Surface Detection Geolocation Using Segment Signatures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing geolocation methods rely on external signals like GPS and cellular connectivity, which can be unreliable in areas with signal blockages or limitations, leading to inaccurate and inefficient location determination.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that uses on-device processing to determine geographic location by matching segment signatures from images of surfaces with stored signatures, allowing for geolocation without external communication, utilizing cameras and sensors to capture images and generate segment signatures for comparison.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS and cellular connectivity are used for geolocation, then location determination can be performed using external signals, but reliability deteriorates in areas with signal blockages or limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces surface images and segment signatures as intermediary elements between the device and the environment. Instead of directly relying on external signals like GPS, the system captures images of surfaces (ground, walls, etc.), extracts unique segment signatures from these images, and matches them against a database to determine location. This intermediary approach enables reliable geolocation in environments where traditional signal-based methods fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the signal-based electromagnetic system (GPS, cellular) with an optical system using cameras and image processing. By substituting the mechanical/signal-based geolocation method with an optical imaging and pattern recognition system, the invention achieves reliability in signal-denied environments while maintaining location determination capability.
2Productivity
If on-device processing is used to determine geographic location by matching segment signatures, then resource consumption and latency are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the geolocation task into segmented processing steps: capturing surface images, extracting segment signatures from images, matching signatures against stored data, and determining location. By segmenting the complex geolocation process into manageable discrete steps that can be executed on-device, the system achieves high efficiency and low latency while making the complexity tractable through modular processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-capturing and storing surface images and their segment signatures in a database before geolocation is needed. When location determination is required, the device only needs to capture a current image, extract its signature, and match it against the pre-prepared database, significantly reducing processing time and resource consumption during actual use.
3Measurement precision
If segment signatures from images are used for geolocation, then measurement precision improves to within a meter or several centimeters, but difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential and distinctive segment signatures from surface images, separating the critical location-identifying features from the rest of the image data. By extracting only the necessary segment signatures rather than processing entire images, the system achieves high measurement precision (within a meter or several centimeters) while reducing the complexity of detection and measurement operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, devices, and tangible non-transitory computer readable media for surface detection and geolocation are provided. The disclosed technology can receive location request data associated with a request for a geographic location of a user device in an environment. Based on the location request data, images of segments of a surface of the environment can be accessed. The geographic location of the user device can be determined based on the segment signatures that match stored segment signatures respectively associated with stored geographic locations. The segment signatures can be based on the images of the segments of the surface of the environment. Map data including information associated with a geographic area can be accessed. Furthermore, indications can be generated and the indications can include information associated with the geographic location of the user device within the geographic area.