Cooperative Indoor Localization Using Device Relay Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current location determination techniques for portable electronic devices are ineffective indoors due to poor GPS signal reception, as they rely on external wireless transmitters which do not penetrate well, leading to inaccurate or unavailable location information.
Innovation Solution
A cooperative localization method using short-range communication radio signals, such as Bluetooth, where portable electronic devices within communication range share location information to estimate the location of other devices, leveraging inertial navigation to extend GPS location data into indoor spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS or external wireless transmitter signals are used for location determination, then location information can be obtained outdoors, but the signals do not penetrate well indoors leading to poor or unavailable location information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses portable electronic devices as intermediary nodes to relay location information. Instead of relying on external transmitters that cannot penetrate buildings, the system employs nearby devices with known locations as mediators to determine the location of the querying device through short-range wireless communication, thus solving the signal penetration problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables devices to determine their own locations by serving as both clients and servers. Each portable electronic device can act as a location reference for others, using its own known location and broadcasting it to nearby devices, allowing the network to self-organize and provide location services without external infrastructure.
2Reliability
If assisted GPS or Wi-Fi RSSI measurements are used indoors, then some location information can be provided, but the accuracy is not highly precise and requires defined configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sources of location information by merging GPS data with short-range wireless communication data. By integrating coarse GPS location with fine-grained proximity measurements from nearby devices, the system achieves both indoor availability and high precision without requiring complex configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where location estimates are continuously refined based on measurements from multiple nearby devices. The location server receives ongoing proximity reports and iteratively improves location accuracy by comparing multiple measurements and updating position estimates in real-time.
3Measurement precision
If cooperative localization using multiple portable devices is implemented, then accurate indoor location estimates can be achieved, but the system requires coordination between multiple devices and a location server
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a location server as an intermediary that centralizes the complex coordination tasks. Instead of requiring direct peer-to-peer coordination between all devices, the server manages location data, processes proximity reports, and calculates positions, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The location server provides universal functionality by handling multiple tasks: storing device locations, processing proximity reports, calculating positions, and serving multiple clients simultaneously. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a single component rather than distributing it across all devices.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, computing device and computer readable memory for cooperative localization of a portable electronic device is provided. Location identification messages are received each providing a known location of a respective portable electronic device and an associated transmitter identification (ID) of the respective portable electronic device and stored. Location request messages providing one or more transmitter IDs in communication range with a query portable electronic device and a transmitter ID of the query portable electronic device are received and location information from the stored location information associated with the one or more transmitter IDs received in the location request message is retrieved. A location of the query portable electronic device is estimated based on the retrieved location information and stored with the associated transmitter ID of the query portable electronic device.