Indoor Mobile Device Location Using Cellular Signal Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing location-based services struggle to provide accurate indoor location determination for mobile devices due to unreliable GPS and cellular signals, and lack of association with specific subscribers, limiting targeted advertising and service effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing an array of antennas within indoor venues to capture and process cellular signals for precise location determination, combined with identifying the mobile device's permanent identifier to associate it with the subscriber, enabling passive tracking and targeted services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS and cellular signals are used for location determination, then outdoor location accuracy is achieved, but indoor location precision deteriorates due to signal attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces Wi-Fi access points as intermediary objects to enable indoor location determination. When GPS and cellular signals are unreliable indoors, the system uses Wi-Fi access points as mediators to provide alternative location data through triangulation or trilateration methods, thus maintaining location accuracy across different environments
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the operational parameters of the mobile device by switching between different wireless communication modes (GPS, cellular, Wi-Fi) based on the environment. This parameter change allows the device to adapt to indoor conditions where traditional signals are attenuated, maintaining reliable location determination
2Measurement precision
If Wi-Fi networks are used for indoor location determination, then location data can be obtained, but user intervention is required to join networks
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically performing location determination using Wi-Fi access points without requiring user intervention to join networks. The mobile device or service provider system autonomously detects access points, extracts location information, and processes it through the cellular network, eliminating the need for users to manually connect to Wi-Fi networks
Solution Approach 2:
The service provider system acts as an intermediary that bridges the mobile device and Wi-Fi access points. It receives signal strength data from the mobile device, correlates it with access point location information, and determines the device's position without requiring the device itself to join the Wi-Fi network
3Productivity
If location information is collected through cellular infrastructure, then general location data is obtained, but granularity and accuracy for indoor venues is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges cellular network infrastructure with Wi-Fi access point data to achieve both broad coverage and fine-grained indoor location accuracy. By combining the extensive coverage of cellular towers with the dense indoor deployment of Wi-Fi access points, the system achieves high-resolution location tracking throughout indoor venues while maintaining overall service coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds another dimension to location determination by incorporating Wi-Fi signal strength measurements alongside traditional cellular triangulation. This additional dimensional data (signal strength from multiple Wi-Fi access points) enables precise three-dimensional location estimation indoors, transforming the location service from coarse cellular-level to fine-grained indoor-level accuracy
4Adaptability or versatility
If applications are required on mobile devices for location services, then location-based services can be provided, but user adoption decreases due to additional requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves universality by making the location determination functionality available to all mobile devices through the existing cellular network infrastructure. The service works with standard mobile devices without requiring specialized applications or configurations, as the location data is collected passively through normal cellular and Wi-Fi signal exchanges and processed by the service provider
Data Source
AI summary
The described examples provide a system and methods for identifying a location of a mobile device within an indoor venue using cellular communication signals obtained while the mobile device is within the indoor venue. An array of antennas arranged within the indoor venue detects cellular communication signals transmitted by the mobile device. The detected cellular communication signals have detectable and measurable signal parameters that allow the location of the mobile device within the indoor venue and an identifier of the mobile device to be determined. The determined identifier of the mobile device may also be used to identify the mobile device subscriber. The mobile device indoor location information may be used to update an anonymized subscriber profile associated with the mobile device subscriber.