Wi-Fi Positioning Using Channel Status and Frequency Sweep Frames
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outdoor IoT positioning technologies face challenges with low GPS accuracy, high complexity, and increased costs due to the need for multiple modules, and existing Wi-Fi solutions struggle to balance precision, complexity, and real-time performance for outdoor applications.
Innovation Solution
A Wi-Fi positioning system and method that utilizes a network of anchor devices and devices to be positioned, employing channel status indication frames and frequency sweep information frames to determine CSI information, allowing for precise location determination without the need for additional GPS modules, using a proprietary protocol to improve scanning efficiency and reduce power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS positioning is used for outdoor IoT applications, then positioning coverage is achieved, but positioning accuracy is low and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines Wi-Fi positioning technology with IoT applications, merging the strengths of both technologies. The Wi-Fi anchor points are integrated into the IoT system, allowing standard Wi-Fi devices to serve dual purposes: network communication and positioning. This eliminates the need for separate GPS modules while achieving outdoor positioning accuracy suitable for IoT applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes Wi-Fi anchor points universal by enabling them to perform both network communication and positioning functions. The access points and smartphones used for normal Wi-Fi operations also serve as positioning anchors, eliminating the need for dedicated positioning hardware and reducing system complexity.
2Productivity
If standard Wi-Fi protocols are used for positioning, then device compatibility is maintained, but scanning efficiency is low and real-time performance is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions by having anchor points pre-configure their positioning parameters and by having the terminal device pre-load necessary positioning information. The frequency sweep information frame is prepared in advance with time-frequency domain resource indications, allowing the actual positioning measurement to occur much faster without requiring lengthy standard Wi-Fi scanning sequences.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential positioning function from the lengthy standard Wi-Fi scanning process. By using customized frequency sweep information frames that contain only the necessary time-frequency domain resource indications, the system extracts and performs only the critical positioning measurements, eliminating redundant scanning steps while maintaining compatibility.
3Measurement precision
If high-precision Wi-Fi positioning solutions are implemented, then positioning accuracy is improved, but system complexity and hardware requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by allowing standard Wi-Fi devices (access points and smartphones) to automatically perform positioning functions without additional hardware. The anchor points use their existing Wi-Fi transmitters and processors to conduct positioning measurements, and the terminal devices use their standard Wi-Fi clients to receive and process positioning information, eliminating the need for specialized positioning hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of standard Wi-Fi protocols by introducing customized frequency sweep information frames with specific time-frequency domain resource indications. These parameter modifications enable high-precision positioning to be achieved using existing Wi-Fi infrastructure, transforming standard Wi-Fi operations into positioning-capable operations without requiring new hardware.
4Ease of manufacture
If a single anchor device is used for positioning, then device deployment is simplified, but positioning accuracy and measurement load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the positioning function across multiple anchor points rather than concentrating it in a single device. Each anchor point independently performs positioning measurements using the frequency sweep protocol, and the terminal device collects information from multiple anchors. This segmentation distributes the measurement load while improving accuracy through multi-point triangulation, and the system manages complexity through standardized frame formats.
Data Source
AI summary
A Wi-Fi positioning method and system. The method comprises: generating and sending, by an access point device, a channel status indication frame; receiving, by a device to be positioned, the channel status indication frame; generating, by the device to be positioned a frequency sweep information frame according to a current channel status indicated by the channel status indication frame, the frequency sweep information frame comprising time-frequency domain resource indication information, where the time-frequency domain resource indication information specifies the time-frequency domain resource block; sending, by the device to be positioned, the frequency sweep information frame; receiving, by positioning anchor devices, the frequency sweep information frame; sending, by the device to be positioned, a positioning frame on the time-frequency domain resource block specified by the time-frequency domain resource indication information; receiving, by the positioning anchor devices having received the frequency sweep information frame, the positioning frame on the time-frequency domain resource block specified by the time-frequency domain resource indication information, and determining, according to the positioning frame, CSI information between each positioning anchor device having received the frequency sweep information frame and the device to be positioned; and determining, according to the CSI information, the location of the device to be positioned. The present disclosure can achieve higher-precision Wi-Fi positioning with reduced cost and complexity.