People-Counting System Using Wireless Signal Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing people-counting systems using wireless communication with mobile devices face challenges in operating unobtrusively due to evolving mobile device security and privacy standards, which hinder the collection of accurate data without user interaction or device authorization.
Innovation Solution
A technique that passively detects mobile devices using their wireless signals, employing scanners with wireless communication components and transceivers to collect data without establishing a connection, utilizing analytical software to isolate devices based on unique patterns and machine identifiers, and employing a combination of passive and active methods to generate device signatures for counting purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If passive detection methods are used to count mobile devices, then user privacy is protected and no user action is required, but accurate device isolation and counting become difficult due to security standards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses analytical software as an intermediary that processes wireless signals to extract device signatures without direct user interaction. The software acts as a mediator between the scanner and mobile devices, interpreting signal patterns to identify and count devices while maintaining privacy standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or direct communication methods with signal analysis-based detection. Instead of requiring devices to actively respond or connect, the system analyzes passive wireless signals to derive device identifiers, substituting direct interaction with indirect signal interpretation.
2Measurement precision
If active methods are used to establish connections with mobile devices, then device identification becomes easier, but user authorization and privacy concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts device signatures from wireless signals without establishing full connections or requiring user authorization. The system takes out only the necessary identification information from the signal stream, leaving the rest of the communication protocol intact and respecting privacy boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs partial connection attempts or signal probing that stop short of full device authorization. By using partial action - analyzing signals without completing full connection handshakes - the system gathers sufficient identification data while minimizing privacy intrusion and avoiding triggering security restrictions.
3Measurement precision
If device signatures are generated using multiple methods, then counting accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges passive signal detection with active probing methods into a unified device signature generation process. The analytical software combines multiple detection approaches, correlating results from different methods to improve counting accuracy while managing system complexity through integrated processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a people-counting system that counts people in a given area based on the signals that are emitted by the respective people's mobile devices, such as cell phones. In order to count passively, the system receives and analyzes network probes transmitted by the wireless devices and correlates groups of fake machine identifiers in order to identify a given device. Where this passive approach is unsuccessful, or determined low certainty, an active approach involving data layer packets such as: CTS/RTS, authentication and dissociation packets. Device's response or lack thereof is analyzed to provide further accuracy to a local device count.