Virtual Beacon Signals for Transmitter-Free Wireless Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems lack the ability for wireless terminals to utilize beacon information without receiving actual beacon signals, and entities seeking to communicate information face challenges in deploying beacon transmitters in all cases.
Innovation Solution
Implementing virtual beacon signals that simulate the presence of actual beacon signals by determining the wireless terminal's location and signal strength, allowing devices to act as if they received real beacon signals without the need for physical transmitters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If actual beacon transmitters are deployed to provide information to wireless terminals, then information availability and service quality are improved, but system complexity and deployment cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual beacon signals that replicate the information content and characteristics of actual beacon transmitters without requiring physical deployment. The virtual beacon includes beacon identifier, location, transmission power level, and information elements, allowing wireless terminals to receive information as if from a real beacon without the complexity of deploying actual transmitters at every location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual beacon mechanism that acts as an intermediary between the information provider and wireless terminals. The virtual beacon transmitter information is provided to wireless terminals through other communication channels, mediating the information delivery without requiring direct beacon signal transmission from physical transmitters at all locations.
2Area of stationary object
If beacon transmitters are deployed in all coverage areas, then signal coverage is improved, but interference and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of deploying actual beacon transmitters in all desired coverage areas, the patent creates virtual beacon signals that can be distributed informationally. This allows coverage extension to areas where physical transmitters would cause interference or are not feasible, while maintaining the benefit of broad information availability without the harmful effects of excessive physical transmitter deployment.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If wireless terminals are equipped with beacon receiving capability, then ability to detect beacon signals is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables wireless terminals to obtain beacon information through multiple potential channels rather than requiring dedicated beacon receiving hardware. The virtual beacon mechanism allows terminals to receive beacon-related information through existing communication interfaces, making the capability universal across devices with basic communication ability rather than requiring specialized receivers.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus relating to use of actual and/or virtual beacons are described. Virtual beacons are virtual in that an actual beacon need not be transmitted but a rather a virtual beacon transmitter at a desired location maybe considered to transmit virtual beacons. In some embodiments a set of beacon transmitter information for one or more beacons is supplied to devices in a communications system. The beacon transmitter information indicates transmission power and location of actual and virtual beacon transmitters as well as information to be communicated by virtual beacons. Devices with access to beacon information can determine based on the location of a wireless terminal whether the wireless terminal is within coverage area of a virtual beacon and report reception of the virtual beacon to the wireless terminal or a component of the wireless terminal which acts upon receiving an indication of beacon reception.