Asset Tag Beacon Tracking Indoor Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing asset tracking systems face challenges in achieving high location accuracy indoors, as they often rely on GPS outdoors and struggle with poor resolution using WiFi and cellular triangulation methods indoors, which also result in high power consumption and infrastructure costs.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a network of beacons positioned throughout a physical space, where an asset tag device scans for and rebroadcasts beacon advertising packets, allowing the device, gateway, and server to determine the closest beacon and thereby approximate the location of the asset tag device using signal strength and observation metrics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS is used for asset tracking, then location accuracy is improved outdoors, but it does not work indoors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces beacons as intermediary devices that transmit signaling information to asset tracking devices. These beacons act as mediators between the asset tracking device and the indoor environment, enabling location determination through received signaling information from multiple beacons, thus solving the problem of GPS not working indoors.
2Adaptability or versatility
If WiFi and cellular triangulation methods are used indoors, then asset tracking is enabled, but location resolution is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of the tracking system by using dedicated beacons that transmit specific signaling information containing beacon identifiers and location information. This differs from WiFi/cellular methods by using controlled, known-position beacons with identifiable signals, allowing the asset tracking device to determine the closest beacon through signal strength or observation metrics, thereby improving location resolution.
3Measurement precision
If ultrawideband signaling is used, then asset tracking is achieved, but power consumption is high reducing battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by having beacons transmit advertising packets at regular intervals rather than continuously. The asset tracking device scans for and receives these periodic advertising packets, determines the closest beacon based on received signals, and transmits location information periodically. This periodic operation reduces power consumption compared to continuous signaling while maintaining tracking capability.
4Measurement precision
If angle-of-arrival and angle-of-departure technologies are used, then location determination is enabled, but a high quantity of beacons and large infrastructure investment are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of location determination by having beacons transmit advertising packets containing their identifiers and location information. The asset tracking device receives these packets and determines the closest beacon through signal strength or observation metrics without requiring complex angle-of-arrival or angle-of-departure calculations. This simplifies the infrastructure by removing the need for multiple beacons per location and complex computational resources.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances indoor asset tracking by improving location resolution, reducing costs and complexity, and enabling the asset tag device to determine its own location without relying on central servers.
Implementation Method 1
Each beacon may include an antenna to transmit beacon advertising packets, and each beacon advertising packet may include a beacon identifier. The system may further include an asset tag device attached to an asset and including an antenna to receive beacon advertising packets and to transmit tag advertising packets.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, asset tag devices, and methods are described herein to provide asset, or object, tracking using a plurality of beacons. The asset tag devices may be affixed, or coupled to, the asset, or object, and may receive beacon advertising packets from the beacons, and then transmit, or broadcast, tag advertising packets including information from the received beacon advertising packets, which may be used to determine an approximate location of the asset tag device, and in turn, the asset or object.