Virtual Satellite Positioning Using ISM Band Reference Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing GNSS receivers face challenges in calculating a position fix when satellite signals are inadequate, particularly indoors, leading to increased computational burden, cost, and power consumption, and pseudolites introduce interference risks.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication device uses a receiver to receive GNSS-like reference signals in an ISM band during idle intervals, minimizing interference and complexity by sharing the same receiver for both wireless infrastructure and GNSS signals, and optionally receiving GNSS signals when available.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pseudolites are deployed to provide positioning signals indoors, then positioning availability is improved, but interference with GNSS signals occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using existing wireless infrastructure (cellular base stations, Wi-Fi access points) as positioning signal sources instead of deploying dedicated pseudolite hardware. These infrastructure elements already operate in licensed or controlled frequency bands, acting as mediators that provide positioning signals without causing GNSS interference while maintaining indoor availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes existing wireless communication infrastructure serve dual purposes: maintaining communication functionality and providing positioning signals. By utilizing the same base stations and access points for both communication and positioning, the system avoids deploying separate pseudolite systems that would cause interference, thereby achieving multi-functionality without harmful effects.
2Measurement precision
If dedicated pseudolite hardware is deployed for indoor positioning, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for dedicated pseudolite hardware by making existing wireless infrastructure serve dual purposes for communication and positioning. This universality approach maintains positioning precision while dramatically reducing system complexity by reusing already-deployed infrastructure elements rather than adding specialized hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables existing wireless infrastructure to self-serve the positioning function without requiring additional dedicated positioning systems. The same base stations and access points that provide communication services automatically provide positioning signals, eliminating the need for separate pseudolite deployments and reducing overall system complexity.
3Speed
If GNSS receiver performs all positioning calculations locally, then positioning speed is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the positioning calculation workload between the GNSS receiver and external servers. The receiver performs only essential signal acquisition and measurement extraction, while computationally intensive positioning calculations are offloaded to external servers. This segmentation reduces the energy consumption of the receiver while maintaining real-time positioning capability through efficient task distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces external servers as intermediaries that handle computationally intensive positioning calculations. The GNSS receiver communicates minimal measurement data to these intermediary servers, which then perform the heavy computational lifting and return position results, thereby reducing the energy burden on the receiver while maintaining positioning speed.
4Use of energy by moving object
If computational burden is shifted to remote server, then energy consumption is reduced, but data transmission requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential measurement data (signal acquisition information, code phase, carrier phase, Doppler measurements) from the GNSS receiver and transmits only this minimized dataset to external servers. This extraction approach reduces the data transmission volume to the absolute minimum required for accurate positioning calculations, thereby lowering energy consumption without increasing communication overhead.
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
Enables accurate position calculation indoors without significantly increasing device complexity, cost, or power consumption, by leveraging ISM band signals for positioning, reducing interference, and optimizing computational burden.
Implementation Method 1
a receiver, for receiving data via the wireless infrastructure network and for receiving direct sequence spread spectrum reference signals in a predefined ISM band
Implementation Method 2
a direct sequence spread spectrum reference signal comprising a carrier signal modulated by a spreading code, wherein the spreading code is defined by a pseudo-random noise sequence
Implementation Method 3
control the receiver to measure a code phase of the spreading code
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for assisting in the determination of the position of a wireless communication device. One wireless communication device is provided comprising a transmitter configured to broadcast a direct sequence spread spectrum reference signal in a predefined ISM band. Another wireless communication device is provided comprising a receiver that is configured to receive direct sequence spread spectrum reference signals in the predefined ISM band. The same transmitter and receiver are used to communicate between the respective wireless communication devices and one or more base stations in a wireless infrastructure network (of which each wireless communication device is a part).