Indoor Positioning via Mobile Device Location Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The effectiveness of indoor positioning systems for electronic devices in enclosed areas is limited by the number of devices that can broadcast accurate beacon signals, as it typically requires at least three sources for trilateration, which is not possible in areas with fewer devices.
Innovation Solution
Electronic devices leverage co-located mobile devices with GPS units to obtain and broadcast location coordinates as beacon signals, enabling them to act as temporary sources, thereby increasing the number of beacon signals and improving positioning accuracy and effectiveness by allowing trilateration even in areas with fewer devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electronic devices use dedicated positioning circuits and dedicated beacon sources to improve indoor positioning accuracy, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes mobile devices serve dual functions: their primary communication function and a secondary positioning beacon function. By using the mobile device's existing location capabilities to generate beacon signals for other electronic devices, the system achieves positioning functionality without adding dedicated positioning circuits to each device, thus improving measurement precision while avoiding increased device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages the mobile device's own positioning capabilities (GPS, cellular triangulation) to serve the positioning needs of surrounding electronic devices. The mobile device automatically provides location information to nearby devices without requiring additional positioning hardware in those devices, achieving self-service positioning that improves accuracy without increasing complexity
2Reliability
If the system requires at least three dedicated beacon sources for trilateration to improve positioning reliability, then positioning reliability is improved, but the system cannot operate in areas with fewer devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the number of beacon sources based on environmental conditions. In sparse areas where fewer than three electronic devices are present, the system dynamically incorporates mobile devices as temporary beacon sources to achieve the required three sources for trilateration. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain positioning reliability across varying device densities and environmental conditions
Solution Approach 2:
Mobile devices act as intermediary elements that bridge the gap in sparse environments. When dedicated electronic device beacons are insufficient, mobile devices serve as intermediary beacon sources, enabling trilateration to proceed in areas that would otherwise lack sufficient positioning references, thus improving both reliability and adaptability to sparse environments
3Area of stationary object
If electronic devices continuously broadcast beacon signals to improve positioning coverage, then positioning coverage is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous broadcasting, the system implements periodic beacon transmission triggered by specific events. Electronic devices broadcast beacon signals periodically when location updates are needed, and mobile devices transmit location information periodically when their position changes or when requested by nearby electronic devices. This event-driven periodic action maintains positioning coverage while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous broadcasting
Data Source
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AI summary
In some examples, an electronic device of a localization system comprises a wireless transceiver to exchange data with a mobile device and a processor. The electronic device obtains, from the mobile device, location coordinates of the mobile device. The location coordinates of the mobile device are set as location coordinates of the electronic device. A beacon package comprising an identifier of the electronic device and the location coordinates of the electronic device is generated. The beacon package is transmitted to a local device in proximity to the electronic device.