Position Data Reliability via Accuracy-Based Measurement Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
GPS systems face inaccuracies due to atmospheric effects, multipath interference, receiver clock errors, orbital errors, and satellite geometry, leading to inconsistent and erroneous location measurements, especially in mobile devices, which current augmentation systems struggle to address effectively without relying on satellite signals.
Innovation Solution
A method that sorts and merges successive position measurements based on accuracy values using a merge algorithm, calculating a merged position that lies between the initial and subsequent measurements, and identifies outliers to enhance the reliability and accuracy of location data without requiring satellite augmentation systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS measurements are used directly without processing, then the system is simple and fast, but the position accuracy and reliability are poor due to GPS scatter and measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-sorting position measurements according to their accuracy values before processing. This preliminary organization allows the system to systematically evaluate and merge measurements in order of reliability, improving position accuracy without requiring complex real-time processing algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple position measurements into a single enhanced position estimate by combining measurements in sequence according to their accuracy. This merging process reduces GPS scatter and improves reliability by aggregating information from multiple measurements while maintaining computational efficiency.
2Reliability
If multiple position measurements are collected and processed to improve accuracy, then the position reliability improves, but the processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
By pre-sorting measurements according to accuracy values, the system establishes an efficient processing sequence that minimizes computational iterations. This preliminary action ensures that the most reliable measurements are processed first, reducing the time needed to achieve a dependable position estimate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the inherent accuracy values provided with each GPS measurement to automatically determine the processing sequence and merging strategy. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external intervention or complex decision-making algorithms, reducing processing overhead while maintaining high reliability.
3Measurement precision
If position measurements are merged based on accuracy values, then the position accuracy improves, but the computational complexity of the merge algorithm increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the position measurement processing into distinct stages: sorting measurements by accuracy, sequentially merging adjacent measurements in the sorted list, and evaluating merge criteria. This segmentation breaks down the complex merge algorithm into manageable steps, reducing overall computational complexity while maintaining accuracy improvements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial merging by only combining measurements that meet specific accuracy criteria rather than merging all measurements universally. This selective approach improves position accuracy for measurements that benefit from merging while avoiding unnecessary computational overhead from merging measurements that would not improve results.
4Measurement precision
If GPS augmentation systems are used to improve accuracy, then the position precision improves, but the system requires additional satellite signals and infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service approach where the system uses only the position measurements and accuracy values already provided by the GPS receiver. By processing and merging these existing measurements according to their accuracy, the system improves position precision without requiring external augmentation infrastructure or additional satellite signals, maintaining full system independence.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and utilizes the accuracy information that is already embedded in each GPS measurement to drive the merging process. By taking out and leveraging this existing accuracy metadata, the system achieves improved precision without needing external augmentation systems, eliminating the need for additional infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed systems and methods to enhance reliability of measured position data. Measuring devices, such mobile phones equipped with location measurement elements (such as GPS, LBS, network location reporting, or tower location triangulation reporting) may collect various samples of positions where the device is believed to be located at particular moments in time; however such measurements often vary even if the device is not moving because of device inaccuracy, atmospheric conditions, obstructing buildings, and the like, making it difficult to determine whether such devices are actually stationary or are in motion over predetermined time periods. Systems and methods of the present invention provide for enhanced accuracy of position data by selectively merging varying location positions that are attributable to noise or accuracy deviations, and providing an enhanced assessment of actual device position.