Indoor RF Coverage Mapping With 3D Imaging for Precise Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems struggle with precise positioning and RF mapping in indoor environments, often requiring additional beacons or military-grade GPS devices, which increase deployment costs and are not efficient in dynamically changing conditions.
Innovation Solution
A data communication network utilizing a cluster controller that integrates imaging devices to synthesize a 3D map of RF coverage areas, correlating image and RF coverage information to predict and proactively manage connections, utilizing AI/ML for real-time adjustments and optimizing beamforming to maintain connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional beacons or military-grade GPS devices are deployed to achieve precise positioning in indoor GPS and RF compromised environments, then positioning precision is improved, but deployment cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing infrastructure elements (cell towers, base stations, access points) perform multiple functions: their primary communication function plus secondary positioning function. By analyzing RF signal characteristics (time of arrival, angle of arrival, signal strength) from these existing structures, the system achieves precise positioning without requiring specialized GPS devices or additional beacons, thus resolving the contradiction between positioning precision and deployment complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the existing RF infrastructure to serve itself by using its own transmitted signals for positioning purposes. The same communication towers and base stations that provide network coverage also provide positioning data through their signal characteristics, eliminating the need for separate positioning infrastructure and reducing both cost and complexity
2Measurement precision
If additional beacons or specialized devices are installed to provide precise indoor positioning, then positioning precision is improved, but deployment cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing infrastructure elements (cell towers, base stations, access points) perform multiple functions: their primary communication function plus secondary positioning function. By analyzing RF signal characteristics (time of arrival, angle of arrival, signal strength) from these existing structures, the system achieves precise positioning without requiring specialized GPS devices or additional beacons, thus resolving the contradiction between positioning precision and deployment complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses inexpensive, widely-deployed commercial RF infrastructure (cell towers, Wi-Fi access points) instead of expensive military-grade GPS devices. These existing structures are already present in the environment and can be leveraged for positioning at minimal to zero additional cost, making the solution economically viable while maintaining high positioning precision
3Reliability
If RF coverage information is correlated with 3D map data to predict connectivity and manage bandwidth, then connectivity reliability is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-generating 3D maps of the coverage area and pre-correlating them with RF coverage information from multiple data communication nodes. This pre-processing creates a ready-to-use connectivity prediction model that can quickly determine device locations and predict connectivity issues before they occur, improving reliability while managing computational complexity through advance preparation
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring RF signal characteristics, comparing actual signal measurements with predicted values from the 3D map, and using this feedback to refine positioning accuracy and connectivity predictions. This closed-loop approach improves reliability by adapting to changing environmental conditions while managing computational complexity through iterative refinement rather than exhaustive calculation
Data Source
AI summary
A data communication network includes a data communication node, an imaging device, and an information handling system. The data communication node establishes a data connection with a user equipment device. The imaging device provides image information for a coverage area associated with the data communication node. The information handling system is coupled to the data communication node and to the imaging device. The information handling system receives the image information, synthesizes a 3D map of the coverage area based upon the image information, receives first coverage information from the first data communication node, correlates the first coverage information with the 3D map to generate a coverage map of the coverage area, and determines a first location of the first user equipment device within the coverage map based on the image information.