Indoor Terminal Location via Transmitter Identifier Relay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for indoor mobile terminal location in cellular networks face challenges, particularly in environments where GPS is inefficient, and require significant infrastructure and modifications to the cellular network, making it difficult to accurately locate terminals within buildings without knowing the indoor environment or modifying existing infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
A process and system that uses minimal infrastructure with transmitter apparatuses in the environment and a receiver in the terminal to send identifiers through the cellular network, allowing an external locating station to determine the terminal's location using existing mechanisms and databases, eliminating the need for locating servers and reducing response times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS satellite systems are used for mobile terminal location, then location accuracy is improved (approx. 10 meters), but the system becomes ineffective in indoor environments and urban centers due to insufficient satellite visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the location service into two distinct parts: outdoor location using GPS satellite systems and indoor location using local infrastructure (Wi-Fi access points, Bluetooth beacons, RFID tags). This segmentation allows each subsystem to operate optimally in its appropriate environment, with the overall system automatically selecting the suitable method based on location context.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary devices such as Wi-Fi access points, Bluetooth beacons, and RFID tags that act as mediators between the mobile terminal and the location service. These intermediaries are deployed in indoor environments to provide location information when GPS is unavailable, effectively bridging the gap between outdoor satellite-based positioning and indoor positioning needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional cellular network location techniques (E-CID, U-TDOA, AFLT, E-OTD) are used, then indoor location capability is improved, but the device complexity and infrastructure requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing infrastructure elements (Wi-Fi access points, Bluetooth beacons, RFID tags) multi-functional by enabling them to provide both their primary communication functions and location service functions. This eliminates the need for dedicated location infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining indoor location capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables mobile terminals to autonomously determine their location by having them query nearby infrastructure elements (Wi-Fi access points, Bluetooth beacons, RFID tags) for identification information. The terminal itself performs the location determination without requiring complex network-based triangulation, simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Measurement precision
If location services are implemented with mandatory infrastructure deployment, then location accuracy and coverage are improved, but the ease of manufacture and deployment deteriorates due to high costs and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the location service functionality with existing communication infrastructure (Wi-Fi access points, Bluetooth beacons, RFID tags) that are already deployed in indoor environments. By combining multiple functions into existing elements, the patent avoids duplicate infrastructure deployment, significantly reducing manufacturing and deployment costs while maintaining location accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A process for indoor location of a mobile cellular terminal (3) equipped with a transceiver apparatus capable of communicating with a mobile cellular telecommunication network (2), through a system including at least one transmitter apparatus (5a-5g), present inside an indoor environment (6;A-G), and at least one of the mobile terminals (3) equipped with at least one receiver apparatus (4), capable of receiving data transmitted by at least one of the transmitter apparatuses (5a-5g) present inside the indoor environment (6;A-G) and of relaying them to a locating station (7) through the transceiver apparatus over the mobile cellular telecommunication network (2), including the following steps, wherein: at least one of the transmitter apparatuses (5a-5g) present in the indoor environment (6;A-G) transmits at least one identifier (ID;-<G>) of the indoor environment (6;A-G) where the transmitter apparatus (5a-5g) is situated; the receiver apparatus (4) of the mobile terminal (3) receives the identifier (ID;-<G>) transmitted by at least one of the transmitter apparatuses (5a-5g); the transceiver apparatus of the mobile terminal (3) relays the identifier (ID;-<G>) or data associated therewith to the locating station (7) through the mobile cellular telecommunication network (2); and the locating station (7) locates the mobile terminal (3) depending on the identifier (ID;-<G>) or the data associated therewith received from the mobile terminal (3) through the mobile cellular telecommunication network (2), by associating the identifier (ID;-<G>) with the position of the indoor environment (6;A-G) after consulting an existing database (9) accessible to the locating station (7), the database (9) including information associating the identifier (ID; -<G>) with data relating to the position of the indoor environment (6;A-G) where the transmitter (5a-5g) that transmitted it is situated, and wherein the identifier (ID) is associated with at least one fixed communication terminal (8) present inside the indoor environment (6), and wherein the data relating to the position of the indoor environment includes a geographic address (LOCATION) of the fixed communication terminal (8).