Local Positioning System Using Wireless Sensor Responsiveness
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional positioning systems for confined areas, such as buildings, are cumbersome, error-prone, and costly due to high complexity and limited scalability when tracking multiple mobile units.
Innovation Solution
A local positioning system with sensor elements that wirelessly transmit communication signals to mobile units, generating digital values based on responsiveness, which are averaged to estimate the mobile unit's position, using modest hardware and software resources, allowing for high scalability and reduced complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional positioning systems are used for confined areas, then positioning function is provided, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits communication signals from sensor elements to mobile units and receives responsiveness feedback (acknowledge signals) in return. This feedback mechanism allows the system to estimate mobile unit position based on the presence/absence of acknowledge signals, achieving reliable positioning without complex specialized equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses standard communication protocols (e.g., Bluetooth) that mobile units already support, making the positioning system universally applicable to existing mobile devices without requiring specific modifications. The sensor elements serve dual purposes as both communication nodes and positioning sensors.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional positioning systems track multiple mobile units, then positioning coverage improves, but scalability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning area is divided into multiple zones with sensor elements distributed throughout. Each sensor element independently monitors its local area by transmitting communication signals and receiving acknowledgments. This segmentation allows the system to scale to multiple mobile units without requiring centralized complex processing.
Solution Approach 2:
Each sensor element autonomously performs signal transmission, acknowledgment detection, and position estimation for mobile units in its vicinity. This self-service capability at the sensor element level enables the system to handle multiple mobile units simultaneously without proportionally increasing central system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If specifically designed equipment is added to mobile units, then positioning precision improves, but ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile unit's existing communication capabilities (e.g., Bluetooth stack) automatically respond to sensor element inquiry signals without requiring user awareness or action. The positioning process occurs transparently in the background, maintaining ease of operation while achieving reasonable position estimation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system varies communication signal parameters (transmission power, signal sequence) from sensor elements to optimize position estimation accuracy. These parameter changes are implemented at the sensor element level without affecting mobile unit operation or requiring user intervention.
4Measurement precision
If more sensor elements are deployed, then positioning accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the positioning function into independent sensor elements distributed throughout the area. Each sensor element operates autonomously with simple transmission and detection capabilities. This segmentation allows accurate position estimation through multiple distributed sensors without requiring each individual sensor to be complex.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple identical sensor elements are deployed throughout the area, each performing the same simple function of transmitting communication signals and detecting acknowledgments. This copying approach improves spatial resolution and positioning accuracy without increasing the complexity of individual sensor elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A local positioning system comprises a plurality of sensor elements that may communicate with mobile units in a wireless fashion. The responsiveness of the mobile units is measured by yes/no answers and averaged so as to provide a measure of the distance of a mobile unit to a specified sensor element. Based on this measure and the known positions of the sensor element, the position of the mobile unit is estimated, for instance by a model of ideal springs.