NFC Terminal Location Determination in Signal-Disrupted Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for locating NFC mobile devices, such as cellular triangulation and GPS, are ineffective in areas with weak or disrupted signals, leading to challenges in determining the location of NFC mobile devices without reliable positioning techniques.
Innovation Solution
The use of NFC-based location information from NFC terminal devices, which are equipped with NFC components, allows the mobile telecommunication network to determine the location of NFC mobile devices by correlating NFC device identifiers with geographical locations, even in areas with poor signal conditions, and can be combined with other positioning techniques for verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cellular triangulation or GPS technology is used to locate NFC mobile devices, then location determination is possible in open areas with clear signals, but location determination fails in areas with weak or disrupted cellular/GPS signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces NFC terminal devices as intermediary elements that store location information. Instead of directly relying on cellular triangulation or GPS signals to determine device location, the system uses NFC terminals at known locations as mediators. When a mobile device communicates with an NFC terminal, the terminal's stored location information serves as the basis for determining the mobile device's location, thereby eliminating direct dependence on weak cellular or GPS signals in signal-disrupted environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring NFC terminal devices with known location information before they are deployed. The locations of NFC terminals are determined in advance using reliable positioning methods (cellular triangulation or GPS) when signal conditions are good, and this pre-acquired location data is stored in the terminals. This allows the system to function reliably even when signal conditions deteriorate later, as the location determination no longer depends on real-time signal strength.
2Adaptability or versatility
If NFC-based location determination is used, then location can be determined in areas with poor signal conditions, but additional NFC terminal infrastructure is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing NFC terminal devices that serve multiple functions: they act as both contactless payment/transaction terminals and location determination anchors. By integrating location information storage and transmission capabilities into existing NFC terminals, the system avoids the need for separate dedicated positioning infrastructure. The same NFC terminal used for business transactions also provides location determination functionality, reducing overall system complexity and infrastructure requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A near field communication (NFC) mobile device may obtain location information from a NFC terminal device that is communicating with the NFC mobile device. A data transfer link may be established between the NFC mobile device and a mobile telecommunication network. The mobile telecommunication network may prompt the NFC mobile device to obtain location information from the NFC terminal device. The mobile telecommunication network may then receive the location information from the NFC mobile device via the data transfer link, and may subsequently determine a location of the NFC mobile device using the location information.