Indoor 3D Positioning Using Elevator RF Altitude Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for determining a position fix indoors are limited in accuracy and reliability, especially in multi-story buildings, due to interference from adjacent floors and the complexity of indoor environments.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing RF communication devices, such as WLAN, Bluetooth, RFID, and NFC devices, located in elevator cars and on building floors, transmit altitude and location information to mobile devices, enabling them to determine a 3D location based on received altitude and latitude/longitude data, thereby improving indoor positioning accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional positioning technologies (TOA, OTDOA, E-OTD, GNSS) are used to estimate location, then location information can be obtained, but positioning accuracy deteriorates in indoor environments due to signal interference and environmental complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces RF communication devices as intermediary elements installed on different floors of a building. These devices receive location information from mobile devices and transmit floor identification information back to the mobile devices. This intermediary system enables accurate indoor positioning by identifying which floor the mobile device is on, thereby resolving the signal interference problem from adjacent floors that plagues conventional positioning technologies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the building into distinct floors, with each floor having its own RF communication devices. This segmentation allows the system to treat each floor as an independent positioning zone, eliminating cross-floor signal interference. By dividing the large indoor space into smaller, manageable segments (floors), the system achieves accurate positioning without the harmful effects of multi-floor signal interference.
2Measurement precision
If RF communication devices are installed on multiple floors to improve positioning accuracy, then 3D location determination is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The RF communication devices are designed to perform multiple functions: they communicate with mobile devices, receive location information, identify the mobile device's floor, and transmit floor identification back to the mobile device. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated positioning hardware on each floor, thereby managing system complexity while enabling accurate 3D location determination across multiple floors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the positioning functionality with existing RF communication infrastructure. Instead of deploying separate complex positioning systems on each floor, the solution merges positioning capabilities into the RF communication devices that are already present or can be easily integrated into the building's existing communication infrastructure, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Whenever a mobile device in a building is within proximity of a RF communication device, the mobile device may be operable to receive location information transmitted, for example by broadcasting it, from a RF communication device. The transmitted location information comprises altitude information of the RF communication device. At least an altitude of the mobile device may be determined based on the received altitude information of the RF communication device. The RF communication device may be located in an elevator car and/or on a particular floor in the building. Whenever the RF communication device is located in the elevator car, the altitude information of the RF communication device may be received by the RF communication device from an elevator controller. In instances when the RF communication device also transmits its latitude/longitude (LAT/LON), the mobile device may be operable to determine a 3-dimentional (3D) location of the mobile device.