LPWAN Beacon Multiplexing for Indoor Node Location
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing location systems face challenges in providing precise and cost-effective node tracking within buildings, especially in environments with constrained propagation conditions, due to the limitations of GNSS reliability, energy consumption, and infrastructure requirements of current localization methods.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) transmissions and short-range Bluetooth communications between beacons and gateways, with time or frequency multiplexing to manage interference, allowing for precise node location without complex infrastructure and supporting high node densities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If Wi-Fi transmissions are used for location tracking, then location coverage is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic transmission intervals where beacons transmit location data at configured time intervals rather than continuously. The monitoring equipment requests location updates periodically, allowing beacons to enter low-power states between transmissions. This periodic action maintains location tracking functionality while dramatically reducing energy consumption compared to continuous Wi-Fi transmissions.
2Measurement precision
If short-range transmissions are used for precise location, then location precision is improved, but infrastructure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the precise location measurement function from the beacon devices and performs it centrally at the monitoring equipment. Beacons only need to transmit simple identifiers and receive periodic requests, while the monitoring equipment handles complex location calculations using triangulation or multilateration algorithms. This extraction simplifies beacon infrastructure while maintaining precise location capabilities.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple beacons transmit simultaneously, then location coverage is improved, but signal interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements time-division multiplexing where the monitoring equipment assigns different time intervals or slots to different beacons for transmission. Beacons transmit location data in scheduled periodic intervals rather than simultaneously, eliminating signal interference while maintaining comprehensive location coverage. This periodic scheduling allows multiple beacons to operate on the same frequency without conflict.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a system for locating at least one node (110) in a network comprising at least one beacon (120) configured to detect the presence of said node and a gateway (130), as well as to a beacon configured to operate in such a system, and the corresponding location method. In the location system according to the invention: - the gateway and the beacon are configured to communicate via Low Power Wide Area Network transmissions, - the gateway is configured to transmit to the beacon configuration information relating to multiplexing transmissions between beacons and gateways of the network, - the beacon is configured to detect the presence of network nodes via short-range transmissions, and to transmit identifiers of the detected nodes to the gateway, taking into account said configuration information.