In-Vehicle Mobile Device Alignment for Sub-Meter Vehicle Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) positioning of mobile devices onboard vehicles suffer from inaccuracies, leading to uncertainties in determining the vehicle's location, especially when sub-meter accuracy is required, as the mobile device's location is assumed to be the same as the vehicle's, introducing significant errors.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus to determine the vehicle's location independently of the mobile device by receiving user input to identify the mobile device's position within the vehicle, using GNSS to calculate the mobile device's location relative to a coordinate system, and adjusting for offsets to achieve sub-meter accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the mobile device's location is assumed to be the same as the vehicle's location, then the positioning system is simple to operate, but the measurement precision of the vehicle location deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational process that calculates the offset between the mobile device and vehicle reference point based on user input (device position within vehicle) and GNSS data (device location). This offset serves as a mediator to transform the mobile device location into an accurate vehicle location, resolving the contradiction by maintaining operational simplicity while achieving high measurement precision through the intermediary offset calculation and application step.
2Measurement precision
If sub-meter GNSS accuracy is used, then the location determination precision improves, but the uncertainty introduced by assuming mobile device aligns with vehicle location becomes significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by proactively compensating for the alignment uncertainty before it affects the final vehicle location determination. The system pre-calculates the offset between the mobile device and vehicle reference point using user input and GNSS data, then applies this offset to correct the vehicle location. This preliminary correction prevents the uncertainty from degrading the reliability of sub-meter GNSS accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If the mobile device position within the vehicle is precisely determined, then the vehicle location accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by allowing the user to manually input the mobile device position within the vehicle through a simple interface. This user-provided information, combined with GNSS data, enables the system to automatically calculate the offset and determine accurate vehicle location without requiring complex sensors or additional hardware. The system serves itself by using readily available user input and GNSS data to achieve high precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
One or more processors obtain an indication of user input identifying a position of a mobile device within a vehicle. The processor(s) obtain a location of the mobile device with respect to a coordinate system that is independent of the vehicle. The processor(s) determine a location of the vehicle with respect to the coordinate system based at least in part on the location of the mobile device and the identified position of the mobile device within the vehicle. The location of the vehicle with respect to the coordinate system may be determined to sub-meter accuracy.