Probabilistic Transmitter Positioning for NLOS Signal Reflections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard positioning systems fail to accurately determine the location of user equipment due to non-line-of-sight signal reflections, leading to increased computational load and reduced accuracy, as they do not fully account for the statistical properties of angle of arrival measurements.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing propagation time measurements, combined with statistical properties and Monte Carlo sampling, to determine the location of user equipment by selecting points in a 3D environment representation, reducing unnecessary calculations and enhancing accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If standard triangulation method is used with angle of arrival measurements, then positioning operation can be performed, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to non-line-of-sight signal reflections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ray tracing as an intermediary computational model that simulates signal propagation paths through the environment. This mediator translates the unreliable angle of arrival measurements into reliable position estimates by considering how signals actually travel through the physical space, including reflections and obstructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary ray tracing calculations to pre-determine the statistical properties of angle of arrival measurements before actual positioning occurs. By pre-computing the expected distribution of AoA values based on the environmental model, the system prepares correction factors that improve the reliability of subsequent positioning measurements.
2Measurement precision
If conventional ray tracing is performed to address non-line-of-sight issues, then positioning operation can be performed, but computational load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial ray tracing by performing calculations only for the specific angle of arrival intervals that are actually measured, rather than computing all possible paths. This selective approach reduces the computational burden while maintaining positioning accuracy by focusing resources on the relevant signal paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation from individual ray paths to statistical distributions of angle of arrival. By transforming the problem from tracking specific geometric paths to modeling probabilistic angular measurements, the system reduces computational complexity while preserving the essential information needed for accurate positioning.
3Productivity
If measurements are corrected using standard deviation intervals, then positioning operation can be performed, but full statistical properties are not utilized leading to suboptimal performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the simple mechanical approach of using standard deviation intervals with a probabilistic statistical model. By substituting the basic geometric correction method with a full statistical distribution model, the system utilizes complete information about measurement uncertainty, including skewness, kurtosis, and other higher-order moments that provide more accurate position estimates.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure relates to a method for determining a piece of data representing a position of a transmitter within an environment which comprises a set of receivers. According to the disclosure comprises the following steps: - Obtaining (S01) a vector comprising N measures related to a propagation time ([y2_1, ... , y2_N]) of a signal, the signal being emitted by the transmitter, each value of the vector being related to a given receiver of the set of receivers, - using the signal and the vector of N measures related to the propagation time, determining (S02) a set of points and their corresponding weights, in a representation of the environment, each point being associated to one of the measures related to the propagation time of the vector, - computing (S03) the piece of data representing the position of the transmitter using the set of points and their corresponding weights.