Mobile Device Navigation Using Encoded Visual Beacons
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-navigation systems for mobile devices in environments like office or factory floors are either processor-intensive, prone to interference, or less accurate, with visual-based systems being expensive and relative position measurements lacking precision.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for determining the position of a mobile device using encoded visual information from beacons, where the device captures images of the environment and processes spatial information to identify and decode beacon positions, allowing for accurate navigation with reduced resource requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual-based self-navigation systems are used, then navigation accuracy is improved, but system cost and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential visual information (beacon position and orientation) from the environment using image processing, rather than performing full scene understanding. The system captures an image, detects beacon locations, and uses these extracted features for navigation, avoiding the need for complex overall image processing while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses visual copies (images) of beacons in the environment to determine position and orientation. By capturing and processing images of beacons rather than using direct sensor measurements, the system achieves accurate navigation with simpler processing compared to traditional visual systems.
2Measurement precision
If active beacons with timing and angle measurement are used, then position determination accuracy is improved, but susceptibility to interference and decoding complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electronic active beacon system (requiring timing and angle measurements) with a passive visual beacon system. Instead of measuring signal timing and angle of incidence, the system uses image processing to detect beacon positions and orientations, eliminating susceptibility to electromagnetic interference while maintaining accuracy.
3Ease of manufacture
If relative position measurement systems are used, then device cost is reduced, but navigation accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces visual beacons as intermediary reference points in the environment. The mobile device captures images of these beacons and uses their known positions and orientations to calculate its own position and orientation through image processing, achieving accurate navigation with simpler and cheaper equipment than traditional visual systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for navigation of a mobile device. Spatial information of at least one beacon detected in an image relative to the image is determined. The image includes an image of the at least one beacon within at least part of an environment surrounding the mobile device. A position of the mobile device based on said spatial information is determined using encoded visual information of the at least one beacon.