Bluetooth HADM Indoor Localization Ping Coordination

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing indoor localization techniques using Bluetooth high-accuracy distance measurement (HADM) require multiple pings to initiate responses from anchor points, leading to high energy consumption and reduced battery life in mobile devices.

Innovation Solution

The described techniques utilize a single HADM ping to initiate multiple responses from anchor points of known locations, reducing the number of pings required and coordinating a HADM time slot among anchor points to calculate the location of tagged devices with lower power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple HADM pings are sent to initiate responses from anchor points, then location accuracy is maintained, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary pairing between the tagged device and anchor points before actual location measurement. During pairing, the tagged device obtains a list of available anchor points, which are then pre-configured to respond to a single HADM ping. This preliminary preparation enables subsequent location measurements to use fewer pings while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The paired anchor point acts as an intermediary that coordinates the HADM time slot and manages the communication between the tagged device and other anchor points. The intermediary anchor point receives the tagged device's request, coordinates with other anchor points to send responses, and facilitates the location calculation using a single ping from the tagged device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple HADM pings are sent to initiate responses from anchor points, then location measurement reliability is improved, but battery life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation measurement reliabilityVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The paired anchor point maintains a continuous ready state, pre-configured to respond to HADM pings from the tagged device. This continuous preparation eliminates the need for repeated ping-response cycles, allowing the system to maintain reliable location measurement capability while reducing the frequency of active transmissions that consume battery power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Measurement precision

If the tagged device sends multiple HADM pings, then location accuracy is improved, but the device's power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of the tagged device sending multiple pings to elicit responses, the system inverts the approach: the tagged device sends a single ping, and the pre-paired anchor points proactively send coordinated responses. This inversion reduces the tagged device's transmission activity and corresponding power consumption while maintaining measurement accuracy through the coordinated multi-anchor responses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The anchor points, once paired with the tagged device, automatically configure themselves to respond to HADM pings. The paired anchor point coordinates with other anchor points in the list, managing the response coordination without requiring additional pings from the tagged device. This self-service mechanism reduces the tagged device's energy expenditure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

This approach significantly reduces energy consumption by minimizing the number of pings, leading to extended battery life in mobile devices while maintaining accurate indoor localization.

Implementation Method 1

The tagged device sends (transmits) a HADM ping and the coordinated anchor points send (transmit) HADM responses. The tagged device receives the HADM responses and uses the delay between the ping and each response, along with the known locations of the anchor points, to calculate a location of the tagged device.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of Flight: Time of Flight

Implementation Method 2

The described techniques identify a location using as few as one HADM ping to initiate multiple HADM responses from anchor points of known locations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS12320913B2Indoor localization using Bluetooth high-accuracy distance measurement

Publication Date: 2025.06.03 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

This document describes techniques and systems for indoor localization using Bluetooth high-accuracy distance measurement (HADM). In examples, the described systems and techniques perform a signal-strength scan to identify multiple anchor points and then pair, based on the signal-strength scan, the tagged device with a first anchor point of the identified anchor points. A HADM time slot is set for the first anchor point and at least two additional anchor points of the identified anchor points. A HADM event is initiated, the HADM event including sending a HADM ping and receiving HADM responses from two or more of the identified anchor points. Based on at least a time of receipt of HADM responses received from the two or more of the identified anchor points, the location of the tagged device is calculated.