Wearable Device Location via Radio Scan Data Embedding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable devices such as smartglasses face challenges in geotagging media captured without using GPS receivers or WiFi-based positioning techniques, as these methods consume significant energy and may not function effectively indoors or in remote areas where GPS signals are weak.
Innovation Solution
Implementing wireless communication components in wearable devices to receive wireless scan data from nearby radios, which is then embedded into media metadata to determine the location of the radio and approximate location of the device, allowing for geotagging without GPS or WiFi-based positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS receivers or WiFi-based positioning techniques are used in wearable devices, then location accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces wireless scan data from nearby radios as an intermediary element to determine device location. Instead of using energy-intensive GPS or WiFi positioning directly in the wearable device, the system scans for nearby radios, retrieves their location information, and uses this intermediary data to geotag media, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining location accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables nearby radios to provide location information services to wearable devices. The radios essentially serve themselves by broadcasting their location data, which wearable devices can then utilize without needing to implement complex positioning systems, allowing the infrastructure (radios) to contribute to the positioning function
2Reliability
If GPS receivers are used in wearable devices, then location tagging is enabled, but the devices may not function effectively indoors or in remote areas where GPS signals are weak
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the location determination system universal by using wireless scan data from nearby radios that can be found in various environments including indoor and remote areas. This approach replaces GPS-dependent solutions with a multi-functional system that can operate across diverse locations by leveraging the ubiquity of wireless radios in different settings
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses nearby radios as intermediary elements to provide location information in environments where GPS signals are weak or unavailable. These radios act as mediators that bridge the gap between the wearable device and location determination, enabling reliable geotagging indoors and in remote areas where direct GPS reception fails
3Use of energy by moving object
If wireless scan data is used to determine device location, then energy consumption is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to additional wireless communication components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the universal wireless communication capabilities already present in modern wearable devices. The existing wireless components, designed for other purposes, are repurposed to perform location determination through scanning nearby radios, thereby avoiding additional hardware complexity while achieving energy-efficient location tagging
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the existing wireless communication infrastructure and components in wearable devices for dual purposes: both standard communication functions and location determination through radio scanning. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated location-finding hardware, reducing overall device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
According to examples, a wearable device may include an imaging component, at least one wireless communication component, and a controller. The controller may activate the at least one wireless communication component to perform a wireless scan of at least one radio available to respond to the wireless scan. The controller may also receive, through the at least one wireless communication component, wireless scan data from the at least one radio and may embed the wireless scan data as part of a media metadata. The wireless scan data may be used to determine a location estimate of the at least one radio and thus, the wearable device. The location estimate of the wearable device may also be used to geotag media captured by the wearable device without using a GPS receiver on the wearable device or when a GPS receiver is unable to track a current location.