Mesh Network RSSI Positioning for Indoor Parking Navigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulty in identifying and navigating to empty parking spaces in large parking structures, especially when they are nearly full, and satellite or cellular navigation may be unavailable.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing mesh networking to determine the position of a wireless station within a parking structure based on received signal strength indicators (RSSIs) from nearby access points, comparing these RSSIs to reference signatures to identify grid coordinates, and providing navigation to empty spaces or exits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mesh networking with RSSI comparison is used for positioning, then positioning accuracy and navigation efficiency are improved, but system complexity increases due to multiple access points and signal processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The parking structure is divided into a grid of positions, and the positioning system segments the signal space by using multiple access points with known locations. Each access point provides RSSI measurements that are independently processed and then combined through comparison with reference signatures to determine position, breaking down the complex positioning problem into manageable segments.
Solution Approach 2:
Reference RSSI signatures are pre-generated and stored for each grid position in the parking structure. These reference signatures serve as copies of expected signal patterns that the current measurements are compared against. This copying approach allows the system to determine position by pattern matching rather than complex real-time calculations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple access points form a mesh network for positioning, then positioning capability is improved, but network infrastructure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The access points in the mesh network serve multiple functions: they provide wireless communication services and simultaneously act as positioning reference points. The same infrastructure used for normal network operations is leveraged for positioning, eliminating the need for separate positioning hardware and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh network automatically generates and maintains its own positioning reference signatures using the existing access point infrastructure. The system self-configures by having access points broadcast their locations and signal characteristics, which are then stored and used for positioning without requiring external intervention or complex setup procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides methods, devices and systems for wireless positioning. An example method includes determining a first received signal strength indicator (RSSI) signature, the first RSSI signature including a respective RSSI associated with each access point (AP) of a first plurality of APs, where the first plurality of APs form at least a portion of a mesh network of APs, comparing the first RSSI signature with each reference RSSI signature of a first plurality of reference RSSI signatures, each reference RSSI signature of the first plurality of reference RSSI signatures including a respective RSSI associated with each AP of the first plurality of APs, and identifying a first position of the wireless STA based on the comparing of the first RSSI signature.