Decentralized Wireless Network Location Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless Personal Area Networks (PANs) face challenges in providing low-cost, transparent location determination for devices within the network without specialized hardware and software, and existing solutions often result in reduced data throughput and increased network traffic and delay.
Innovation Solution
Resource-constrained nodes in the network can outsource their location determination to peer nodes with built-in location engine capabilities, enabling decentralized localization that reduces traffic load and delay by allowing location-capable devices to perform calculations on-chip or through peer delegation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If centralized location determination is used, then location accuracy is improved, but network traffic load and delay increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the location determination function into distributed components across multiple peer nodes rather than concentrating it in a single centralized server. Each peer node maintains location information and can independently determine locations of other nodes, dividing the computational burden and reducing network traffic to any single point.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines location determination capabilities directly into peer node devices themselves, merging the location engine functionality with the existing wireless communication hardware. This eliminates the need for separate centralized location servers and reduces network traffic by performing calculations locally.
2Adaptability or versatility
If specialized hardware and software are deployed for location determination, then location determination capability is improved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal location engine that can determine locations of multiple different node types (sensor nodes, gateway nodes, mobile nodes) using the same core algorithms and data structures. The system uses universal location metrics and communication protocols that work across diverse device configurations, eliminating the need for device-specific location hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
Each peer node in the network becomes self-sufficient for location determination, using its own sensors, communication capabilities, and the location information of neighboring nodes to calculate its position. Nodes serve their own location determination needs without requiring specialized external hardware or centralized services.
3Measurement precision
If location determination calculations are performed by resource-constrained nodes, then location awareness is improved, but data throughput and energy consumption are affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial location determination where resource-constrained nodes can obtain location information through peer delegation without performing complete calculations themselves. Nodes can receive pre-computed location data from neighboring peer nodes, performing only the minimal necessary computations to maintain location awareness while preserving data throughput for primary applications.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communication system and method for determination of the location of a location-incapable device of a decentralized wireless communication network. Upon receipt of location determination information, relevant to the location of the location-incapable device in the network and sufficient to perform a calculation of the location of the location-incapable device, a location-capable device of the network may calculate the location of the location-incapable device and make this information available to one or more devices of the network.