Mobile Device Indoor Positioning Using Sensor Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing location determination systems, such as GPS, are ineffective in accurately tracking object devices indoors or within vehicles due to the need for extensive hardware installation and complexity, limiting their application in indoor positioning and navigation.
Innovation Solution
An object device uses building information and powerlines to determine its indoor location by emitting and receiving signals, calculating distances, and comparing them to stored building models, allowing it to identify its position within a building or conveyance without requiring extensive additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If beacons, transponders, and indoor base stations are installed to enable indoor location determination, then indoor positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity and hardware requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device uses its own existing sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer) and processors to determine indoor location and context, without requiring external beacons or base stations. The device serves itself by utilizing built-in capabilities to measure motion, calculate position, and identify contextual information such as floor level and room location.
Solution Approach 2:
Existing mobile device components are made multi-functional: the accelerometer and gyroscope serve both traditional motion detection purposes and new indoor positioning functions; the processor handles both general computing and context determination algorithms; the antenna communicates with both cellular networks and WiFi infrastructure for location services.
2Reliability
If extensive hardware installation is performed to enable indoor tracking, then location determination capability is improved, but ease of operation and deployment are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device independently determines its own indoor location and context using built-in sensors and processors, eliminating the need for complex hardware installation by building personnel or technicians. The device autonomously calculates position based on motion data and compares it with building floor plans.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical hardware installation (beacons, transponders, base stations) with computational methods using software algorithms that process sensor data. This substitution eliminates physical installation requirements while maintaining reliable indoor tracking capability.
3Ease of operation
If outdoor location systems like GPS are used, then location determination is simple and widely available, but indoor and vehicle location accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts its positioning method based on the environment: using GPS outdoors when satellite signals are available, and switching to sensor-based indoor positioning when transitioning indoors. The device continuously monitors signal availability and adjusts its location determination approach accordingly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple positioning approaches by integrating outdoor GPS capability with indoor sensor-based positioning. The system merges data from GPS, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and barometers to provide continuous location determination across both outdoor and indoor environments, seamlessly transitioning between methods.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile computer may determine it is located in a vehicle or a conveyance based on a measured distance, satellite related positioning information, and a touch input.