Visual Beacon Identifier Generation for Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current satellite positioning systems (SPS) are limited in areas with obstructions such as foliage or buildings, and visual beacons like QR codes lack a method for unique identification, leading to ambiguity in position determination.
Innovation Solution
A visual beacon identifier (VBID) is generated based on the position and content information of QR codes or other visual beacons, which is transmitted to a navigation assistance server to retrieve accurate positioning information and available ranging sources, allowing for precise location determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visual beacons are used for positioning in obstructed areas, then positioning availability is improved, but identification uniqueness deteriorates due to lack of unique identifier generation method
Solution Approach 1:
The visual beacon identifier is segmented into multiple distinct components: position information (latitude/longitude or CellID), visual beacon type (QR code, bar code, data matrix), and content information (sampling of decoded content). This segmentation ensures that each visual beacon receives a unique identifier by combining these different elements, resolving the identification uniqueness problem while maintaining positioning availability in obstructed areas.
2Measurement precision
If satellite positioning system is used, then positioning precision is improved in open areas, but positioning availability deteriorates in areas with obstructions such as foliage or buildings
Solution Approach 1:
Visual beacons serve as intermediary objects that bridge the gap between satellite positioning systems and obstructed environments. The beacons are positioned at known locations and provide reference points that mobile platforms can use for positioning when satellite signals are blocked by foliage, buildings, or other obstacles, thereby maintaining positioning availability without sacrificing the precision benefits of SPS in open areas.
Data Source
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AI summary
A visual beacon, such as a Quick Response (QR) code or other type of artificial visual beacon is identified based on a coarse position and content information, and optionally, type of the visual beacon. For example, position may be based on latitude and longitude, e.g., from a satellite positioning system, or the CellID from a cellular network. The content information may be based on a sampling of the content before or after decoding. Content information may alternatively be all of the decoded content or an image of the visual beacon. Thus, for example, a mobile platform may generate a visual beacon identifier using the position and content information, which is transmitted to a navigation assistance server. The server can access and transmit to the mobile platform a navigation assistance message associated with the visual beacon identifier. If no visual beacon identifier is found, the server may enter the information.