RTLS Mobile Device Virtual Perimeter Polling Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) face performance penalties and excessive power consumption due to continuous positioning polling of mobile devices, even when they are stationary, leading to unnecessary network connections and battery drain.
Innovation Solution
A method where a mobile device establishes a virtual perimeter around its current position, monitors signal strengths within this perimeter, and transmits data to a location server only when it moves outside, thereby reducing redundant polling and conserving power by establishing network connections only as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous positioning polling is performed on mobile devices in RTLS, then real-time location tracking capability is maintained, but power consumption increases excessively and system performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from continuous periodic polling to event-triggered periodic action. Location updates are transmitted only when the device moves outside its virtual perimeter, rather than at fixed intervals. This maintains tracking capability while eliminating redundant power-consuming transmissions when the device is stationary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential function of location tracking from continuous polling by implementing a virtual perimeter boundary. The system only activates full location updating when the device crosses this boundary, separating the continuous monitoring function from the periodic data transmission function.
2Loss of information
If continuous positioning polling is performed on mobile devices, then location information is continuously updated, but network connection overhead increases and system efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts redundant network communication from the location tracking system by implementing virtual perimeter monitoring. Only meaningful location changes (crossing the perimeter) trigger network updates, eliminating unnecessary communication overhead while preserving essential location information.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device autonomously determines when to update its location by comparing its current position against the virtual perimeter boundary. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for continuous server-initiated polling, reducing network overhead and improving system efficiency.
3Speed
If position polling is performed continuously, then location updates are frequently transmitted, but redundant transmissions occur when the device is stationary causing performance penalties
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements conditional periodic action where location updates occur only when triggered by perimeter crossing events. This maintains high update frequency when needed while eliminating redundant transmissions during stationary periods, directly preserving battery life.
Solution Approach 2:
The location update mechanism transitions from static continuous polling to dynamic event-driven updates. The system adapts its update frequency based on the device's movement state, increasing updates when moving and decreasing them when stationary, thereby optimizing energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for limiting redundant positioning polling from a mobile device in a Real-Time Location System (RTLS) is disclosed. The method comprises reading a current position of the mobile device, establishing a virtual perimeter around the mobile device, measuring a plurality of signal strengths from a plurality of access points within the virtual perimeter, determining whether the mobile device has moved outside of the virtual perimeter, and transmitting a plurality of signal strengths from a plurality of access points to a location server when the mobile device has moved outside of the virtual perimeter.