Tailoring Positioning Assistance Data to Mobile Device Capabilities

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing indoor navigation systems face challenges in efficiently providing positioning assistance data to mobile devices with varying processing capabilities, leading to wasteful data transmission and resource consumption, as current methods do not adequately tailor data based on the device's capabilities, resulting in inefficient use of bandwidth and processing resources.

Innovation Solution

A method where mobile devices classify their processing platforms and request positioning assistance data tailored to their capabilities, with servers responding with appropriate data levels, such as fully computed radio heatmaps for low-end devices and raw data for advanced devices capable of inference, optimizing data transmission and processing loads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If positioning assistance data is provided uniformly to all mobile devices regardless of capability, then all devices can receive positioning data, but data transmission bandwidth is wasted and processing resources are inefficiently consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidbandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by tailoring the positioning assistance data to match the specific processing capabilities of each mobile device. Low-end devices receive fully computed radio heatmaps, while advanced devices receive raw data for local inference. This customized approach ensures each device receives data at the appropriate detail level, optimizing bandwidth usage while maintaining positioning accuracy for each device class.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of data processing completeness based on device capability. The server modifies the level of computation performed on positioning data before transmission - ranging from fully processed radio heatmaps for capability-constrained devices to minimally processed raw data for high-capability devices. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting data delivery to device-specific requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If fully computed radio heatmap data is provided to all devices, then positioning accuracy is maintained, but data transmission volume increases and network bandwidth is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoiddata transmission volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent delivers different qualities of positioning data to different device classes. Advanced devices with high processing capability receive raw data with minimal processing, enabling them to achieve positioning accuracy through local inference while consuming less bandwidth. Low-end devices receive fully computed radio heatmaps to ensure positioning accuracy despite limited processing capability. This resolves the contradiction by matching data quality to device capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the essential elements needed for positioning from fully computed radio heatmaps and provides them to advanced devices in raw form. By removing unnecessary pre-computation for capable devices, the system reduces data transmission volume while maintaining positioning accuracy through device-side inference. This extraction approach eliminates redundant data transmission for high-capability devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If raw data is provided to advanced devices for local inference, then data transmission is reduced, but device processing load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidprocessing load
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically assigns processing responsibilities based on device capability. Advanced devices are dynamically configured to perform local inference on received raw data, while low-end devices receive pre-computed results requiring minimal processing. This dynamic allocation optimizes the balance between network transmission efficiency and device processing load, matching computational tasks to available device resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional approach by having advanced devices perform inference locally rather than receiving pre-computed results from the server. Instead of the server doing all the computation and sending results, capable devices reverse the processing flow by receiving raw data and performing inference themselves, thereby reducing network load while utilizing their superior processing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Loss of energy

If positioning data is customized according to device capability, then resource efficiency improves, but system complexity increases due to capability assessment and data differentiation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource consumptionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary assessment of device capability when the positioning request is first received. The server evaluates device characteristics in advance and determines the appropriate data format before generating and transmitting positioning assistance data. This preliminary classification simplifies the overall system by making a single determination that guides subsequent data processing, avoiding the need for complex runtime adjustments or multiple data generation pipelines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9332398B2Provision of positioning data based on device capability
Publication Date: 2016.05.03 QUALCOMM INC
  • US9332398B2 patent drawing
  • US9332398B2 patent drawing
  • US9332398B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Disclosed are processes, systems and apparatuses for providing positioning data, such as assistance data, to a mobile device for use in performing positioning or navigation operations. In particular implementations, the positioning data is based, at least in part, on particular capabilities of the mobile device, for example a processing platform of the mobile device. In other implementations, positioning data provided to a mobile device may be tailored according to a cost function.