Electric Field Map Generation Using Propagation Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for generating electric field maps for high-accuracy indoor positioning using BLE beacons are time and effort-intensive, as they require observing radio wave strength at numerous points, which can be inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An electric field map generation device that estimates space propagation characteristics of radio waves based on observed radio wave strength at multiple points and uses these characteristics to estimate radio wave strength at additional points, reducing the need for extensive observation and generating an electric field map.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If radio wave strength is observed at many observation points to generate an electric field map, then positioning accuracy is improved, but time and effort required for observation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-estimating space propagation characteristics using radio wave strength data from only three observation points before generating the electric field map. This preliminary estimation of propagation characteristics (including path loss models and environmental factors) allows the system to predict radio wave strength at unobserved points without physically visiting those locations, thereby reducing observation time while maintaining positioning accuracy through the fingerprint method
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating a virtual model of radio wave propagation characteristics based on limited observation data. The estimated space propagation characteristics serve as a copy or representation of the actual radio wave behavior in the environment, allowing the system to simulate and predict radio wave strength at any point in the space without requiring direct measurement at all points, thus resolving the contradiction between comprehensive observation and time efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
Time and effort to generate an electric field map to realize high-accuracy positioning is reduced. In an electric field map generation device (10) that generates an electric field map in which RSSI obtained when radio waves transmitted from a beacon (60) are observed at each of a plurality of points in the same space is associated with each of coordinates at the plurality of points, a radio wave strength acquisition unit (12) acquires RSSI observed at each of at least three observation points different in distance from the beacon (60), a space propagation characteristics estimation unit (14) estimates space propagation characteristics of the radio waves transmitted from the beacon (60) in the same space using the acquired RSSI at the observation points, a radio wave strength estimation unit (16) estimates RSSI at estimation points on the basis of the estimated space propagation characteristics and distances between the estimation points different from the observation points and the beacon (60), and a generation unit (18) generates the electric field map (26) using the RSSI at the observation points and the estimation points.