Mobile Terminal Location Estimation via Anchor Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing localization technologies for mobile devices have limitations in availability and accuracy, with some devices unable to use certain location technologies due to equipment constraints or satellite unavailability, leading to inconsistent location determination.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus where a mobile user terminal can modify or determine its location using information received from another device acting as an anchor, leveraging different location technologies such as GPS, GeoIP, or trilateration, and exploiting network infrastructure for co-location validation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a mobile device uses only its own built-in location technologies (GPS, GeoIP, trilateration), then the device can independently determine its location, but location accuracy is limited when the device lacks certain location technologies or when satellites are unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an anchor device as an intermediary that possesses location technologies not available to the target device. The anchor device determines its own location using available technologies (GPS, GeoIP, or trilateration) and transmits this location information to the target device, enabling the target device to achieve location accuracy beyond its own capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables a mobile device to perform location determination functions beyond its native capabilities by utilizing the anchor device's location technologies. The target device can access GPS, GeoIP, or trilateration capabilities through the anchor device, making the system universally adaptable to different location technology availability scenarios.
2Measurement precision
If location information is shared between multiple devices, then location accuracy can be improved, but the system complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor device independently determines its own location using available location technologies without requiring complex coordination with other devices. This self-service approach simplifies the system by eliminating the need for mutual verification and complex inter-device coordination, while still achieving improved location accuracy for the target device.
Data Source
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Figure 3
AI summary
Apparatus comprising a decision processing module arranged to determine whether a first mobile user terminal and a second mobile user terminal are within a relative geographic proximity of one another, in dependence on a property of intermediate network equipment of a packet-switched network to which the first and second mobile user terminals are operable to connect. The apparatus also comprises a location processing module arranged to obtain a geographic location of the second mobile user terminal and, on condition that the first and second user terminals are determined to be within the proximity determined by the decision module, to use the geographic location of the second mobile user terminal in estimating a geographic location of the first mobile user terminal.