Geolocation Path Data Merging for Target Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional geolocation systems often fail to continuously track targets, leading to multiple identifiers and GPS coordinates for the same physical target, causing confusion and compromising the ability to accurately assess potential threats, especially when targets move out of one system's range and are detected by another.
Innovation Solution
A method of processing and displaying geolocation device target path data that merges or de-merges path data from multiple sources based on likelihood, using algorithms to determine if paths represent the same physical target, and visually coding merged paths to differentiate them from original paths, allowing for accurate tracking and threat assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If geolocation systems take readings at frequent intervals from multiple devices, then tracking coverage and detection capability are improved, but the number of false target identifiers increases and path data accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges path data from multiple geolocation devices by analyzing spatial and temporal proximity of detected targets. When targets from different devices fall within a predetermined distance and time threshold, their paths are merged into a single unified path, eliminating duplicate identifiers while preserving accurate tracking information across device boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a central processing server as an intermediary that receives path data from multiple geolocation devices, performs analysis and merging operations, and generates consolidated target information. This intermediary coordinates data from heterogeneous devices and resolves conflicts between multiple target identifiers.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple geolocation devices operate independently, then system coverage area is improved, but operator confusion increases and threat assessment capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system consolidates target information from multiple independent geolocation devices into unified target records. By merging paths that represent the same physical target, the system presents operators with a single coherent view rather than multiple fragmented identifiers, thereby improving ease of operation and threat assessment while maintaining expanded coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing server provides universal functionality by handling path data from various device types and formats, applying consistent merging logic across all sources, and producing standardized output that can be used for threat assessment regardless of the originating device.
3Duration of action of moving object
If geolocation systems detect targets continuously, then tracking completeness is improved, but the likelihood of detecting the same target multiple times with different identifiers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously merges path data from multiple devices by comparing target positions, velocities, and timestamps. When multiple identifiers correspond to the same physical target within predetermined thresholds, their paths are combined into a single unified trajectory, maintaining continuous tracking while reducing the total number of distinct identifiers.
Solution Approach 2:
The merging process operates continuously as new path data arrives from geolocation devices. The system maintains an ongoing analysis of target paths, continuously identifying and merging duplicate targets, thereby ensuring uninterrupted tracking while dynamically reducing the number of identifiers over time.
Data Source
AI summary
Geolocation device target path data is processed by receiving source geolocation path data about a plurality of targets from at least one geolocation device, analyzing the path data to detect when the path data from one of the targets and the path data from another of the targets are likely to represent a same physical target, and generating modified path data to represent only one target using a merger of the path data from one of the targets and the path data from the other of the targets when they are likely to represent the same physical target. Providing merged and/or de-merged target path data improves the ability of a user to monitor geolocation device target path data.