Position Management System for Competitor Location Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing position management systems for competitions, such as marathons, face challenges in accurately acquiring location information of competitors when the timing of their entry into a predetermined region differs from the regular intervals at which location information is acquired from GPS systems.
Innovation Solution
A position management system comprising a first communication apparatus attached to a competitor, a second communication apparatus attached to another competitor, an information processing apparatus, and a fixed communication apparatus disposed along the competition course. The system acquires location information from GNSS systems and transmits this information to the information processing apparatus, which coordinates the transmission of location data between the communication apparatuses when they communicate with the fixed apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If location information is acquired from GPS at regular time intervals, then the system structure is simple, but location information cannot be acquired when competitors enter the predetermined region at different timings
Solution Approach 1:
A fixed communication apparatus is introduced as an intermediary between the mobile communication apparatuses and the information processing apparatus. This fixed apparatus acts as a mediator that receives location information from multiple competitors and forwards it to the information processing apparatus, ensuring reliable location data acquisition without increasing the complexity of the mobile devices themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes communication channels with the fixed communication apparatus before competitors actually enter the detection region. By pre-positioning the fixed apparatus and establishing communication protocols in advance, the system ensures that location information can be reliably transmitted the moment a competitor enters the predetermined region, regardless of timing variations.
2Measurement precision
If location information is acquired at regular time intervals, then energy consumption is reduced, but position synchronization between competitors with different entry timings is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile communication apparatuses continue to acquire location information at regular periodic intervals from the GPS system, maintaining their existing energy consumption pattern. The fixed communication apparatus periodically checks for new location information from competitors and forwards it to the information processing apparatus, ensuring synchronized position measurements without increasing mobile device energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed communication apparatus serves as an intermediary that coordinates location information transmission from multiple mobile devices. It receives location data from competitors at their respective entry timings and ensures synchronized delivery to the information processing apparatus, maintaining measurement precision without requiring continuous high-energy transmission from mobile devices.
3Productivity
If the system waits for regular time interval acquisition, then the system is simple to implement, but competitors' positions cannot be determined simultaneously when entry timings differ
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed communication apparatus is pre-positioned at strategic locations along the competition route and configured to detect when competitors enter the predetermined region. This preliminary setup enables the system to trigger simultaneous position determination for multiple competitors at their respective entry timings without requiring complex real-time coordination protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed communication apparatus acts as a mediator that collects location information from multiple mobile communication apparatuses and coordinates their transmission to the information processing apparatus. This intermediary role enables efficient simultaneous position determination for competitors with different entry timings by centralizing the coordination function rather than requiring each mobile device to independently manage timing synchronization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures accurate and synchronized acquisition of location information for competitors, enabling proper determination of their positions and ranks during the competition, even when entry times into detection regions vary.
Implementation Method 1
acquire first location information representing a position of the first competitor from a GNSS system
Data Source
AI summary
A position management system including a first communication apparatus attached to a first competitor, and configured to acquire first location information representing a position of the first competitor from a GNSS system, a second communication apparatus attached to a second competitor, and configured to acquire second location information representing a position of the second competitor from the GNSS system, a server apparatus configured to receive the first location information from the first communication apparatus, and receive the second location information from the second communication apparatus, and a fixed communication apparatus configured to communicate with the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus. The first communication apparatus transmits the first location information to the server apparatus when the first communication apparatus communicates with the fixed communication apparatus, and the server apparatus causes the second communication apparatus to transmit the second location information.