Client Location Estimation via Beacon and Access Point RSSI Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless beacon systems face challenges in precisely determining the location of wireless client devices, as they rely on proximity to known devices and lack efficient methods to incorporate information from multiple sources, including devices with unknown locations.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes a location engine to combine measurement data from wireless transmissions between access points, client devices, and beacon devices, including Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) data, to estimate the location of client devices by treating access points and beacon devices as anchor nodes and using algorithms to iteratively calculate the locations of both client and beacon devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wireless beacon systems rely on proximity to known devices for location determination, then the system is simple to implement, but the location precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments location determination into multiple independent measurement components: beacon-to-access-point measurements, client-to-access-point measurements, and beacon-to-client measurements. Each component provides partial location information that is later integrated to achieve precise client location estimation without requiring the entire system to be complex.
Solution Approach 2:
Beacon devices serve as intermediary anchor nodes between access points and client devices. The beacons transmit signals that are received by both access points and client devices, enabling indirect location determination through multiple measurement paths and improving precision without directly increasing system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sources of wireless transmission data are incorporated, then location precision is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement process is divided into three distinct sets of measurements: (1) beacon to access point, (2) client to access point, and (3) beacon to client. This segmentation allows each measurement type to be processed independently using standardized techniques, reducing the overall difficulty despite incorporating multiple data sources.
3Quantity of substance
If beacon devices with unknown locations are used as anchor nodes, then more measurement data becomes available, but the reliability of location estimation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary location estimation for beacon devices with unknown locations by first using measurements from access points with known locations. These preliminary estimates are then refined through iterative optimization using additional measurements from client devices, ensuring reliability is maintained while maximizing the use of available beacon data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback loops where initial location estimates are continuously refined based on new measurement data. Measurements from client devices to beacons provide feedback that corrects and improves the reliability of beacon location estimates, allowing the system to confidently use beacons with initially unknown locations as anchor nodes.
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 the accuracy of client device location estimation by leveraging multiple sources of wireless transmission data, improving location precision and enabling more effective location-based services.
Implementation Method 1
a wireless beacon device may be a low-powered, low-cost transmitter that sends a packet containing information
Implementation Method 2
combining heat maps of Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) data to estimate the location of the wireless mobile client device
Data Source
AI summary
A computing entity, such as a server, obtains a first, second, and third set of measurements based on wireless transmissions between one or more beacon devices, a wireless client device, and one or more wireless access points in a wireless network. The first set of measurements is associated with wireless transmissions from the beacon device(s) received at the wireless access points. The second set of measurements is associated with wireless transmissions between the wireless client device and the wireless access points. The third set of measurements is associated with wireless transmissions from beacon devices received at the wireless client device. An estimated location of the wireless client device is generated based on the first set of measurement data, the second set of measurement data, and the third set of measurement data.