Geographic Positioning Using Cell Tower Doppler Shift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current logistics management systems face challenges in maintaining in-transit location visibility of shipments, especially when Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals are unavailable due to interference, leading to increased power consumption and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The method involves constructing a database of cell towers using a LinkedWeb structure and employing algorithms like linear least-squares fit and Chi Square least squares to determine the location of moving objects based on Doppler information and signal strength from cell towers, reducing reliance on GNSS and minimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GNSS is used for positioning, then location visibility is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system is segmented into multiple components: GNSS receiver for primary positioning, cell tower identification module for alternative positioning, and database lookup system for location determination. This segmentation allows the system to switch between positioning methods based on signal availability, reducing overall power consumption by not continuously using GNSS.
Solution Approach 2:
Cell towers serve as intermediary positioning references when GNSS signals are unavailable. The system uses cell tower identification and signal strength measurements as intermediate steps to determine location, providing a power-efficient alternative that maintains location visibility without continuous GNSS operation.
2Measurement precision
If GNSS is used for positioning, then location accuracy is improved, but system reliability deteriorates when signals are interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system dynamically switches between GNSS-based positioning and cell tower-based positioning based on signal availability and quality. When GNSS signals are interfered with or unavailable, the system automatically transitions to using cell tower references, ensuring continuous positioning capability and improved reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-establishes a database of cell tower locations and implements alternative positioning algorithms in advance. This preparation ensures that when GNSS signals fail, the system can immediately switch to cell tower-based positioning without interruption, cushioning against the harmful effect of signal interference.
3Measurement precision
If cell tower database is constructed with detailed information, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cell tower database is constructed in advance with pre-collected information including cell tower locations, cell IDs, and signal characteristics. This preliminary action allows the positioning system to simply perform database lookups during operation, achieving accurate positioning without adding complexity to the real-time processing system.
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 enhances in-transit location visibility of shipments while reducing power consumption and allows for accurate positioning even without GNSS signals, improving logistics management efficiency and extending battery life in tracking devices.
Implementation Method 1
determining the location of the receiver based on at least one of Doppler frequency shift and received signal strength of the wireless signals
Implementation Method 2
determining the location of the transmitting station based on the geographic location information of the plurality of locations and received signal strength indicators of the wireless signals
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure provide methods for positioning transmitting stations, such as cell towers. Further, aspects of the disclosure provide a database for storing information of the transmitting stations. In addition, aspects of the disclosure provide methods for positioning a moving object having a receiver based on the database of the transmitting stations and wireless signals transmitted by the transmitting stations. The methods increase in-transit location visibility of shipment while reducing GNSS usage, and thus reduce power consumption. The methods allow positioning receiving stations when GNSS signals may not be available, such as due to interference.