BLE RSSI Adjustment by Likely Tag Location for Patient Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing location tracking systems in hospitals face inaccuracies in determining patient location due to signal interference from building structures and individuals, leading to 'drifting' between possible rooms and incorrect identification of patient room.

Innovation Solution

Adjust signal strengths based on the likely locations of transmitters using processors and memory systems, incorporating historical measurements and user-defined values to enhance accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If signal strength measurements are used to determine transmitter location, then location tracking is automated and manual intervention is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to signal interference from walls, room configurations, and individuals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated patient trackingVSAvoidlocation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of signal strength interpretation by introducing location-based bias adjustments. Instead of using raw RSSI values directly, the system modifies these values based on pre-determined bias values associated with different physical locations, thereby correcting for environmental interference patterns while maintaining automated tracking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary computational layer between the raw signal measurements and location determination. This intermediary process applies bias corrections based on location data, acting as a mediator that translates unreliable raw measurements into accurate location information by compensating for environmental factors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If receivers are positioned throughout the hospital to enable location tracking, then coverage area is increased, but device complexity increases due to multiple receivers and signal interference management

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking coverage areaVSAvoidreceiver network complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-determining bias values for each location before actual tracking begins. These bias values are calculated in advance based on the known positions of receivers and expected signal characteristics, allowing the system to compensate for complexity during operation without requiring real-time complex calculations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12457473B2Adjustment of BLE RSSI values based on a tag's likely location

Publication Date: 2025.10.28 ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORP

AI summary

Techniques for adjusting the strengths of signals received from a transmitter based on the transmitter's likely location are disclosed herein. An example method includes receiving, by one or more processors, location information corresponding to one or more respective areas expected to be visited by an individual; receiving, by the one or more processors, measurements indicative of signal strengths of one or more signals transmitted by a transmitter associated with the individual and received by one or more receivers configured to receive one or more signals transmitted by the transmitter, the one or more receivers being positioned at respective receiver locations corresponding to one or more respective areas; and adjusting, by the one or more processors, the received measurements indicative of the signal strengths of the one or more signals transmitted by the transmitter based on the one or more respective areas expected to be visited by the individual.