Mobile Device Localization Using Temperature-Gated Barometric Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Indoor mobile device positioning is challenging in extreme ambient conditions due to spurious correlations between barometric pressure data and height or altitude, especially in multi-floor buildings, leading to unreliable floor identification.

Innovation Solution

A method that uses a temperature sensor to detect anomalies, switches sampling rates to confirm persistent anomalies, filters barometric pressure measurements, and localizes the device based on filtered data to maintain accurate floor identification, even in extreme temperature conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If barometric pressure data is used for indoor positioning, then positioning capability is improved, but reliability deteriorates under extreme ambient conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning reliabilityVSAvoidfloor identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of temperature anomalies before barometric pressure measurements are taken. By detecting extreme ambient conditions in advance using temperature sensors, the system can identify when barometric pressure data will be spurious and filter it out, preventing unreliable positioning data from being generated in the first place

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Temperature sensors act as intermediary indicators that mediate between the extreme ambient conditions and the barometric pressure measurements. By monitoring temperature as an intermediary parameter, the system can infer when barometric pressure correlations with height become unreliable and adjust its positioning strategy accordingly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If sampling rate is increased to detect persistent anomalies, then measurement accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanomaly detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the sampling rate of temperature sensors based on the current operational context. During normal conditions, sampling occurs at a lower rate to conserve energy. When an anomaly is initially detected, the sampling rate increases temporarily to confirm persistence, then returns to normal once the anomaly status is determined

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses periodic sampling at different rates depending on the detection phase. Initial anomaly detection uses one sampling rate, while confirmation of persistent anomalies uses a different sampling rate. This periodic variation in sampling intensity allows accurate anomaly detection while managing energy consumption through structured intervals rather than continuous high-rate sampling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 ensures reliable localization of mobile devices in extreme ambient conditions, preventing false floor transitions and maintaining integrity of positioning data, which is crucial for rescue personnel and others in hazardous environments.

Implementation Method 1

detecting, using a temperature sensor of the mobile device at a first sampling rate, an ambient temperature anomaly along an indoor route being traversed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Implementation Method 2

filtering a set of barometric ambient pressure measurements contemporaneously associated with the sequence of positions, the set obtained using a barometric pressure sensor of the mobile device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBarometric pressure measurement:

Data Source

PatentUS10634816B2Method and system for managing mobile devices in extreme ambient conditions

Publication Date: 2020.04.28 MAPSTED CORP

AI summary

A method and system of displaying an operational status of a set of mobile devices deployed on multiple floors of an indoor facility in extreme ambient conditions. The method, executed in a processor of a server computing device, comprises localizing a first mobile device and at least a second mobile device to a location on a first of the multiple floors and a second of the multiple floors respectively, based at least partly on respective filtered sets of barometric ambient pressure measurements obtained at the first and at least a second mobile devices, and displaying, based on the localizing, a layout map of the multi-floor building that includes the first mobile device and the second mobile device positioned within the first and the second of the multiple floors respectively.