Mobile Device Barometric Tracking for Indoor Floor Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing location tracking technologies, particularly in indoor environments, struggle to accurately determine the floor level of mobile devices in multi-story buildings, limiting the precision of pedestrian traffic analysis and facility management.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing barometric pressure readings in combination with GPS data from mobile devices to calculate three-dimensional positions, which are then used to create historical records of pedestrian traffic patterns within facilities, enabling precise floor-level tracking and identification of underutilized spaces or hidden areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS location data is used for indoor tracking, then outdoor navigation accuracy is maintained, but indoor floor level determination precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines barometric pressure sensor data with GPS location data to create a hybrid tracking system. The barometer provides vertical floor level information while GPS provides horizontal positioning, merging these complementary data sources to achieve accurate three-dimensional location tracking both indoors and outdoors.
Solution Approach 2:
The barometric pressure sensor acts as an intermediary between the GPS system and the indoor tracking system. It translates vertical position changes into pressure readings, enabling seamless transition from outdoor GPS-based tracking to indoor barometer-based floor level detection without loss of continuity.
2Measurement precision
If barometric pressure readings are added to GPS data, then three-dimensional position accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the position determination process into independent horizontal (GPS) and vertical (barometric) components. By processing these dimensions separately and then combining them, the system reduces computational complexity compared to attempting to process all three-dimensional data simultaneously as a single complex problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms the barometric pressure readings into elevation data using established atmospheric pressure-altitude relationships. This parameter transformation converts pressure measurements into meaningful vertical position information, simplifying the integration with GPS horizontal coordinates to produce accurate three-dimensional positions.
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
Enhances the accuracy of pedestrian traffic mapping in indoor environments, allowing for better facility management by identifying unused spaces and optimizing space utilization, and providing real-time monitoring of building occupancy.
Implementation Method 1
a current ambient barometric pressure reading is obtained at the current location
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a process that determines a current location of a mobile device according to a horizontal reference, obtains a corresponding barometric pressure reading at the current location of the mobile device, and determines a current position of the mobile device according to the current location of the mobile device and the corresponding barometric pressure reading. A historical record of positions of the mobile device is updated according to the current position of the mobile device and other positions of the mobile device determined at other times, and a historical record of positions of the mobile device to a map of a facility is updated to obtain a referenced pattern of movement of the mobile device within the facility. Other embodiments are disclosed.