Two-Tier Indoor Positioning Using Wireless Beacons and Luminaires
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indoor positioning systems face ambiguities and uncertainties in determining the position of objects or portable devices within indoor environments, particularly due to the reliance on single-step approaches that may not provide accurate location estimation.
Innovation Solution
A two-tier approach is implemented, utilizing wireless access points for coarse positioning and luminaires with integrated wireless beacons to triangulate the actual position of portable devices, enhancing accuracy by querying a database for luminaire positions and incorporating orientation information from sensors like magnetic compasses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single-step positioning approach is used, then the system complexity is reduced, but the position determination accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system is divided into two distinct tiers: a first tier using wireless access points for coarse positioning, and a second tier using luminaires for fine positioning. This segmentation allows each tier to specialize in its optimal function, with the first tier providing initial location estimates and the second tier refining accuracy, thereby resolving the contradiction between system simplicity and positioning precision.
2Measurement precision
If wireless beacons with integrated luminaires are used, then the position determination accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines wireless beacon functionality and luminaire functionality into a single integrated device. The wireless beacon includes both a transmitter for wireless communication and a light source for illumination, allowing the system to achieve high positioning accuracy through luminaire-based triangulation while avoiding the complexity of separate wireless beacon and luminaire installations.
3Measurement precision
If modulated light signals are used for luminaire identification, then the identification accuracy is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical modulation and decoding mechanism with a wireless communication mechanism. Instead of modulating light signals to carry luminaire identifiers, the system uses wireless beacons to transmit identifiers directly via radio frequency, eliminating the need for complex modulation and decoding operations while maintaining identification accuracy.
4Measurement precision
If multiple luminaires are required for triangulation, then the position accuracy is improved, but the reliability deteriorates under limited luminaire visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary coarse positioning using wireless access points before attempting fine positioning using luminaires. This preliminary action establishes a baseline location estimate that can be used even when luminaire visibility is limited, ensuring the system maintains reliability by falling back on the wireless tier when the optical tier cannot provide sufficient data.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for determining an actual position of a portable device are disclosed. In an embodiment, a two-tier triangulation and wireless beacon-enabled luminaire detection approach is implemented. An estimated position of a device is determined using wireless (e.g., wireless beacon) triangulation based on a signal parameter of a signal received from a wireless access point. The field of view of the portable device may be used to estimate positions of luminaires proximate the portable device. The actual position of the luminaires may be determined from the estimated position by querying a database. A second triangulation may be performed using the known position of the luminaires to determine the position of the portable device with respect to the actual position of the luminaire.