Collaborative Node-Based Positioning for Hidden Terminal Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current indoor positioning technologies face challenges in reducing the probability of information conflicts caused by hidden terminals, which occur when multiple access points (APs) outside the communication range of an AP send FTM action frames simultaneously, leading to lost information during the positioning process.

Innovation Solution

A collaborative node-based positioning method that identifies and selects a set of collaborative nodes with direct communication capabilities to increase the number of monitoring nodes, thereby enhancing the detection of hidden terminals and improving positioning accuracy by using a larger quantity of monitoring nodes and timestamp information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If multiple APs send FTM action frames simultaneously to STA, then positioning coverage is extended, but information conflict occurs and positioning accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning coverage areaVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the anchor node pre-obtain collaborative positioning node lists from multiple collaborative nodes before initiating the FTM measurement process. This allows the system to pre-identify potential hidden terminals and select an optimal anchor node that can effectively monitor the positioning process, thereby preventing information conflicts before they occur while maintaining extended positioning coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces collaborative nodes as intermediaries between the anchor node and the to-be-positioned node. These collaborative nodes provide their collaborative positioning node lists to the anchor node, enabling the anchor node to make informed decisions about which collaborative nodes to use for monitoring. This intermediary mechanism allows the system to coordinate multiple APs' activities and avoid simultaneous transmissions that cause conflicts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the number of monitoring nodes is increased, then hidden terminal detection capability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehidden terminal detection capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the monitoring function by dividing it between the anchor node and multiple collaborative nodes. Each collaborative node independently provides its collaborative positioning node list to the anchor node, and the anchor node processes these lists to select optimal monitoring nodes. This segmentation allows the system to distribute the complexity across multiple nodes while collectively improving hidden terminal detection capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies self-service by having each collaborative node autonomously generate and provide its own collaborative positioning node list to the anchor node without requiring centralized coordination or complex inter-node communication protocols. This self-service approach simplifies the system architecture while enabling multiple nodes to contribute to hidden terminal detection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3544341B1Cooperative node-based positioning metho and node to be positioned
Publication Date: 2023.09.27 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3544341B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3544341B1 patent drawingFigure 3A
  • EP3544341B1 patent drawingFigure 3B

AI summary

This application provides a collaborative node-based positioning method, a to-be-positioned node, and a collaborative node. The method includes: obtaining a collaborative positioning node list corresponding to each collaborative node that can directly communicate with the to-be-positioned node; selecting, according to the collaborative positioning node list corresponding to each collaborative node, a collaborative node corresponding to a collaborative positioning node list in which a quantity of collaborative nodes being the same as that in a target list corresponding to the to-be-positioned node is largest; and performing positioning on the to-be-positioned node by using an anchor node and each monitoring node, where the anchor node is the selected collaborative node, and each monitoring node is each of same collaborative nodes between the collaborative positioning node list corresponding to the anchor node and the target list. In this way, a quantity of monitoring nodes is greater than a quantity of monitoring nodes corresponding to another anchor node, and a possibility of discovering a hidden terminal is increased, so that a probability that the hidden terminal threatens the anchor node is reduced. In addition, when there are a larger quantity of monitoring nodes, more timestamp information is provided for positioning, thereby increasing positioning accuracy.