Indoor Positioning via User Profile Correlation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current indoor position location technologies, such as GPS and Wi-Fi-based systems, face limitations in scalability, accessibility, and user capability, leading to poor accuracy and coverage, especially in private areas and environments with weak GPS signals.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that maintain user profile information, correlate received position locations to identify gaps and failed correlations, update profiles with user-provided location information, and respond to emergency notifications by determining the most likely user location based on profile data, even in areas with poor GPS signal strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS-based position location is used, then outdoor position accuracy is achieved (5m to 50m), but indoor position location cannot be determined due to poor GPS signal reception
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces user profile information as an intermediary element that mediates between the unreliable GPS signals and the position location determination system. The user profile contains historical location data, frequently visited locations, and location patterns that serve as a reference framework. When GPS signals are weak or unavailable indoors, the system uses this intermediary profile to correlate with received position locations and determine the user's position, thus resolving the contradiction between outdoor GPS accuracy and indoor position availability.
2Reliability
If Wi-Fi Access Point based position location is used, then indoor position location can be determined, but the system is not easily scalable as positions of Wi-Fi APs must be constantly determined and requires comprehensive database coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the system automatically correlates received position locations with user profile information without requiring manual database updates or constant determination of Wi-Fi AP positions. The user profile serves as a self-maintaining reference that captures the user's location patterns and frequently visited places, allowing the system to autonomously determine positions even in areas without comprehensive Wi-Fi coverage, thus improving scalability while maintaining indoor location availability.
3Reliability
If comprehensive position location coverage is provided, then position can be determined in all areas, but user profile information and correlation processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by tailoring the user profile information to each individual user's specific location patterns, frequently visited places, and personal preferences rather than using a uniform comprehensive database for all users. The system correlates position locations with user-specific profile data, which reduces the processing complexity compared to searching through comprehensive universal databases, while still providing reliable position determination across all areas the user frequently visits.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of wireless communication includes maintaining user profile information, receiving a plurality of position locations, correlating the received position locations to determine failed correlations, determining blackout periods based on whether there is a gap in the received position locations, obtaining location information for the failed correlations and the blackout periods, updating the user profile information based on the obtained location information, receiving an emergency notification, and responding to the emergency notification based on at least one of the user profile information or an emergency position location received with the emergency notification.