Privilege-Based Ranging Service for Indoor Localization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile communication devices face challenges in accurately determining their location indoors due to unreliable satellite signal reception and the resource-intensive nature of existing ranging methods, such as FTM/FTMR message exchanges, which can lead to positioning latencies and increased network load in dense environments.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a tiered ranging and localization service based on mobile device privilege, where devices are assigned a level of privilege determining their access to more accurate but resource-intensive RTT measurements, such as FTM/FTMR messages, or less accurate but less expensive RTS/CTS messages, to optimize network resource usage and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If round trip time measurements (FTM/FTMR) are used for ranging, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy and network resources increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveranging accuracyVSAvoiddevice energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the measurement parameters by offering two different ranging methods with different precision and resource consumption characteristics. Devices can select between FTM/FTMR (high precision, high resource usage) and RTS/CTS (lower precision, lower resource usage) based on their specific needs and resource availability, effectively managing the trade-off between measurement precision and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If round trip time measurements (FTM/FTMR) are used for ranging, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to positioning latencies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveranging accuracyVSAvoidpositioning latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic selection of ranging methods based on device privilege levels and network conditions. Privileged devices can utilize FTM/FTMR for high-precision applications, while non-privileged devices use RTS/CTS for faster, lower-precision positioning. This dynamic approach optimizes the balance between measurement precision and positioning latency across different device types and scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If round trip time measurements (FTM/FTMR) are used for ranging, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveranging accuracyVSAvoidranging process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the ranging service into different privilege levels and measurement types. By dividing devices into privileged and non-privileged categories, and offering separate ranging methodologies (FTM/FTMR vs. RTS/CTS), the system simplifies the decision-making process for each device type while maintaining high precision options for those who need them.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If tiered ranging service based on privilege is implemented, then productivity is improved through optimized resource allocation, but device complexity increases due to privilege management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocalization service efficiencyVSAvoidprivilege assignment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by assigning privilege levels to devices in advance, before the actual ranging process begins. This pre-assignment simplifies the ranging service implementation, as devices and network elements already know which measurement protocol to use, eliminating the need for complex real-time decisions during the ranging process itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3353571B1Ranging and/or localization service based on mobile device privilege
Publication Date: 2019.07.10 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3353571B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3353571B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3353571B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Example methods, apparatuses, or articles of manufacture are disclosed herein that may be utilized, in whole or in part, to facilitate or support one or more operations or techniques for a ranging and/or localization service based, at least in part, on mobile communication device privilege, for example.