Bluetooth RFID Beacon Identification for GPS-Denied Fleet Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing GPS-based fleet management and geofencing systems are limited in areas inaccessible to GPS signals, are expensive, complex, and unreliable, making them ineffective for tracking and controlling lightweight low-speed vehicles in environments like caves or underground storage.
Innovation Solution
A Bluetooth and RFID beacon system that uses a unique MAC address for identification, integrated with Bluetooth communication circuitry, allowing for vehicle tracking and control through Bluetooth and RFID communication, even in GPS signal-absent areas, with beacons serving as vehicle keys, employee IDs, and geofencing markers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS-based fleet management systems are used, then vehicle tracking capability is provided, but the system becomes inoperable in areas inaccessible to GPS signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines GPS satellite-based positioning with Bluetooth beacon-based positioning into a hybrid system. When GPS signals are available, the system uses GPS for tracking. When GPS signals are unavailable (in caves, warehouses, underground areas), the system automatically switches to Bluetooth beacon triangulation methodology, ensuring continuous vehicle tracking capability across all environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The fleet management system is designed to perform multiple functions through different positioning methods. The same system can operate in both GPS-available and GPS-denied environments by switching between satellite-based positioning and Bluetooth beacon-based positioning, making it universally applicable across diverse operational scenarios.
2Reliability
If GPS-based fleet management systems are used, then vehicle tracking is enabled, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Bluetooth beacons serve as intermediary devices deployed throughout the facility to enable positioning in GPS-denied areas. These low-cost beacons communicate with vehicles via Bluetooth, providing location data without requiring expensive GPS infrastructure modifications or complex satellite communication systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses inexpensive Bluetooth beacons instead of expensive GPS infrastructure. The beacons are low-cost devices that can be easily deployed and replaced if needed, significantly reducing the overall system cost compared to maintaining complex GPS-based infrastructure in controlled environments.
3Ease of operation
If GPS-based geofencing systems are used, then terrestrial travel boundary control is provided, but the system becomes unreliable in enclosed spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges GPS-based geofencing with Bluetooth beacon-based location tracking. In open areas with GPS coverage, traditional GPS geofencing operates reliably. In enclosed spaces where GPS signals are blocked, the system transitions to Bluetooth beacon triangulation to maintain boundary control capability, ensuring continuous and reliable operation across all environments.
Data Source
AI summary
A Bluetooth plus radio frequency identification (RFID) beacon for use vehicle fleet management and geofencing system, wherein the beacon comprises a housing, and a circuit board disposed within the housing. The circuit board comprises a Bluetooth communication circuitry portion containing a unique media access control (MAC) address, and an RFID circuitry portion integrated with the Bluetooth communication circuitry portion such that the RFID circuitry portion is associated with the Bluetooth circuitry MAC address whereby the Bluetooth beacon can be identified, via the MAC address, by an RFID reader communicating with the RFID circuitry portion using the MAC address of the Bluetooth communication circuitry portion.