Radio Beacon Tracking via Acceleration and Time Difference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for tracking radio beacons, including Bluetooth and BLE beacons, face challenges in achieving accurate location determination across their entire communication range, especially in indoor environments and with dynamic beacons, due to limitations in angle of arrival measurements, obstacle sensitivity, and the need for GNSS positioning.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a radio beacon that broadcasts acceleration measurements, allowing a mobile device to determine the distance and direction using Difference in Time of Arrival or Angle of Arrival measurements, transforming these measurements from the beacon coordinate system to the mobile coordinate system, and employing pseudorandom patterns in signal emission to enhance tracking accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If angle of arrival measurements are used for tracking radio beacons, then direction finding capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates in indoor environments with obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from angle of arrival to time difference of arrival. By measuring the time difference when signals from the beacon arrive at different receivers (or the same receiver at different times), the system achieves accurate positioning without being affected by obstacles that block or reflect radio waves, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of direction finding and measurement precision in indoor environments.
2Measurement precision
If GNSS positioning is used for tracking radio beacons, then location determination accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional hardware requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the GNSS satellite-based positioning system with a ground-based radio beacon system using time difference of arrival measurements. This substitution eliminates the need for complex GNSS receivers and satellite infrastructure, achieving accurate location determination through simpler radio signal timing measurements between the beacon and receivers.
3Measurement precision
If radio beacons transmit continuous signals for tracking, then tracking accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic signal transmission by the radio beacon instead of continuous transmission. The beacon transmits signals at regular intervals, and the system uses time difference of arrival measurements of these periodic signals to maintain tracking accuracy. This periodic action significantly reduces energy consumption compared to continuous transmission while preserving the ability to accurately determine beacon position.
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
Enables accurate tracking of radio beacons across their entire communication range, including indoors and with dynamic beacons, by providing precise distance and direction information, while being insensitive to obstacles and not requiring GNSS positioning.
Implementation Method 1
Radio beacons transmit electromagnetic radiation in the radio wave band
Implementation Method 2
measuring at least one of: the Difference in Time of Arrival (DToA) or Difference in Angle of Arrival (DAoA) between these signals, or Time of Arrival (ToA) or Angle of Arrival (AoA) of these signals
Data Source
AI summary
A method and devices are disclosed, for tracking a moving radio beacon by a mobile device, requiring no GNSS service. According to the disclosed method, the beacon is configured to periodically broadcast short RF signals, reporting its momentary acceleration, relatively to its own coordinate system, possibly different than the mobile device coordinate system, and the mobile device is configured to detect said signals, and use said acceleration report, along with other measurements of these signals, specifically: the Difference in Time of Arrival (DToA) or Difference in Angle of Arrival (DAoA), or Angle of Arrival (AoA), to determine the direction and distance from the mobile device to the beacon. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the beacon is a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) tag comprising an accelerometer, configured to perform Bluetooth advertising, and the mobile device is a Bluetooth enabled smartphone.