Decentralized Indoor Navigation via Autonomous Beacon Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing local navigation systems for indoor environments, such as buildings and airports, face challenges in providing anonymous navigation and require complex wiring and central control structures, which can be impractical and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A decentralized local navigation system using stand-alone beacons that send route IDs and guide data via wireless communication, allowing mobile devices to process and display navigation information without the need for central control or wiring, enabling anonymous navigation and easy installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a centralized navigation system with wired beacons is used, then navigation guidance can be provided, but the system complexity and wiring requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system is divided into independent beacon units that operate autonomously without central control. Each beacon contains local route information and can independently communicate with mobile devices, eliminating the need for complex centralized wiring and control structures while maintaining reliable navigation guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical wiring system connecting beacons to a central control unit is replaced with wireless communication. Beacons transmit route information via wireless signals to mobile devices, eliminating the need for physical wiring infrastructure while maintaining system reliability.
2Ease of operation
If centralized control structure is implemented, then navigation coordination is achieved, but installation complexity and wiring needs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each beacon is equipped with self-contained route information and operates autonomously without requiring connection to a central control system. Beacons independently provide navigation guidance to mobile devices, enabling easy installation without complex wiring while maintaining coordinated navigation through standardized route ID protocols.
3Loss of information
If user registration in centralized system is required, then navigation tracking is enabled, but user anonymity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The user registration and tracking functions are extracted from the beacon system and relocated to the mobile device application. The beacons only provide anonymous route guidance through wireless signals, while the mobile device handles all user identification and tracking, preserving user anonymity in the physical environment while maintaining navigation tracking capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A local navigation system includes: a plurality of beacons located in a local environment and being configured to send signals specified to different routes in said local environment; a plurality of mobile devices, each of them including a client controller; and a wireless communication link configured to receive the signals sent by the beacons; an output means configured to display/emit navigation guide data. In the local navigation system, the client controller is configured to process the signals received via the wireless communication link and to process this data into navigation guide data outputted on an output of the mobile device. Each route included in the local environment is assigned a unitary ID and each beacon is located in one specific location of the local environment along at least one of said routes. Each beacon is configured to send the IDs of all the routes passing along its specific location. The client controller obtains the route ID to a chosen destination from a destination input device of the local navigation system and/or of the mobile device. The client controller is configured to provide the navigation guide data in interaction with the beacons sending said route IDs of the chosen location. This system allows anonymous navigation in the local environment, possibly in a decentralized system without centralized or wired system components.