Mobile Terminal Identification via Position Matching in Connected Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle telematics solutions face challenges in accurately identifying mobile terminals within a vehicle without requiring significant software and hardware modifications, and often rely on manual interactions or specialized devices, limiting the applicability of context-aware services.

Innovation Solution

A method that initializes a list of candidate mobile terminal identifiers, compares their positions with a connected device's position, and iteratively refines the list to determine matching terminals, using pre-populated information and triggering events such as vehicle start or movement, without needing separate entities or modifications to the vehicle or terminals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a dedicated device is installed in the vehicle to connect to mobile terminals and broadcast identifiers, then mobile terminals can be identified in the vehicle, but significant software and hardware impact on the terminals is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification accuracyVSAvoidsoftware and hardware impact on terminals
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a network entity (e.g., base station, core network node) as an intermediary to perform the identification function. This mediator receives position information from both the connected device and candidate mobile terminals, performs the matching operation, and returns results without requiring modifications to the mobile terminals themselves, thus resolving the contradiction between identification accuracy and terminal complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of direct device-to-device communication with a network-based information exchange system. Position information is transmitted through network infrastructure (base stations, core network nodes) rather than requiring direct radio communication between vehicles and terminals, reducing the complexity burden on terminal devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If manual interaction or pairing is required for correlation solutions, then identification can be achieved, but the spread and applicability of context-aware services is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification accuracyVSAvoidmanual interaction requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the system to perform identification automatically using position information exchanged through the network. The connected device and candidate terminals self-report their positions to the network entity, which then performs automatic matching without requiring manual pairing or user interaction, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining identification accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary identification operations by continuously monitoring and comparing position information in the background. The network entity maintains updated position data for connected devices and candidate terminals, enabling automatic identification to occur as soon as correlation is possible without requiring triggered manual actions from users

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If specialized devices are used or carried by passengers to communicate with mobile terminals, then identification can be achieved, but the applicability of services is limited due to special requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification accuracyVSAvoidapplicability of services
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes existing universal network infrastructure (base stations, core network nodes) that already serve general telecommunication purposes to perform the identification function. This multi-functional use of existing network elements eliminates the need for specialized identification devices, thereby increasing the adaptability and versatility of the service across different vehicles and users

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the identification function with existing telecommunication network operations. The same network infrastructure that handles voice and data communication is also used to exchange position information and perform identification, merging multiple functions into a unified system that increases service applicability without requiring separate specialized devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3202167B1Technique for identifying at least one mobile terminal use travelling in a vehicle comprising a connected device
Publication Date: 2018.05.02 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3202167B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3202167B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3202167B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A technique for identifying at least one mobile terminal travelling in a vehicle is disclosed, wherein the vehicle comprises a connected device. In a method aspect, the method comprises initializing a list of identifiers, IDs, of at least one candidate mobile terminal currently travelling in the vehicle, obtaining a current first position of the connected device and a current second position of the at least one candidate mobile terminal, comparing the current first position and the current second position so as to determine whether the current first and second positions match, and iteratively refining the list of IDs depending on the match of the current first and second positions by repeating the steps of obtaining and comparing until a predetermined condition is met.