Indoor Navigation Course Mapping via Inertial Sensors and Beacons
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing navigation systems are ineffective in large or complex buildings where GPS signals are inconsistent or unavailable, making it difficult for users to remember their traversed course and retrace their steps, especially when trying to locate misplaced items.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses context data, such as inertial and environmental sensors, to estimate the mobile device's position and generate a map of the traversed course, even without geodetic data, by interacting with beacon devices and collaborative networks to provide course information for display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS-based navigation is used in large or complex buildings, then route guidance can be provided, but GPS signals become inconsistent or unavailable making it impossible to track the user's actual path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces beacon devices as intermediary elements deployed throughout the building infrastructure. These beacons emit signals that the mobile device uses to estimate its position via triangulation or trilateration, serving as a mediator between the user and the navigation system when GPS is unavailable. This resolves the contradiction by providing a reliable alternative positioning mechanism specific to indoor environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the GPS satellite-based electromagnetic positioning system with an inertial sensor-based mechanical measurement system. Accelerometers, gyroscopes, and other inertial sensors continuously measure the device's motion, orientation, and acceleration to estimate position through integration, substituting the external satellite system with an self-contained inertial measurement approach that works reliably indoors.
2Device complexity
If users rely on memory to remember their course in complex buildings, then no additional technology is needed, but users cannot accurately retrace their path or locate misplaced items
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by continuously tracking and recording the user's traversed path in real-time as they move through the building. The inertial sensors and beacon interactions continuously update the estimated position and store it, so when the user needs to retrace their steps or find a misplaced item, the path information is already captured and can be displayed on a map, eliminating the need for human memory.
3Loss of information
If traditional map updates are performed during navigation, then the recommended route can be displayed, but the system cannot show the actual traversed course or enable easy retracing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously comparing the user's actual traversed path (estimated from inertial sensors and beacon data) with the recommended route, and displaying both on the map interface. The system provides real-time feedback showing where the user has been, where they are going, and allows them to retrace by simply viewing the recorded path, making course retrieval easy and intuitive.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques and mechanisms for providing information to represent a course traversed by a mobile device. In an embodiment, navigation logic of the mobile device determines context data other than any geodetic data that specifies a position of the mobile device. With such context data, the navigation logic determines a sequence of estimates each for a respective position of the device on a course traversed by the mobile device. In another embodiment, determining the sequence of estimates includes determining a first estimate of a first position of the mobile device independent of any geodetic data that specifies the first position. Course information representing such a determined sequence includes timestamp information for the first estimate.