Mobile Device Acoustic Positioning via Room Response Trace
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing real-time locating systems face challenges in accurately determining the location of mobile devices in indoor environments, particularly in less trafficked areas, due to limitations in accuracy and usability of current techniques.
Innovation Solution
The method involves transmitting acoustic signals by a mobile device, deconvolving the received signals to generate a room response trace, and comparing it to a modeled room response trace to determine the device's location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional real-time locating systems are used in indoor environments, then location tracking capability is provided, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate in less trafficked areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional RF-based mechanical/electromagnetic locating systems with an acoustic-based system. The mobile device transmits acoustic signals through speakers and captures reflected signals through microphones to determine location. This substitution enables reliable location tracking in indoor environments where RF signals may be unreliable, directly addressing the contradiction between measurement precision and reliability in less trafficked areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device performs self-positioning by autonomously transmitting acoustic signals and processing the reflected signals to determine its own location. The device compares the received acoustic signal with a database of acoustic fingerprints for different locations, enabling it to self-determine its position without requiring external infrastructure or assistance from other devices, thereby improving reliability in areas with limited infrastructure.
2Ease of operation
If infrastructure-based locating systems are deployed, then location tracking is enabled, but device complexity and infrastructure costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device independently determines its location by using its own acoustic transmitters and receivers. It captures acoustic signals, processes them through deconvolution to generate room response traces, and compares these with stored acoustic fingerprints. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex external infrastructure while maintaining ease of operation for location tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring physical infrastructure at each location, the system creates acoustic copies or fingerprints of different locations by capturing and storing the acoustic characteristics of each space. These acoustic fingerprints serve as virtual representations of physical locations, allowing the device to determine its position by matching current acoustic measurements against the database of acoustic copies, thereby reducing infrastructure complexity.
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 approach provides more accurate and efficient location determination, reducing processing power and infrastructure costs, while allowing for precise room-level or sub-room-level tracking.
Implementation Method 1
the received acoustic signal resulting from an interaction by the transmitted acoustic signal with a local acoustic environment
Implementation Method 2
the received acoustic signal resulting from an interaction by the transmitted acoustic signal with a local acoustic environment
Data Source
AI summary
An approach for providing a lower cost real time location system in less trafficked areas of a building. This approach uses on-board audio capabilities of a mobile device to receive a room response trace resulting from a self-generated acoustic signal. By comparing the room response trace to a modeled room response trace, the location of the mobile device is determined.