Wireless Signal Database for Location Accuracy and Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and complexity of building a reliable database of wireless access point locations for Wi-Fi based positioning systems lead to expensive third-party services, especially for devices that frequently visit the same locations, as they require multiple geo-location queries, driving up costs.
Innovation Solution
A method that detects available wireless signals, compares them against a database for commonality, and uses a similarity metric to estimate device location; if the metric does not meet a criterion, it requests assistance from a third-party service, storing the determined location for future reference to avoid repeated queries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a device frequently queries third-party services for geo-location, then accurate location information is obtained, but service costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting and storing wireless access point signals and their associated location information in a local database during initial operations. This pre-collected data enables the device to determine its location independently without frequent third-party queries, thereby maintaining accuracy while reducing service costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a local copy of third-party location database information by storing wireless access point signal data and associated location information on the device itself. This local copy allows the device to perform location determination autonomously, reducing dependency on expensive third-party services while maintaining accurate location data.
2Measurement precision
If third-party location services are used frequently, then accurate device location is determined, but the complexity of continuous service dependency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by enabling the device to independently determine its location using locally stored wireless access point signal data. The device compares detected signals with its own database and calculates position without requiring continuous third-party service intervention, thereby reducing service dependency while maintaining location accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-collecting and storing wireless access point signal characteristics and location information in a local database. This preparatory data collection enables the device to autonomously perform location determination, reducing complexity associated with continuous third-party service dependency.
3Measurement precision
If a comprehensive database of wireless access point locations is built, then accurate Wi-Fi positioning is achieved, but the complexity and cost of database construction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies segmentation by dividing the comprehensive location database into device-specific portions. Each device builds and maintains its own localized database of wireless access point signals and location information, rather than requiring access to a complete global database. This segmentation reduces the complexity and resource requirements for database construction while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements local quality by optimizing the database for each device's specific operational context and geographic area. Each device collects and stores wireless access point data relevant to its location and usage patterns, creating a tailored database that achieves high positioning accuracy for local conditions without requiring the complexity of a comprehensive global database.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment provides a method, including: obtaining a list of detected wireless signals; determining, using a processor, that a previous list of detected wireless signals shares at least some commonality with the list of detected wireless signals; for common entries in the list, analyzing with a processor, a characteristic of an entry of the list of detected wireless signals and a characteristic of an entry of the previous list of detected wireless signals; establishing, if the similarity metric meets a criterion, an estimated location of a device; and requesting, from a third party location service, a device location if the similarity metric does not meet the criterion. Other aspects are described and claimed.