Ad-hoc Network Indoor Location for Hands-free Payment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic payment systems in brick and mortar shopping environments lack accuracy and reliability in determining the location of mobile devices for hands-free payment, especially in indoor settings, due to limitations in GPS and cell tower triangulation methods.
Innovation Solution
A peer-to-peer ad-hoc network system that enables mobile devices to communicate their location coordinates directly with Point of Sale (POS) devices using short-range wireless protocols like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct, allowing for hands-free payment transactions within defined geo-fences, even when the POS device is out of direct communication range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS satellite signals are used for location determination, then outdoor positioning accuracy is improved, but indoor positioning reliability deteriorates due to lack of direct line of sight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces wireless access points and cellular towers as intermediary devices to relay location information indoors. Instead of relying directly on GPS satellites which cannot penetrate buildings, the system uses local wireless infrastructure (access points, cellular towers) as mediators to determine indoor device locations through triangulation and signal strength measurement, thereby resolving the contradiction between outdoor GPS accuracy and indoor positioning reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the GPS satellite-based mechanical/electromagnetic system with a wireless network-based system for indoor positioning. By substituting the direct satellite-to-device signal path with a wireless infrastructure-mediated path (access points/cellular towers to device), the system achieves reliable indoor positioning where GPS fails
2Area of stationary object
If cell tower triangulation is used for location determination, then coverage area is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to coarse tower spacing and multipath issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by deploying multiple wireless access points throughout the indoor environment, creating zones of high-precision positioning coverage. Each access point provides localized accurate positioning data, and the system aggregates these local measurements to achieve both wide coverage and high precision simultaneously, overcoming the coarse spacing limitation of cellular towers
3Productivity
If traditional social networking deal advertising is used, then deal distribution is improved, but location-based targeting capability deteriorates because friends may not be physically near recommended stores
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables mobile devices to automatically determine and communicate their own location coordinates to the system without manual input. This self-service location tracking allows the system to automatically identify which deals are relevant to each user based on their real-time physical location, achieving precise location-based targeting while maintaining efficient automated deal distribution
4Adaptability or versatility
If centralized server-based social networking is used, then deal advertising capability is improved, but location awareness deteriorates because the system lacks knowledge of subscribed members' locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having mobile devices continuously determine and report their location coordinates to the centralized server in advance. This proactive location sharing ensures that when deal advertising occurs, the system already has current location information for all users, eliminating the information loss while maintaining versatile deal advertising capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
Certain aspects of a method and system for communicating location of a mobile device for hands-free payment may include a peer-to-peer ad-hoc network that comprises a plurality of mobile devices, a plurality of access points, and a plurality of point of sale (POS) devices. A first mobile device may determine its location coordinates and communicate them to a selected POS device via the peer to peer ad-hoc network. At least one of the plurality of mobile devices and/or the plurality of access points may be within a defined proximity of the selected POS device. In some instances, the first POS device may receive via one or more intermediate mobile devices in the peer-to-peer ad-hoc network, location coordinates and payment transaction information of a selected mobile device. At least one of the intermediate mobile devices maybe within a defined proximity of the first POS device.