Mobile Transport Mode Recognition Using Sensor Fusion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transportation mode recognition systems face challenges in achieving reliable and accurate detection, particularly with GPS-based methods due to energy consumption and signal limitations, and accelerometer-based methods struggle with precise position and orientation determination, leading to difficulties in distinguishing between similar modes like buses, cars, and trains.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a combination of an accelerometer and GPS sensors, along with wireless connections, employs a gradient boosting machine-learning classifier to recognize transportation modes, including public transportation and other forms, by analyzing time series data from multiple sensors and incorporating user corrections to improve accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If GPS-based recognition is used, then transportation mode detection can be performed, but energy consumption increases and signal reception becomes unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation mode detection reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines GPS data with accelerometer data to create a hybrid recognition system. The GPS component provides location and movement information while the accelerometer captures motion patterns. By merging these two data sources, the system achieves reliable transportation mode detection without relying solely on GPS, thereby reducing energy consumption compared to GPS-only approaches while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Use of energy by moving object

If accelerometer-based recognition is used, then energy consumption is reduced, but position and orientation determination becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidposition and orientation measurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses GPS data as an intermediary to complement accelerometer measurements. While the accelerometer provides continuous low-energy motion data, the GPS component serves as an intermediary reference that helps determine absolute position and orientation. This combination allows the system to maintain measurement precision without the high energy cost of using GPS alone, as the accelerometer handles continuous tracking while GPS provides periodic calibration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If accelerometer data is averaged over time, then noise is reduced, but gravity component measurement accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal reliabilityVSAvoidgravity component measurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the accelerometer signal processing into different components: dynamic acceleration, gravity, and noise. Instead of averaging the entire signal which would blur these components, the system processes them separately. The gravity component is extracted and analyzed independently to maintain precision, while other components are averaged or filtered separately to reduce noise. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of signal reliability and measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system achieves enhanced accuracy in distinguishing between various transportation modes, enabling real-time and continuous tracking, supporting applications like personal navigation and risk-transfer processes.

Implementation Method 1

the GPS sensor measures the mobile device's longitude, latitude and altitude position by measuring different speed of light delays in the signals coming from two or more satellites

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpeed of light delay measurement: Speed of Sound

Implementation Method 2

the measuring parameters comprise time series of sensory parameter values of a 3-axis accelerometer as sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAccelerometer measurement: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentEP4211600B1Mobile device and system for automated transport mode recognition and corresponding method thereof
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 SWISS REINSURANCE CO LTD
  • EP4211600B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4211600B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4211600B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Proposed is a method and system for automated transportation mode recognition based on sensory data measured by a plurality of sensors (102) of a cellular mobile device (10) of a user (6/61 /62), the plurality of sensors (102) at least comprising an accelerometer (1025) and a gyroscope (1026), the plurality of sensors (102) being connected to a monitoring mobile node application (101) of the mobile device (10), wherein the mobile device (10) measures time series of sensory parameter values based on measuring parameters obtained from the sensors (102), the measuring parameters comprise time series of sensory parameter values of a 3-axis accelerometer as sensor (102) and time series of sensory parameter values of GPS-based speed measurements of a GPS receiver as sensor (102), and wherein the measured time series of sensory parameter values trigger the automated transportation mode recognition as input feature values to a gradient boosting machine-learning classifier, the transportation modes at least comprising the modes public transportation and/or motorcycle and/or cycling and/or train and/or tram and/or plane and/or car and/or skiing and/or boat, and the transportation mode recognition generating a transport mode label for a transport mode movement pattern of a trip.