Wireless Device Positioning via Anchor Point Clustering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for locating wireless devices with low computing power and limited memory, such as those used in sensors or human input devices, face challenges in accurately determining their position using wireless signal strength due to obstructions and high power consumption of GPS, especially in indoor environments.

Innovation Solution

A wireless device detection system that receives signal strength messages from anchor points, determines subsets of these points, generates potential locations based on received signal strengths, clusters these locations, selects the largest cluster, and calculates a final device location using a path loss model, thereby improving accuracy and reducing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If wireless signal strength localization is used to determine device position, then power consumption is reduced compared to GPS, but measurement precision deteriorates due to obstructions and signal variability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidlocation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the set of anchor points into multiple subsets and processes each subset independently to generate multiple potential locations. This segmentation allows the system to handle signal variability by distributing the localization task across multiple anchor point combinations, reducing the impact of obstructions on any single measurement while maintaining low power consumption through efficient processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs partial action by evaluating only a selected number of anchor point subsets rather than processing all possible combinations. By determining a plurality of subsets and selecting those that yield consistent potential locations, the system achieves adequate localization accuracy without the excessive computational power required to evaluate every possible anchor point combination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Measurement precision

If multiple anchor points are processed to improve location accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases due to clustering and subset determination operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and processes only the necessary components for localization by selecting specific subsets of anchor points rather than processing all anchor points. The clustering operation extracts the most consistent potential locations from multiple subset evaluations, eliminating redundant calculations and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining improved location accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-determining multiple subsets of anchor points and evaluating their potential locations before finalizing the device position. This preliminary clustering and evaluation of multiple subsets allows the system to identify consistent location patterns early in the process, reducing the need for complex iterative adjustments and simplifying the final position determination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables efficient and accurate location determination of wireless devices with low power consumption, effective in both indoor and outdoor settings, by filtering out anchor points with weak or strong signal strengths and focusing on subsets with consistent signal patterns, thus enhancing the precision of device positioning.

Implementation Method 1

Each status message of the plurality of status messages includes a received signal strength associated with a first wireless signal received at the corresponding anchor point from a first wireless device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSignal propagation:

Data Source

PatentEP3190427B1System and method for estimating wireless device positions
Publication Date: 2018.08.15 THE BOEING CO
  • EP3190427B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3190427B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3190427B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A wireless device detection computer device for determining the location of wireless device is provided. The WDD computer device includes a processor in communication with a memory. The processor is configured to receive a plurality of status messages from a plurality of anchor points. Each status message of the plurality of status messages includes a received signal strength associated with a first wireless signal received at the corresponding anchor point from a first wireless device. The processor is also configured to determine a plurality of subsets of the plurality of anchor points, determine a potential location of the first wireless device for each of the plurality of subsets, generate a clustering of the plurality of potential locations, select a first group of the plurality of subsets based on the clustering, and calculate a final location of the first wireless device.