Mobile Location Refinement Using Proximity Intersection and Historic Availability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile device tracking systems provide approximate location but lack accuracy and fail to indicate the availability of contacts within a location-based group, especially in emergency situations, as they do not consider the user's routine or activities.
Innovation Solution
A system that combines GPS and triangulation methods with a historic database of frequented locations to refine location accuracy and determine availability criteria, generating a relative distance value that indicates the accessibility of group members to respond to emergencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS and triangulation methods are used to determine location, then location information can be provided, but location accuracy is insufficient and availability information is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing a historic database of frequented locations and pre-calculating availability criteria for contacts at these locations. This advance preparation enables the system to quickly determine both location accuracy and availability information when needed, resolving the contradiction between providing accurate location data and availability information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges location determination (GPS/triangulation) with availability assessment by combining geographic data with historic availability patterns. The system integrates multiple data sources including location information, historic database of frequented locations, and availability criteria to simultaneously provide both accurate location and availability status, eliminating the information loss problem.
2Device complexity
If approximate location tracking is used, then device complexity is reduced, but location accuracy and emergency response effectiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes a historic database of frequented locations and pre-calculates availability criteria before emergencies occur. This preliminary action enables the system to achieve high location accuracy and provide availability information without increasing real-time processing complexity, as the heavy computational work is done in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of historic location and availability data that can be quickly queried during emergencies. By maintaining a pre-computed historic database, the system provides accurate location information and availability assessment without performing complex real-time calculations, thus avoiding increased device complexity during critical moments.
3Loss of information
If location data without availability information is provided, then information loss is minimized, but emergency response effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges location data with availability information by integrating geographic coordinates with historic availability patterns and contact status data. This combination provides complete information (location + availability) that directly enhances emergency response effectiveness by enabling users to identify the most available contacts quickly, resolving the contradiction between information completeness and response effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses historic availability data as feedback to determine current availability status of contacts. By analyzing past availability patterns and comparing them with current location data, the system provides accurate availability information that improves emergency response effectiveness while maintaining information completeness.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of increasing accuracy of location determination of mobile devices within a location-based subgroup starts with server receiving location data and proximity information from each of the mobile devices. Location data received from first mobile device includes first mobile device's fixed location. Proximity information received from first mobile device includes an identification of mobile devices within a proximity sensitivity radius of first mobile device's location. Server forms subgroup of mobile devices based on proximity information from each of the mobile devices. Subgroup may include first mobile device and mobile devices that have provided proximity information that identifies first mobile device are being within the proximity sensitivity radiuses of the mobile devices, respectively. Server may then refine the fixed location of the first mobile device, which includes identifying an intersection of the proximity sensor sensitivity of each of the mobile devices that are in subgroup. Other embodiments are described.