Headset Camera Navigation via Visual Landmark Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional satellite navigation systems (SPS) are time-consuming and inefficient, especially in indoor and urban environments, and struggle with weak signal detection, limiting their effectiveness in portable applications and battery life.
Innovation Solution
A camera-based navigation system integrated into a headset, using a digital imaging device to capture and process images of the user's gaze, which are then filtered and transmitted to a mobile device for location determination, combining with satellite positioning for enhanced accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional SPS receivers are used for position determination, then satellite signals can be received, but the processing time is too long and battery life is greatly limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing images with the imaging device before full position determination is needed. These images are processed to extract feature information in advance, creating a database of visual landmarks that can be quickly matched against stored maps during navigation, eliminating the need for time-consuming satellite signal processing at each location point
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electronic satellite signal reception system with an optical imaging system. Instead of relying on radio frequency satellite signals that require lengthy computation, the system uses visual feature extraction from camera images combined with map matching algorithms, substituting the SPS reception mechanism with a vision-based navigation approach that operates much faster
2Measurement precision
If SPS receivers operate in indoor or urban environments with buildings, then signal detection becomes difficult due to attenuation and reflection, but position determination is still needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces visual features from the environment as an intermediary between the user and position determination. Instead of directly receiving satellite signals that are blocked or reflected by buildings, the imaging device captures images of environmental features (landmarks, street signs, building facades) that serve as intermediate reference points for calculating position through map matching, bypassing the need for direct satellite signal reception in challenging environments
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing location determination includes generating digital images using an imaging device in a headset configured to provide hands-free communication with a mobile device where the digital images are indicative of at least a scene in a direction of a user's gaze. The digital images are filtered and transmitted to the mobile device. The mobile device processes the filtered digital images to generate location information associated with the user's gaze. The headset may be a wired or wireless headset.