Adaptive Indoor Positioning via Passive Active Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile communication devices face challenges in accurately determining their location indoors due to unreliable satellite signal reception and the need for precise clock synchronization for terrestrial wireless transmitter measurements, which affects positioning accuracy and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of enhanced passive positioning with adaptive active positioning techniques, using passive measurements from terrestrial transmitters to obtain an initial location estimate and initiating active measurements when necessary, such as through Time of Arrival (TOA) and Round Trip Time (RTT) measurements, to refine the location estimate based on the spatial configuration of transmitters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If passive measurements are used for positioning, then network resource consumption is reduced, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to insufficient clock synchronization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork resource consumptionVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between passive and active positioning modes based on real-time assessment of positioning quality. When passive measurements provide sufficient accuracy, the system remains in passive mode to conserve resources. When accuracy requirements are not met, the system transitions to active mode with clock synchronization, resolving the contradiction by adapting the measurement strategy to current conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of measurements based on spatial configuration assessment. Passive measurements use received signal strength indicators (RSSI) without synchronization, while active measurements enable clock synchronization when geometric dilution of precision (GDOP) indicates poor positioning quality. This parameter switching resolves the contradiction between resource consumption and accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If active measurements with clock synchronization are used, then positioning accuracy is improved, but network resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically activates or deactivates active measurements based on real-time positioning quality assessment using GDOP calculations. Active measurements with clock synchronization are only initiated when passive measurements fail to meet accuracy thresholds, thereby improving positioning accuracy only when necessary while minimizing network resource consumption during normal operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system autonomously determines when active measurements are needed by evaluating the spatial configuration of visible transmitters and calculating GDOP values. This self-assessment mechanism eliminates the need for continuous active measurements, allowing the system to achieve high positioning accuracy only when required while maintaining low resource consumption during sufficient positioning conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Use of energy by moving object

If passive measurements are used, then power consumption is reduced, but positioning reliability deteriorates in indoor environments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidpositioning reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts its measurement strategy based on the reliability of passive positioning, which is assessed through GDOP calculations from the spatial configuration of visible transmitters. In indoor environments where transmitter geometry may be suboptimal, the system transitions to active measurements with clock synchronization to maintain reliable positioning while minimizing power consumption during periods of sufficient passive positioning quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the quality of passive positioning measurements by evaluating the spatial configuration of visible transmitters and calculating GDOP values. This feedback mechanism triggers a switch to active measurements when reliability thresholds are not met, ensuring reliable positioning in indoor environments while maintaining low power consumption when passive measurements are sufficient

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3332264B1Enhanced passive positioning with adaptive active positioning
Publication Date: 2020.03.11 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3332264B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3332264B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3332264B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Example methods, apparatuses, or articles of manufacture are disclosed herein that may be utilized, in whole or in part, to facilitate or support one or more operations and/or techniques for enhanced passive positioning with adaptive round trip time (RTT)-type ranging, such as for use in or with a mobile communication device, for example.