Mobile Terminal Positioning Mode Switching via Satellite Azimuth Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile terminals incorrectly determine their location as indoors when outdoors in urban areas with dense skyscrapers due to weak satellite signals received after reflection, leading to reduced positioning accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A method for setting a positioning mode in mobile terminals that involves obtaining azimuth and signal parameter values of preset satellites, sorting them, and determining satellite combinations with consecutive signal parameter values below preset thresholds to accurately differentiate between outdoor and indoor positioning modes based on the ratio of satellites in the first satellite combination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the mobile terminal uses average signal strength to determine indoor/outdoor location, then the positioning mode can be switched, but the positioning accuracy deteriorates in urban areas with dense skyscrapers due to signal reflection and diffraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the determination parameters from simple signal strength to a comprehensive set including signal strength, azimuth distribution, and number of visible satellites. By analyzing the statistical distribution of satellite signals across different azimuths, the system can distinguish between weak signals caused by building blockage (indoor) versus weak signals caused by urban canyon effects (outdoor), thereby maintaining positioning accuracy while enabling mode switching
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors satellite signal characteristics and uses feedback from signal strength measurements and azimuth calculations to dynamically adjust positioning mode. By comparing real-time signal patterns against established thresholds and distributions, the system provides accurate feedback for mode determination, preventing incorrect indoor/outdoor classification in challenging urban environments
2Device complexity
If the mobile terminal considers all received satellite signals for positioning mode determination, then the determination process is simple, but the reliability deteriorates due to inclusion of reflected and diffracted signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the satellite signal analysis by dividing the 360-degree azimuth range into multiple sectors and analyzing signal distribution across these segments. By examining whether satellites are distributed across multiple azimuth sectors or concentrated in a limited range, the system can reliably distinguish between outdoor environments (multiple sectors) and indoor environments (limited sectors), thereby improving determination reliability without significantly increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using all received signals equally, the patent applies partial action by selectively weighting or filtering signals based on their azimuth characteristics. The system focuses analysis on the spatial distribution pattern of a subset of signals rather than treating all signals uniformly, which improves reliability by emphasizing the geometric arrangement of satellites while keeping the computational burden manageable
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for setting a positioning mode and a mobile terminal. The method includes: obtaining an azimuth and at least one signal parameter value of each preset satellite of M preset satellites that exist when a mobile terminal is at a first location and at a first moment; sorting M preset satellites according to values of azimuths; obtaining, from the M sorted preset satellites, N satellite combinations that are consecutively arranged and that have signal parameter values less than preset values, where each satellite combination includes at least one preset satellite; when a ratio of a quantity of preset satellites in a first satellite combination to M is less than a first threshold, setting a positioning mode to an outdoor positioning mode; or when a ratio of the quantity of the preset satellites in the first satellite combination to M is greater than a second threshold, setting the positioning mode to an indoor positioning mode, where the first satellite combination is a satellite combination of the N satellite combinations that includes a largest quantity of preset satellites. Therefore, a probability of incorrectly determining that a mobile terminal is located indoors while the mobile terminal is located outdoors is reduced, thereby improving positioning accuracy.