Infrastructure-Free RF Tracking for Dynamic Indoor Environments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for tracking mobile entities indoors are ineffective in dynamic environments lacking favorable visual conditions or reference anchors, such as first responder scenarios and multi-player AR/VR gaming, due to latency and accuracy tradeoffs, overhead of range measurements, and partial information degrading accuracy.

Innovation Solution

The DynoLoc system employs UWB radio tags with IMUs for infrastructure-free tracking, using topology estimation, concurrent ranging, and robust relative localization through k-core sub-graphs to provide accurate localization without infrastructure support, addressing latency and mobility challenges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If visual inertial odometry is used for indoor tracking, then tracking accuracy is improved in favorable visual conditions, but the system fails to operate in dynamic environments without favorable visual conditions or reference anchors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking accuracyVSAvoidoperational capability in dynamic environments

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces visual-based tracking systems with RF-based tracking systems. Specifically, it uses radio tags and RF signals to achieve tracking without relying on visual conditions or infrastructure anchors, enabling operation in dynamic environments where visual systems fail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces RF signals as an intermediary medium for tracking. Instead of directly using visual information or physical anchors, the system uses radio frequency tags and signals to mediate the tracking process, allowing operation in environments where direct visual or anchor-based methods are unavailable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If fine-grained ranging to reference anchors is used, then tracking accuracy is improved, but the system requires infrastructure support that is unavailable in dynamic environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking accuracyVSAvoidinfrastructure requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the tracking capability from the infrastructure context. Instead of requiring external reference anchors, the system enables nodes to track each other using only the nodes themselves as references, removing the dependency on deployed infrastructure while maintaining tracking functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables nodes to perform tracking using only themselves and other nodes as references. Each node contributes to the tracking of others through peer-to-peer RF ranging, making the system self-sufficient without external infrastructure support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If conventional RF tracking with range measurements is used, then tracking capability is provided, but latency and overhead degrade accuracy in dynamic environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking capabilityVSAvoidlatency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing RF connectivity and topology relationships among nodes before tracking is needed. The system maintains ready-to-use ranging capabilities and pre-computes topological relationships, so that when tracking is required, results are immediately available without significant latency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous RF ranging and topology estimation operations among nodes. Instead of performing measurements only when needed, the system continuously updates range information and topological relationships, ensuring that tracking data is always current and ready for immediate use in dynamic environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

DynoLoc achieves median localization errors under 1-2 meters for tens of mobile entities at speeds of 1-2 m/s with a 1 Hz refresh rate, outperforming existing solutions in dynamic indoor environments, and enables applications like real-time geofencing and multiplayer gaming.

Implementation Method 1

providing each individual one of the plurality of nodes located in the infrastructure-free, dynamic indoor environment with a radio tag

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadio wave propagation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

determining relative localizations of the plurality of nodes by generating rigid k-core sub-graphs of the topology estimate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentUS11388564B2Infrastructure-free RF tracking in dynamic indoor environments

Publication Date: 2022.07.12 NEC CORP

AI summary

Aspects of the present disclosure describe systems, methods, and structures infrastructure-free RF tracking in dynamic indoor environments.