Logical Survey Points for Indoor Positioning Accuracy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional indoor positioning systems face challenges in GPS dead zones, where sensor data becomes obsolete due to changing physical environments, and rely tightly on physical coordinates, making it difficult to maintain accurate maps in dynamic locations like malls, office buildings, and sewer networks.
Innovation Solution
The approach decouples sensor data collection from physical coordinates by using logical survey points with unique identifiers, allowing sensor readings to be relative to these points rather than fixed coordinates, enabling flexible mapping and re-binding with changing venue maps, even in GPS dead zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensor data is tightly coupled to physical co-ordinate based maps, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the data becomes obsolete as maps change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coordinate transformation system that acts as an intermediary between sensor data and physical maps. Instead of directly coupling sensor readings to map coordinates, the system transforms sensor data into a local coordinate system that can be independently maintained and transformed to match different map versions, preventing data obsolescence while preserving positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic coordinate transformation that adapts to changing map versions. The system maintains flexibility by allowing coordinate systems to be transformed and updated dynamically when maps change, ensuring that sensor data remains valid and reliable across different map iterations without becoming obsolete.
2Measurement precision
If GPS is used for positioning surveyors, then positioning accuracy is improved, but GPS is unavailable in GPS dead zones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces GPS satellite-based positioning with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) based system using accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers. This substitution allows the system to function independently of GPS signals, enabling operation in GPS dead zones while maintaining positioning capability through inertial navigation and sensor fusion techniques.
3Ease of operation
If conventional sensor data collection approaches are used, then data acquisition is simplified, but the system cannot handle changing physical environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic coordinate transformation that adapts to changing map versions and environmental conditions. The system maintains flexibility by allowing coordinate systems to be transformed and updated dynamically when physical environments change, ensuring that sensor data remains valid without requiring complete re-collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the coordinate system into hierarchical levels (global map coordinates, local survey coordinates, and sensor measurement coordinates). This segmentation allows different parts of the system to operate independently and be updated separately, maintaining simplicity while adapting to environmental changes through selective transformation of coordinate segments.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Example apparatus and methods concern rigorous survey-plan based sensor data collection where physical survey locations are correlated to logical locations rather than being tightly coupled to physical map locations. An embodiment includes accessing a venue map and a survey plan associated with the venue map. A survey plan includes a survey path defined by one or more logical survey points. A logical survey point includes a unique co-ordinate free identifier, a description of a recognizable location in the venue, and a co-ordinate configured to register the logical survey point to the corresponding venue map. A surveyor surveys the venue using the survey plan. Surveying the venue includes following the survey plan and acquiring sensor fingerprints at sensor reading points along the survey path. A fingerprint observation data store is populated with survey points that are registered to the survey plan. Survey points include sensor fingerprint data and correlation data.