Neighbor Cell Location Averaging for Mobile Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing location determination methods for mobile devices rely heavily on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data, which may not be available or reliable in all situations, necessitating an alternative method to estimate location without GNSS data.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device calculates its location by determining the average position of nearby wireless signal transmitters, using identification information encoded in received signals, and applying weighted averaging to combine location data from multiple transmitters, excluding signals with high error values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GNSS data is used to determine location, then location accuracy is improved, but reliability deteriorates when GNSS data is unavailable or unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses wireless signal transmitters as intermediary objects to determine location. Instead of directly using GNSS satellites, the system identifies transmitters through signal characteristics and uses their known locations to calculate device position, providing an alternative intermediary reference system that works independently of GNSS availability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the device location by calculating it as the average position of surrounding transmitters. This copied location data can be used for location-based services without requiring actual GNSS signals, effectively replicating location information through a different method
2Reliability
If location estimation is performed using multiple transmitter signals, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the approach from complex multi-parameter GNSS processing to simpler transmitter identification parameters. By focusing on identifying transmitters through signal characteristics and using their pre-stored locations, the system reduces processing complexity while maintaining reliability through the use of multiple transmitter signals
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-storing transmitter location information in a database before location estimation is needed. This pre-prepared data eliminates the need for complex real-time calculations, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable location estimation through averaging multiple pre-identified transmitter positions
Data Source
AI summary
In some implementations, a location of a mobile device can be determined by calculating an average of the locations of wireless signal transmitters that have transmitted signals received by the mobile device. In some implementations, locations are weighted with coefficients and the average is a weighted average. In some implementations, the locations of the wireless signal transmitters are determined based on identification information encoded in the wireless signals received by the mobile device. The identification information can include an identifier for a wireless signal transmitter. The identification information can include characteristics of the received wireless signal that can be used to identify wireless signal transmitters. In some implementations, identification information from one signal can be combined with identification information from another signal to determine a location of a wireless transmitter.