Spatially Resolving Light-Based Communication Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing GPS and Wi-Fi-based navigation systems face limitations in indoor navigation due to accuracy issues, limited network availability, and security restrictions, making them impractical for precise location determination, especially in environments like retail stores.
Innovation Solution
A light-based communication system using solid-state luminaires that transmit pulsing light signals encoded with data, detectable by smartphones and other mobile devices, which dynamically adjust modulation depth and utilize ambient light sensors to maintain constant light levels and minimize perceivable flicker, allowing for efficient and accurate indoor navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If light-based communication signals are transmitted using solid-state luminaires, then positioning precision and data transmission capability are improved, but signal resolution and accuracy deteriorate when multiple signals are received simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image containing multiple luminaire signals into multiple regions of interest (ROIs), with each ROI dedicated to resolving a specific luminaire's signal. This segmentation allows the system to process each signal independently, preventing interference between simultaneous signals and improving overall signal resolution accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing step that identifies and isolates individual luminaire signals within the composite image before final position calculation. This intermediary segmentation process acts as a mediator that separates overlapping signals, enabling accurate resolution of multiple simultaneous communications.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple luminaires transmit light-based communication signals simultaneously, then system versatility and coverage are improved, but signal interference and resolution difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the received image into multiple distinct regions of interest, each corresponding to a specific luminaire's signal. This spatial segmentation enables the system to handle multiple simultaneous transmissions by processing each luminaire's signal independently within its designated ROI, thereby maintaining signal resolution quality across the entire system coverage area.
3Measurement precision
If image processing is used to resolve light-based communication signals, then positioning accuracy is improved, but processing time and computational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing task into multiple parallel regions of interest, allowing simultaneous processing of different signal sources. This parallelization approach reduces overall processing time compared to sequential analysis, while maintaining high positioning accuracy through dedicated processing of each ROI.
Solution Approach 2:
The system focuses processing resources on specific regions of interest rather than analyzing the entire image uniformly. By applying partial action only to relevant ROIs containing luminaire signals, the system achieves high positioning accuracy while minimizing unnecessary computational overhead and processing time.
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
The system provides improved positioning precision and accuracy within indoor environments by using light-based communication to transmit and receive data, overcoming the limitations of traditional GPS and Wi-Fi systems, enabling effective navigation to specific items or locations.
Implementation Method 1
a light-based communication method comprising receiving, by a receiver having an image capture device, a modulated light output from at least one solid-state light source
Implementation Method 2
receiving, by a receiver having an image capture device, a modulated light output from at least one solid-state light source
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for spatially resolving received light-based communication (LCom) signals. In an example case where one or more LCom signals are in the field of view (FOV) of an LCom receiver, the image representing the FOV may be captured and segmented into non-overlapping cells, such as hexagonal, triangular, rectangular, or circular shaped cells. Each LCom signal may be interpreted as a unique pixel cluster comprising one or more of the cells. In some cases, the LCom signals in the FOV may be received from multiple LCom-enabled luminaires and/or a single LCom-enabled luminaire having multiple light panels. The benefits may include establishing a link with multiple LCom signals within the FOV of a receiver without conflict and/or determining the location of those LCom signals, improving signal to noise ratio, augmenting position information, enhancing sampling frequency, and improving communication speed.