Autonomous Ultrasonic Indoor Location System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current indoor location systems face challenges in providing high-accuracy, user-privacy preserving, and decentralized solutions for indoor positioning, particularly due to the limitations of GPS in indoor environments and the complexity of existing ultrasonic systems like Cricket, which suffer from coordination issues and increased system costs.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous ultrasonic indoor location system that includes a location beacon transmitting apparatus and a receiving apparatus, which synchronizes using a first-signal containing synchronization information, determines the transmission order of ultrasonic signals, calculates Time of Arrival (TOA) information, and calculates the position of the receiving apparatus based on the positions of the ultrasonic transmitters and the TOA sequence, performing position calculation at the client side without a central server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a tracking system with server-side position calculation is used, then location tracking accuracy is improved, but user privacy is compromised and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional tracking system architecture by moving position calculation from server-side to client-side. The receiving apparatus autonomously calculates its position using TOA information from multiple transmitting apparatuses, eliminating the need for a central server to collect and process location data. This inversion preserves user privacy while maintaining location accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving apparatus performs self-positioning by autonomously receiving ultrasonic signals from multiple transmitting apparatuses, calculating TOA information, determining transmission orders, and computing its own position without external server assistance. This self-service capability eliminates privacy concerns associated with centralized tracking.
2Measurement precision
If a centralized server system is deployed, then position calculation accuracy is improved, but system scalability and ease of deployment deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the position calculation function from the centralized server architecture and distributes it to individual receiving apparatuses. Each receiver independently performs TOA-based position calculation using signals from multiple transmitters, eliminating the need for complex centralized server infrastructure and enabling easy system deployment and scaling.
Solution Approach 2:
Each receiving apparatus autonomously calculates its position without requiring centralized server coordination. The system enables distributed, independent position calculation at the client side, greatly simplifying system deployment and enhancing scalability while maintaining position calculation accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If multiple RF and ultrasonic transmitters are used for synchronization, then positioning accuracy is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the synchronization function from the complex multi-signal Cricket system and implements it using a single RF transmitter that sends synchronization signals before ultrasonic transmissions. This simplification reduces system complexity and cost while maintaining the ability to achieve accurate TOA-based positioning through proper signal timing.
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 solution provides low system complexity, high accuracy, real-time location determination, and scalability, ensuring user privacy while eliminating the need for a central server, thus addressing the limitations of existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
The location beacon transmitting apparatus is configured to sequentially transmit US signals at a predetermined time interval
Implementation Method 2
calculate TOA information corresponding to each of the received US signal from the transmission timings and reception timings
Implementation Method 3
calculate TOA information corresponding to each of the received US signal from the transmission timings and reception timings
Implementation Method 4
calculate TOA information corresponding to each of the received US signal from the transmission timings and reception timings of the respective US signals
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous ultrasonic indoor location system includes a location beacon transmitting apparatus and a location beacon receiving apparatus. The location beacon transmitting apparatus is configured to sequentially transmit US signals at a predetermined time interval upon transmission of a signal containing synchronization information. The location beacon receiving apparatus is configured to synchronize with the location transmitting apparatus when synchronization information is detected, determine transmission order of the received US signals based on the obtained synchronization timing, infer transmission timings of the respective US signals based on the determined transmission order, calculate TOA information corresponding to each of the received US signal from the transmission timings and reception timings of the respective US signals, and determine location of the location beacon receiving apparatus on basis of the positions of the US transmitters in the transmitting apparatus and the calculated TOA information sequence.