Access Point Transmit Beamforming for Indoor Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
GPS technology is ineffective in environments with high path loss, such as indoors and urban canyons, due to signal degradation, making it difficult to determine the location of mobile devices in these areas.
Innovation Solution
The use of transmit beamforming by access points to transmit wireless signals with included beamforming parameters, allowing wireless devices to determine their location based on the angles and distances from the access points, using measurements such as time-of-flight and signal strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS signals are used for positioning, then positioning capability is provided, but signal path loss increases in indoor and urban canyon environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces access points as intermediary devices between GPS satellites and mobile devices. These access points receive GPS signals and retransmit them locally, creating a signal relay system that overcomes the path loss problem in indoor and urban canyon environments where direct GPS satellite signals cannot penetrate effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces reliance on direct mechanical/electromagnetic wave propagation from space (GPS) with a wired/wireless local area network infrastructure (access points). This substitution uses existing communication infrastructure to provide positioning data, bypassing the physical limitations of direct satellite signal propagation through building materials and urban structures.
2Measurement precision
If transmit beamforming is used to focus signal energy, then positioning accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes access points multi-functional by combining their existing wireless communication function with a new positioning function. The same access point infrastructure that provides network connectivity also performs transmit beamforming for location determination, eliminating the need for separate dedicated positioning hardware and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The access points perform self-configuration and self-optimization for beamforming operations. The system automatically determines device locations and adjusts beamforming parameters without requiring manual intervention or complex external control systems, allowing the access points to serve themselves while providing enhanced positioning accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate location determination of wireless devices even in challenging environments by focusing signal energy and using beamforming parameters to calculate angles and distances, improving positioning accuracy and effectiveness indoors and in urban areas.
Implementation Method 1
The use of transmit beamforming by access points to transmit wireless signals with included beamforming parameters, allowing wireless devices to determine their location based on the angles and distances from the access points
Implementation Method 2
GPS signals typically experience high path loss in some environments, for example indoors, in urban canyons
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer-readable media comprise: a receiver configured to receive a wireless signal transmitted by an access point, wherein the wireless signal includes one or more transmit beamforming parameters used by the access point to transmit the wireless signal; wherein a location of the apparatus is determinable based, at least in part, on i) the one or more transmit beamforming parameters included in the wireless signal, and ii) a location of the access point.