Micro-location Beacons for Indoor Positioning Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current location identification technologies, such as GPS and cellular triangulation, are power-intensive and require clear skies or third-party data, while RFID and NFC need specialized equipment and user interaction, limiting their effectiveness for precise micro-location services.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing micro-location devices like Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons that broadcast unique identifiers, allowing mobile devices to determine location without user intervention, and a backend system to perform location-based actions, such as updating user records and providing location-specific content, by triangulating signal strengths from multiple devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS sensor is used for location identification, then location accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases and clear sky view is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces GPS satellite-based electromagnetic positioning with a local Bluetooth Low Energy beacon system. Instead of relying on satellite signals requiring clear sky view, the system uses nearby beacons broadcasting unique identifiers that the mobile device receives via Bluetooth radio, eliminating the need for GPS hardware and reducing power consumption significantly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces Bluetooth Low Energy beacons as intermediary devices between the user and the location identification system. These beacons act as local mediators that broadcast location information, allowing the mobile device to determine its position without directly communicating with satellites or cellular towers, thereby reducing power requirements.
2Area of stationary object
If cellular triangulation is used for location identification, then coverage area is improved, but location precision deteriorates to within half a mile
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large coverage area into smaller zones, each covered by individual Bluetooth Low Energy beacons. Instead of relying on a single cellular tower for broad coverage, multiple small-range beacons are deployed throughout the area, allowing precise location determination through triangulation or signal strength measurement of multiple nearby beacons.
3Adaptability or versatility
If RFID or NFC is used for location identification, then specialized equipment functionality is improved, but user interaction requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a passive beacon system where the location identification infrastructure serves itself by automatically broadcasting unique identifiers. The mobile device automatically receives and processes these signals without requiring the user to manually present RFID or NFC tags, eliminating the need for user interaction while maintaining specialized equipment functionality.
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
Enables efficient, power-saving, and precise location tracking indoors without third-party data, enhancing user experiences and fraud detection by providing location-specific services and adjusting spending profiles based on accurate user location updates.
Implementation Method 1
Micro-location devices may use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), a technology that has been included in many mobile devices since as early as 2010. To receive a transmission from a micro-location device, no special equipment is required so long as the device is capable of receiving BLE transmissions.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for leveraging micro-location devices for improved travel awareness are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for performing a location-based action in a network of micro-location devices may include a plurality of micro-location devices, each micro-location devices associated with a unique identifier and a location, each of the plurality of micro-location devices transmitting a signal comprising its associated unique identifier; a backend in communication with a database, the database storing the unique identifier and location associated with each of the micro-location devices; and a mobile device that receives a signal comprising a unique identifier from one of the plurality of micro-location devices and communicates the unique identifier to the backend. The backend may determine a mobile device location based on the unique identifier received from the mobile device and may perform an action based on the mobile device location.