Ceiling Image Positioning Using Mobile Terminal Camera
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indoor positioning techniques face challenges such as high costs for beacon device installation and operation, inadequate signal strength distribution from wireless LAN base stations, and the need for specialized wearable devices or complex image processing, which hinder accurate and convenient user location estimation.
Innovation Solution
A positioning system that uses a mobile terminal with a camera to capture images of the ceiling, extracting local features and comparing them to a pre-compiled database to estimate the user's location without the need for dedicated beacon devices or complex geometric calculations, leveraging gravity sensors to ensure accurate image capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If beacon devices are installed for indoor positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but installation cost and operational cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses existing wireless LAN base stations that automatically provide positioning functionality without requiring dedicated beacon devices. The base stations perform their primary communication function while simultaneously enabling positioning through image matching, eliminating the need for separate positioning infrastructure and reducing both installation and operational costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless LAN base station is made multi-functional by using it for both communication and positioning purposes. The same infrastructure serves dual functions, avoiding the need for dedicated positioning devices and reducing overall system cost while maintaining positioning accuracy.
2Ease of manufacture
If wireless LAN base station radio waves are diverted for positioning, then installation cost is reduced, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to inadequate signal strength distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces radio wave-based positioning with image-based positioning. Instead of relying on signal strength distribution from wireless LAN base stations, the system captures images of the ceiling and performs geometric relationship calculations, substituting optical measurement for electromagnetic signal measurement to achieve accurate positioning without dedicated infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces ceiling images as an intermediary element for positioning. Rather than directly using wireless LAN signals, the system captures images of the ceiling structure and uses feature point matching to determine position, creating an indirect but more accurate positioning mechanism that works alongside the wireless LAN infrastructure.
3Measurement precision
If geometric relationship calculation is performed between landscape pictures, then positioning accuracy is improved, but processing load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention focuses on capturing and processing only ceiling images rather than full landscape pictures. By limiting the field of view to the ceiling area and extracting feature points specifically from this region, the system reduces the amount of data to be processed while maintaining sufficient information for accurate geometric relationship calculation and positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-extracts and stores feature points from ceiling images in a database before actual positioning occurs. This preliminary preparation allows the positioning process to simply match feature points rather than perform complex calculations on full images in real-time, significantly reducing processing load during actual use while maintaining positioning accuracy.
4Device complexity
If markers are set up for image-based positioning, then geometric calculation complexity is reduced, but installation cost and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses the existing ceiling structure itself as the positioning reference rather than requiring additional markers to be installed. The ceiling's natural features (lights, vents, patterns) serve as feature points, eliminating the need for separate marker installation while still providing sufficient geometric information for accurate positioning calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The ceiling structure serves dual purposes: its primary function as a building component and its secondary function as a positioning reference. By utilizing the existing ceiling features rather than adding markers, the system achieves positioning functionality without additional installation cost or space requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A position where a user is located can be estimated easily and quickly. When a hold detection unit 122 detects that the user holds a mobile terminal 100 by hand to use the mobile terminal 100 that is held by at least one hand of the user when used by the user and has a camera 130 on the surface facing the ceiling when used by the user, the estimation unit 240 estimates a position where a ceiling is located as the position where the user is located by using an image of the ceiling captured by the camera 130.