Static Transmitter Clock Drift Compensation for Location Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing location determination systems for mobile units in large areas, such as hospitals, face inefficiencies due to high radio communication overhead and the need for server-mediated synchronization, which can lead to long update times and scalability issues.
Innovation Solution
A system using static transmitter units with individualized transmission schedules generated based on clock drift and offset information, allowing coordinated and synchronized transmission of positioning signals without continuous server intervention, reducing interference and improving reliability and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a server-mediated synchronization system is used to coordinate transmitter units, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but radio communication overhead increases and update time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary synchronization by having each transmitter unit store its own clock drift and offset information locally. This preliminary action allows the transmitters to generate individualized transmission schedules independently without requiring continuous server intervention, thereby reducing update time while maintaining synchronization accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Each transmitter unit serves itself by using its stored clock drift and offset information to autonomously generate transmission schedules. This eliminates the need for continuous server-mediated synchronization, reducing radio communication overhead and update time while maintaining accurate coordination through local clock compensation.
2Measurement precision
If continuous server-mediated synchronization is used, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but radio communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server performs preliminary synchronization by storing clock drift and offset information in each transmitter unit during an initial setup phase. This preliminary action eliminates the need for continuous synchronization communications, reducing radio communication overhead while maintaining accuracy through local clock compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
Transmitter units perform self-synchronization by using their stored clock drift and offset information to autonomously generate transmission schedules. This eliminates continuous server-mediated communication, reducing radio overhead and energy consumption while maintaining synchronization accuracy through local clock management.
3Reliability
If individualized transmission schedules are generated for each transmitter unit, then transmission coordination is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of clock drift and offset for each transmitter unit during an initial phase. This preliminary action simplifies subsequent operations, as the transmitters only need to store and apply pre-calculated scheduling parameters rather than performing complex real-time coordination calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
Each transmitter unit independently generates its own transmission schedule using stored clock drift and offset information. This self-service approach simplifies the overall system architecture by eliminating the need for complex centralized scheduling algorithms and inter-transmitter coordination protocols.
4Productivity
If receivers are activated continuously to maintain location updates, then location update rate is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scheduling of transmitter units to transmit positioning signals at coordinated times. This preliminary action allows receivers to sleep between transmissions and wake only when needed, maintaining location update rate while significantly reducing power consumption through predictive timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic transmission schedules where transmitter units send positioning signals at regular, coordinated intervals. This periodic action allows receivers to operate in intermittent mode, waking only for brief periods to receive signals and then sleeping, thereby maintaining location update capability while reducing overall power consumption.
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
This approach enhances the reliability and scalability of location determination systems by reducing radio communication overhead and enabling efficient synchronization across large installations, while minimizing power consumption and latency.
Implementation Method 1
a mobile receiver unit configured to receive a positioning signal from any of the static transmitter units
Implementation Method 2
This can facilitate proximity detection using time of flight (TOF) information and/or received signal strength (RSS) information
Implementation Method 3
second processing means configured to use information relating to a respective drift and/or offset of each of the clocks of the static transmitter units to generate transmission schedules
Data Source
AI summary
A system for determining the location of a mobile receiver unit includes static transmitter units, each including a respective clock which it uses to transmit a positioning signal according to a respective transmission schedule. The mobile receiver unit receives a positioning signal from any of the static transmitter units. A first processing means uses information relating to the received positioning signal to determine the location of the mobile receiver unit. A second processing means uses information relating to a respective drift and/or offset of each of the clocks of the static transmitter units to generate transmission schedules for the static transmitter units. Each transmission schedule instructs a respective static transmitter unit to transmit a positioning signal at one or more scheduled times according to the clock of the static transmitter unit.