Beacon Selection for Location Inference Using Overlapping Coverage Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing positioning systems face challenges in accurately determining the location of devices without GPS capability or coverage, as the complexity and accuracy of location estimations depend heavily on the selection of beacons, which can be inefficient and inaccurate.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to select beacons based on their overlapping coverage areas, forming a subset that allows for the definition of a smaller geographic area to estimate the location of a computing device, using beacon reference data and coverage area information to refine the location inference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a large number of beacons are used for location estimation, then the coverage area is increased, but the computational complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary subset of beacons from the complete beacon set by identifying beacons whose coverage areas intersect with the target device's location. This extraction process removes unnecessary beacons from consideration, reducing computational complexity while maintaining adequate coverage for accurate location estimation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the beacon set into multiple subsets based on spatial relationships and coverage area intersections. By dividing the complete beacon set into manageable segments that are relevant to specific geographic regions, the system reduces the number of beacons that need to be processed simultaneously, thereby reducing computational complexity.
2Measurement precision
If more beacons are selected for location inference, then the accuracy of location estimation is improved, but the time required for processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-identifying and storing beacon coverage area information and spatial relationships before actual location estimation is needed. This preliminary preparation allows the system to quickly filter and select relevant beacons during real-time operation, reducing processing time while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential beacons whose coverage areas actually intersect with the target device's location from the complete beacon set. By removing irrelevant beacons from the estimation process, the system achieves accurate location inference using a smaller subset of beacons, thereby reducing processing time without sacrificing accuracy.
3Area of stationary object
If all observed beacons are used for estimation, then comprehensive coverage is achieved, but the system becomes computationally inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and identifies the specific subset of beacons whose coverage areas intersect with the target device's location. This extraction ensures that only relevant beacons are used for location estimation, maintaining comprehensive coverage of the actual location while removing unnecessary beacons that would reduce processing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by treating different beacons differently based on their spatial relationships with the target device. Instead of uniformly processing all beacons, the system identifies and processes only those beacons with relevant coverage area intersections, optimizing processing efficiency while maintaining coverage quality in the local area of interest.
Data Source
AI summary
Location inference using selected beacons. Data is received representing a set of beacons observed by a computing device. The beacons are located within a first geographic area. A subset (e.g., a clique) of the beacons is selected based on a coverage area of each of the beacons, where each of the beacons in the selected subset has a coverage area that overlaps with the coverage area of each of the other beacons in the selected subset. Using known or estimated positions of the beacons, a second geographic area is defined based on the selected subset of beacons and the beacon reference data and the coverage areas associated therewith. The second geographic area, smaller than the first geographic area, represents an approximate location of the computing device. In some embodiments, the computing device is calculated to be within the second geographic area with 95% probability.