Wi-Fi Triangulation for Urban Emergency Location Accuracy
Solution Overview
Problem
In dense urban areas, GPS signals are often blocked by tall buildings, leading to inaccurate location determination of mobile computing devices, which can result in delayed emergency services during E911 calls.
Innovation Solution
Deploying IoT devices at fixed urban locations, such as traffic light poles and street signs, to broadcast short-range signals that allow mobile computing devices to determine their location more accurately through triangulation and signal strength analysis, complementing or replacing GPS data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS signals are used for location determination, then location data can be obtained globally, but location accuracy deteriorates in dense urban areas due to signal blocking by tall buildings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces Wi-Fi access points as intermediary objects to determine location when GPS signals are unavailable. The mobile device detects Wi-Fi access points, retrieves their geographic locations, and uses these as intermediary reference points to calculate its position, thereby resolving the contradiction between global coverage and urban accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of location determination from relying solely on GPS satellite signals to using Wi-Fi network signals and access point data. This parameter change enables location determination in urban environments where GPS signals are blocked, improving both reliability and accuracy in dense urban areas.
2Productivity
If GPS location data is transmitted for emergency services, then emergency dispatch can proceed quickly, but incorrect location identification may occur leading to delayed response
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring GPS signal availability and automatically switching to Wi-Fi-based location determination when GPS signals are weak or unavailable. This feedback mechanism ensures that the most accurate location method is used, preventing incorrect location identification while maintaining quick emergency dispatch.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-storing geographic location data for multiple Wi-Fi access points in the database. When emergency services are needed, this pre-stored data is immediately available for rapid location determination, ensuring both speed and accuracy in emergency dispatch.
3Device complexity
If only GPS-based location determination is used, then the system remains simple, but location accuracy deteriorates in urban canyons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the location determination system universal by enabling it to function using multiple methods: GPS satellite signals for open areas and Wi-Fi access point data for urban environments. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain simplicity in implementation while achieving high accuracy across diverse environments including urban canyons.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for determining a location of a mobile computing device requesting emergency services are provided. A mobile computing device may receive an indication of a request for emergency services from a user of the mobile computing device. The mobile computing device may receive a first wireless signal from a first device. The wireless signal may include an indication of a first geographic position associated with the first device. The mobile computing device may determine a location associated with the mobile computing device based on the indication of the first geographic position associated with the first device, and may send the determined location to a provider of emergency services.