Mobile Terminal Positioning via RF Fingerprint Image Compression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fingerprinting positioning technology for mobile terminals requires a large number of field and simulated measurements, leading to high storage capacity needs and low look-up efficiency, affecting cost and performance.

Innovation Solution

Adapting raw measurement data into a standard image format, such as BMP, and compressing it, allowing for efficient storage and retrieval, and enabling data sharing between entities in the mobile communication network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If fingerprinting positioning technology uses a large number of field and simulated measurements, then positioning accuracy is improved, but storage capacity requirements increase and look-up efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidstorage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a simplified copy of the measurement data by generating virtual fingerprints through simulation based on a reduced set of real measurements. These virtual fingerprints replicate the essential characteristics of the RF environment without requiring storage of all original measurement data, thereby maintaining positioning accuracy while reducing storage requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary simulation to generate virtual fingerprints before actual positioning operations. By pre-generating these synthetic measurement data through simulation models, the system prepares a sufficient dataset for accurate positioning without needing to store extensive real-world measurement collections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If fingerprinting positioning technology uses a large number of field and simulated measurements, then positioning accuracy is improved, but look-up efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidlook-up efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent generates virtual fingerprints that serve as efficient copies for look-up operations. These simulated measurement data can be quickly processed and compared without the computational overhead of handling extensive real measurement datasets, thereby improving look-up efficiency while preserving positioning accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the measurement data into a different representation through simulation, changing parameters such as signal strength, timing advance, and cell ID combinations into virtual fingerprint patterns that are more efficient for rapid comparison and matching during positioning operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If fingerprinting positioning technology stores large amounts of measurement data, then positioning accuracy is improved, but processing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidprocessing costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates virtual fingerprints through simulation that replicate the essential positioning information without requiring storage and processing of extensive real measurement data. This copying approach maintains positioning accuracy while significantly reducing the computational resources needed for data management and processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses computationally inexpensive simulation models to generate virtual fingerprints that can be created and discarded as needed, replacing the need for expensive and resource-intensive storage and processing of large volumes of real measurement data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP2834754B1Method and apparatus for determining geographic position of mobile terminals
Publication Date: 2019.10.02 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP2834754B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2834754B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2834754B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of determining geographic position of mobile terminals in a mobile communication network is disclosed comprising receiving raw measurement data in the mobile communication network; adapting the raw measurement data to be stored in an image format; and determining geographic position of mobile terminals based on the raw measurement data stored in the image format.