Mobile Device Location via BLE Beacons and WiFi Access Points
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency response systems face challenges in providing accurate location information for mobile devices, particularly in multi-line telephone systems and indoor environments, due to limitations in GPS accuracy and the complexity of mapping physical locations to database records, leading to potential liabilities and reduced service offerings in organizations like hospitality and education sectors.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that leverage existing databases and communication protocols like Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), iBeacon, and WiFi to determine the location of a mobile device by identifying the nearest broadcasting device and translating this information into Emergency Response Location (ERL) or Customer Emergency Service ID (CESID) for accurate emergency call location reporting, even when the device is moving within a building.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS-based location devices are used in mobile devices, then location information can be provided for emergency calls, but GPS information is inaccurate for indoor locations and may not function in some buildings due to poor signal penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces WiFi access points and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons as intermediary devices to determine location. Instead of relying directly on GPS satellites which fail indoors, the system uses local wireless infrastructure (WiFi access points and BLE beacons) as mediators to triangulate and determine the mobile device's position within buildings, thereby resolving the reliability issue of GPS in indoor environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the GPS satellite-based positioning system with wireless signal-based positioning using WiFi and BLE technologies. This substitution uses radio wave propagation and signal strength measurement instead of satellite triangulation, enabling location determination indoors where GPS signals cannot penetrate, thus maintaining both reliability and accuracy in building environments.
2Loss of information
If database lookups are used to identify caller location in PBX systems, then location information can be retrieved, but significant overhead is required to map PBX extensions to physical locations and to enter and maintain this information
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic location determination through wireless signal triangulation without requiring manual database entry or maintenance. The mobile device automatically communicates with nearby WiFi access points and BLE beacons, and the system automatically calculates position based on signal strength and known transmitter locations, eliminating the need for manual mapping and database updates while maintaining accurate location information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-deploys WiFi access points and BLE beacons throughout the facility with known locations before emergency calls occur. This preliminary setup creates a ready-made positioning infrastructure that automatically determines location in real-time without requiring any action during the emergency call itself, reducing both complexity and response time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If call groups are used in communication systems, then multiple devices can use a single number, but location information of a particular device becomes difficult to determine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the location determination process by having each mobile device independently determine its own location through wireless signal triangulation with nearby WiFi access points and BLE beacons. Instead of treating the call group as a single entity, each device within the group performs independent location measurement, allowing precise identification of the specific device making the emergency call even though multiple devices share the same call group number.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for determining a location of a mobile device are disclosed. A location of a second (e.g., mobile) device can be determined using location information of a first (e.g., stationary or wired) device. The location information of the first device can be sent, using the second device, to a server, which can then transmit corresponding location information to, for example, a call center.