Wireless Self-Localization for Beamformed AP Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices, particularly AR/VR headsets, face inefficiencies in establishing secure wireless communication connections due to high power consumption and computing requirements, especially when maintaining signal strength and avoiding signal-to-noise ratio drops during movement, necessitating frequent re-establishment of wide beam connections.
Innovation Solution
Implementing Visual Inertial Odometry (VIO) and Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) techniques to track device position and environment, allowing for efficient switching to optimal wireless communication hosts without repeated wide beam processes, and utilizing Wi-Fi Positioning System (WPS) for precise localization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wide beam communication signals are sent in nearly all directions to establish connection, then connection establishment is achieved, but power consumption and computing resources increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary localization using VIO and SLAM to determine the device's position and orientation in the environment before initiating communication. This preliminary action provides the host with advance information about where the device will be, allowing the host to pre-orient beamforming directions and avoid the need for exhaustive wide beam scanning, thereby reducing power consumption while ensuring connection establishment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously tracks the device's position using VIO and feeds this information back to the host device. The host uses this feedback to dynamically adjust beamforming directions and maintain optimal communication paths. This feedback mechanism eliminates the need for continuous wide beam scanning, reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable connection.
2Productivity
If beam forming is used to focus wireless signals towards a specific direction, then communication efficiency is improved, but the physical location and antenna pose become critical factors requiring precise tracking
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device performs self-localization using VIO and SLAM algorithms to independently determine its own position, orientation, and movement trajectory without requiring continuous external assistance. The device serves itself by generating localization data that is then shared with the host, reducing the complexity of coordinated tracking while maintaining beamforming efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
VIO and SLAM act as intermediary systems between the mobile device and the host device. These intermediaries process camera and sensor data to generate position and orientation information, which then serves as input for beamforming operations. This intermediary layer simplifies the overall system by centralizing localization computations in specialized modules rather than requiring complex integrated tracking.
3Reliability
If connection is reestablished when signal-to-noise ratio becomes unfavorable due to device movement, then communication reliability is maintained, but time and energy are wasted in repeated wide beam processes
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously tracks the device's position using VIO and predicts future locations before communication disruptions occur. This preliminary action allows the host to proactively adjust beamforming directions to anticipate the device's movement, preventing SNR degradation before it happens and eliminating the need for reactive reestablishment procedures that waste time and energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The beamforming process is made continuous and adaptive rather than intermittent and reactive. The system maintains continuous tracking of the device's position and orientation, continuously adjusting beam directions to follow the device's trajectory. This continuous useful action prevents connection disruptions and eliminates the cyclical waste of time and energy in reestablishing connections after SNR degradation.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a map of a building floor plan with locations of access points within the floor plan, the access points being capable of performing wireless communications with wireless devices. Determining a pose of a wireless device within the map using images captured by one or more cameras of the wireless device. Selecting a preferred access point based on the pose of the wireless device, the floor plan, and the locations of the plurality of access points within the floor plan. Configuring wireless communication settings of the wireless device to communicate with the preferred access point based on the pose of the wireless device and the location of the preferred access point within the floor plan.