Locator Device Signal Strength Monitoring for Location Tracking Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
In environments with multiple pendants and receiving devices, issues such as inoperative or compromised receiving devices can affect the accuracy of location detection for pendants, impacting the central monitoring device's ability to track wearer locations effectively.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where locator devices transmit test messages at predetermined intervals, allowing other locator devices to measure signal strength and report this information to a central monitoring device. This device then determines if the signal strength values are within a predetermined range, generating notifications for any values outside this range, indicating potential issues with locator devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If receiving devices are deployed in large numbers to improve location tracking coverage, then location detection accuracy is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to increased probability of device failure or compromise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where receiving devices monitor signal strength from pendants and report this data to a central monitoring device. The system continuously tracks signal strength variations and generates notifications when anomalies are detected, enabling real-time feedback on device performance and location accuracy without requiring manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving devices perform self-diagnosis by monitoring their own signal strength metrics and automatically reporting potential issues to the central monitoring device. This self-service approach allows the system to detect and flag problematic devices without external inspection, maintaining reliability while scaling the network.
2Reliability
If signal strength thresholds are set to be highly sensitive to detect compromised devices, then device compromise detection is improved, but false alarm rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously collecting and analyzing signal strength data from multiple receiving devices over time. Before generating an alarm, the central monitoring device evaluates patterns and trends in the data, comparing current readings against historical baselines to distinguish genuine compromises from normal variations, thereby reducing false alarms while maintaining detection sensitivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables real-time monitoring and detection of potential problems with locator devices, allowing for timely intervention and maintaining accurate location tracking for pendants, thereby ensuring the reliability of the location tracking system.
Implementation Method 1
Each locator device that receives a test message from another locator device may determine a signal strength of the received test message
Data Source
AI summary
A device may include a communication interface and processing logic. The processing logic may be configured to receive messages from each of a number of locator devices. Each message may include a signal strength value associated with a test message transmitted by an other one of locator devices. The processing logic may also be configured to determine whether a current signal strength value received in a message from a first one of the plurality of locator devices is within a predetermined range associated with signal strength values included in messages received from the first locator device.