Portable Indoor Positioning Using Odometry Path Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional location determination in indoor environments without a location beacon system is challenging, often relying on triangulation from cell towers with poor signal strength, leading to imprecise positioning.
Innovation Solution
A location determination process using odometry data collected by a portable communication device (PCD) in a beaconless environment, refined through path-based scanning and data collection techniques, allowing for precise location mapping and precomputation on the device without remote server computation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If triangulation from cell towers is used for location determination in indoor environments, then location determination is possible without location beacons, but the received signal strength is poor leading to imprecise positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces location beacons as intermediary devices that mediate between the cell tower triangulation system and the portable communication device. These beacons receive signals from cell towers and relay processed location information to portable devices, improving signal strength and location precision in indoor environments where direct cell tower signals are weak
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the direct mechanical/electromagnetic signal transmission from cell towers to portable devices with an intermediary system using location beacons. This substitution allows for signal amplification and processing at the beacon level, overcoming the limitations of direct triangulation in indoor environments
2Measurement precision
If path-based scanning and data collection is performed to create location determination datasets, then location precision is improved, but resource and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs path-based scanning and data collection in advance to create comprehensive location determination datasets stored in databases. This preliminary action allows the portable communication device to use pre-computed location information during operation, avoiding the need to perform energy-intensive scanning and computation in real-time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates simplified copies of location data in the form of pre-computed datasets stored in databases. Instead of performing complex real-time calculations, the portable device queries these pre-computed location copies, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining location precision
3Power
If remote or cloud servers are used to provide computation resources for location determination, then processing capability is improved, but device complexity and dependency on external systems increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the computation-intensive tasks of path-based scanning, data collection, and location dataset creation from the portable communication device and performs them using remote or cloud servers. This extraction allows the portable device to maintain simple local functionality while leveraging external computation resources for complex processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional system where location determination can be performed through multiple pathways: using pre-computed datasets from cloud servers, performing local queries against stored location information, or combining both approaches. This universality provides flexibility and reduces dependency on any single external system
Data Source
AI summary
In an example, a method includes obtaining, from an odometry system, odometry data comprising distance data. The distance data includes data indicative of wireless signals at each respective distance. An initial path is generated using the odometry data. The initial path is displayed on a display device and adjustments to the initial path are received from a user. The initial path is changed based on the adjustments, and an updated path is displayed.