Interferometric Terminal Positioning for Line-Shaped Areas

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing positioning methods are slow and inefficient in determining whether a terminal is within a line-shaped area, such as a railway track, while maintaining sufficient precision.

Innovation Solution

The method employs interferometric positioning using satellite signals and a processor that calculates an estimated coordinate, determines the line direction, and uses RTK calculation to assess if the terminal is within a line-shaped area, even if the fix solution is not immediately acquired, by utilizing a float solution and geographic database to increase positioning speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If RTK technique is used to calculate remote distance for precise positioning, then positioning precision is improved, but positioning speed deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidpositioning speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by determining only whether the terminal is within the line-shaped area (binary classification) rather than calculating the exact position. This is achieved by comparing the distance to the line center with half the line width, which provides sufficient precision for safety determination while significantly reducing computational complexity and improving positioning speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the essential information needed for safety determination (whether the terminal is within the line area) from the full positioning data. By using the distance to line center and comparing it with half the line width, the system extracts just the critical spatial relationship information without performing complete RTK positioning calculations, thus improving speed while maintaining sufficient precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If complete area definition is required for positioning determination, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential geometric parameters (line center coordinates and line width) from the complete area definition. Instead of requiring full area boundary definitions or complex polygon data, the system uses simplified line-shaped area representation with center line and width parameters, reducing data complexity while maintaining positioning determination accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter representation from complete area boundary definitions to simplified parameters (line center coordinates and line width). This parameter transformation simplifies the data structure and computational requirements while preserving the ability to accurately determine whether the terminal is within the area, thus reducing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This approach allows for faster positioning while maintaining sufficient precision, enabling the terminal to determine if it is within a line-shaped area, without requiring the user to define the entire area, and reduces the time needed for positioning.

Implementation Method 1

The processor receives a plurality of positioning signals from a plurality of satellites, and performs positioning of a location of the terminal through interferometric positioning

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInterferometric positioning: Interference

Data Source

PatentEP3296768B1Positioning method and terminal
Publication Date: 2023.07.05 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3296768B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3296768B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3296768B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a positioning method and a terminal according to the present disclosure, a processor positions a location of the terminal through interferometric positioning using a plurality of positioning signals received from a plurality of satellites. The processor calculates an integer bias for the plurality of positioning signals, selects a group of location candidates based on a float solution acquired through the calculation of the integer bias, and notifies that the terminal is located at a predetermined point on a map under a condition in which the group of location candidates is included in a line-shaped area.