Bluetooth Beacon Triangulation for Proximity Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bluetooth systems alone fail to provide the secondary functionality necessary for context-sensitive applications due to limitations in range and integration with object placement, making it difficult to implement contextual interactions with mobile user devices effectively.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a beacon device management system that uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocols, including the transmission of periodic beacon messages and encrypted authorization, combined with Passive Infrared (PIR) sensors to detect user proximity and optimize power usage, and a protocol for user device compatibility that involves successive transmissions of 'waking' and 'data' messages to prevent malicious attacks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If Bluetooth systems are used for proximity detection, then data transfer capability is provided, but range and integration with object placement are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontextual interaction capabilityVSAvoidproximity detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology with crowd-sourced triangulation from multiple mobile devices to enhance proximity detection accuracy. By merging the data transfer capability of Bluetooth with the positional information from multiple user devices, the system achieves both versatility in contextual interaction and reliability in proximity detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes mobile user devices that serve multiple functions: they act as both Bluetooth communicators and positional sensors for triangulation. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve accurate proximity detection without requiring dedicated infrastructure, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If beacon devices transmit continuous messages, then proximity detection accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproximity detection accuracyVSAvoidbeacon device power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The beacon device transmits messages periodically rather than continuously, allowing it to maintain proximity detection functionality while significantly reducing power consumption. The system balances measurement precision with energy efficiency by optimizing the transmission interval based on detection requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system leverages the computational resources and sensors of mobile user devices to perform triangulation and position calculation, rather than requiring the beacon device to continuously transmit high-power signals. This self-service approach distributes the computational burden and reduces the power consumption of the beacon device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If Bluetooth messages are transmitted without encryption, then device compatibility is improved, but security against malicious attacks deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidsecurity against impersonation attacks

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authentication by verifying the cryptographic signature of each beacon message before processing its contents. This preliminary security check prevents impersonation attacks while maintaining device compatibility, as the verification process is transparent to the underlying Bluetooth communication protocol.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces cryptographic signatures as an intermediary layer between the beacon device and the processing system. This intermediary mechanism provides security against malicious attacks without affecting device compatibility, as the signatures can be verified by any standard Bluetooth implementation with appropriate cryptographic support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enhances contextual interactions by ensuring accurate proximity detection, preventing impersonation and replay attacks, and optimizing power consumption, thereby improving the reliability and security of Bluetooth-based context-sensitive applications.

Implementation Method 1

combined with Passive Infrared (PIR) sensors to detect user proximity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation detection: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS10955522B2Bluetooth crowd-sourced triangulation

Publication Date: 2021.03.23 META PLATFORMS INC

AI summary

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first, a second, and a third sensing events within a same beacon message interval from a mobile device, each sensing event including a beacon device identifier associated with a beacon device and a timestamp associated with a respective beacon message, a location of the mobile device, and a power level associated with the respective beacon message, determining a first, a second, and a third distances between the mobile device and the beacon device based on the first, the second, and the third sensing events, and determining a position of the beacon device based on the first, the second, and the third distances.