Matching Mobile Devices via Timestamped Acceleration Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current location-based services are unable to identify and confirm the joint movement of multiple mobile devices, which is essential for trip sharing services to optimize shared trips by matching users and passengers effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that compares timestamped location and acceleration data from multiple mobile devices to determine if they are traveling together, using a backend system to synchronize and match data within a tolerance level, even if the devices' internal clocks are not synchronized.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current location based services are used to track mobile devices, then location data can be obtained, but the system cannot identify joint movement of multiple devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines location data and acceleration data from multiple mobile devices to identify joint movement. By merging data from different sources (GPS location timestamps and accelerometer readings) and comparing them across devices, the system achieves accurate joint movement identification without requiring complex communication protocols between devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a backend server as an intermediary that receives, stores, and compares data from multiple mobile devices. This mediator handles the complex task of matching location and acceleration data across devices, freeing the mobile devices themselves from complex processing requirements and keeping the solution simple at the device level.
2Ease of operation
If devices' internal clocks are not synchronized, then data collection is easier, but timestamp matching becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the approach to timestamp matching by introducing a tolerance parameter. Instead of requiring exact timestamp matches (which would demand synchronized clocks), the system allows for a defined time window or tolerance range, enabling accurate joint movement identification even when device clocks drift by several minutes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial matching by not requiring complete synchronization of all timestamp data. Instead, it uses acceleration data patterns within a tolerance window to confirm joint movement, accepting partial timestamp alignment rather than demanding perfect synchronization across all devices.
3Productivity
If location based services are used without coupling to other devices, then individual location tracking works, but trip sharing services cannot match users effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges location-based service data with acceleration sensor data to create a more complete picture of device movement. By combining these data types and comparing them across multiple devices, the system recovers joint movement information that would be lost using location services alone, enabling effective trip sharing matching.
Data Source
AI summary
Location data and/or acceleration data of a mobile device may be received. The data may include timestamps. The timestamped data of the mobile device may be compared to timestamped data of another mobile device. Upon determining the timestamped data of the mobile device matches the timestamped data of the other mobile device, joint movement of the mobile devices may be signaled.