Trilateration Data Filtering via Concentric Rings
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Trilateration processes in indoor location-based services face inaccuracies due to variations in wireless signal strength measurements from peer devices, leading to significant random oscillations in location determination and poor user experience, especially when accounting for device movement and user perception.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of concentric rings to filter and weight location data based on device velocity and stability, where data within inner rings is considered reliable, data between rings is given reduced weight, and data outside outer rings is classified as outliers, with dynamic adjustment of ring sizes based on stability and outlier presence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If all received location data is used in trilateration calculations, then more data is available for computation, but location accuracy deteriorates due to inclusion of unreliable outlier data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments location data into multiple reliability categories using concentric rings: high reliability (inner ring), medium reliability (middle ring), and low reliability (outer ring). This segmentation allows the system to process different quantities of data from different reliability zones, improving overall location accuracy by weighting or excluding data based on its reliability classification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different reliability weights to different portions of location data based on their spatial distribution relative to the device's calculated position. Data points closer to the device (inner rings) are given higher weight, while distant points (outer rings) receive lower weight or are excluded, thereby improving measurement precision without completely discarding potentially useful data.
2Adaptability or versatility
If location data from distant peer devices is included, then more reference points are available for trilateration, but random oscillations in location determination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptation by adjusting the effective number of reference points based on device velocity and stability. When the device is stationary or moving slowly, more distant reference points (outer rings) are included in calculations. When the device is moving quickly or instability is detected, the system dynamically reduces the number of reference points to those in inner rings, thereby maintaining location determination stability while preserving adaptability to different movement conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from location calculation results to adjust future data inclusion. When random oscillations are detected in location determinations, the system feedback-loop reduces the inclusion of distant reference points in subsequent calculations, thereby stabilizing location determination while maintaining the ability to use more reference points when conditions are favorable.
3Measurement precision
If concentric rings with multiple reliability levels are implemented, then location accuracy is improved by filtering data, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments peer devices into concentric rings based on their distance from the calculating device, creating three distinct data processing pathways: high reliability (inner ring), medium reliability (middle ring), and low reliability (outer ring). This segmentation improves location accuracy by enabling selective weighting or exclusion of data, while the ring-based structure provides a systematic yet relatively simple implementation approach that doesn't require complex algorithms.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention address how trilateration processes, used to obtain a location of a mobile computing device, are affected by physical placement and sub-optimal selection of peer devices (PDs). Embodiments of the invention describe processes for selecting nearest PDs over further PDs, as received signal strength indicator (RSSI) measurements are more reliable— i.e., said "nearest PDs" provide more accurate distance measurements while improving the probability of finding more intersection points. Embodiments of the invention selectively utilize abnormal location poll data when executing location determination processes. Embodiments of the invention further enhance trilateration processes by utilizing dampening values for calculated location poll data.