Co-Located Device Positioning Using Multi-Wireless Measurements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless positioning technologies face challenges in accurately determining the location of multiple co-located target devices using a single positioning technology, leading to inefficiencies and reduced accuracy in location estimation.
Innovation Solution
A server configures different target devices to use multiple positioning technologies based on specific criteria, combining positioning information from various sources to determine a common location for a group of co-located devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single positioning technology is used for multiple co-located target devices, then the system complexity is reduced, but the position estimation accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the target devices into different groups based on their positioning requirements and characteristics. Co-located devices are identified and treated as a group, allowing the system to apply different positioning technologies to different groups rather than using a single technology for all devices, thus resolving the contradiction between system complexity and position estimation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a multi-functional positioning system that can selectively apply different positioning technologies (e.g., GPS, Wi-Fi positioning, cellular positioning) to different groups of devices. This universal approach allows the system to maintain low complexity for devices where single-technology positioning suffices while achieving high accuracy for co-located devices through multi-technology fusion.
2Measurement precision
If multiple positioning technologies are used for each target device, then the position estimation accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the positioning operations of co-located devices by identifying groups of devices at the same location and applying positioning technologies to the group as a whole. This combining approach reduces the overall system complexity while maintaining high position estimation accuracy, as the positioning result can be shared among all devices in the co-located group rather than performing separate positioning for each device.
3Measurement precision
If positioning measurements are obtained for all target devices using all positioning technologies, then the position estimation accuracy is maximized, but the time consumption and energy usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the positioning process by identifying co-located device groups and determining their positions collectively rather than individually. This segmentation reduces the total number of positioning measurements required, thereby decreasing time consumption and energy usage while maintaining accurate position estimation for all devices in the group.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by selectively obtaining positioning measurements only for groups of co-located devices rather than for every individual device. This approach achieves sufficient position estimation accuracy for all devices in the group through partial measurements, reducing the overall time and energy required compared to obtaining complete measurements for each device separately.
Data Source
AI summary
In some aspects, a server receives positioning information for a plurality of target devices, determines that a subset of target devices is co-located based on one or more first criteria associated with the positioning information, configures one or more first target devices to obtain one or more first positioning measurements for a first type of positioning technology based on one or more second criteria, configures one or more second target devices to obtain one or more second positioning measurements for a second type of positioning technology based on the one or more second criteria, receives first positioning information for the one or more first target devices, receives second positioning information for the one or more second target devices, and determines a common location for the subset of target devices based on the first positioning information, the second positioning information, or both.