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Enables a local positioning and response system that allows devices in a defined area to determine their local positions in the area, and to generate individual responses based on their positions, for example based on broadcast messages. Responses can include light, sound, shock, vibration, temperat

Enables a local positioning and response system that allows devices in a defined area to determine their local positions in the area, and to generate individual responses based on their positions, for example based on broadcast messages. Responses can include light, sound, shock, vibration, temperature or any other physical signal. Positioning may use overlapping shaped beam signals that permit each device to determine its local position. Response to broadcast messages with local position dependency enables efficient communication with potentially thousands or millions of response units over limited bandwidth channels. Efficient communication may also be supported by messages containing high-level graphical primitives, with devices determining their individual contributions to an aggregate image. The system may also provide correction for image distortions. Applications include stadium light or sound shows, virtual fences, feedback on performance that requires specific motions or positions, and contests for event spectators.

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1. A local positioning and response system comprising a server computer configured to store a message associated with at least one position;one or more transmission units coupled with said server computer wherein each of said one or more transmission units transmit shaped beam signals and comprise a

1. A local positioning and response system comprising a server computer configured to store a message associated with at least one position;one or more transmission units coupled with said server computer wherein each of said one or more transmission units transmit shaped beam signals and comprise a plurality of shaped beam antennas, each configured to transmit a shaped beam signal to at least a portion of an area, wherein each of said shaped beam signals has a respective predefined intensity profile; andone or more response units located in said area, each comprising a receiver configured to receive said shaped beam signals;one or more action modules configured to emit one or more physical signals;a processor coupled with said one or more action modules and said receiver, wherein said processor is configured to calculate a local position from a relative intensity of said shaped beam signals,calculate an individual response to said message, based on said local position and on contents of said message, and command said one or more action modules to emit said one or more physical signals based on said individual response;wherein said one or more physical signals emitted by said one or more action modules comprise light;wherein said server computer is configured with one or more graphical images to be displayed on a plurality of said one or more action modules, wherein each of said one or more action modules displays one pixel of each fit said one or more graphical images;wherein said server computer is further configured to generate said message to display said one or more graphical images on said plurality of said one or more action modules; and,wherein said processor coupled with said one or more response units is further configured to calculate intensity and color of the light to emit from each of said one or more action modules based on said message and on the local position of said one or more response units. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more message transmission units and one or more cameras coupled to said one or more message transmission units; wherein said server computer is further configured to send one or more test pattern messages to said one or more response units via said one or more message transmission units;wherein said one or more response units are further configured to respond to said one or more test pattern messages with physical signals visible to said one or more cameras; and,wherein said server computer is further configured to obtain images from said one or more cameras coupled to said one or more message transmission units after sending said one or more test pattern messages;analyze said images to determine distortion of said images generated by said one or more response units in comparison to said one or more test pattern messages; and,apply distortion corrections to subsequent messages to compensate for said distortion. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein said one or more action modules are coupled with said one or more response units, wherein said one or more action modules further comprise an emitter of light frequencies outside visible spectrum; and,said one or more cameras coupled with said one or more message transmission units are configured to receive said light frequencies outside the visible spectrum. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more response units further comprise one or more sensors; and,said processor is coupled to each of said one or more response units and is further configured to obtain a value of said one or more sensors; andcalculate said individual response to each of said message, based on one or more of said calculated local position, said contents of said message, and said value of said one or more sensors. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein said one or more sensors comprise accelerometers, gyroscopes, rate gyroscopes, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, magnetometers, sensors of human physiology, depth sensors, motion sensors, velocity sensors, or proximity sensors. 6. The system of claim 4, wherein said one or more response units further comprise a transmitter;said one or more transmission units further comprise a receiver coupled with said one or more transmission units; and,said processor coupled to each of said one or more response units is further configured to transmit sensor values via said transmitter to said receiver coupled with said one or more transmission units. 7. The system of claim 4, wherein said message includes criteria for said value of said one or more sensors, and said processor coupled to each of said one or more response units is further configured to transmit said value of said one or more sensors if said value meet said criteria. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more response units further comprise a transmitter and a user input device;said one or more transmission units further comprise a receiver coupled with said one or more transmission units; and,said processor is coupled to each of said one or more response units and is further configured to transmit a user input from said user input device via said transmitter to said receiver coupled with said one or more transmission units. 9. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more physical signals comprise one or more of light, sound, vibration, non-visible light, electricity, shock, and buzzing. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more response unit are configured to be worn by or held by a person. 11. The system of claim 1 wherein said shaped beam signals are approximately Gaussian, with an intensity varying approximately as a logarithm of I=I0⁢ⅇ-r-rc2/2⁢⁢σ2; and, said calculate the local position of said one or more response unit uses the logarithm from said shaped beam signals to determine said local position. 12. The system of claim 1 wherein said calculate the local position of said one or more response unit uses the relative intensity of multiple shaped beam signals of said shaped beam signals rather than their absolute intensity. 13. The system of claim 1 wherein manufacturing, installation, and calibration of said one or more transmission units and said shaped beam signals are sufficiently precise to allow said local position to be accurate to a predefined range, wherein said predefined range is 3 feet or less. 14. The system of claim 1 wherein manufacturing, installation, and calibration of said one or more transmission units and said shaped beam signals are sufficiently precise to allow said local position to be accurate to a predefined range, wherein said predefined range is 1 foot or less. 15. The system of claim 1 wherein manufacturing, installation, and calibration of said one or more transmission units and said shaped beam signals are sufficiently precise to allow said local position to be accurate to a predefined range, wherein said predefined range is 1 inch or less. 16. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more response units are divided into groups; and,said server computer is further configured to send different messages to different groups of said groups to break said one or more graphical images into sub-images. 17. The system of claim 1 wherein said message comprises one or more shapes to be displayed by a plurality of said one or more action modules. 18. The system of claim 17 wherein said message comprises motion of said one or more shapes; and,said processor is coupled with said one or more response units and is further configured to calculate a sequence of light intensities and colors over time to be displayed based on said motion of said one or more shapes. 19. The system of claim 1 wherein said message comprises error detection or error correction codes. 20. The system of claim 1 further comprising a virtual fence with feedback that is provided when a response unit of said one or more response units moves out of a defined local region. 21. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more action modules comprise one or more feedback devices configured to provide feedback to sports players or coaches when a player of said sports players moves into or out of a prescribed location, area, or trajectory. 22. The system of claim 1 wherein said area comprises one or more of a sports stadium, sports field, concert hall, amphitheater, theater, track, gymnasium, or arena. 23. The system of claim 1 wherein said server computer is further configured to provide notification to a subset of response units of said one or more response units, wherein said notification comprises wherein said subset of response units has won a contest or is eligible for a prize. 24. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more messages do not comprise an Internet Protocol address. 25. The system of claim 1 wherein said message comprises an Internet Protocol address. 26. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more transmission units transmit a demodulation signal and wherein said one or more response units utilize said demodulation signal to demodulate a signal and obtain said message. 27. A local positioning and response system comprising a server computer configured to store a message associated with at least one position;one or more transmission units coupled with said server computer wherein each of said one or more transmission units transmit shaped beam signals and comprise a plurality of shaped beam antennas, each configured to transmit a shaped beam signal to at least a portion of an area, wherein each of said shaped beam signals has a respective predefined intensity profile;one or more response units located in said area, each comprising a receiver configured to receive said shaped beam signals;one or more action modules configured to emit one or more physical signals;a processor coupled with said one or more action modules and said receiver, wherein said processor is configured to calculate a local position from a relative intensity of said shaped beam signals,calculate an individual response to said message, based on said local position and on contents of said message, andcommand said one or more action modules to emit said one or more physical signals based on said individual response; and,one or more message transmission units and one or more cameras coupled to said one or more message transmission units;wherein said server computer is further configured to send one or more test pattern messages to said one or more response units via said one or more message transmission units;wherein said one or more response units are further configured to respond to said one or more test pattern messages with physical signals visible to said one or more cameras; and,wherein said server computer is further configured to obtain images from said one or more cameras coupled to said one or more message transmission units after sending said one or more test pattern messages;analyze said images to determine distortion of said images generated by said one or more response units in comparison to said one or more test pattern messages; and,apply distortion corrections to subsequent messages to compensate for said distortion. 28. The system of claim 27, wherein said one or more action modules are coupled with said one or more response units, wherein said one or more action modules further comprise an emitter of light frequencies outside a visible spectrum; and,said one or more cameras coupled with said one or more message transmission units are configured to receive said light frequencies outside the visible spectrum. 29. A local positioning and response system comprising a server computer configured to store a message associated with at least one position;one or more transmission units coupled with said server computer wherein each of said one or more transmission units transmit shaped beam signals and comprise a plurality of shaped beam antennas, each configured to transmit a shaped beam signal to at least a portion of an area, wherein each of said shaped beam signals has a respective predefined intensity profile;one or more response units located in said area, each comprising a receiver configured to receive said shaped beam signals;one or more action modules configured to emit one or more physical signals;a processor coupled with said one or more action modules and said receiver, wherein said processor is configured to calculate a local position from a relative intensity of said shaped beam signals,calculate an individual response to said message, based on said local position and on contents of said message, andcommand said one or more action modules to emit said one or more physical signals based on said individual response;wherein said one or more response units further comprise one or more sensors; wherein said one or more sensors comprise accelerometers, gyroscopes, rate gyroscopes, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, magnetometers, sensors of human physiology, depth sensors, motion sensors, velocity sensors, or proximity sensors; and,wherein said processor is coupled to each of said one or more response units and is further configured to obtain a value of said one or more sensors; andcalculate said individual response to each of said message, based on one or more of said calculated local position, said contents of message, and said value of said one or more sensors. 30. A local positioning and response system comprising a server computer configured to store a message associated with at least one position;one or more transmission units coupled with said server computer wherein each of said one or more transmission units transmit shaped beam signals and comprise a plurality of shaped beam antennas, each configured to transmit a shaped beam signal to at least a portion of an area, wherein each of said shaped beam signals has a respective predefined intensity profile;one or more response units located in said area, each comprising a receiver configured to receive said shaped beam signals;one or more action modules configured to emit one or more physical signals;a processor coupled with said one or more action modules and said receiver, wherein said processor is configured to calculate a local position from a relative intensity of said shaped beam signals,calculate an individual response to said one or more messages, based on said local position and on contents of said one or more messages, andcommand said one or more action modules to emit said one or more physical signals based on said individual response;wherein said one or more response units further comprise one or more sensors;wherein said processor is coupled to each of said one or more response units and is further configured to obtain a value of said one or more sensors; andcalculate said individual response to each of said message, based on one or more of said calculated local position, said contents of said message, and said value of said one or more sensors;wherein said one or more response units further comprise a transmitter;wherein said one or more transmission units further comprise a receiver coupled with said one or more transmission units; and,wherein said processor coupled to each of said one or more response units is further configured to transmit sensor values via said transmitter to said receiver coupled with said one or more transmission units. 31. A local positioning and response system comprising a server computer configured to store a message associated with at least one position;one or more transmission units coupled with said server computer wherein each of said one or more transmission units transmit shaped beam signals and comprise a plurality of shaped beam antennas, each configured to transmit a shaped beam signal to at least a portion of an area, wherein each of said shaped beam signals has a respective predefined intensity profile;one or more response units located in said area, each comprising a receiver configured to receive said shaped beam signals;one or more action modules configured to emit one or more physical signals;a processor coupled with said one or more action modules and said receiver, wherein said processor is configured to calculate a local position from a relative intensity of said shaped beam signals,calculate an individual response to said message, based on said local position and on contents of said message, andcommand said one or more action modules to emit said one or more physical signals based on said individual response;wherein said one or more response units further comprise one or more sensors;wherein said processor is coupled to each of said one or more response units and is further configured to obtain a value of said one or more sensors; andcalculate said individual response to each of said message, based on one or more of said calculated local position, said contents of said message, and said value of said one or more sensors; and,wherein said message include criteria for said value of said one or more sensors, and said processor coupled to each of said one or more response units is further configured to transmit said value of said one or more sensors if said value meet said criteria. 32. A local positioning and response system comprising a server computer configured to store a message associated with at least one position;one or more transmission units coupled with said server computer wherein each of said one or more transmission units transmit shaped beam signals and comprise a plurality of shaped beam antennas, each configured to transmit a shaped beam signal to at least a portion of an area, wherein each of said shaped beam signals has a respective predefined intensity profile; and,one or more response units located in said area, each comprising a receiver configured to receive said shaped beam signals;one or more action modules configured to emit one or more physical signals;a processor coupled with said one or more action modules and said receiver, wherein said processor is configured to calculate a local position from a relative intensity of said shaped beam signals,calculate an individual response to said message, based on said local position and on contents of said message, andcommand said one or more action modules to emit said one or more physical signals based on said individual response;wherein said shaped beam signals are approximately Gaussian, with an intensity varying approximately as a logarithm of I=I0⁢ⅇ-r-rc2/2⁢⁢σ2; and, wherein said calculate the local position of said one or more response unit uses the logarithm from said shaped beam signals to determine said local position. 33. A local positioning and response system comprising a server computer configured to store a message associated with at least one position;one or more transmission units coupled with said server computer wherein each of said one or more transmission units transmit shaped beam signals and comprise a plurality of shaped beam antennas, each configured to transmit a shaped beam signal to at least a portion of an area, wherein each of said shaped beam signals has a respective predefined intensity profile; and,one or more response units located in said area, each comprising a receiver configured to receive said shaped beam signals;one or more action modules configured to emit one or more physical signals;a processor coupled with said one or more action modules and said receiver, wherein said processor is configured to calculate a local position from a relative intensity of said shaped beam signals,calculate an individual response to said message, based on said local position and on contents of said message, andcommand said one or more action modules to emit said one or more physical signals based on said individual response; and,wherein manufacturing, installation, and calibration of said one or more transmission units and said shaped beam signals are sufficiently precise to allow said local position to be accurate to a predefined range, wherein said predefined range 3 feet or less.