Signal-Direction Positioning for Electronic Shelf Labels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for positioning electronic shelf labels and human location in stores face deployment challenges, limited adaptability, and inaccuracies due to changes in physical elements, while Ibeacon-based solutions suffer from significant positioning errors when environmental changes occur.
Innovation Solution
A device sends an angle-measurable signal with heartbeat data and a sine wave to a base station, which calculates the angle of arrival using an AOA calculation module and antenna array, and a location server determines the device's position based on this angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If Ibeacon uses wireless signal fingerprints for positioning, then real-time human positioning is enabled, but positioning results become severely inaccurate when physical elements such as shelves change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the positioning parameter from signal strength/fingerprint (which varies with environment) to angle of arrival (AOA) which is geometric and environment-independent. By measuring the direction angle of the signal rather than its intensity, the system achieves positioning that remains accurate even when physical elements like shelves are added or removed.
2Measurement precision
If neighbor relationships among electronic shelf labels are obtained through mutual communication and measurement, then positioning can be achieved, but deployment becomes complex and adaptability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces base stations as intermediary devices that centralize the positioning function. Instead of requiring electronic shelf labels to communicate and measure each other directly, the base stations receive signals from labels and calculate positions centrally, simplifying the deployment of individual labels while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical mutual measurement system among electronic shelf labels with an electromagnetic signal-based system where labels simply transmit and base stations receive and calculate, eliminating the need for complex peer-to-peer communication and measurement mechanisms.
3Measurement precision
If electronic shelf labels use mutual communication for positioning, then product location can be obtained, but the system cannot track human positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the base station positioning system universal by designing it to handle multiple types of devices. The same AOA-based positioning infrastructure that tracks electronic shelf labels can also track smartphones, tablets, or other devices with positioning clients, enabling both product and human tracking with a single system.
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
Improves positioning accuracy and reduces system complexity by using signal direction for electronic shelf label and human location, ensuring precise positioning within a direct vision range and leveraging neighbor relationships for non-direct vision labels.
Implementation Method 1
calculating, by the base station, an angle of arrival based on the angle-measurable signal
Data Source
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AI summary
A device positioning method and system by using signal direction, and the method includes: sending, by a device to be located, an angle-measurable signal to a base station, and the angle-measurable signal includes heartbeat data having an ID of the device to be located, and a sine wave of a preset duration or a modulated wave of a known digital sequence (201) preset duration; calculating, by the base station, an angle of arrival based on the angle-measurable signal, and sending the angle of arrival to a location server, and the base station includes an angle of arrival (AOA) calculation module and an antenna array required for an AOA measurement (202); and calculating, by the positioning server, a position of the device to be located based on the angle of arrival (203). The present disclosure can improve the positioning accuracy of an electronic shelf label, and reducing the complexity of the deployment of an electronic shelf label positioning system.