Computer workstation tool for displaying performance estimate of tagged object geo-location system for proposed geometry layout of tag transmission readers

The present invention relates in general to object location and tracking systems, and is particularly directed to a reader geometry visualization software tool, that may be readily executed on a geo-location system installer's personal computer. The tool is operative to enable the installer to prospectively configure and measure the performance of the geometry layout of a plurality of tag transmission readers of a tagged object radio geo-location system to be deployed in an asset management environment. The tagged object radio geo-location system may be of the type described in the above-referenced applications. A reader geometry visualization tool for a geo-location system technician's personal computer is operative to display a map of an asset management environment. The technician interactively places and manipulates a distribution of tag transmission readers and any potential impairments to RF transmissions on the map. The locations of the readers (and any impairments) are coupled as input parameters to a mathematical model of a tag-based geo-location system. The performance of the map-parameterized geo-location system model is then computed as a geometric dilution of precision (gdop) value for the intended object coverage area. The computed (gdop) performance is visually characterized on the displayed map, as by way of different colors to indicate how accurately the proposed reader geometry will enable the system to locate objects anywhere in the coverage area.