LED Positioning Beacon for Indoor-Outdoor Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional GPS systems have limited accuracy, typically ranging from 10 to 20 meters outdoors and are ineffective indoors or in sheltered environments, making it difficult to achieve precise positioning for location-based services and energy-efficient lighting control in urban areas.
Innovation Solution
A smart networking system utilizing LED lights with built-in communication functions based on IoT technologies, such as BLUETOOTH 4.0, WIFI, ANT, ANT+, ZIGBEE, and LoRa, that integrate with mobile communication devices to provide accurate indoor and outdoor positioning, enabling energy-saving and carbon dioxide reduction by dynamically controlling illumination based on user proximity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional GPS systems are used for positioning, then the system is simple and widely available, but the positioning accuracy is limited to 10-20 meters and ineffective indoors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the positioning system into multiple independent components: outdoor GPS receivers for macro-positioning, indoor wireless access points for micro-positioning, and a fusion algorithm that segments the positioning task based on environment. This segmentation enables 1-2 meter accuracy indoors while keeping each component relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal positioning system that uses different technologies (GPS, wireless signals, infrastructure-based positioning) depending on the environment. The same system can operate outdoors using GPS and indoors using wireless infrastructure, making it multi-functional and adaptable to various scenarios without requiring completely separate systems.
2Measurement precision
If higher accuracy positioning equipment is used to achieve sub-2-meter accuracy, then positioning precision improves, but equipment cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables existing infrastructure (wireless access points, cellular towers, GPS receivers) to serve dual purposes: their primary functions plus positioning functions. By using already-deployed infrastructure for positioning, the system avoids the need for expensive dedicated high-precision equipment while achieving sub-2-meter accuracy through intelligent signal processing and fusion algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of existing infrastructure by adding positioning capabilities to non-positioning devices. Ordinary wireless access points and cellular base stations are transformed into positioning beacons by measuring signal characteristics (time of arrival, signal strength, phase), enabling high-precision positioning without deploying specialized expensive equipment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If GPS is used for outdoor positioning, then the system works in open environments, but it becomes useless indoors or in sheltered environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic positioning system that automatically switches between different positioning technologies based on environmental conditions. The system dynamically selects GPS for outdoor use, wireless infrastructure for indoor use, and fusion algorithms for transition zones, ensuring continuous reliable positioning across all environments without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces fusion algorithms and environmental sensors as intermediaries between the user and positioning services. These intermediaries detect whether the user is indoors or outdoors and seamlessly transition between GPS and indoor positioning systems, maintaining positioning reliability across environment boundaries without requiring the user to manually switch systems.
4Use of energy by moving object
If LED lights with communication functions are deployed for positioning and energy management, then energy efficiency improves and positioning accuracy increases, but device complexity and deployment cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges lighting functions with positioning and communication functions into a single integrated LED infrastructure. The LED lights serve multiple purposes: providing illumination, enabling precise positioning through embedded identifiers, and facilitating energy management through wireless communication. This consolidation reduces overall system complexity compared to deploying separate systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms ordinary LED lights into multi-functional devices that simultaneously provide illumination, positioning references, and energy management nodes. Each LED light becomes a universal component that can perform multiple tasks, reducing the need for separate dedicated infrastructure and simplifying the overall system architecture while improving energy efficiency and positioning accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
An earth positioning system (EPS) is provided. The EPS includes a plurality of fixed LED lights with communication functions and a mobile communications device. A cloud computer and at least one map marked with world coordinates of the fixed LED lights may be further included. The LED light includes a substrate, at least one LED die, a power supply, a wireless communication module, a control unit and a housing. The LED lights may be arranged in indoor and outdoor environments, with coordinates represented in longitude, latitude and altitude. The coordinates are included in a map data of the cloud computer. When the mobile communication device moves with its carrier, the world coordinates of the mobile communication device can be located based on the coordinates of the LED lights nearby or based on the unique IDs of the LED lights together with the aforementioned map.