Geomagnetic Indoor Mapping for First Responder Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Public safety agencies, such as firefighters, rely on outdated 2D paper maps during emergencies and lack a national aggregated building database, with existing indoor mapping technologies failing during power outages due to reliance on Wi-Fi AP locations.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus utilizing geomagnetic data to provide 3D mapping and real-time location services through a Software Development Kit (SDK) installed on mobile devices, enabling geomagnetic footprint generation and aggregation for indoor mapping, allowing for precise location determination and map collection even without existing indoor mapping data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Wi-Fi AP reported locations are used for indoor mapping, then location services can be provided, but the system fails when power goes out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces geomagnetic data as an intermediary that does not depend on powered infrastructure. Instead of relying on Wi-Fi access points that require power, the system uses the Earth's magnetic field as a persistent, power-independent reference framework for indoor location determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electronic/Wi-Fi-based location system with a geomagnetic field-based system. This substitution eliminates dependence on powered infrastructure by using the natural, always-present geomagnetic field for indoor positioning.
2Ease of manufacture
If 2D paper maps are used by public safety agencies, then no national aggregated building database is needed, but mapping precision and real-time location services are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D paper maps to 3D digital building models with spatial coordinates. This dimensional enhancement enables precise location tracking while maintaining ease of deployment through mobile devices, combining the simplicity of paper maps with the precision of digital systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal system that works across all buildings without requiring building-specific infrastructure. The geomagnetic approach provides a multi-functional solution that delivers both the simplicity of paper maps and the precision of digital systems across diverse building types nationwide.
3Ease of operation
If existing indoor mapping providers are used, then mapping services are available, but the system cannot operate during power outages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces geomagnetic data as a power-independent intermediary that enables location services to function during emergencies. This intermediary allows the system to maintain ease of operation while achieving reliability in power outage conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares for power outage scenarios by using geomagnetic field data that is always available regardless of power status. This beforehand cushioning ensures continuous operation during emergencies without requiring active infrastructure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate and reliable 3D indoor mapping and location services for first responders, improving their efficiency and safety by providing real-time location data and allowing for the creation of a national aggregated indoor mapping database.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetometer to measure a magnetic field vector
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving, over a network from a plurality of mobile devices via a plurality of installed SDKs, sensor data captured by one or more sensors of the plurality of mobile devices, where the sensor data includes geomagnetic data captured within a particular building; providing, over the network, the sensor data to a geomagnetic mapping server to enable generation of a geomagnetic footprint for the particular building that is aggregated with indoor mapping data for the particular building and stored as a map in a mapping repository; and providing, over the network, the map of the particular building to a communication device for presentation at the communication device along with real-time locations of first responders in the particular building, where the real-time locations are determined according to real-time sensor data including real-time geomagnetic data captured by sensors of the first responders. Other embodiments are disclosed.