Circular Geofence Approximation for Polygon Boundary Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current geofencing technologies on mobile devices are limited by restrictions on the shape and size of geo-fences, which can lead to reduced accuracy in determining when a device has entered or exited a polygon-shaped geographic region, resulting in increased processing and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating multiple circular-shaped geofences to approximate a polygon-shaped geofence, allowing for reduced processing and power consumption by partitioning the region into sub-regions and adjusting the number of circular geofences based on quality thresholds, thereby improving location-based accuracy and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single circular geofence is used to cover a polygon-shaped region, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of location-based services deteriorates due to increased area outside the intended geofence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a polygon-shaped geofence into multiple triangular sub-regions, each covered by a separate circular geofence. This segmentation allows the system to maintain lower device complexity by using simple circular shapes while improving measurement precision by reducing the total area outside the intended geofence boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different circular geofences to different local regions (triangular sub-regions) of the polygon-shaped area. Each circular geofence is optimized for its specific local region, ensuring accurate coverage while maintaining overall system simplicity through modular structure.
2Measurement precision
If multiple circular geofences are generated to cover a polygon-shaped region, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases due to monitoring multiple geofences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple triangular sub-regions that share common edges into a unified polygon-shaped geofence structure. This merging approach reduces device complexity by consolidating the monitoring system while maintaining measurement precision through the underlying multiple circular geofence coverage of each triangular sub-region.
3Measurement precision
If the number of circular geofences is increased to minimize area outside the geofence, then the measurement precision improves, but the use of energy increases due to processing multiple geofences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a sufficient number of circular geofences to achieve acceptable accuracy thresholds rather than maximizing the number of geofences. This partial action approach minimizes energy consumption while maintaining adequate measurement precision by using the minimum necessary circular geofences to cover triangular sub-regions of the polygon-shaped area.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to technology for location-based services, and in particular, to geofencing. A computing device generates multiple circular shaped geofences to cover a geographic region defined by a polygon shaped geofence. The multiple circular shaped geofences are monitored to detect a current location of user equipment entering a boundary of any of the circular shaped geofences. Based on the detection, determining that the current location of the user equipment is within the polygon shaped geofence. A location based service is notified that the user equipment has entered the polygon shaped geofence.