Portable Device Route Determination Using Item Interaction Anchor Points
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable devices with motion sensors face challenges in accurate route determination due to high noise and random drift rates, especially in environments with reduced satellite visibility, and existing supplementary methods require significant infrastructure investments.
Innovation Solution
A method that identifies interactions between a user and items to establish anchor points with known locations, combining these with motion sensor data to generate a route traversed by the portable device, without the need for additional infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If motion sensor data is used for route determination, then navigation can be provided without additional infrastructure, but accuracy degrades rapidly over time due to high noise and random drift rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces item interactions as an intermediary calibration mechanism between motion sensor dead reckoning and external positioning systems. When a user interacts with a known item location, this provides a reference point that resets or calibrates the accumulating motion sensor errors, thereby maintaining accuracy without requiring continuous external infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the portable device's own motion sensors combined with user interactions with items in the environment to self-calibrate and maintain accurate route determination. The device serves itself by leveraging existing sensor data and opportunistic calibration events from item interactions, without requiring external positioning infrastructure
2Measurement precision
If GNSS is used for position information, then precise geographic location can be obtained, but performance degrades when satellite visibility is reduced such as in indoor environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic positioning system that automatically switches between GNSS and motion sensor-based dead reckoning based on environmental conditions. When GNSS signal quality degrades (indicated by reduced satellite visibility), the system transitions to using motion sensor data calibrated by item interactions, ensuring continuous accurate positioning across both indoor and outdoor environments
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the positioning system based on environmental conditions. When moving from outdoor GNSS-available environments to indoor environments, the system transitions from satellite-based positioning to inertial sensor-based positioning with item interaction calibration, adapting to the changed environmental parameters
3Adaptability or versatility
If WLAN ranging or cellular triangulation is used for position determination, then position information can be obtained without GNSS, but accuracy is not sufficient to properly supplement dead reckoning determinations
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on imprecise wireless positioning systems, the patent creates accurate position references by copying known item locations from a database and using them as anchor points. When a user interacts with an item, the system copies the item's known location to establish a precise calibration point, avoiding the accuracy limitations of WLAN or cellular-based positioning
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for determining location information for a portable device by identifying interactions indicating proximity between the user and a plurality of items. Each item may be associated with a known location to establish anchor points such that a route traversed by the portable device may be generated from the established anchor points and motion sensor data output by the portable device.