Mobile Device Parking Location Marking in Weak GPS Scenarios
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Solution Overview
Problem
Locating a parked vehicle in densely populated urban areas is challenging due to the difficulty in remembering the parking spot, especially in areas with multiple levels or sections, and existing location technologies like GPS may be unavailable or unreliable, such as inside parking structures.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device determines when a vehicle is in a parked state by analyzing parameters like connection status and sensor data, and uses a combination of location technologies to mark the parking location, which can be later used to locate the vehicle even in weak signal scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS or primary location technology is used to mark parking location, then location accuracy is improved, but location technology becomes unavailable or unreliable in weak signal scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple location technologies (GPS, Wi-Fi, cellular triangulation, sensor data) into a unified location determination system. When GPS is unavailable in weak signal scenarios, the system merges alternative technologies to maintain location marking capability, thus resolving the contradiction between location accuracy and availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary location marking at the moment of parking by combining available location technologies before the user needs to retrieve the vehicle. This preliminary action ensures location data is captured even in weak signal environments, preventing the reliability issue when the user later tries to locate the parked vehicle.
2Measurement precision
If manual parking location marking is required, then location accuracy is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to additional operational steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects when the vehicle has parked and autonomously marks the parking location using combined location technologies. This self-service approach eliminates the need for manual user intervention, simultaneously achieving accurate location marking and maintaining user convenience by removing operational burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary automatic location marking at the moment of parking without requiring user action. This preliminary action captures the parking location accurately while keeping the interface simple, resolving the contradiction between precision and ease of operation.
3Reliability
If multiple location technologies are combined to mark parking location, then reliability in weak signal scenarios is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects and combines location technologies based on signal availability and environmental conditions. Rather than continuously using all technologies, it adapts the location determination approach in real-time, maintaining reliability in weak signal scenarios while managing device complexity through conditional logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the mobile device's location services and sensor fusion algorithms) that coordinates multiple location technologies. This intermediary manages the complexity by providing a unified interface and automated selection logic, allowing multiple technologies to work together without proportionally increasing user-facing complexity.
4Ease of operation
If automatic parked state detection is implemented, then user convenience is improved, but false detection may occur reducing measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from multiple sensors (motion sensors, connection status, location changes) to continuously monitor vehicle state and confirm parked conditions. This multi-parameter feedback mechanism reduces false detections by requiring consistent signals across multiple sources before triggering automatic location marking, thus maintaining both convenience and detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system dynamically adjusts its sensitivity and thresholds based on contextual information from multiple sources. Rather than using fixed thresholds that may cause false positives, the system adapts its detection criteria based on patterns in sensor data, improving detection accuracy while maintaining automatic operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile computing device can be used to locate a vehicle parking location in weak location signal scenarios (e.g., weak, unreliable, or unavailable GPS or other location technology). In particular, the mobile device can determine when a vehicle in which the mobile device is located has entered into a parked state. GPS or other primary location technology may be unavailable at the time the mobile device entered into a parked state (e.g., inside a parking structure). The location of the mobile device at a time corresponding to when the vehicle is identified as being parked can be determined using the first location technology as supplemented with sensor data of the mobile device. After the location of the mobile device at a time corresponding to when the vehicle is identified as being parked is determined, the determined location can be associated with an identifier for the current parking location.