BLE Beacon Location Estimation via Management Server Mediation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacon technology has limited service coverage and lacks advanced methods to accurately estimate the location of mobile terminals, which restricts its application in providing comprehensive location-based services.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that enable mutual information exchange between mobile terminals and a management server to generate and transmit location information, using path history data, signal strength measurements, and beacon terminal IDs to enhance location estimation accuracy and extend service coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If BLE beacon technology is used for location-based services, then service coverage is extended beyond NFC range, but location estimation accuracy is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a management server as an intermediary that receives beacon terminal IDs from mobile terminals and generates accurate location information by correlating these IDs with pre-stored beacon location data. This mediator resolves the contradiction by enabling wide coverage through mobile terminal beacons while maintaining accuracy through server-side location database matching.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where mobile terminals send beacon terminal IDs to the management server, which then provides refined location information back to the terminals. This feedback loop allows the system to maintain high location estimation accuracy even as service coverage expands through peer-to-peer beacon communication.
2Loss of information
If fixed information is carried on broadcast packets in BLE beacon, then multiple pieces of information can be advertised in one device, but service coverage remains limited to direct beacon range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the information advertising capability of fixed beacon packets with the location estimation functionality of the management server. Mobile terminals act as intermediate beacons that carry and relay information, combining the strengths of fixed information broadcasting with extended wireless communication to achieve both comprehensive information availability and expanded service coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a sensor network, Machine-to-Machine (M2M), Machine Type Communication (MTC), and technology for Internet of Things (IoT). The present disclosure may be applied to intelligent services based on the above technologies, such as, for example, and without limitation, smart home, smart building, smart city, smart car or connected car, health care, digital education, retail, security and safety services.A method for operating a management server configured to process location information of a terminal includes receiving, from a mobile terminal, a mobile terminal ID of the mobile terminal and a beacon terminal ID of a beacon terminal broadcast by the beacon terminal; generating first location information related to the mobile terminal ID and the beacon terminal ID and indicating an estimated location of the mobile terminal; and generating content information based on the first location information and transmitting the content information to the mobile terminal.