Compressing Radio Location Data for Wireless Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transmission of GPS payload data over wireless networks is inefficient, leading to increased bandwidth consumption and costs, as existing methods require multiple bursts to transfer 64-bits of raw location data, resulting in significant network traffic and resource consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for compressing location data by truncating the most significant bits of latitude and longitude coordinates, allowing for transmission of compressed coordinates, which are then decompressed at the network device to determine the absolute location of client devices, using a packet format that effectively reduces the data size from 64-bits to 35-bits or less.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS location data is transmitted using standard 64-bit format (32-bit latitude + 32-bit longitude), then location accuracy is maintained, but network bandwidth consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the 64-bit GPS data into two parts: the most significant bits (MSBs) that determine location accuracy, and the less significant bits that can be truncated. By transmitting only the essential MSBs and using differential encoding for the remaining bits, the patent reduces data volume from 64 bits to approximately 35 bits while preserving sufficient location accuracy for most applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation by using differential encoding instead of absolute coordinates. Instead of transmitting absolute latitude and longitude values, the system transmits differences from a reference point, allowing for more compact representation. This parameter transformation enables the reduction from 64-bit to 35-bit transmission while maintaining location precision within acceptable ranges.
2Loss of information
If multiple transmission bursts are used to send 64-bit location data with overhead, then complete location information is transmitted, but transmission time exceeds 300 ms per update
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by transmitting only the most critical bits of location data in the first burst, rather than waiting to send all 64 bits. The differential encoding allows the receiving end to reconstruct sufficient location information from the compressed 35-bit representation, eliminating the need for multiple bursts and reducing transmission time from over 300 ms to a single burst duration.
3Reliability
If GPS location updates are transmitted frequently to maintain real-time tracking, then location information remains current, but network bandwidth consumption becomes predominant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the location data parameters from absolute 64-bit coordinates to a compressed differential format. By changing how location information is represented and encoded, the system can transmit frequent location updates with much lower bandwidth consumption, making real-time tracking feasible without overwhelming network resources.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods and systems for compressing location data of a radio for over-the-air transmission. A method includes obtaining raw latitude and raw longitude coordinates reflecting a current location of the client device, the raw latitude coordinate represented by x number of bits and the raw longitude coordinate represented by y number of bits. The raw latitude coordinate is truncated by removing n number of most significant bits from the raw latitude coordinate to create a compressed latitude coordinate. The raw longitude coordinate is truncated by removing m number of most significant bits from the raw longitude coordinate to create a compressed longitude coordinate, where m varies as a function of the value of the raw latitude coordinate. The compressed longitude and compressed latitude coordinates are then transmitted to another network device for decompression and use as an indication of the client device's absolute location.