RF-Optical Hybrid Tracking for Indoor Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shoppers often face frustration due to difficulty in locating items within stores, leading to inefficient navigation and retracing steps while searching for items on their shopping list.
Innovation Solution
A system combining radiofrequency (RF) technology and optical imaging to track individuals within a building, using RF nodes and cameras to identify and assign RF-transmitting devices to individuals, providing personalized navigation by determining routes based on shopping lists and displaying them on mobile devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If RF nodes and optical devices are deployed to track and identify individuals, then navigation accuracy and shopping efficiency are improved, but device complexity and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the tracking function into two independent modules: RF nodes for initial identification and optical devices for continuous tracking. This segmentation allows each module to specialize in its strength while reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges RF technology and optical imaging technology into a unified tracking framework, where RF nodes provide initial identification and optical devices provide continuous visual tracking, creating a hybrid system that leverages the advantages of both technologies.
2Measurement precision
If multiple RF nodes and optical devices are installed throughout the building to improve tracking accuracy, then location precision is improved, but installation cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from purely RF-based tracking to a hybrid RF-optical approach, adding the visual dimension to enhance location accuracy. Optical devices provide spatial context and visual confirmation that complements RF signal data.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical devices serve as intermediaries that bridge the gap between RF signal reception and precise location determination. By capturing images and detecting orientation markers, optical devices provide additional reference points that improve location accuracy without requiring dense RF node deployment.
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
Enables efficient navigation by accurately tracking individuals and guiding them to desired items, improving the shopping experience by reducing search time and effort.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one RF node has an RF receiver to receive RF signals from RF-transmitting devices near the entrance to the building
Implementation Method 2
At least one optical device disposed near the entrance to the building, the at least one optical device capturing an image of a plurality of persons
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for tracking movement of individuals through a building receive, by one or more RF nodes disposed near an entrance to the building, RF signals from RF-transmitting mobile devices carried by persons near the entrance, capture an image of the persons while they are near the entrance, determine an identity and relative distance of each RF-transmitting mobile device from each RF node based on information associated with the RF signals received by that RF node, detect humans in the image, determine a relative depth of each human in the image, and assign the identity of each RF-transmitting mobile device to one of the humans detected in the image based on the relative distance of each RF-transmitting mobile device from each RF node and the relative depth of each human in the image, thereby identifying each individual who to be tracked optically as that individual moves throughout the building.