GNSS Position Tracking Using Signal Quality Metrics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional GNSS fencing systems experience errors in determining the position and speed of mobile subjects under unfavorable signal conditions, leading to false boundary violations, which can erode consumer confidence and disrupt training processes.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that utilize a motion detector and an actionable position and speed determination unit to process GNSS data, incorporating signal and solution metrics, to determine a reliable actionable position and speed, reducing the likelihood of false boundary violations by adjusting for signal degradation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional GNSS systems are used to determine position and speed, then the system can operate with standard equipment, but position and speed errors occur under unfavorable signal conditions leading to false boundary violations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveboundary violation detection reliabilityVSAvoidposition and speed determination accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer between the raw GNSS receiver and the boundary violation detection system. This intermediary computes actionable position and speed by filtering and adjusting raw GNSS data based on signal quality metrics, thereby mediating the conflict between using standard GNSS equipment and achieving reliable boundary detection under varying signal conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes parameters of the position determination based on GNSS signal quality metrics. When signal conditions are unfavorable, the system adjusts the computation of actionable position and speed by incorporating signal quality-weighted corrections, thereby adapting the measurement process to maintain accuracy across different signal environments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If differential GNSS corrections are applied to improve position accuracy, then position precision improves under favorable conditions, but errors still occur under unfavorable signal conditions at mobile subject locations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition determination accuracyVSAvoidboundary violation detection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds another dimension to position determination by incorporating GNSS signal quality metrics as an additional parameter. Instead of relying solely on spatial position data, the system evaluates signal quality dimensions (such as satellite geometry, signal-to-noise ratio, and multipath indicators) to weight and adjust the computed position, thereby capturing vertical information about signal reliability that horizontal position data alone cannot provide

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring GNSS signal quality metrics and using this information to adjust the computation of actionable position and speed in real-time. The signal quality feedback loop allows the system to detect deteriorating signal conditions and compensate for expected errors before they cause false boundary violation detections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3187900B1Systems and methods of tracking position and speed in GNSS applications
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 RADIO SYST CORP
  • EP3187900B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3187900B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3187900B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods of tracking a mobile subject based on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) data, including a boundary test unit to evaluate a boundary violation according to the current actionable position and current actionable speed of the mobile subject relative to a predetermined boundary, wherein the current actionable position is a sum of a prior actionable position and a product of a degraded position difference and a position tracking coefficient, and a current actionable speed is a function of a prior actionable speed and a degraded speed estimate.