Device Location via Sensor Fingerprinting in GPS-Denied Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices often face challenges in determining location accurately due to lack of GPS signals, interference, or limited availability of alternative solutions like assisted GPS and cellular tower triangulation.
Innovation Solution
A location determination mechanism that uses various sensors such as altimeters, microphones, cameras, and motion sensors to create a digital fingerprint of a device's location, which is matched against a database of known locations, leveraging cloud-based services or local processing for accurate positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS signal is used for location determination, then location accuracy is improved, but reliability deteriorates when GPS signals are blocked or interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple location determination methods (GPS, assisted GPS, cellular tower triangulation, and sensor-based fingerprinting) into a unified system. The sensor data fingerprinting method is merged with traditional GPS and network-based methods, allowing the system to switch between or combine results from different methods based on availability and reliability, thus maintaining location accuracy even when GPS is blocked.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters used for location determination based on environmental conditions. When GPS signals are unavailable, the system transitions from using satellite-based coordinates to using sensor-derived environmental fingerprints (magnetic field, barometric pressure, temperature, humidity, audio, image data) matched against a database of known location signatures, thereby adapting to the blocked signal condition while maintaining determination capability.
2Reliability
If alternative location methods (assisted GPS, cellular triangulation) are used, then reliability is improved when GPS is unavailable, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/network-based location systems (cellular triangulation, assisted GPS) with a sensor-based environmental fingerprinting system. Instead of relying on network infrastructure and signal triangulation, the system uses local sensor measurements (magnetic field sensors, barometric pressure sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, audio sensors, image sensors) to create and match location fingerprints, achieving both reliability and improved precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces sensor-based environmental fingerprints as an intermediary between the device and location determination. Rather than directly using GPS coordinates or cellular tower signals, the system creates an intermediate representation (fingerprint) of the local environment that can be matched against a database, providing a more reliable and precise indirect method of location determination.
3Reliability
If sensor-based fingerprinting is implemented, then reliability is improved in GPS-denied environments, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing device sensors serve multiple functions. Sensors originally designed for other purposes (magnetic field sensors for compass, barometric pressure sensors for altitude, temperature sensors for device operation, audio sensors for calls, image sensors for cameras) are repurposed to collect location-fingerprinting data. This eliminates the need for dedicated location sensors and reduces overall system complexity while improving reliability in GPS-denied environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the device's own existing sensors and processing capabilities to perform location determination without requiring external infrastructure or additional specialized hardware. The device self-services its location needs by utilizing its built-in sensor array and matching capabilities, reducing dependency on external systems and minimizing added complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The subject disclosure is directed towards a technology by which data sensed at a device may be used to determine the likely location of the device, independent of whether GPS data is also available. In one aspect, information representing the sensed device data is sent to a remote service, where it is compared with similar information for known locations to find a matching location. In another aspect, the information is locally processed against locally cached information to find a matching location.