Mobile Device Position Tracking Data Compression via Road Segment Encoding

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current tracking systems for mobile devices, such as vehicles, face high costs and data volume issues when transmitting frequent position information due to limited bit rates in telecommunication systems, especially for large fleets.

Innovation Solution

A method that acquires and transmits pseudo-distances from GNSS satellites, determining absolute positions and position variations, and selectively coding significant digits based on importance to reduce data volume, using a cellular network or terrestrial relay for transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If position information is transmitted frequently with high precision (latitude, longitude, altitude triplets), then position tracking accuracy is improved, but data transmission volume increases and communication costs rise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition tracking accuracyVSAvoiddata transmission volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential position information (curvilinear abscissa on road segment) rather than transmitting complete latitude, longitude, and altitude triplets. By taking out only the necessary positional data relative to the road network, the system maintains tracking accuracy while significantly reducing data volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the position information transmission by dividing it into road segment identifiers and curvilinear abscissa values. This segmentation allows the system to transmit position data in a more compact form that is tailored to road tracking applications, reducing unnecessary data while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If position information is transmitted at high bit rate to maintain accuracy, then position tracking precision is improved, but communication costs and network load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition information accuracyVSAvoidcommunication cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary position components (curvilinear abscissa and road segment ID) required for accurate road tracking, eliminating redundant data such as full latitude, longitude, and altitude information. This extraction reduces bit rate requirements and associated communication costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter representation from standard geographic coordinates (latitude, longitude, altitude) to road-specific parameters (road segment identifier, curvilinear abscissa). This parameter transformation reduces data volume while maintaining the precision needed for position tracking on roads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If complete position triplets (latitude, longitude, altitude) are transmitted, then position information completeness is improved, but data processing and transmission complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition information completenessVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential position information needed for road tracking applications, removing unnecessary components of the complete position triplet. By taking out only the curvilinear abscissa and road segment identifier, the system maintains positional completeness for road purposes while reducing processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of converting road positions to standard geographic coordinates (the conventional approach), the patent inverts the process by representing positions directly in road-specific coordinates (curvilinear abscissa on road segments). This inversion simplifies data structure and processing for road tracking applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP2259643B1Method for transmitting position information by a mobile device
Publication Date: 2018.10.10 THALES SA
  • EP2259643B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP2259643B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP2259643B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The method involves determining absolute position information of a mobile device (1) at an initial time (t0) from measured pseudo-distance realized at an initial instant. Position variation information of the mobile device are determined between two consecutive measured instants from the determined absolute position information. The position variation information and the absolute position information are coded and transmitted to a position server.