Virtual Tracker Mesh for Wireless Angle Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current device triangulation methods for wireless communication using antenna arrays are computationally intensive and power-consuming, particularly when tracking multiple devices, which can reduce operational capabilities and battery life in battery-operated devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a virtual tracker-target configuration where devices participate in a mesh network, allowing virtual targets to perform angle-of-arrival and angle-of-departure calculations and share data, thereby reducing the processing and power requirements on the virtual tracker device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional triangulation methods are used for tracking multiple wireless devices, then positioning accuracy is maintained, but processing cost and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tracking task by introducing virtual tracker devices that perform angle-of-arrival calculations independently. Each virtual tracker processes a subset of devices, dividing the overall computational burden across multiple nodes rather than concentrating all processing in a single device. This segmentation reduces the processing cost and power consumption for any individual tracker while maintaining comprehensive tracking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces virtual targets as intermediary elements that facilitate the tracking process. These virtual targets act as mediators between physical devices and the tracking system, enabling angle-of-arrival measurements without requiring direct complex processing at the physical tracker. The virtual targets serve as computational intermediaries that simplify the overall system architecture and reduce processing requirements.
2Productivity
If a single device performs all angle-of-arrival calculations for multiple tracked devices, then tracking accuracy is maintained, but the device's operational capabilities and battery life are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the tracking functionality across multiple virtual tracker devices, allowing the system as a whole to maintain comprehensive tracking capability while distributing the computational workload. Each virtual tracker handles a portion of the tracking tasks, and their results are combined to achieve complete device tracking. This merging approach enables the system to maintain high productivity while reducing the battery consumption of any individual device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the tracking responsibility across multiple virtual tracker nodes, with each node handling specific angle-of-arrival calculations for subsets of tracked devices. This segmentation prevents any single device from being overwhelmed with computational tasks, thereby extending battery life while maintaining overall system tracking capability through the combined efforts of multiple segmented tracking nodes.
3Reliability
If conventional beamforming techniques are used with antenna arrays, then signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but processing requirements and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical signal processing with virtualized computational approaches. Instead of relying solely on physical antenna array processing for beamforming, the system uses virtual tracker devices that perform angle-of-arrival calculations through software-based methods. This substitution reduces the power consumption associated with physical signal processing while maintaining the signal-to-noise ratio improvements through virtual beamforming techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
In some aspects, the disclosure is directed to methods and systems for virtual angle-of-arrival (AoA) or angle-of-departure (AoD) tracking for virtually tracking multiple Targets. The wireless devices (e.g. Tracker and Targets) may participate in a mesh configuration and share data within the mesh. A first device may purport to be a virtual tracker, while acting as an AoA or Angle of Departure (AoD) Target. The devices being tracked (e.g. virtual targets), may instead operate as Trackers. Processor- and energy-intensive calculations may be distributed to the virtual targets and transmitted via the mesh for aggregation at the virtual tracker.