Indoor Location via Wireless Fingerprint Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing location-based services that rely on GPS signals face challenges in determining device proximity indoors, where GPS signals are unavailable, leading to a lack of specificity in location derivation.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves mobile units scanning for wireless signals, forming a wireless fingerprint from detected signals, and comparing it to a database of stored fingerprints to determine relative positions, allowing for automated actions without the need for a clear GPS signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS signals are used for location-based services, then location accuracy outdoors is improved, but location determination fails indoors where GPS signals are unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces wireless access points and base stations as intermediary objects to enable location determination indoors. These intermediaries broadcast signals that mobile devices can detect, allowing the system to derive location information through fingerprint matching when GPS is unavailable, thus resolving the contradiction between outdoor GPS accuracy and indoor applicability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the measurement parameters from GPS satellite signal reception to wireless signal strength detection and fingerprint matching. By transitioning from space-based GPS parameters to terrestrial wireless network parameters, the system maintains location determination capability across both indoor and outdoor environments
2Adaptability or versatility
If wireless fingerprint scanning is implemented, then indoor location determination capability is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional scanning and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing wireless fingerprints for various locations before actual location determination is needed. During operation, mobile devices simply scan and match against these pre-stored fingerprints, significantly reducing real-time processing complexity while maintaining indoor location capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating wireless signal fingerprints that represent physical locations. Instead of complex geometric or coordinate-based tracking, the system copies the characteristic wireless signal profile of each location and matches it during scanning, simplifying the overall system architecture while enabling indoor positioning
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining proximity of two or more mobile units within a defined locale is disclosed. Each of the mobile units is operable to scan at least a portion of the locale associated with the scanning one of the mobile units. The presence of the ones of the plurality of wireless devices is detected within the associated portion of the locale, detecting receiving the unique information from the detected ones of the plurality of wireless devices or device IDs. The received information is formed into a wireless fingerprint and transmitted to a server, which has a database of stored wireless fingerprints that are compared to the received fingerprint and a determination made as to the stored wireless fingerprints within the locale. The relative proximity position of the mobile devices associated with stored wireless fingerprints within the locale is then determined and are transmitted to the scanning one thereof.