Hybrid Location Using Wireless Signal Pattern Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing location determination systems for wireless devices using wireless access points face challenges due to inconsistent data, varying hardware and software configurations, and arterial bias, leading to inaccurate location calculations.
Innovation Solution
A method employing a weighted average analysis and pattern recognition algorithms to determine the location of a querying device by scanning wireless channels, receiving signal strength and identifier information, and using a database to compute the device's location, with the weighted average method weighting locations based on signal strength and the pattern recognition method associating signal patterns with regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a weighted average method is used to calculate location based on wireless access point signal strengths, then the location calculation can be performed with simple formulas, but the accuracy is reduced due to inconsistent data, varying hardware configurations, and arterial bias
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-collecting and storing signal strength data from multiple wireless access points at known locations in a database before actual location determination. This pre-processing of data allows the system to account for hardware variations, signal inconsistencies, and arterial bias in advance, so that when a device needs location determination, the pre-processed reference data can be used to improve accuracy without requiring complex real-time calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by using collected location data and signal strength measurements to continuously refine and update the database of reference information. This feedback mechanism allows the system to learn from actual measurements, correct for hardware variations and arterial bias over time, and improve location accuracy while maintaining the simplicity of the weighted average calculation method.
2Adaptability or versatility
If individual devices use different hardware and software configurations with different signal reception characteristics, then device customization and flexibility are improved, but data consistency deteriorates leading to inaccurate location calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using a centralized database that stores reference signal strength data collected from multiple devices with different configurations. This database acts as a mediator that normalizes and standardizes the data from various hardware and software configurations. When determining location, the system compares current measurements against this standardized reference data, thereby compensating for hardware variations and maintaining data consistency despite device diversity.
3Productivity
If signal strength measurements are taken from multiple wireless access points, then location determination coverage is improved, but the complexity of data processing increases due to aggregating data around heavily traffic areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary action by pre-processing and storing signal strength data from multiple wireless access points in a centralized database before location determination is needed. This pre-collection and storage of reference data from numerous access points allows the system to handle complex multi-AP scenarios in advance, organizing the data in a way that simplifies subsequent location calculations while maintaining broad coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating a virtual reference model of the physical environment through the database that stores signal strength patterns from multiple access points. Instead of processing raw measurement data from multiple APs in real-time, the system copies the essential location information into a structured database format that can be efficiently queried and processed, reducing computational complexity while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
A query device scans radio frequencies for visible transmitting devices. The querying device receives at least a signal strength and identifier information associated with each of the transmitting devices. The list of visible devices is used to query a database containing location information for a plurality of visible devices. The list may be sent to a locationing system that may perform a location analysis on the resulting data to return a location to the query device. The weighted average of the locations returned in the database query may be computed to determine the location of the querying device, with the weight for each of the locations being the current signal strength detected by the querying device. Neural network analysis may also be used to determine the location of the querying device. Learning and seeding operations many also be used to populate the database with location information for transmitting devices.