Portable Terminal Device Connection System Using RSSI Proximity Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current POS systems using tablet terminals face challenges in automatically identifying and connecting to nearby devices due to limitations in GPS positioning for indoor locations and the inadequacy of short-distance wireless communication for stable high-speed data transfer, especially in retail environments where precise device specification and high-speed communication are necessary.
Innovation Solution
A system where a portable terminal uses short-distance wireless communication to identify the closest device set and then switches to wireless LAN for stable high-speed communication, allowing automatic connection and precise device specification by combining short-distance wireless and wireless LAN communication formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS is utilized for position measurement, then wide area position specification is possible, but position specification per a few meters required when switching devices in a shop is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the positioning function into two segments: GPS for wide-area outdoor positioning and indoor positioning system (IPS) for precise indoor positioning. This segmentation allows each system to operate in its optimal environment, with GPS providing coarse location and IPS providing fine-grained indoor device-level precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using wireless signal strength (RSSI) as a mediator between physical distance and device identification. Instead of relying solely on GPS coordinates, the system uses signal strength measurements to determine proximity to specific devices, enabling precise indoor device specification without direct line-of-sight to satellites.
2Measurement precision
If short-distance wireless communication such as Bluetooth is used, then only nearby device connection is possible, but stable high speed communication and large volume data transfer are inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using short-distance wireless communication (Bluetooth) first to identify and select the target device before establishing the main data transfer connection. This two-stage approach allows the system to pre-determine the correct device using proximity detection, then switch to high-speed wireless LAN for actual data transfer, combining the advantages of both communication methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses short-distance wireless communication as an intermediary step in the device connection process. Rather than attempting direct high-speed connection to all possible devices, the system first uses Bluetooth as a mediator to identify the nearest device, then establishes the primary data transfer connection through wireless LAN to that identified device.
3Productivity
If tablet terminal is connected to POS peripheral device via wireless LAN, then high speed communication is possible, but it is impossible to specify which POS peripheral device is the closest to the tablet terminal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two different identification approaches: using IP address-based wireless LAN communication for high-speed data transfer and signal strength-based proximity detection for device identification. By combining these methods, the system maintains the high communication speed of wireless LAN while adding the ability to accurately identify the nearest device through complementary proximity measurement capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
The purpose of the present invention is to enable nearby devices to be automatically identified if a portable terminal moves, and to automatically connect the identified devices and the portable terminal by a relatively stable high-speed communication format such as wireless LAN. In the present invention, in a system in which a first device and a second device are associated with each other and handled as a set and in which a plurality of such sets are disposed at locations distant from each other, a portable terminal that is used in the system performs communication with one of the first devices in compliance with a first communication format that is a short-distance wireless communication format, and so as to specify a set which includes said one of the first devices located closer to the portable terminal than other first devices, and performs communication with a second device included in the identified set in compliance with a second communication format.