Wireless Positioning Adjustments Using Motion Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional position location techniques in wireless communication systems face challenges in urban environments and buildings due to signal reflection, refraction, and multipath effects, leading to reduced accuracy and longer 'time-to-fix' periods, especially when using round trip time (RTT) measurements, which require costly hardware changes and time-consuming calibration.
Innovation Solution
The use of relative motion sensors, such as accelerometers, to estimate and adjust processing delays in wireless access points, improving position location accuracy and performance by calibrating RTT measurements and refining the estimated position of mobile stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional RTT measurement techniques are used for position determination, then position location capability is provided, but position accuracy is reduced and time-to-fix is extended due to signal reflection, refraction, and multipath effects in urban environments and buildings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines RTT measurements from wireless networks with data from on-board relative motion sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers) to determine position. This fusion of multiple measurement sources compensates for the inaccuracies caused by signal reflection and refraction, improving both position accuracy and reducing time-to-fix in challenging urban environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces on-board relative motion sensors as intermediary devices to measure the mobile station's movement independently of wireless signal propagation. These sensors act as mediators that provide complementary information to RTT measurements, enabling accurate position determination despite multipath effects and signal attenuation.
2Measurement precision
If conventional RTT positioning techniques are employed, then position information can be derived, but costly hardware changes and time-consuming pre-deployment calibration are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the mobile station to perform self-calibration by using its own on-board relative motion sensors to measure movement and compute processing delays. The system automatically adjusts RTT measurements based on sensor data without requiring external calibration equipment or complex pre-deployment configuration, significantly reducing implementation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex hardware calibration systems with software-based processing that utilizes on-board motion sensors. Instead of requiring physical calibration equipment and hardware modifications, the system uses computational algorithms to process sensor data and adjust position calculations, simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If RTT measurements are used for position determination, then wireless-based positioning is achieved, but processing delays vary due to multipath and signal interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the mobile station continuously monitors its own movement via on-board motion sensors and uses this information to dynamically adjust processing delay estimates. The system feeds back correction values derived from sensor data to compensate for varying RTT measurements caused by multipath and signal interference, maintaining positioning accuracy in dynamic environments.
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 enhances position location accuracy and performance efficiently, avoiding costly conventional calibration methods and improving the mobile station's ability to determine its position in challenging environments.
Implementation Method 1
measuring a movement of the mobile station using a relative motion sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses and methods for adjusting wireless-derived positions of a mobile station using a motion sensor are presented. One method includes estimating a position of a mobile station based upon wireless signal measurements and measuring a movement of the mobile station using a relative motion sensor. The method further includes detecting a displacement of the mobile station based upon the measured movement, determining that the displacement is below a threshold and then adjusting the estimated position of the mobile station using information from the relative motion sensor. An apparatus includes a wireless transceiver, a relative motion sensor, a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver and the relative motion sensor, and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores executable instructions and data for causing the processor to execute methods for adjusting wireless-derived positions using a motion sensor.