Indoor Outdoor Location Switching Using Signal Strength Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing GPS systems are limited to outdoor use due to weak satellite signals and lack of line-of-sight reception, while indoor location determination using beacons is constrained by limited transmission range and impractical outdoor installations.
Innovation Solution
A device that measures and compares the signal strength of GPS and beacon signals, selecting the stronger signal for location determination using RSSI or SNR, and switches between signals based on distance and strength levels to ensure continuous location tracking indoors and outdoors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS signal is used for location determination, then outdoor location accuracy is improved, but indoor location determination fails due to weak satellite signals and lack of line-of-sight reception
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dual-signal reception system that can universally determine location both indoors and outdoors by selecting between GPS signals for outdoor use and beacon signals for indoor use, making the location determination system adaptable to all environments
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between GPS and beacon signals based on signal strength comparison and environmental conditions, allowing the location determination method to adapt in real-time whether the terminal is indoors or outdoors
2Measurement precision
If beacon signal is used for indoor location determination, then indoor location accuracy is improved, but outdoor location determination fails due to limited transmission range
Solution Approach 1:
The beacon-based location determination system is enhanced to work both indoors and outdoors by combining it with GPS capability, allowing the terminal to use beacons when available (indoors) and GPS when beacons are not available (outdoors), achieving universal applicability
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects between beacon and GPS signals based on real-time signal strength measurements and environmental context, enabling seamless transition between indoor beacon-based locationing and outdoor GPS-based locationing
3Reliability
If signal strength comparison is performed to select between GPS and beacon signals, then location determination reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional measurement and selection units
Solution Approach 1:
The location determination device is segmented into distinct functional modules: a measurement unit that separately measures GPS and beacon signal strengths, a selection unit that compares and selects the stronger signal, and a determination unit that calculates location based on the selected signal. This modular segmentation improves reliability while managing complexity through functional decomposition
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method determine a location of a terminal by selecting one of a GPS signal and a beacon signal when a terminal moves indoors and outdoors. The device includes a measurement unit for measuring a signal strength of a GPS signal and a signal strength of a beacon signal, respectively; a selection unit for comparing the measured signal strengths and selecting one signal of the GPS signal and the beacon signal based on the comparison; and a determination unit for determining the location of the terminal using the selected signal. The selection unit compares the measured signal strengths based on at least one of a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to select a signal having a comparatively stronger strength, and selects a signal whose strength is increasing when the measured signal strengths are substantially equal to each other.