Geofence Resizing via Location Data Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current location fixing methods for mobile devices, such as GPS and triangulation using wireless towers, suffer from inaccuracies due to sensor limitations and environmental reflections, leading to erratic geofence control and false alerts, which compromise the effectiveness of geofences in applications like child protection and location tracking.
Innovation Solution
An improved location sensing system that refines location accuracy by utilizing overlapping location boundaries from nearby mobile devices, reducing error bounds to small distances, and automatically resizing geofences based on historical visiting patterns and heat maps to accurately track group members' activities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS and triangulation methods are used for location fixing, then location tracking capability is provided, but location accuracy deteriorates due to sensor inaccuracies and environmental reflections causing error bounds up to three miles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines location data from multiple mobile devices in proximity to a geofence, merging their individual location fixes to create a more accurate collective position determination. This aggregation of multiple sensor readings reduces the impact of individual sensor inaccuracies and environmental reflections, thereby improving both measurement precision and reliability of geofence control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a server as an intermediary that receives location information from multiple mobile devices, processes this data to determine accurate geofence crossings, and generates notifications. This intermediary layer filters out erroneous location data caused by sensor inaccuracies and reflections, improving the reliability of geofence control while maintaining the ability to track locations using standard GPS and triangulation methods.
2Ease of manufacture
If fixed geofence boundaries are used, then geofence implementation is simple, but false alerts increase due to location errors causing erratic geofence control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic geofence boundaries that automatically adjust their size and position based on real-time location accuracy data and historical visiting patterns. Instead of fixed boundaries, the geofence system continuously adapts to the actual location precision available, expanding or contracting the boundary as needed. This dynamic approach maintains ease of geofence setup while significantly reducing false alerts by ensuring boundaries reflect true location uncertainty.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of geofence boundary size and position based on location error bounds and historical data. When location accuracy deteriorates due to environmental factors, the geofence parameters are adjusted to account for larger error margins, preventing false positive detections. This parameter adaptation allows the system to maintain simple implementation while eliminating harmful false alerts.
3Area of stationary object
If location error bounds are large, then coverage area is increased, but geofence effectiveness deteriorates due to inability to accurately control access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic geofence boundaries that automatically adjust their size and position based on real-time location accuracy data and historical visiting patterns. Instead of fixed boundaries, the geofence system continuously adapts to the actual location precision available, expanding or contracting the boundary as needed. This dynamic approach maintains ease of geofence setup while significantly reducing false alerts by ensuring boundaries reflect true location uncertainty.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different geofence boundary characteristics to different spatial regions based on local location accuracy conditions. In areas with poor GPS signal or high reflection interference, the geofence expands to accommodate larger error bounds, while in areas with high accuracy, the boundary contracts. This local adaptation ensures access control effectiveness is maintained in each specific location context while preserving appropriate coverage area.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, POI information is received from a first mobile communication device (MCD) of a group of communication devices respectively associated with group members. The POI information includes an identified location to establish a geofence to track activities of the group members at a POI. The geofence surrounding the POI is established based on the POI information. Whether there are changes to the activities of the group of communication devices are determined, where the changes to the activities include a geofence crossing by a group member. A notification is sent to each of the group of communication devices in response to determining that the geofence crossing by the group member has occurred. The geofence crossing indicates an arrival or departure of the group member at the POI. The geofence is resized based on the changes to the activities.