Mobile Device Region Determination via Pressure Thresholds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Region determination in indoor environments is time-consuming and power-consuming due to signal interference from wireless transceiver access points, especially near structures like staircases and elevator shafts, which can lead to ambiguous location identification.

Innovation Solution

A method in a mobile device that determines region changes by measuring pressure and altitude differences, triggering region determination only when a significant change is detected, and adjusting the frequency of passive measurements based on the likelihood of vertical transitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If region determination is performed continuously to ensure accurate location identification, then location accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic region determination based on pressure change detection. Instead of continuous region determination, the system performs measurements at intervals triggered by significant pressure changes, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining location accuracy when changes occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure sensor continuously monitors environmental pressure changes and automatically triggers region determination when a significant change is detected. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for continuous active region determination by the main processor, reducing power consumption while maintaining accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Speed

If passive measurements are performed at high frequency to detect region changes quickly, then response time is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse timeVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic passive measurements at high frequency only when triggered by pressure changes. During normal operation, measurements are performed at lower frequency, reducing power consumption while maintaining quick response capability when region changes occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure sensor performs preliminary monitoring of environmental pressure continuously at low power. When a significant pressure change is detected, this preliminary action triggers the more power-intensive passive measurements, ensuring quick response only when necessary

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If region determination is performed in response to every pressure change to ensure accurate detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but false triggers increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidfalse triggers

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter threshold for triggering region determination from any pressure change to only significant pressure changes exceeding a predetermined threshold. This filters out minor fluctuations that cause false triggers while maintaining detection of actual region changes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where pressure change magnitude is evaluated against historical data and environmental context. This feedback loop helps distinguish between significant region-changing pressure changes and minor fluctuations, reducing false triggers while maintaining detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach reduces power consumption and improves location determination efficiency by minimizing unnecessary measurements and ignoring anomalous triggers, thereby conserving power and enhancing region change detection accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

determining a present pressure at the mobile device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure measurement:

Implementation Method 2

determining, based on the present pressure and a reference pressure, that the mobile device moved from a first region to a second region within a structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure-altitude relationship:

Data Source

PatentUS9906922B2Region determination control

Publication Date: 2018.02.27 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

A method, in a mobile device, of controlling region determination by the mobile device, includes: determining a present pressure at the mobile device; determining, based on the present pressure and a reference pressure, that the mobile device moved from a first region to a second region within a structure, the first region and the second region being different regions of the structure and vertically displaced from each other; and performing region determination in response to determining that the mobile device moved from the first region to the second region.