Acoustic Positioning via Variable Broadcast Power Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indoor positioning systems are complex, expensive, energy-intensive, and often fail to provide real-time location determination, lacking simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a first positioning device broadcasts a plurality of positioning signals with different broadcast powers and associated distance indication data signals, allowing a second positioning device to determine the distance by extracting the smallest distance range from received data, enabling efficient and real-time distance and position determination in one, two, or three dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing positioning systems use complex technologies like WLAN, GPS, UWB, TDOA, or active RFID to determine positions, then positioning accuracy and reliability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electronic positioning systems (WLAN, GPS, UWB, TDOA, active RFID) with a simplified acoustic-based positioning method using sound waves and human hearing capability. This substitution dramatically reduces device complexity while maintaining positioning functionality through natural biological sensors instead of sophisticated electronic infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages the inherent human capability to perceive sound and direction without requiring additional complex processing equipment. The human ear and brain naturally perform the functions of signal reception, processing, and position calculation, eliminating the need for complex electronic systems and reducing overall device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If existing positioning systems use sophisticated infrastructure and multiple technologies, then positioning precision is improved, but energy consumption increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces energy-intensive electronic positioning technologies with a passive acoustic method that utilizes human hearing. The human auditory system naturally processes sound waves without requiring additional power consumption for signal processing, thereby dramatically reducing energy consumption while maintaining positioning precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system exploits the body's natural sensory capabilities (hearing and spatial perception) to perform positioning functions without requiring active electronic processing. This self-service approach eliminates the need for continuous power consumption associated with electronic sensors, processors, and communication modules in traditional systems.
3Loss of time
If existing positioning systems process complex signals in real-time, then response time is reduced, but energy consumption and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The human auditory system and brain naturally and instantaneously process acoustic signals to determine direction and distance without requiring computational processing. This biological real-time processing eliminates the need for energy-consuming electronic signal processing while maintaining instantaneous response to positioning changes.
Data Source
AI summary
In a method and system, a distance between at least one first positioning device, FPD, and an second positioning device, SPD, is determined. At the FPD, a plurality of positioning signals are broadcast, wherein each positioning signal has a predetermined different broadcast power. At the FPD, a plurality of distance indication data signals is broadcast. Each distance indication data signal carries predetermined distance indication data associated with a distance range of a corresponding positioning signal at the predetermined broadcast power. At the SPD, the distance indication data are extracted from each distance indication data signal corresponding to a received positioning signal. At the SPD, a distance between the FPD and the SPD is determined from the distance indication data indicating the smallest distance range among the distance indication data received from the FPD.