Co-located Mobile Device Positioning Signal Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices face challenges in determining a position fix when wireless signals become unavailable due to attenuation, scattering, absorption, or interference, limiting their ability to accurately locate objects they are co-located with.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus where a first mobile device identifies signal acquisition tasks for wireless signal-based positioning, requests assistance from a second co-located mobile device to perform specific tasks, and combines responses to determine a position fix, leveraging communication links like Bluetooth or NFC to share positioning measurement values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single mobile device performs wireless signal-based positioning independently, then the positioning process is simple to implement, but the position fix determination fails when wireless signals become unavailable due to attenuation, scattering, absorption, or interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple mobile devices into a collaborative positioning system where devices work together to achieve position fix determination. When one device experiences signal unavailability, other co-located devices compensate by performing signal acquisition tasks, ensuring continuous and reliable positioning functionality despite individual device limitations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides signal acquisition tasks among multiple mobile devices rather than requiring a single device to perform all tasks. This segmentation allows the system to distribute the positioning workload, where each device handles specific signal acquisition tasks based on its current signal availability, improving overall system reliability.
2Measurement precision
If a mobile device requests assistance from co-located devices for signal acquisition tasks, then positioning accuracy improves under signal degradation, but communication overhead and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a task coordination mechanism that acts as an intermediary between mobile devices. The coordinating device manages task allocation, request transmission, and response collection, simplifying the interaction complexity while enabling multiple devices to collaborate effectively for improved positioning accuracy under signal degradation conditions.
3Reliability
If signal acquisition tasks are distributed among multiple co-located mobile devices, then positioning availability improves when individual devices face signal degradation, but task coordination and communication overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary identification of co-located mobile devices and pre-establishes communication channels between them. By preparing the collaborative network in advance and identifying available devices before signal degradation occurs, the system reduces the time required for task coordination when positioning is actually needed, improving overall positioning availability.
Data Source
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AI summary
Various techniques are provided that may be implemented at one or more of a plurality of co-located mobile devices. For example, a first mobile device (104-1) may identify a plurality of signal acquisition tasks, transmit a request indicative of a subset of the plurality of signal acquisition tasks to be performed by a second mobile device (104-2), and receive a response to the request.