Network Device Beacon Positioning for Indoor Location Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current geolocation solutions, particularly in indoor environments, face challenges due to the unreliability of GPS devices without a clear line of sight and the bandwidth impact of transmitting GPS information over networks, necessitating improvements in location and network services.
Innovation Solution
The system employs beacons and packet transmission to enhance device positioning accuracy, using trilateration and multilateration techniques, along with common clocks shared among network devices, to determine the location of devices and leakage points within networks, while mitigating multipath errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS devices are used for geolocation, then location determination is possible, but reliability deteriorates in indoor environments without clear line of sight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces network devices (routers, switches, access points) as intermediary nodes that participate in the geolocation process. These intermediaries have known locations and can measure time of arrival (TOA) or time difference of arrival (TDOA) of signals from the target device, enabling location determination without requiring direct satellite visibility. This mediator approach replaces GPS dependency with a network-based positioning system that works reliably in indoor environments.
2Loss of information
If GPS information is transmitted over network, then location data is available, but network bandwidth is reduced for other information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the geolocation function with existing network communication protocols. Network devices use their existing network interfaces to transmit beacon signals and receive TOA/TDOA measurements, combining positioning operations with routine network traffic. The location data is extracted from network packets rather than requiring separate GPS data transmission, eliminating the need for dedicated bandwidth allocation and minimizing impact on other network communications.
Solution Approach 2:
Network devices perform geolocation measurements using their own existing network resources and processing capabilities. Routers and switches utilize their built-in clocks, network interfaces, and signal processing units to measure TOA and TDOA values without requiring external GPS receivers or additional hardware. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate GPS data transmission infrastructure and reduces bandwidth consumption.
3Measurement precision
If multiple network devices are used for positioning, then location accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes network devices multi-functional by enabling them to perform both their primary networking functions and geolocation measurements. Routers, switches, and access points use their existing network interfaces, clocks, and signal processing capabilities to measure TOA and TDOA values, eliminating the need for dedicated positioning hardware. This universality allows multiple standard network devices to participate in positioning without adding specialized complexity to the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent leverages changes in signal parameters (time of arrival, time difference of arrival, signal strength) measured by network devices to determine location. By using multiple network devices to collect these temporal and signal parameters, the system achieves accurate positioning through computational analysis of parameter variations rather than requiring complex hardware systems. The positioning accuracy is derived from mathematical processing of time and signal parameters collected by distributed network devices.
Data Source
AI summary
System and methods for locating events and/or devices on a network are described.