Accuracy Mapping Overlay for Location Tracking Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Location tracking systems often exhibit location estimation errors due to user-specific and hardware-related factors, making it difficult for users to understand and optimize accuracy without clear predictive methods.
Innovation Solution
The development of systems and methods that create a graphical topology map with a color contour overlay to predict and communicate location accuracy on a site map, using received signal strength indication (RSSI) and Euclidean distance to estimate error, allowing users to visualize and adjust infrastructure for improved accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If location tracking systems are deployed without accuracy mapping, then infrastructure cost is reduced, but location estimation accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary accuracy mapping by creating a site map with predicted location accuracy values before actual location tracking operations begin. This pre-computation of accuracy information allows users to understand expected accuracy levels and optimize infrastructure placement in advance, avoiding the need for complex trial-and-error deployments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an accuracy map as an intermediary data structure that mediates between the physical infrastructure (access points, location anchors) and the location estimation process. This accuracy map stores pre-calculated accuracy information that simplifies the relationship between infrastructure configuration and location estimation performance.
2Measurement precision
If more location anchors are deployed to improve accuracy, then location estimation accuracy is improved, but infrastructure cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The accuracy map provides location-specific accuracy information, allowing the system to identify areas with poor accuracy and target infrastructure deployment to those specific locations rather than uniformly distributing anchors. This local optimization ensures that additional anchors are placed only where they are most needed to improve accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the accuracy map as feedback information to guide infrastructure deployment decisions. By visualizing accuracy levels across different locations, users can make informed decisions about where to add or relocate anchors to achieve desired accuracy levels with minimal infrastructure investment.
3Loss of information
If accuracy mapping is implemented, then user understanding of location accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the physical environment in the form of a site map with overlaid accuracy information. This graphical representation copies the essential accuracy characteristics of the physical space in an easily visualizable format, allowing users to understand accuracy levels without dealing with complex underlying calculations or system mechanics.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and method of accuracy mapping in a location tracking system are provided. Methods include identifying a position of at least one location anchor on a site rendering, determining, for a plurality of positions on the site rendering, an estimated error value of location accuracy as a function of position on the site rendering, generating an overlay rendering of the estimated error values of location accuracy for the plurality of position on the site rendering, and the site rendering with the overlay rendering therewith.