Mobile Station Indoor Location via Nearby Node Triangulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cellular wireless communication systems, determining the location of a mobile station indoors is challenging due to obstruction of GPS signals by buildings, and relying on nearby mobile stations for location determination is inaccurate without direction and distance information.
Innovation Solution
A method where a mobile station engages in short-range wireless communication with nearby mobile stations to determine their locations and distances, applying triangulation to compute its own location, and uses a trust-signal from the Radio Access Network (RAN) to ensure accurate and reliable location reporting from nearby stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS signals are used to determine mobile station location, then location accuracy is improved, but the method fails when GPS signals are obstructed by buildings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses nearby mobile stations as intermediary nodes to determine the location of a target mobile station. Instead of directly using GPS signals, the system leverages the locations of intermediate devices (nearby mobile stations) that can be determined through GPS or other methods, and uses their known positions and distances to calculate the target's location through triangulation. This intermediary approach enables location determination in GPS-denied areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the direct GPS signal-based location determination mechanism with a wireless communication-based triangulation system. Instead of relying on electromagnetic signals from satellites, the system uses wireless communication to exchange location and distance information between mobile stations, substituting the GPS mechanical/electromagnetic system with a communication-based geometric calculation system.
2Reliability
If location information from nearby mobile stations is used, then location determination is possible indoors, but location accuracy deteriorates without direction and distance information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional or two-dimensional location information to three-dimensional spatial relationships by incorporating distance measurements. By adding the dimension of distance (along with location coordinates), the system creates sufficient geometric constraints to perform accurate triangulation. The distance parameter provides the third dimension needed to resolve the ambiguity in indoor location determination.
3Measurement precision
If multiple nearby mobile stations are contacted for location determination, then location accuracy is improved through triangulation, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by contacting only the necessary number of nearby mobile stations (typically three or more) required for triangulation, rather than attempting to contact all possible nearby devices. The system selectively identifies and communicates with a minimal sufficient set of stations that provide adequate geometric coverage for accurate location determination, thereby reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining accuracy.
4Reliability
If trust-signal mechanism is implemented to ensure reliable location reporting, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trust-signal mechanism introduces a network server as an intermediary that mediates between mobile stations and location determination requests. The server verifies the identity and authorization of mobile stations before allowing them to participate in location determination, thereby ensuring reliability without requiring complex verification mechanisms within the mobile devices themselves.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for determining the location of a mobile station based on the locations of a group of nearby mobile stations. A mobile station implementing the method will engage in short-range wireless communication with nearby mobile stations to determine the location of the nearby mobile stations and the distances between it and each nearby mobile station. The mobile station will then apply triangulation or another algorithm to compute its own location based on the determined locations and distances of the nearby mobile stations. Further, a serving radio access network can assist by providing a trust-signal to the nearby mobile stations, with the nearby mobile stations then reporting their locations conditional upon their receipt of both the location query and the trust-signal.