WAPS Positioning Server Hybrid Location Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current positioning systems, such as Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), face challenges in providing accurate location determination, especially in urban areas and indoors, due to signal interference, multipath issues, and power consumption, which can lead to delays in emergency assistance and are not sufficient to meet increasing accuracy requirements.
Innovation Solution
A Wide Area Positioning System (WAPS) network utilizing an array of terrestrial transmitters and user devices that transform pseudo-range information into GNSS-compatible signals for precise location determination, enabling faster and more accurate positioning by using modified information elements and assistance data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GNSS systems are used for positioning, then positioning can be achieved, but location accuracy deteriorates in urban areas and indoors due to signal interference and multipath
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary positioning server that mediates between the user device and the positioning process. The server receives measurements from multiple networks (GNSS, cellular, Wi-Fi), performs centralized processing to determine location, and returns results to the device. This intermediary approach allows the system to overcome signal interference by aggregating data from multiple sources and using server-based calculation rather than relying solely on direct satellite signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple positioning technologies (GNSS, cellular network triangulation, Wi-Fi positioning) into a unified positioning system. The positioning server integrates measurements from different network types and combines them to determine location, creating a hybrid approach that leverages the strengths of each technology while compensating for their individual weaknesses in various environments.
2Ease of operation
If network-based triangulation is used, then positioning works indoors, but precision deteriorates compared to GNSS
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines network-based triangulation with GNSS and Wi-Fi positioning methods in a unified system. The positioning server aggregates measurements from all available networks and uses centralized processing to determine location, merging the complementary strengths of each method to achieve both indoor capability and high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where the positioning server receives measurements from the user device, processes them to determine location, and returns location information to the device. This feedback loop enables continuous refinement of position estimates and allows the system to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
3Measurement precision
If multiple networks are used for positioning, then location determination accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning server acts as an intermediary that handles the complexity of processing measurements from multiple networks. Instead of requiring the user device to perform complex triangulation calculations, the device simply provides measurements to the server, which performs the heavy computational tasks and returns location results, thereby reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning server performs self-service by autonomously processing measurements from multiple networks and determining location without requiring extensive configuration or control from the user device. The server manages the complexity of multi-network integration and position calculation independently.
4Speed
If GNSS signals are used, then positioning speed is fast, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses partial action by activating GNSS positioning only when necessary and combining it with lower-power network-based methods. The positioning server intelligently selects which positioning technologies to use based on availability and power constraints, using GNSS for rapid positioning when possible but falling back to network-based methods to conserve battery power.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems, and methods for gathering, calculating and sending positioning information at a user device to one or more networks may be disclosed. In a first implementation the user device transforms pseudorange information relating to terrestrial beacons into GNSS pseudorange information. In a second implementation, the user device sends position information using GNSS information elements. In a third implementation, the user device sends position information using non-GNSS information elements.