Adaptive Location Determination with Hybrid Indoor Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional location determination technologies face issues such as lack of elevation data, indoor positioning challenges, and inadequate integration of locational and temporal information, leading to inefficiencies in location-based services.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a server, mobile computers, and an administrator computer, where mobile computers transmit multiple forms of location information to the server, which applies location determination routines to determine and present locations on maps, integrating geofencing, QR codes, and conflict resolution to ensure accurate and comprehensive location tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS receiver is used for location determination, then latitude and longitude can be determined, but elevation data cannot be provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple location determination technologies (GPS, Wi-Fi, cellular, inertial sensors) into a hybrid system that integrates their respective strengths. This merging allows the system to obtain complete location information including latitude, longitude, and elevation by compensating for the limitations of individual technologies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a universal location determination framework that can operate across multiple environments (outdoor, indoor, urban canyons) using different appropriate technologies. The multi-functional approach ensures comprehensive location data including elevation is available regardless of the operating environment.
2Reliability
If conventional localization technologies are used, then location can be determined outdoors, but location signal cannot be determined inside buildings
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects and switches between different location determination technologies based on the operating environment. When GPS signals are unavailable (indoor environments), the system automatically transitions to alternative technologies such as Wi-Fi positioning, cellular triangulation, or inertial navigation, ensuring continuous location tracking across diverse environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by switching between different positioning methodologies depending on environmental conditions. This includes adjusting the weight and reliability of various sensor inputs based on whether the device is indoors or outdoors, thereby maintaining reliable location determination across all settings.
3Measurement precision
If multiple location determination routines are integrated, then location accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the location determination system into modular components, each responsible for a specific positioning technology (GPS module, Wi-Fi module, cellular module, inertial module). This segmentation allows independent optimization and management of each technology while maintaining overall system accuracy, reducing the complexity burden of integrating multiple approaches.
Data Source
AI summary
Locations for mobile computers may be adaptively determined in a system which includes a server, a set of mobile computers, and an administrator computer. In such a system, the set of mobile computers may each be programmed with instructions operable to, when executed, transmit multiple forms of location information to the server. Additionally, the server may be programmed with a set of location determination routines and these routines may be used in determining a location for each of the mobile computers from the set of mobile computers. These locations may then be used to populate an interface of the administrator computer with icons at positions corresponding to the mobile computers' locations.