Method for providing indoor navigation using UWB tag and smartphone

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to indoor navigation technology for guiding a user on a travel route inside a building. In particular, the present invention relates to a technology for providing indoor navigation using a UWB tag and a smartphone, wherein an indoor navigation service for a user is implemented by employing the user's smartphone as a UWB anchor, with UWB tags arranged in each passage and store inside a building. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide high-precision indoor navigation inside a building. In particular, according to the present invention, the use of the user's smartphone as a UWB anchor eliminates the need to install multiple UWB anchor devices in a building, thereby reducing installation costs and maintenance burdens.

Description

Method for providing indoor navigation using UWB tags and smartphones

[0001] The present invention generally relates to indoor navigation technology for guiding a movement path inside a building.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to a technology for providing indoor navigation using a UWB tag and a smartphone, which implements an indoor navigation service for a user by utilizing the user's smartphone as a UWB anchor while placing UWB tags in each passageway and store inside a building.

[0003] Recently, as the scale of buildings such as department stores and outlets has increased, the development of indoor navigation technology that guides users to their respective destinations within the building has been active.

[0004] Typically, navigation technology is developed based on the Global Positioning System (GPS), but because it is difficult to receive GPS signals indoors, an alternative technology is needed.

[0005] An indoor navigation system based on Bluetooth (BLE) and wireless LAN (WiFi) has been proposed. Multiple BLE beacons and wireless LAN access points (WiFi APs) are installed within a building, and the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) values ​​of the beacon signals and wireless LAN signals are measured on smartphones carried by users within the building. Triangulation and fingerprinting techniques are applied to these RSSI values ​​to determine the user's location, and indoor navigation is provided based on this information. However, this method requires the installation of multiple BLE beacon devices and wireless LAN access points within the building, resulting in high installation costs and maintenance burdens.

[0006] Meanwhile, a UWB (Ultra Wide Band)-based location tracking system has been proposed. This involves installing multiple UWB anchors within a building, allowing users to attach UWB tags to their personal items (e.g., bags, keychains). This allows the location of these tagged items to be tracked within the building. However, this approach also requires the installation of multiple UWB anchors within the building, resulting in significant installation and maintenance costs.

[0007] Meanwhile, prior literature related to the present invention is as follows.

[0008] (1) Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-2404098, "Method for providing indoor navigation for floor-by-floor mechanical equipment management in a building and system using the same."

[0009] (2) Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-1947134, “Method and device for providing indoor navigation service”

[0010] (3) Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-1345687, “Indoor Navigation System and Method Thereof”

[0011] (4) Republic of Korea Publication Patent No. 10-2017-0130234, “Electronic device providing indoor navigation and method thereof”

[0012] (5) Republic of Korea Publication Patent No. 10-2022-0145056, “Indoor Navigation Service Method and Device”

[0013] (6) Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2012-0082789, "Method for providing route information, system and terminal therefor"

[0014] (7) Republic of Korea Publication Patent No. 10-2013-0021231, “Location Inference Device and Computer-Readable Recording Medium”

[0015] An object of the present invention is to provide an indoor navigation technology that generally guides a movement path inside a building.

[0016] In particular, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a technology for providing indoor navigation using a UWB tag and a smartphone, which implements an indoor navigation service for a user by utilizing the user's smartphone as a UWB anchor while placing UWB tags in each passageway and store inside a building.

[0017] In order to achieve the above purpose, the present invention proposes a method for providing indoor navigation using UWB tags and a smartphone for providing indoor navigation inside a building by using a plurality of UWB tags (100) pre-installed at a plurality of movement path points, such as passageways and stores inside a building, and a smartphone (201) with a built-in UWB module carried by a user.

[0018] A method for providing indoor navigation using a UWB tag and a smartphone according to the present invention comprises the steps of: a UWB navigation unit (220) installed in a smartphone (201) carried by a user receiving destination information from the user through navigation operation; a step in which, when the user's destination information input is identified, a UWB anchor unit (210) installed in the smartphone (201) operates the smartphone (201) as a UWB anchor; a step in which the UWB anchor unit (210) periodically performs a UWB anchor operation using a UWB module built into the smartphone (201); a step in which, when the UWB anchor unit (210) performs the UWB anchor operation, the smartphone transmits and receives UWB signals to and from a UWB tag (100) nearby using a UWB module built into the smartphone (201); A step in which a UWB anchor unit (210) collects UWB transmission and reception information between a smartphone (201) and a UWB tag (100) in its vicinity and transmits the information to a navigation server (300); A step in which, in response to a user moving while carrying a smartphone (201), the UWB anchor unit (210) continuously collects continuously changing UWB transmission and reception information in the vicinity of the smartphone (201) and transmits the information to a navigation server (300); A step in which the navigation server (300) receives destination information from the UWB navigation unit (220); A step in which the navigation server (300) continuously receives UWB transmission and reception information from the UWB anchor unit (210); A step in which the navigation server (300) obtains building structure data, which is information on the internal structure of the building; A step in which a navigation server (300) acquires tag placement data, which is information about the status of a plurality of UWB tags (100) being placed within a building; a step in which the navigation server (300) performs indoor positioning on where a smartphone (201) is located within a building based on the tag placement data and UWB transmission / reception information; a step in which the navigation server (300) generates an indoor movement route based on building structure data, indoor positioning results, and destination information;A step in which a navigation server (300) provides an indoor movement path to a smartphone (201); a step in which a UWB navigation unit (220) provides indoor navigation on a display screen of a smartphone (201) based on the indoor movement path; a step in which the navigation server (300) provides tag placement data together with the indoor movement path to the UWB navigation unit (220); And while indoor navigation is provided, as the user moves along the indoor navigation screen while carrying the smartphone (201), the UWB anchor unit (210) of the smartphone (201) continuously performs additional UWB signal transmission and reception with UWB tags (100) that newly appear around the user, and the UWB navigation unit (220) updates the current location of the smartphone (201) in real time based on tag placement data and UWB transmission and reception information collected by the additionally performed UWB signal transmission and reception, and updates the indoor navigation screen according to the updated current location;

[0019] In the present invention, UWB transmission and reception information may be configured to include identification information of a smartphone (201) and a UWB tag (100) that transmits and receives a UWB signal, and UWB signal reception strength (RSSI).

[0020] Meanwhile, a computer program according to the present invention is stored in a non-volatile storage medium to execute a method for providing indoor navigation using a UWB tag and a smartphone as described above on a computer.

[0021] According to the present invention, there is an advantage in that high-precision indoor navigation can be provided inside a building.

[0022] In particular, according to the present invention, since the user's smartphone is utilized as a UWB anchor, there is no need to install multiple UWB anchor devices within a building, which has the advantage of lower installation costs and maintenance burden.

[0023] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an indoor navigation system for the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 is an example diagram of a typical UWB anchor device and a UWB tag.

[0025] Figure 3 is an example of building structure data in the present invention.

[0026] Figure 4 is an example of tag placement data in the present invention.

[0027] Figure 5 is an example diagram of an indoor navigation service in the present invention.

[0028] Figure 6 is an example of an indoor navigation screen in the present invention.

[0029] Figure 7 is another example of an indoor navigation screen in the present invention.

[0030] Figure 8 is a flowchart of a method for providing indoor navigation using a UWB tag and a smartphone according to the present invention.

[0031] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0032] In explaining the present invention, detailed descriptions of parts that overlap with the prior art may be omitted.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an indoor navigation system for implementing a method for providing indoor navigation using a UWB tag (100) and a smartphone (201) according to the present invention.

[0034] First, UWB tags (100: 100A to 100H) are placed at each point along the path people move through within the building. For example, UWB tags (100) can be placed in stores and passageways within the building, and such points are referred to as "movement path points" in this specification. It is preferable that at least one UWB tag (100) be placed in each store and passageway within the building.

[0035] Figure 2 is an example diagram of a typical UWB anchor device and a UWB tag. Figures 2 (a) and (b) are example diagrams of a UWB anchor device, and Figures 2 (c) and (d) are example diagrams of a UWB tag. Referring to Figure 2, UWB tags are smaller and cheaper than UWB anchor devices, and they also consume less power. Accordingly, deploying multiple UWB anchor devices inside a building incurs high installation costs and maintenance burdens, whereas deploying multiple UWB tags inside a building does not incur high installation costs and maintenance burdens.

[0036] Users moving inside a building each carry a smartphone (201: 201A to 201C). The smartphone (201) is equipped with a UWB anchor unit (210: 210A to 210C) and a UWB navigation unit (220: 220A to 220C). In one embodiment, the UWB anchor unit (210) and the UWB navigation unit (220) may be implemented in the form of a smart app (e.g., Android App, iOS App).

[0037] The UWB anchor unit (210) is a component that operates the smartphone (201) as a UWB anchor by utilizing the UWB module built into the user's smartphone (201). In 2019, Apple Inc. installed a UWB module in the iPhone 11 and presented a service based on precise positioning, and since then, UWB modules have been built into smartphones. In the present invention, it is assumed that the user's smartphone (201) has a built-in UWB module. When the UWB anchor unit (210) operates, the user's smartphone (201) functions as a UWB anchor for 10 msec, for example, once per second.

[0038] When performing the role of a UWB anchor, the smartphone (201) transmits and receives UWB signals with a plurality of UWB tags (100) near it using the built-in UWB module. When the user moves while carrying the smartphone (201), the UWB tags (100) with which the smartphone (201) transmits and receives UWB signals continuously change. The UWB anchor unit (210) collects UWB signal transmission and reception information ('UWB transmission and reception information') and transmits it to the navigation server (300). At this time, the UWB transmission and reception information may be configured to include identification information (identifier) ​​of the UWB tag (100) that transmitted and received the UWB signal with the smartphone (201) and the UWB signal reception strength (RSSI).

[0039] The UWB navigation unit (220) is a component that provides an indoor navigation service (indoor navigation service) to the user by linking with an external navigation server (300). The UWB navigation unit (220) provides a user interface (UI) for navigation operation on the display screen of the smartphone (201). When the user sets a destination through the UI of the smartphone (201), the UWB anchor unit (210) operates the smartphone (201) as a UWB anchor, and the UWB navigation unit (220) transmits the destination information to the navigation server (300). Then, the UWB navigation unit (220) obtains movement path information from the navigation server (300) and uses the same to display indoor navigation information (indoor navigation information) on the display screen of the smartphone (201).

[0040] The navigation server (300) is a component that provides indoor navigation services to users inside a building by cooperating with the UWB anchor unit (210) and the UWB navigation unit (220) of the smartphone (201). The navigation server (300) receives destination information from the UWB navigation unit (220) and receives UWB transmission / reception information from the UWB anchor unit (210). The navigation server (300) performs indoor positioning of the smartphone (201) based on the UWB transmission / reception information, and generates an indoor movement path for the smartphone (201) based on the indoor positioning result and provides the generated indoor movement path to the UWB navigation unit (220).

[0041] The navigation server (300) manages a building structure database (310) and a tag placement database (320). The building structure database (310) is a database that stores information about the internal structure of the building (building structure data), and the tag placement database (320) is a database that stores information about the current status of UWB tags (100) placed within the building (tag placement data).

[0042] Figures 3 and 4 are exemplary diagrams of building structure data and tag placement data in the present invention. The building structure data of Figure 3 and the tag placement data of Figure 4 are data for the same space. The navigation server (300) maps the building structure data and tag placement data to each other and utilizes them.

[0043] In this way, the navigation server (300) can use the building structure data and tag placement data for the building in question as a reference. Accordingly, the navigation server (300) can perform positioning to determine where the smartphone (201) is within the building based on the transmission and reception information of the UWB signal provided from the UWB anchor unit (210), and can generate an indoor movement path for the smartphone (201) based on the positioning result and provide it to the UWB navigation unit (220).

[0044] Figure 5 is an example diagram of an indoor navigation service according to the present invention. Figures 6 and 7 are example diagrams of an indoor navigation screen provided by a UWB navigation unit (220) according to the present invention.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 5, when a user sets a destination through the UI of a smartphone (201) at a specific location (current location) within a building, the navigation server (300) provides an indoor movement route to the UWB navigation unit (220), and the UWB navigation unit (220) provides an indoor navigation screen such as FIGS. 6 and 7 on the screen of the smartphone (201).

[0046] As shown in Fig. 5, when a user moves along an indoor navigation screen, the UWB anchor unit (210) of the smartphone (201) continuously transmits and receives UWB signals with newly appearing UWB tags (100) in the vicinity. Based on this UWB signal transmission and reception information, the user's current location is updated in real time, and the indoor navigation screen is also updated based on the location update.

[0047] As an example, a configuration is possible in which a UWB anchor unit (210) transmits UWB signal transmission and reception information to a navigation server (300), and the navigation server (300) updates the user's current location in real time through positioning and updates the indoor movement path and provides it to the UWB navigation unit (220), thereby updating the indoor navigation screen.

[0048] As another embodiment, it is also possible to configure the navigation server (300) to provide tag placement data for the building to the UWB navigation unit (220), so that the UWB navigation unit (220) can update the user's current location in real time and update the indoor navigation screen.

[0049] The present invention utilizes UWB signals for positioning, providing extremely high precision with a margin of error of only a few centimeters. This allows for quick and accurate movement path information in shopping malls, department stores, or large supermarkets, enhancing the user experience within the building and facilitating efficient purchases. Furthermore, with a margin of error of only a few centimeters, it is possible to distinguish between floors of a building, enabling indoor navigation across multiple floors. In particular, the present invention provides multiple positioning references by placing UWB tags (100: 100A to 100H) at multiple movement path points. This significantly enhances the precision of positioning.

[0050] Meanwhile, the present invention preferably links the navigation server (300), the UWB navigation unit (220) of the smartphone (201), and the back-office terminal (400) to provide real-time management and monitoring by the manager. For example, information regarding which locations within a building are frequently visited can be monitored in real time and provided to the manager of the location to inform them of the visits. Furthermore, the frequency of users' searches can be considered as a preference for the location and reflected in the overall store design.

[0051] Figure 7 is a flowchart of a method for providing indoor navigation using a UWB tag and a smartphone according to the present invention.

[0052] The present invention proposes a method for providing indoor navigation using UWB tags and a smartphone for providing indoor navigation inside a building by using a plurality of UWB tags (100) pre-installed at a plurality of movement path points existing inside a building and a smartphone (201) with a built-in UWB module carried by a user.

[0053] Step (S100): First, the UWB navigation unit (220) installed on the smartphone (201) receives destination information within a building from the user through a user interface (UI). For example, a specific room, a specific store, or a restroom within the building may be designated as a destination.

[0054] Step (S110, S120): When a destination is set, the UWB anchor unit (210) installed in the smartphone (201) operates the smartphone (201) as a UWB anchor. Accordingly, the smartphone (201) transmits and receives UWB signals with a UWB tag (100) around the smartphone (201) using the built-in UWB module. The UWB anchor unit (210) monitors the UWB signal transmission and reception between the smartphone (201) and the surrounding UWB tag (100), and collects UWB transmission and reception information accordingly and transmits it to the navigation server (300). At this time, the UWB transmission and reception information may be configured to include identification information of the UWB tag (100) that transmitted and received the UWB signal between the smartphone (201) and the UWB signal reception strength (RSSI).

[0055] Step (S130, S140): The navigation server (300) receives destination information and UWB transmission / reception information from the user's smartphone (201). Specifically, it receives destination information from the UWB navigation unit (220) of the smartphone (201) and receives UWB transmission / reception information from the UWB anchor unit (210) of the smartphone (201).

[0056] Additionally, the navigation server (300) obtains building structure data and tag placement data for the building from the building structure database (310) and the tag placement database (320).

[0057] Step (S150): The navigation server (300) performs indoor positioning for the smartphone (201) based on tag placement data and UWB transmission / reception information. First, the navigation server (300) obtains information about where each UWB tag (100) is placed within the building from the tag placement data and sets it as a reference for indoor positioning. In addition, the navigation server (300) obtains information about which UWB tag (100) the smartphone (201) transmits / receives UWB signals to and at what reception strength from the UWB transmission / reception information. Indoor positioning for the smartphone (201) can be performed by using the tag placement data as a reference and applying the UWB transmission / reception information.

[0058] Step (S160, S170): Next, the navigation server (300) generates an indoor movement route, as illustrated in FIG. 5, based on building structure data, indoor positioning results, and destination information. At this time, it is assumed that an algorithm for generating the movement route has been prepared in advance. The navigation server (300) provides the generated indoor movement route to the smartphone (201).

[0059] Step (S180): The UWB navigation unit (220) provides indoor navigation as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 on the display screen of the smartphone (201) based on the indoor movement path.

[0060] As shown in Fig. 5, when a user moves along an indoor navigation screen, the UWB anchor unit (210) of the smartphone (201) continuously transmits and receives UWB signals with UWB tags (100) that appear newly around the user. The UWB navigation unit (220) updates the user's current location in real time based on this UWB signal transmission and reception information, and the indoor navigation screen is also updated based on the location update.

[0061] As an example, a configuration is possible in which a UWB anchor unit (210) transmits UWB signal transmission and reception information to a navigation server (300), and the navigation server (300) updates the user's current location in real time through positioning and updates the indoor movement path and provides it to the UWB navigation unit (220), thereby updating the indoor navigation screen.

[0062] As another embodiment, a configuration is also possible in which the navigation server (300) provides tag placement data to the UWB navigation unit (220) while providing an indoor movement route, and while indoor navigation is being provided, the UWB navigation unit (220) updates the current location of the smartphone (201) in real time based on the tag placement data and UWB transmission / reception information, and updates the indoor navigation screen according to the updated current location.

[0063] Meanwhile, the present invention can be implemented in the form of computer-readable code on a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium. Various types of storage devices exist as such non-volatile storage media, including hard disks, SSDs, CD-ROMs, NAS, magnetic tape, web disks, and cloud disks. Furthermore, the present invention can be implemented in the form of a computer program stored on a medium, coupled with hardware, to execute specific procedures.

Claims

1. A method for providing indoor navigation using UWB tags and a smartphone for providing indoor navigation inside a building by using a plurality of UWB tags (100) pre-installed at a plurality of movement path points such as passageways and stores inside a building and a smartphone (201) with a built-in UWB module carried by a user. A step in which a UWB navigation unit (220) installed in a smartphone (201) carried by a user receives destination information from the user through navigation operation; When the user's destination information input is identified, the UWB anchor unit (210) installed in the smartphone (201) operates the smartphone (201) as a UWB anchor; A step in which the UWB anchor unit (210) periodically performs a UWB anchor operation using a UWB module built into the smartphone (201); A step of performing UWB signal transmission and reception with a UWB tag (100) near the smartphone (201) using a UWB module built into the smartphone (201) when the UWB anchor unit (210) performs the UWB anchor operation; A step in which the UWB anchor part (210) collects UWB transmission and reception information between the smartphone (201) and a UWB tag (100) near it and transmits it to the navigation server (300); A step in which the UWB anchor unit (210) continuously collects UWB transmission / reception information that continuously changes in the vicinity of the smartphone (201) in response to the user moving while carrying the smartphone (201) and transmits the collected information to the navigation server (300); A step in which the navigation server (300) receives the destination information from the UWB navigation unit (220); A step in which the above navigation server (300) continuously receives the UWB transmission / reception information from the UWB anchor unit (210); A step in which the above navigation server (300) acquires building structure data, which is information on the internal structure of the building; A step in which the above navigation server (300) acquires tag placement data, which is information on the status of a number of UWB tags (100) placed within the building; A step in which the navigation server (300) performs indoor positioning of where the smartphone (201) is located within a building based on the tag placement data and the UWB transmission / reception information; A step in which the navigation server (300) generates an indoor movement route based on the building structure data, the indoor positioning result, and the destination information; A step in which the above navigation server (300) provides the indoor movement route to the above smartphone (201); A step in which the UWB navigation unit (220) provides indoor navigation on the display screen of the smartphone (201) based on the indoor movement path; A step in which the navigation server (300) provides the tag placement data together with the indoor movement path to the UWB navigation unit (220); and While the indoor navigation is being provided, as the user moves along the indoor navigation screen while carrying the smartphone (201), the UWB anchor unit (210) of the smartphone (201) continuously performs additional UWB signal transmission and reception with UWB tags (100) newly appearing around the user, and the UWB navigation unit (220) updates the current location of the smartphone (201) in real time based on the tag placement data and the UWB transmission and reception information collected by the additionally performed UWB signal transmission and reception, and updates the indoor navigation screen according to the updated current location; A method for providing indoor navigation using a UWB tag and a smartphone, comprising:

2. In claim 1, A method for providing indoor navigation using a UWB tag and a smartphone, characterized in that the above UWB transmission and reception information is configured to include identification information of the UWB tag (100) that transmits and receives a UWB signal with the smartphone (201) and UWB signal reception strength (RSSI).

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