Access Point Location Identification for Indoor Client Positioning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current location systems, such as GPS, fail to provide accurate indoor location determination for client devices, leading to unreliable user experiences and inefficient resource allocation.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing LTE location identification features, such as OTDOA, E-CID, and CID, through an access point device to determine the location of client devices, even if they are not LTE-capable, by connecting to a cellular communications system and receiving location parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If GPS is used for location determination, then outdoor location accuracy is improved, but indoor location reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutdoor location accuracyVSAvoidindoor location reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an access point device as an intermediary between GPS satellites and indoor client devices. The access point receives GPS location parameters and relays them to client devices that cannot directly access GPS signals, enabling indoor location determination through signal mediation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The access point device is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a traditional wireless access point for local area networking and as a GPS location determination node. This multi-functionality allows it to provide location services to both LTE-capable and non-LTE client devices uniformly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If LTE location identification features are used, then indoor location accuracy is improved, but device compatibility worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindoor location accuracyVSAvoiddevice compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The access point device serves as an intermediary that translates LTE location identification features into universal location information. It receives complex LTE positioning data (OTDOA, E-CID, CID) and converts it into standardized location parameters that can be understood by any client device regardless of LTE capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The access point device creates a copy of GPS-like location functionality within the indoor environment by implementing LTE location identification features. This allows non-LTE devices to access location services through the access point, which has copied the essential location determination capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Area of stationary object

If GPS is used for all devices, then location coverage is improved, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation coverageVSAvoiddevice energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the GPS receiver functionality from individual client devices and consolidates it into the access point device. This eliminates the need for each client device to have its own GPS hardware, reducing device complexity and energy consumption while maintaining location coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The access point device provides universal location services to all connected client devices through a single GPS interface. This multi-functional approach allows one device to serve the location needs of multiple clients, reducing overall system resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If non-LTE client devices are equipped with GPS, then location capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The access point device acts as an intermediary that provides location services to non-LTE client devices without requiring them to have GPS hardware. The access point handles all GPS communication and processing, simplifying the client device architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The access point device copies GPS location determination capability into the network infrastructure, allowing non-LTE client devices to access location services through software alone without adding physical GPS receivers to each device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS12493101B2Location identification based on a location identification feature

Publication Date: 2025.12.09 ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC

AI summary

An access point device and a cellular communications system can support one or more location identifier features such that the cellular communications system can provide the access point device with one or more location parameters. The location parameters are indicative of a location of the access point device. The access point device can use the one or more location parameters to determine a location of the access point device. By knowing a location of the access point device, the access point device can determine a location for each client device connected to the access point device. In this way, a more accurate location can be determined by the access point device such that the location of any one or more client devices connected to the access point device can be provided so as to, for example, conserve resources and improve quality of service.