Mobile Device Location Engine Using Base Transceiver Station Signal Amplitude
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining a mobile device's location are inefficient, requiring significant time and resources, and may not function indoors or when the GPS sensor is not active, making it difficult for content providers to deliver location-based customized content in a timely manner.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device with a location engine that determines its location by identifying nearby base transceiver stations (BTSs) based on signal amplitude and provides this location in communication headers, allowing content providers to quickly deliver location-based content without draining battery life or consuming network resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS sensor is used for location determination, then location accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases and device must be outdoors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) as intermediary infrastructure to enable location determination. Instead of relying directly on GPS satellites, the system uses cellular network BTSs as mediators that provide location information through signal amplitude measurements, allowing indoor location determination without requiring GPS visibility or high energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical GPS satellite-based system with a wireless communication-based system using BTS signal amplitude measurements. This substitution enables location determination through radio signal analysis rather than requiring line-of-sight to satellites, thereby working indoors and consuming less battery power
2Measurement precision
If existing location determination methods are used, then location data can be obtained, but time consumption is high and network resources are excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device performs location determination autonomously using its own onboard BTS signal amplitude measurement capabilities and stored BTS location data. The device independently calculates its position based on signal strengths from multiple nearby BTSs without requiring server-based processing or extensive network resource allocation, thereby reducing time consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-stores BTS location data in the mobile device before location determination is needed. By having the BTS location information already cached in the device's memory, the system eliminates the need for real-time network queries and can immediately perform location calculations when required, significantly reducing response time
3Adaptability or versatility
If location determination is performed frequently, then content customization is improved, but device resources and network bandwidth are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements location determination only when necessary (partial action) rather than continuously, by triggering location calculations based on event detection such as application launches, GPS status changes, or user actions. This selective approach provides sufficient content customization capability while avoiding unnecessary resource consumption and device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided for mobile client-side location determination. The system includes a mobile device, which includes base transceiver station location data, a memory, a processor, and a location engine stored in the memory. When executed by the processor, the location engine receives information that identifies multiple base transceiver stations in response to the mobile device registering with a communication network. The location engine also reads a location for each of the base transceiver stations from the base transceiver station location data and calculates a location of the mobile device based on the location of each of the base transceiver stations. Additionally, the location engine provides the location of the mobile device in a defined portion of a communication transmitted by the mobile device.