Bluetooth Beacon Location Tracking via Mobile Triangulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional location tracking systems are cost-prohibitive due to the need for extensive infrastructure, making it expensive for organizations to track minimal equipment or personnel without considering life safety.

Innovation Solution

A cost-effective location tracking system utilizing Bluetooth technology and minimal infrastructure, where tracking devices with sensors emit signals to detect surroundings and transmit raw distance data to a network for precise location determination, eliminating the need for costly real-time locating infrastructure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional location tracking systems with extensive infrastructure are deployed, then location tracking accuracy is improved, but system cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation tracking accuracyVSAvoidinfrastructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the location determination function from the central infrastructure and places it in the mobile computing device. The mobile device now performs triangulation calculations locally using signals from multiple Bluetooth beacons, eliminating the need for a centralized location server and reducing infrastructure complexity while maintaining tracking accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces Bluetooth beacons as intermediary devices that transmit location signals between the mobile device and the location tracking system. These low-cost beacons replace expensive infrastructure readers and enable accurate location determination through signal triangulation without requiring complex centralized processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If real-time locating infrastructure is installed, then location tracking capability is improved, but implementation cost becomes prohibitive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation tracking capabilityVSAvoidinfrastructure cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive, permanent infrastructure readers with inexpensive Bluetooth beacons that can be easily deployed and replaced. These beacons use standard Bluetooth technology instead of proprietary real-time locating systems, dramatically reducing implementation costs while maintaining location tracking capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the mechanical/electrical infrastructure of readers and wired connections with wireless Bluetooth technology. This substitution eliminates complex installation requirements and reduces hardware costs while enabling location tracking through software-based triangulation algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If manual inventory capture methods are used, then system cost is reduced, but time consumption and labor requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem costVSAvoidinventory capture time

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic location capture where the mobile computing device independently determines its position through Bluetooth signal triangulation without requiring manual intervention. The device automatically captures location data, updates the database, and notifies relevant parties, eliminating time-consuming manual inventory processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuous automatic location tracking that operates in the background without interrupting normal activities. Unlike manual methods that require stopping work to record locations, the system continuously captures and updates location data automatically, significantly reducing time loss while maintaining low system costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 and cost-effective tracking of persons or assets by using Bluetooth technology and minimal infrastructure, reducing the burden of inventory management and automating location updates without the need for extensive infrastructure.

Implementation Method 1

A sensor of the one or more tracking devices is configured to emit signals and detect structures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBluetooth signal detection:

Data Source

PatentUS11687754B1Automated location capture system

Publication Date: 2023.06.27 MAURER MICHAEL G

AI summary

A locating system includes a mobile smart device and/or central server to receive and process data; a device to be secured or assigned to a person or asset, the device having an RFID tag with communication technology to receive commands from one or more smart devices, such that location is updated without the need for real-time infrastructure.