Mobile Tracking Using Path Data to Reduce Bandwidth

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current GPS tracking technologies face challenges in providing real-time location updates, especially in high-speed scenarios and densely populated areas, leading to difficulties in accurately following a mobile user due to time lags and increased processor and bandwidth burdens with frequent updates.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that enable wireless communications devices to transmit and receive current position data along with speed, time, and path data, allowing the follower to accurately track and anticipate the route of the leader, reducing the need for frequent updates and improving navigation accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If GPS position data is transmitted periodically, then the tracking system operates with low processor and bandwidth burden, but the location data becomes outdated and less accurate for high-speed following scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidtime lag
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by calculating and transmitting path data (the route the leader device took to reach its current position) in advance. This allows the follower device to anticipate future positions and plan navigation ahead, compensating for the inherent time lag in periodic GPS updates without requiring more frequent transmissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If GPS position data is transmitted more frequently, then the location data remains more current and accurate, but the processor burden and wireless bandwidth consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidprocessor efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and transmits only the essential path information (route data) rather than continuously transmitting complete position data at high frequency. This selective extraction provides the follower device with sufficient information to track the leader accurately without the processor and bandwidth burden of high-frequency full position updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If GPS position data is transmitted more frequently, then the location data remains more current and accurate, but the wireless bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidbandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and transmits only the essential path information (route data) rather than continuously transmitting complete position data at high frequency. This selective extraction provides the follower device with sufficient information to track the leader accurately without the bandwidth burden of high-frequency full position updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of operation

If only current position data is transmitted, then the data transmission is simple and efficient, but the follower device cannot determine the optimal route to reach the leader in densely populated areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetracking simplicityVSAvoidroute information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by calculating and transmitting path data (the route the leader device took to reach its current position) in advance. This allows the follower device to anticipate future positions and plan navigation ahead, compensating for the inherent time lag in periodic GPS updates without requiring more frequent transmissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

5Productivity

If only current position data is transmitted, then the data transmission is simple and efficient, but the follower device loses contextual information about the leader's movement pattern

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidmovement context
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and transmits only the essential path information (route data) rather than continuously transmitting complete position data at high frequency. This selective extraction provides the follower device with sufficient information to track the leader accurately without the processor and bandwidth burden of high-frequency full position updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2068120B1Mobile tracking
Publication Date: 2010.08.11 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2068120B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2068120B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2068120B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of tracking a first wireless communications device using another computing device, such as a second wireless communications device, includes obtaining current position data for the first wireless communications device and obtaining one or more of speed data, time data, and path data for the first wireless communications device. The first wireless device then transmits the current position data and at least one of the speed data, time data and path data to the second wireless communications device or other computing device. In addition to current position data, the speed, path and time data facilitate tracking of the first wireless communications device. When a first mobile user wants a second mobile user to follow him, the first mobile user can put his device in "follow me" (tracking) mode. This is particularly useful when the first and second mobile users are traveling in respective cars or other vehicles.