Hybrid GPS WLAN Circuit Board for Seamless Indoor Outdoor Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless location technologies face challenges in providing accurate indoor positioning due to signal interference and limited coverage, especially in military and commercial applications, where seamless indoor and outdoor tracking is needed, and existing WLAN-based systems are time-consuming and lack precision.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid system combining GPS and WLAN technologies with a circuit board capable of sensing and processing both signal types, using approximation algorithms like Discrete Least Squares and Fast Fourier Transform to estimate device position, and applying the Marching Cubes algorithm for 2D/3D rendering, eliminating the need for a beacon database and reducing computational overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS methods are used for outdoor location tracking, then global location information and high accuracy are provided, but transmitted signal strengths deteriorate tremendously in buildings and around outdoor structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines GPS and WLAN positioning systems into a hybrid architecture where GPS provides outdoor location data and WLAN provides indoor location data. The system merges these two positioning methods to achieve seamless indoor-outdoor tracking, resolving the signal deterioration problem by switching to WLAN when GPS signals are blocked by buildings or structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid positioning system is designed to perform multiple functions: GPS-based positioning for outdoor environments and WLAN-based positioning for indoor environments. This multi-functional approach allows the system to maintain location tracking capabilities across different environments, overcoming the limitation of GPS signal blockage.
2Area of stationary object
If WLAN and sensor networks are used for indoor positioning, then coverage area is extended, but a high concentration of sensors is required which hinders cost effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes existing WLAN infrastructure (access points and wireless devices) for positioning purposes without requiring additional dedicated sensor deployments. The WLAN network serves dual purposes: providing wireless communication and enabling location tracking, thereby extending coverage area without increasing sensor concentration or deployment cost.
3Area of stationary object
If beacon networks are deployed for wide coverage, then coverage area increases, but deployment cost and complexity increase due to high sensor concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The system repurposes existing WLAN infrastructure for positioning functions. Standard WLAN access points and wireless devices serve both communication and positioning purposes, eliminating the need for separate beacon sensor deployments. This approach extends coverage area while maintaining cost-effectiveness by leveraging already-deployed infrastructure.
4Measurement precision
If approximation algorithms are applied to determine device position, then positioning precision is improved, but computational overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies approximation algorithms selectively based on environmental context. GPS-based positioning is used when available (outdoor), which requires minimal computation. WLAN-based positioning with approximation algorithms is applied when GPS is unavailable (indoor), providing sufficient precision for the specific use case without unnecessarily consuming computational resources in all scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for tracking a wireless device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the wireless device includes a hybrid global positioning system (GPS) and wireless local area network (WLAN) circuit board for seamless indoor and outdoor tracking. In embodiments, GPS and WLAN data are combined to obtain a position estimate of the device. In other embodiments, the circuit board automatically switches between WLAN and GPS data for indoor and outdoor environments. A Location Based Services (LBS) algorithm for determining the position of a wireless device using WLAN and/or GPS signals is also disclosed. The LBS algorithm is implemented by way of method steps including: sensing GPS and/or WLAN signals, measuring and/or converting the sensed signals to obtain distance data, fusing the distance data, and applying one or more approximation algorithms to the distance data to obtain a position estimate of the wireless device. A method for rendering position data using a Marching Cubes algorithm is further disclosed.