put your location on the map.

SO, with LPS, your distance is extremely small and with near light speed radio signals, would require extremely fast (much faster than we have today) radio and computing equipment to locate you.

Here is a better option using RFID.
Using a floor grid. The person can have RFID tags on their feet with receivers in the floor or RFID on the floor and RFID receivers on the feet. (figure out which works better by trial/error). The LPS receiver will pull the RFID tag ID and based on your known map, display your location.

I am thinking RFID on the floor and the receivers on the feet so the receiver can be wired or bluetoothed to the LPS device.

Do yourself a favor and spend the money to patent this idea NOW. Once someone else grabs your idea, you can no longer profit from it!.