Portable Terminal Positioning Using Multi-Distance Signal Differences
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indoor positioning systems struggle to accurately determine the position of mobile terminals within buildings using BLE beacons due to fluctuations in radio wave intensity, leading to inaccuracies and slow processing times, which are impractical for applications like automatic authentication and payment systems.
Innovation Solution
A position determination system using a personal portable terminal as a transmitter and multiple receivers arranged at different distances to measure the intensity difference of the transmitted signal, enabling accurate and rapid position determination by reducing signal intensity variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If BLE beacons are used for indoor positioning, then position measurement can be performed in buildings, but signal intensity fluctuations cause measurement inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from absolute signal intensity to signal intensity difference (gradient) between multiple receivers. This transformation makes the measurement less sensitive to fluctuations in transmitted power and environmental factors, thereby improving both accuracy and reliability of position determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate calculation step that computes the difference in signal intensity between multiple receivers. This intermediary value (intensity difference) serves as a more stable indicator of position than absolute intensity values, reducing the impact of signal fluctuations.
2Measurement precision
If multiple receivers are used to reduce signal variation, then position accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the receiving function into multiple separate receivers positioned at different locations. Each receiver independently measures signal intensity, and their results are combined through simple subtraction. This segmentation allows accuracy improvement while keeping individual receiver units simple and the overall system manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple independent measurement results through a simple mathematical operation (subtraction of intensity values). This merging approach achieves enhanced accuracy without requiring complex processing or coordination between receivers, thus limiting the increase in system complexity.
3Loss of time
If position determination is performed rapidly for authentication, then processing time decreases, but accuracy may be compromised due to signal fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary measurements simultaneously at multiple receivers rather than sequentially. This parallel measurement approach eliminates the need for time-consuming repeated measurements to average out signal fluctuations, enabling rapid yet accurate position determination suitable for authentication systems.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing from measuring absolute intensity to measuring intensity differences, the system achieves better accuracy with fewer measurements. The intensity difference parameter is more stable and requires less temporal averaging, thus reducing the time needed for accurate position determination.
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
This method allows for precise and swift position measurement of the portable terminal, facilitating touchless authentication and payment processes, such as opening doors or making payments, by stabilizing signal intensity differences between receivers.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of first and second position determination side receivers 22A, 22B, 23A, and 23B are arranged at different first and second positions which are spaced at first and second distances away from the personal portable terminal 10, respectively, to receive the position determination signal which is transmitted by the personal terminal side transmitter 11
Implementation Method 2
The position determination side calculator 25 determines the position of the personal portable terminal 10 based on a difference between an intensity of the position determination signal which is received by the first position determination side receivers 22A and 22B and an intensity of the position determination signal which is received by the second position determination side receivers 23A and 23B
Data Source
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AI summary
A personal portable terminal (10) includes a transmitter (11) that transmits a position determination signal to be used for position determination to a position determination device (20), and a controller (12) that controls the transmitter (11). The position determination apparatus (20) includes a plurality of first and second receivers (22A, 22B, 23A, 23B) that are arranged at different first and second positions which are spaced at first and second distances away from the personal portable terminal (10), respectively, to receive the position determination signal transmitted by the transmitter (11), and a calculator (25) that determines the position of the personal portable terminal (10) based on a difference between an intensity of the position determination signal that is received by the first receivers (22A, 22B) and an intensity of the position determination signal that is received by the second receivers (23A, 23B). The second distance is greater than the first distance.