Crowdsourced Indoor Positioning via Collaborative Fingerprint Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indoor positioning technologies face challenges in delivering accurate navigation indoors due to the inability of satellite signals to penetrate through walls and roofs, leading to inadequate signal reception and quality of positioning data.
Innovation Solution
A method involving mobile devices to collect and share fingerprints of radio signal measurements from communication nodes, with feedback mechanisms to coordinate and optimize the collection of positioning data, ensuring sufficient coverage and quality for indoor navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If satellite signals are used for positioning, then outdoor positioning accuracy is improved, but indoor positioning performance deteriorates due to signal penetration issues
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system is segmented into outdoor mode (using satellite signals) and indoor mode (using WLAN access points and fingerprints). The system automatically switches between segments based on location, maintaining high positioning accuracy in both environments without signal penetration issues.
Solution Approach 2:
WLAN access points serve as intermediary positioning infrastructure for indoor environments. Instead of relying on satellite signals that cannot penetrate walls, the system uses locally available WLAN infrastructure to provide positioning information indoors, ensuring continuous reliable positioning.
2Area of stationary object
If crowd-sourcing data collection is used, then positioning data coverage is improved, but data collection efficiency deteriorates due to lack of coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the server evaluates collected fingerprint data quality and provides guidance to mobile devices on where additional measurements are needed. This coordinated approach maintains comprehensive data coverage while significantly improving collection efficiency by preventing redundant measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The data collection process is made dynamic through real-time feedback. The system adapts collection requirements based on current data quality, adjusting which areas need further measurement. This dynamic coordination optimizes both coverage and efficiency simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus obtains fingerprints that have been collected by a plurality of mobile devices at a particular site for supporting a positioning of other mobile devices, each fingerprint comprising results of measurements on radio signals of at least one communication node at a particular location and an indication of the particular location. The apparatus generates feedback information based on the obtained fingerprints as a whole for coordinating a collection of fingerprints by the plurality of mobile devices. The apparatus transmits the feedback information to the plurality of mobile devices for presentation to users of the mobile devices.