Camera Parameter Adjustment for GNSS-Denied Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing location-based services for mobile devices face challenges in environments without a direct line of sight to sufficient GNSS satellites, such as indoor spaces and urban canyons, where satellite-based positioning is unsatisfactory, and manual heatmap generation and updating are inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The method involves tagging visual data with wireless and sensor measurement information, which is then transmitted to a crowdsourcing server for location determination and heatmap refinement, with the mobile device adjusting camera parameters to capture images that enhance location detection features, using techniques like burst mode and optimal camera settings based on signal strength and vendor information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If satellite-based positioning is used, then location accuracy is improved in outdoor environments, but positioning becomes unsatisfactory in indoor environments and urban canyons without direct line of sight to satellites
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the positioning problem by environment type, using satellite-based positioning for outdoor areas and visual/thermal imaging for indoor or GPS-denied areas. The server divides the physical space into regions and selects appropriate positioning methods based on location characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary that receives data from multiple sources (satellite signals, visual images, thermal data, wireless measurements) and integrates them to determine location. It mediates between different positioning technologies and the final location determination.
2Reliability
If manual heatmap generation is used, then location data can be collected, but the process is inefficient and requires significant manual effort
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing mobile devices to automatically capture visual data, thermal data, and wireless measurements, then automatically transmit this data to the server for heatmap generation and updating, eliminating the need for manual data collection and processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The server processes received data and generates heatmaps that are fed back to mobile devices. The system continuously refines heatmaps based on incoming data from multiple devices, creating a feedback loop that improves accuracy over time without additional manual effort.
3Measurement precision
If camera parameters are set to capture high-quality images with visual features, then location determination accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The server dynamically determines optimal camera parameters based on environmental conditions, device capabilities, and positioning requirements. Instead of using fixed complex parameters, the system adapts parameters in real-time based on current needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes camera parameters (such as field of view, exposure, focus) based on the specific positioning context and environmental conditions. The server adjusts parameters to optimize for location determination while avoiding unnecessary complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques describe opportunistically capturing and tagging images with wireless information by a mobile device. The tagged image may be transmitted to a remote server, such as a crowdsourcing server, where the location at which the image was captured may be determined using visual features from the image. An association between the location and the wireless measurements may be used in building/maintaining a heatmap. In one embodiment, techniques are described for setting camera parameters for opportunistically capturing images and may include receiving at least one signal associated with at least one signal emitting device, determining information associated with the at least one signal emitting device using the at least one signal, setting at least one camera parameter for a camera coupled to the mobile device based on the information associated with the at least one signal emitting device, and capturing one or more images using the at least one camera parameter.