Hybrid Location Accuracy for Mobile Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile devices lack the capability to provide accurate and efficient three-dimensional location information, especially in indoor and urban environments, where satellite signals are obstructed, leading to inconsistent and inaccurate location-based services.
Innovation Solution
The method involves grouping mobile devices with wireless transceivers to form communication groups, sharing location information, and using a combination of GPS, sensor data from accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers, along with network-centric approaches like trilateration and multi-carrier signal analysis to determine precise location coordinates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If satellite-based GPS is used for location determination, then location information can be obtained, but location accuracy deteriorates in indoor and urban environments where satellite signals are obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple location determination approaches (GPS, Wi-Fi positioning, cellular network positioning, and sensor fusion) into a unified system that selects and integrates the most appropriate method based on environmental conditions, thereby maintaining location accuracy despite signal obstructions in indoor and urban settings
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces intermediary elements such as Wi-Fi access points, cellular base stations, and inertial sensors that can provide location information when direct satellite signals are blocked, acting as mediators to overcome the harmful effect of signal obstruction
2Measurement precision
If multiple location determination methods are combined to improve accuracy, then location precision increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts its complexity by selecting and activating only the necessary location determination methods based on current environmental conditions and availability, rather than continuously operating all methods, thereby maintaining precision while managing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the performance and availability of different location methods, automatically adjusting the combination of methods used to maintain optimal precision while minimizing unnecessary complexity
3Measurement precision
If GPS receivers and sensors are added to mobile devices, then location capability is enhanced, but device power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic action by activating high-power components like GPS receivers only when needed and switching to lower-power alternatives (such as cellular network positioning or cached location data) during normal operation, thereby enhancing location capability while managing power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by adjusting the update frequency and activation thresholds of different location methods based on battery status and application requirements, allowing location capability to be maintained at acceptable levels while optimizing power consumption
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, devices and systems for generating enhanced location information on or about a mobile device may include hybrid lateration and/or trilateration solutions in which the mobile device determines whether information obtained via a geospatial system of the mobile device is accurate, collects location information from a plurality of mobile devices in response to determining that the information obtained via the geospatial system of the mobile device is not accurate, computes computing more precise location information (including three-dimensional location and position information) based on the location information collected from the plurality of mobile devices, and uses the computed more precise location information to provide an enhanced location based service, such as an emergency location service, a commercial location service, an internal location service and/or a lawful intercept location service.