Indoor Location Tracking Using Magnetic Field Intersection Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing location determination methods for indoor spaces require the construction of a radio map, which incurs significant survey and maintenance costs, and is prone to errors if base stations or access points change.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device equipped with a magnetic sensor and a processor that collects path data based on magnetic data, identifies similar data patterns, determines intersection areas, and spatially partitions the data to determine the device's location without the need for a radio map.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If radio map construction is used for indoor location tracking, then location determination can be achieved, but survey and maintenance costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service location determination by utilizing magnetic field data that is naturally present in the environment. Instead of requiring manual surveying and map construction, the electronic device autonomously determines its location by comparing real-time magnetic field measurements with pre-stored magnetic field maps, eliminating the need for costly survey and maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical surveying process with automated magnetic field-based location determination. Instead of manually collecting radio signal data to build maps, the system uses magnetic sensors to capture environmental magnetic field characteristics, substituting the labor-intensive mechanical surveying process with an automated sensing and comparison approach.
2Reliability
If radio map is used for position tracking, then location can be determined, but the system becomes vulnerable to errors when base stations or access points change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the location determination process from dependence on specific infrastructure elements like base stations and access points. By using magnetic field characteristics as the primary sensing mechanism, the system separates location tracking from the radio infrastructure, making it independent of base station or access point changes while maintaining reliable position tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the fundamental parameter used for location determination from radio signal characteristics to magnetic field characteristics. This parameter change makes the system adaptable to infrastructure changes because magnetic field patterns in the environment remain stable even when radio infrastructure is modified, replaced, or displaced.
3Productivity
If radio signal characteristics are used for location tracking, then position can be tracked, but the system requires continuous surveying when infrastructure changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses partial action by leveraging the naturally occurring magnetic field environment rather than requiring complete re-surveying of the entire space. When infrastructure changes occur, only localized magnetic field measurements near the change are needed for updates, rather than performing exhaustive re-surveying of the entire indoor space, thus reducing the time loss significantly.
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 method allows for accurate and cost-effective location tracking within indoor spaces without the need for radio map construction, reducing maintenance costs and adapting to changes in the environment.
Implementation Method 1
collect multiple pieces of path data based on first magnetic data related to multiple movements of the electronic device, by using the magnetic sensor
Implementation Method 2
identify multiple pieces of second magnetic data, which are similar to each other at a predetermined level or higher, from among the multiple pieces of path data
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may include a magnetic sensor and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to: collect path data based on first magnetic data related to movement of the electronic device, by using the magnetic sensor; identify a plurality of pieces of second magnetic data, which have at least a predetermined level of mutual similarity, from among the path data; determine, to be an intersection area related to the movement of the electronic device, an area range in which the plurality of pieces of second magnetic data are collected; determine, on the basis of the intersection area, a first space and a second space related to the movement of the electronic device; and determine, on the basis of third magnetic data, the space in which the electronic device is located from among the first space and the second space.