Mobile Window Query Safe Region for Location Services

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing location-based services face high network usage and processing costs due to the frequent reposting of spatial queries as users move, as the query results become invalid when the client's position changes, necessitating continuous updates to maintain accurate results.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a Mobile Window Query system that computes a safe region around the initial query results, allowing the query to remain valid as long as the user stays within this region, reducing the need for frequent server requests by determining a conservative safe region using tree-like indices and Minkowski sums to refine the query area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If spatial queries are continuously reposted to the server as the client moves, then query result accuracy is maintained, but network usage and processing costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequery result accuracyVSAvoidnetwork usage and processing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The server pre-computes a safe region around the query window before the client actually moves. This safe region is calculated based on the query parameters and the spatial distribution of interest points, allowing the client to move within this region without triggering new queries. The preliminary computation of the safe region eliminates the need for continuous query reposting while maintaining result validity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the query reposting behavior based on the client's movement relative to the safe region boundary. Instead of continuous reposting or fixed periodic updates, the system transitions from static query intervals to dynamic event-driven updates only when the client exits the pre-computed safe region, optimizing both accuracy and resource usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of energy

If the frequency of spatial queries posted to servers is reduced, then network usage and processing costs decrease, but query result validity may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork usage and processing costsVSAvoidquery result validity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The server pre-computes a safe region around the query window before the client actually moves. This safe region is calculated based on the query parameters and the spatial distribution of interest points, allowing the client to move within this region without triggering new queries. The preliminary computation of the safe region eliminates the need for continuous query reposting while maintaining result validity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback to the client about the safe region boundaries and current position relative to these boundaries. This feedback mechanism allows the client to understand when query results remain valid and when updates are necessary, enabling informed decisions about when to repost queries while maintaining result reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If window query results are computed whenever the device moves, then query results remain up-to-date, but computing efficiency at the device is overwhelmed due to limited processing power

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequery result up-to-date statusVSAvoidcomputing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The server acts as an intermediary that performs the computationally intensive task of calculating the safe region and determining when query results become invalid. Instead of burdening the mobile device with these calculations, the server receives the initial query, computes the safe region, and returns both the results and validity information to the device, significantly reducing device processing requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The server pre-computes a safe region around the query window before the client actually moves. This safe region is calculated based on the query parameters and the spatial distribution of interest points, allowing the client to move within this region without triggering new queries. The preliminary computation of the safe region eliminates the need for continuous query reposting while maintaining result validity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10210272B1Window query monitoring for mobile devices and central database servers with a tree-like index

Publication Date: 2019.02.19 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

AI summary

Systems and methods for performing a mobile window query are provided. A method can include transmitting a mobile window query, determining which interest point falls within a query window, defining a potential safe region, refining the safe region utilizing the surrounding interest points, and returning the interest points and safe region to a user.