Device Positioning via Wireless Timing and Inertial Backtracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing location-based systems for cellular phones face challenges in determining device position without GPS functionality or when GPS signals are unreliable, such as in areas with poor satellite visibility.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing repetitive data from wireless sources to determine device position by recording timing differences and inertial data, allowing for robust position determination through crowd sourcing, even without GNSS or trusted position information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS functionality is used to determine device position, then position determination accuracy is improved, but the system becomes unreliable in areas with poor satellite visibility or when GPS is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary positioning method using wireless network signals (cell towers, Wi-Fi access points) as mediators between the device and the positioning system. When GPS is unavailable, the device uses these wireless intermediaries to determine position through triangulation and timing measurements, ensuring continuous positioning capability across all environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes positioning parameters by switching between GPS-based positioning and wireless-network-based positioning depending on availability. It also uses multiple wireless carriers and access points with different signal characteristics, changing the measurement parameters (timing advance, signal strength, angle of arrival) to adapt to different environmental conditions and maintain reliable positioning.
2Reliability
If multiple positioning methods are implemented to improve reliability, then position determination reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the positioning system universal by implementing multiple positioning methods (GPS, cellular network positioning, Wi-Fi positioning) within a single integrated framework. The same positioning module handles all these methods, using a unified algorithmic approach that determines position from various signal sources, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning system is made dynamic by continuously evaluating the availability and quality of different positioning methods and automatically switching between them. The system dynamically selects the most appropriate positioning method based on current environmental conditions, maintaining reliability while managing complexity through adaptive decision-making rather than rigid multi-method implementation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable device positioning by leveraging timing differences in repetitive wireless data and inertial sensors, reducing reliance on GPS and improving accuracy in areas with limited satellite coverage.
Implementation Method 1
a first timing of receipt of the repetitive data at the trusted position is determined. After the device has moved from the trusted position to a new position, a second timing of receipt of the repetitive data at the new position is determined. Based on both the first timing and the second timing, a distance away from the wireless source that the new position is relative to the trusted position is determined.
Implementation Method 2
both inertial data identifying movement of a device and signals detected by the device are recorded at the device without knowing a trusted position of the device
Data Source
AI summary
A device records observation data including positions of the device. The position of the device can be determined based on a difference between the timing of receipt, from a wireless source, of repetitive data at a trusted position and the timing of receipt of the repetitive data at a new position. The difference is used to determine a distance the new position is away from the wireless source relative to the trusted position, and this distance is used to determine an identification of the new position. The position of the device can also be determined by recording inertial data even though no position of the device is known. When a trusted position of the device is subsequently identified, the inertial data is used to backtrack along a path that the device moved to identify trusted positions of the device along the path.