Dynamic Location Data Selection Using Uncertainty Thresholds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile phones often provide unreliable and inaccurate location information, which can hinder emergency services' ability to respond promptly to 911 calls, as the Federal Communications Commission requires accurate location data to be provided within certain thresholds.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that dynamically select location data from multiple sources for a user device, by obtaining horizontal and vertical location data, determining their uncertainties, and comparing them to threshold values to ensure compliance with accuracy requirements, and if no compliant sources are found, applying alternative thresholds or selecting non-compliant sources based on lowest uncertainties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If location data is obtained from multiple sources to improve accuracy, then location accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the location data selection process into distinct evaluation stages: first evaluating horizontal location uncertainty against a threshold, then evaluating vertical location uncertainty against a threshold. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple data sources systematically without overwhelming complexity, processing each source's horizontal and vertical components separately before making a selection decision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts its selection criteria based on the evaluated uncertainties. When no source meets both horizontal and vertical thresholds, the system dynamically switches to an alternative evaluation mode using only horizontal uncertainty or a combination of horizontal and vertical uncertainties. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain functionality across varying data quality conditions without requiring a completely different system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If strict compliance thresholds are applied to ensure accuracy, then location accuracy is improved, but the number of compliant sources decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidsource compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the evaluation parameters dynamically based on compliance results. When strict dual-threshold compliance (both horizontal and vertical uncertainties below thresholds) yields no compliant sources, the system transitions to alternative parameter sets: evaluating only horizontal uncertainty or using a combined uncertainty metric. This parameter change enables the system to adapt to varying data quality while maintaining reasonable accuracy standards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial compliance evaluation by relaxing the requirement from full dual-threshold compliance to alternative evaluation modes. When no source fully complies with both horizontal and vertical thresholds, the system accepts sources that meet alternative criteria (such as horizontal-only or combined uncertainty thresholds), representing a partial satisfaction of the compliance requirement that still provides usable location data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If alternative thresholds are used when no compliant sources are found, then source compatibility is improved, but location accuracy may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesource compatibilityVSAvoidlocation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares alternative evaluation pathways in advance of needing them. The alternative thresholds and evaluation modes (horizontal-only, combined uncertainty) are pre-configured as backup options. When strict compliance evaluation fails to find suitable sources, the system smoothly transitions to these pre-prepared alternative criteria, avoiding service disruption while accepting potentially reduced accuracy as a necessary compromise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS20250039642A1Dynamic selection of location data from multiple sources for user device location detection for location-based services using alternative uncertainty thresholds

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 DISH WIRELESS LLC

AI summary

System and method for selecting location data to be used as the location of a user device using a location-based service. Horizontal location data and vertical location data for the user device are obtained from multiple sources. A horizontal location uncertainty and a vertical location uncertainty are determined or obtained for each source. In response to determining that both the horizontal location uncertainty meets a threshold horizontal uncertainty value and the vertical location uncertainty meets a threshold vertical uncertainty value, the corresponding source is identified as compliant. If there are no compliant sources, then alternative threshold horizontal uncertainty value or alternative threshold vertical uncertainty value are selected and used to determine if a source is compliant by meeting the alternative thresholds. In response to identifying at least one compliant source, an optimum compliant source is selected to provide as the location of the user device using the location-based service.