Mobile App Vehicle Location via Signal Strength Drop
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining a vehicle's location rely on vehicle sub-systems or telematics units, which may not be available or functional in all scenarios, such as when GPS is unavailable or the vehicle is not telematics-equipped, leading to inefficiencies and increased airtime costs.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device app determines the vehicle's location by tracking signal strength (RSSI) and recording locations at various signal ranges, identifying the most recent location with the highest RSSI as the vehicle's location upon detecting a signal drop event, without needing vehicle-specific information or GPS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If vehicle location is determined using vehicle sub-systems or telematics units, then location accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the location determination function from the vehicle's telematics unit and relocates it to the mobile device. The mobile device independently determines vehicle location by tracking signal strength changes, eliminating the need for vehicle sub-systems and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining location accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device performs self-service by autonomously determining vehicle location using its own signal strength measurement capabilities. The device tracks signal strength changes and identifies location based on signal drop events, without requiring external vehicle systems or additional hardware.
2Measurement precision
If GPS is used for vehicle location determination, then location accuracy is improved, but energy consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inexpensive, readily available signal strength measurements from wireless communications instead of expensive GPS satellites. The mobile device leverages existing signal strength data that is already being collected for communication purposes, eliminating the need for dedicated GPS hardware and reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device performs multiple functions using its existing signal strength measurement capabilities: it determines vehicle location, tracks signal changes, and identifies location based on signal drop events. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate GPS systems while maintaining location accuracy.
3Device complexity
If vehicle location is determined using signal strength tracking, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring signal strength changes and using this information to track the mobile device's movement relative to the vehicle. The system uses signal drop events as feedback to determine location, adjusting its determination based on real-time signal strength measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing a relationship between signal strength levels and location. It tracks signal strength changes over time and pre-determines location based on signal drop events, preparing location data in advance without requiring complex real-time calculations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining vehicle location via a mobile computing device includes: determining, by an application of the mobile computing device, a first signal strength corresponding to a communications component of a vehicle and a first mobile device location corresponding to the first signal strength; detecting, by the application, a signal drop event corresponding to a loss of the signal corresponding to the communications component of the vehicle; determining, by the application, in response to detecting the signal drop event, the first mobile device location corresponding to the first signal strength as the vehicle location based on the first mobile device location being the most recent location at which a recorded signal strength was at a highest level; and providing, by the application, a notification indicating the vehicle location to a user of the mobile device.