Wi-Fi Positioning Using Topographic Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Wi-Fi positioning systems in urban environments suffer from inadequate accuracy and reliability due to signal disruptions from buildings, requiring extensive and costly database creation and maintenance to correct for positioning errors.
Innovation Solution
A method that combines Wi-Fi signal analysis with topographic data from a GIS database to estimate terminal positions, using hybrid positioning techniques that integrate satellite and Wi-Fi signal measurements, and dynamically selects the most appropriate positioning method based on environmental criteria to improve accuracy and reduce database maintenance costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If Wi-Fi positioning is used in urban environments, then positioning coverage is improved, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to signal disruptions from buildings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple positioning methods (satellite positioning and Wi-Fi positioning) into a unified system. The terminal device performs both satellite positioning and Wi-Fi positioning simultaneously, then fuses the results to achieve accurate positioning in urban environments where satellite signals are blocked by buildings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a database containing access point position information as an intermediary element. This database stores pre-collected location data of Wi-Fi access points, which serves as a reference for correcting and refining the terminal's position estimation based on Wi-Fi signal measurements, thereby improving accuracy despite signal disruptions.
2Reliability
If collaborative or centralized data collection is performed to create access point databases, then positioning reliability is improved, but time consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary data collection of access point positions and stores them in a database before actual positioning operations. This pre-collection effort, whether through collaborative or centralized methods, is done once or periodically, so that subsequent positioning can rely on this pre-established database, reducing the need for continuous data collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables terminal devices to autonomously perform positioning by querying the pre-built database with their detected access point identifiers. The database serves itself by being reused across multiple positioning operations without requiring re-collection, making the system self-sufficient after initial setup.
3Measurement precision
If access point databases are continuously updated, then positioning accuracy is maintained, but maintenance cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous updates, the patent implements periodic or on-demand updates of the access point database. The database is updated at specific intervals or when triggered by certain conditions (such as detection of new access points), reducing the frequency of maintenance operations while still maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where positioning results are evaluated and used to trigger database updates only when necessary. If positioning accuracy remains within acceptable thresholds, no update is performed; updates are initiated only when performance degradation is detected, optimizing the balance between accuracy and maintenance effort.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for positioning a terminal using signals received from a plurality of access points of at least one wireless telecommunications network. The terminal first retrieves (110) the identifiers of the access points from the received signals and then searches (120) a first database (BDP) for geographical positioning information relating to said access points. A first estimation of a position of the terminal or a positioning area of the terminal is obtained from geographical positioning information of said access points (130) and topographical information relating to said position or said positioning area is then retrieved from a second database (SIG). Finally, a second estimation (150) of the position of the terminal is carried out using the topographical information thus obtained.