Network-Based Location Grouping for Mobile Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current location-based applications often require mobile devices to have GPS capabilities, limiting non-GPS enabled devices, and necessitate processing and battery consumption for location determinations and periodic check-ins, increasing costs and resource usage.
Innovation Solution
The system enables group associations based on network-determined location information, allowing mobile devices to participate in groups without specific applications, using network interactions to identify devices in proximity and create ad-hoc groups, with a server determining locations and adding devices to groups based on predefined zones and trigger events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mobile devices perform their own location determinations using GPS, then location accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase for non-GPS enabled devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that performs location determination centrally. Instead of each mobile device needing GPS capabilities, the server receives network interaction data from devices and determines their locations. This mediator approach allows non-GPS enabled devices to participate in location-based applications while maintaining location accuracy through server-side processing.
2Reliability
If mobile devices periodically check-in their location, then group location tracking is improved, but processing capability and battery consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic location reporting where mobile devices send location information at predetermined intervals rather than continuously. The server receives these periodic reports and maintains group location tracking. This periodic approach balances reliable group tracking with reduced device processing and battery consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
3Ease of operation
If specific applications are installed on mobile devices for location-based systems, then location-based functionality is improved, but device complexity and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal server-based platform that handles location determination and group management centrally. This multi-functional server approach eliminates the need for device-specific applications, as the server provides location-based services to all devices through standard network interactions. This universal solution reduces device complexity while maintaining full location-based functionality.
4Use of energy by moving object
If network determines location centrally, then device resource consumption is reduced, but server processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the computationally intensive location determination function from mobile devices and places it on the server. By taking out this heavy processing requirement from resource-constrained devices, the system reduces device energy consumption while centralizing processing power where it is available. The server handles all location calculations using network interaction data, freeing devices to operate with minimal processing overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and devices enable group associations based on network determined location information. The various embodiments enable the ad-hoc creation of mobile device groups based on network determined locations. In an embodiment, a server may determine the location of a mobile device and based on the mobile device being located in a pairing zone may add the mobile device to a group. In an embodiment, the server may add the mobile device to the group following the occurrence of a trigger event, such as the mobile device pausing in a given pairing zone for a period of time. In an embodiment, the server may identify that mobile devices are located within a pairing zone and may add all the mobile devices in the pairing zone to the same group.