Location Accuracy via Wireless Client Intermediary

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for acquiring location information rely on network addresses, resulting in low accuracy, with location information only being accurate to the city level.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize a server to receive a search request from a client device, identify the user's account identifier, determine the location of a mobile device near the client, and return search results based on this location information, improving accuracy by using wireless positioning to obtain precise geographic coordinates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If location information is obtained through network address correspondence, then the method is simple to implement, but the location accuracy is low (only accurate to city level)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a wireless communication client as an intermediary to obtain precise location information. Instead of directly using network address correspondence, the system uses the wireless client's positioning capabilities (GPS, base station triangulation) to get accurate location data, then correlates this with the network address. This intermediary approach resolves the contradiction by providing high accuracy while maintaining system simplicity through automated correlation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the location acquisition process into two independent parts: (1) obtaining precise location through wireless communication client positioning, and (2) correlating with network address information. This segmentation allows each component to specialize - the wireless client provides accuracy while the network address provides simplicity - and resolves the contradiction by combining their strengths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If wireless positioning is used to obtain precise location information, then location accuracy improves (accurate to longitude and latitude), but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless communication client serves multiple functions: it provides precise positioning information, maintains network connectivity, and enables data communication. By making the wireless client multi-functional, the system avoids adding separate positioning hardware, thus improving location accuracy without significantly increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The wireless communication client autonomously performs positioning operations using its built-in capabilities (GPS receiver, base station triangulation). It self-generates location data without requiring external positioning equipment or complex additional systems. This self-service approach enables high accuracy while minimizing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10268701B2Method and system for acquiring and distributing location-related information
Publication Date: 2019.04.23 TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO LTD
  • US10268701B2 patent drawing
  • US10268701B2 patent drawing
  • US10268701B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The present application provides a method for acquiring and distributing location-related information performed at a computer system. The method includes: receiving a positioning request from a client device, wherein the positioning request includes a network address of the client device and a unique identifier of a mobile terminal; determining a first location of the client device according to the network address of the client device and a second location of the mobile terminal according to the unique identifier of the mobile terminal; choosing one of the first location of the client device and the second location of the mobile terminal as a current location of the client device; identifying a plurality of search results according to the current location of the client device; and sending the plurality of search results and the current location of the client device to the client device for display.