Indoor Location Server Discovery via Proxy Mediator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network-based location services, such as SUPL, face challenges in providing accurate and reliable location determination for mobile devices, especially in indoor environments where the home location server may lack necessary information, leading to suboptimal location assistance and limited access to local location servers.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for indoor location server provision and discovery, allowing mobile devices to query a home location server for authorization to access a second location server associated with a different provider, enabling the device to receive location services from a more suitable local or discovered location server, such as a D-SLP, which can provide improved assistance data and location measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mobile device uses its pre-provisioned home location server (H-SLP) for location services, then the device has a simple client-server connection setup, but the H-SLP may lack local information leading to suboptimal location assistance data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a discovered location server (D-SLP) as an intermediary between the mobile device and the home location server. The D-SLP acts as a local proxy that possesses comprehensive local assistance data and can provide location services to devices in its coverage area, while the H-SLP maintains overall coordination and authorization. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by enabling devices to access local information through the D-SLP while maintaining the simplicity of the original H-SLP connection model.
2Measurement precision
If a mobile device accesses a discovered location server (D-SLP) for improved local assistance data, then location accuracy improves, but the device must navigate complex authorization between multiple location servers
Solution Approach 1:
The D-SLP serves as a mediator that simplifies the authorization process. Instead of requiring the mobile device to directly negotiate with multiple location servers, the D-SLP receives authorization from the H-SLP and then provides localized services to devices. The device only needs to establish a connection with the D-SLP, which handles the complex inter-server authorization transparently, thus improving location accuracy without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the location service function into two distinct roles: the H-SLP handles high-level authorization and coordination, while the D-SLP handles local assistance data provision and device communication. This segmentation allows the device to interact with a simple local server (D-SLP) for accurate location data while the complex authorization logic is distributed to the server layer, reducing the burden on the device.
3Device complexity
If the home location server provides all location services, then the system architecture remains simple, but location services are suboptimal in indoor or roaming scenarios where local information is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the local quality principle by introducing D-SLPs that are specifically optimized for local areas, buildings, or venues. Each D-SLP maintains assistance data relevant to its specific coverage area, such as indoor floor plans, local access points, and venue-specific information. This allows the system to maintain architectural simplicity at the device level while providing highly accurate, location-specific services through locally optimized servers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to the location service architecture by deploying D-SLPs in specific geographic locations and coverage areas. Instead of a single centralized H-SLP serving all devices globally, the system creates a multi-dimensional structure where devices can be directed to appropriate D-SLPs based on their physical location. This dimensional expansion enables accurate indoor and roaming location services while maintaining overall system simplicity through standardized protocols.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods are presented for discovering a local location server associated with a local provider based on a relationship between the local provider and another regional/global provider. A mobile device discovers the local provider and queries a home location server which returns the address of a regional/global location server associated with the regional/global provider. A mobile device then queries the regional/global location server to discover the local location server and may then access the local location server to obtain location services. The method may be employed with the OMA SUPL location solution wherein the home location server may be an H-SLP and the local and regional/global location servers may be D-SLPs.