Virtual Anchor Points for Indoor Wireless Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless positioning technologies face challenges in achieving accurate positioning in indoor and dense urban areas due to signal attenuation and multipath interference, leading to insufficient effective anchor points and positioning errors.
Innovation Solution
The method integrates virtual anchor points based on multipath tracking and identification, utilizing virtual image positions of signal transmission sources to reduce errors caused by signal reflection and diffraction, and selects virtual anchor points when real anchor points are insufficient, combining satellite and cellular positioning data for accurate location determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional GPS positioning is used in indoor or dense urban areas, then satellite positioning can provide high accuracy in open spaces, but GPS signals are highly attenuated and positioning cannot be implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces virtual anchor points as intermediaries to enable positioning in environments where direct satellite signals are blocked. These virtual anchor points are calculated based on multipath signal characteristics and serve as intermediary reference points that allow positioning to continue indoors or in dense urban areas where GPS alone cannot function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges satellite positioning data with cellular network positioning data and multipath signal information to create a hybrid positioning system. This combination allows the system to leverage the strengths of each method: satellite positioning for open areas and cellular/multipath methods for indoor and dense urban environments
2Reliability
If cellular network positioning is used in dense urban areas and indoor conditions, then coverage is superior to satellite signals, but positioning accuracy is reduced due to NLOS, multiple paths and other factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful multipath effect into a beneficial resource by using the reflected and diffracted signals to calculate virtual anchor point positions. Instead of treating multipath signals as noise to be rejected, the system utilizes them to create additional virtual reference points that improve positioning capability in environments where direct signals are blocked
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation by introducing virtual anchor point coordinates as new positioning parameters. These virtual anchor points are calculated based on signal propagation characteristics and are used as additional reference points in the positioning calculation, transforming the problem of signal blockage into an opportunity for enhanced positioning
3Measurement precision
If virtual anchor points based on multipath tracking are integrated, then positioning accuracy is enhanced by reducing errors from signal reflection and diffraction, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calculations to determine virtual anchor point positions based on multipath signal characteristics. By pre-calculating these virtual anchor points and storing their coordinates, the system reduces the computational burden during real-time positioning operations, as the complex multipath analysis is performed in advance rather than continuously
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a virtual anchor point-based wireless positioning method and device and a terminal. The method includes that: when an effective positioning condition is met, positioning data is acquired and stored, multipath analysis and tracking is simultaneously performed on received wireless signals transmitted by a signal transmission station, propagation distance information of each path of the signal transmission station is calculated and stored, and virtual image position information of each path of the signal transmission station is calculated and stored according to the positioning data and the propagation distance information of each path of the signal transmission station; and when the effective positioning condition is not met, at least one virtual image is selected from virtual images of multiple paths of the signal transmission station as at least one positioning virtual anchor point, and current position information is obtained according to the effective positioning condition and the at least one positioning virtual anchor point. According to the solution, in a rich multipath scenario (for example, an indoor environment and a dense urban area), continuously recorded virtual anchor points of multiple paths of a practical wireless signal transmission station are combined with another effective positioning condition for positioning, so that multipath information is fully utilized, and positioning errors caused by signal reflection and diffraction are reduced.