Geolocation Matching Using Spatio-Temporal Database Queries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing geolocation technologies face challenges in accurately matching locations with varying resolution levels, as exact mathematical matches are not always feasible, especially when high-resolution and low-resolution positions correspond to the same physical location.
Innovation Solution
A geolocation application on mobile devices records location information over time, allowing for logical matching by using a matcher to query a database with location and time information, enabling the identification of items based on similar paths and time frames, even if exact coordinates do not match.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If exact coordinate matching is used for location matching, then measurement precision is improved, but adaptability deteriorates because locations with varying resolution levels cannot be matched accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the matching parameters from exact coordinate comparison to a combination of spatial proximity and temporal closeness. By introducing time as a matching dimension and using configurable search radii, the system adapts to different location resolutions while maintaining meaningful matches.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds the time dimension to location matching. Instead of matching only on spatial coordinates, the system combines spatial proximity with temporal closeness, creating a two-dimensional matching space that handles varying location resolutions more effectively.
2Adaptability or versatility
If time-based location tracking is implemented, then adaptability to varying resolution locations is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional tracking and database operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a universal database structure that stores both location and time information, allowing the same infrastructure to handle multiple matching scenarios. The database query mechanism serves multiple purposes: exact matching, approximate matching, and temporal filtering, reducing the need for separate processing paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The database acts as an intermediary between location tracking and matching operations. By pre-storing time-associated location data in the database, the system avoids complex real-time calculations and uses database queries as a mediator to retrieve and filter matching locations efficiently.
3Reliability
If location and time information is stored and queried, then reliability of location-based services is improved, but loss of information increases due to storage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system stores time information associated with location data, which may be considered excessive, but this partial storage of temporal metadata enables reliable matching without requiring storage of complete historical trajectories. The selective storage of time-stamped location data provides sufficient information for accurate matching while minimizing storage overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for location matching. The method may include tracking, by the user equipment, a plurality of locations of the user equipment, the plurality of locations mapped to a plurality of time values representative of when the user equipment traversed the plurality of locations; determining, by the user equipment, a first location of the user equipment, wherein the determining is based on a first time value received from an interface; providing, by the user equipment, at least one of the determined first location and the received first time value to a database searchable based on the at least one of the determined first location and the received first time value; and receiving, at the user equipment, an indication of whether the database includes one or more items matching the at least one of the determined first location and the received first time value. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.