Location Verification via Mobile Network Test Calls
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Solution Overview
Problem
GPS technology is inadequate for indoor locations and urban areas due to interrupted satellite reception and susceptibility to interference, limiting its effectiveness in densely populated regions where location determination is crucial for emergency services.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses a user device to receive geo-referenced position data, correlate it with ground-truth information, select test points via linear interpolation, and initiate test calls through a mobile network to verify the user's location, enabling accurate location determination without relying on GPS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS technology is used for location determination, then outdoor location accuracy is improved, but indoor location performance and urban area reliability deteriorate due to interrupted satellite reception and signal interference
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the location determination task into multiple independent components: GPS receiver for satellite signals, cellular radio for network-based triangulation, and WiFi access point scanner for supplementary positioning. Each component operates independently and can function in different environments, allowing the system to maintain reliability across indoor and outdoor settings by switching between or combining these segmented location determination methods.
2Reliability
If GPS technology is used for location determination, then satellite-based navigation is improved, but susceptibility to jamming and man-made interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces intermediary location determination methods between the user and satellite signals. Instead of relying solely on direct GPS satellite communication that is vulnerable to jamming, the system uses cellular network infrastructure and WiFi access points as intermediary elements for location determination. These intermediaries operate on different frequency bands and protocols, providing alternative pathways that are not susceptible to GPS-specific jamming and interference.
3Measurement precision
If mobile network test calls are initiated at multiple test points, then location verification accuracy is improved, but network usage and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by selecting a limited number of strategically distributed test points along the user's path rather than making test calls at every possible location. The test point selection algorithm identifies representative locations that provide sufficient verification accuracy without requiring exhaustive testing at all points, thus reducing time consumption while maintaining adequate location verification precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are described for determining and verifying real-time location of a user based on physical location of a user device. The user device receives a generated geo-referenced position data from a server and correlates the geo-referenced position data with a ground-truth information to determine physical location of the user. The user device selects a set of test points using interpolation of a desired path of the user, where the desired path is determined based on the physical location of the user. The user device displays the set of test points on the desired path on a display unit and initiates a test call through a mobile network at each test point of the set of test points to verify the physical location of the user.