IP Library › Patent Application 17160892
Patent Application
App. No. 17/160,892

DISTRIBUTED SIGNAL PROCESSING FOR RADIOFREQUENCY INDOOR LOCALIZATION

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Patent No.
US None
App. No.
17/160,892
Abstract

Aspects of the present invention provide systems and methods for distributed signal processing of indoor localization signals wherein statistical algorithms and machine learning are used in place of a fingerprint map. The disclosure relates to calculation of angle and distance based on measurements of an indoor localization signal, followed by energy-efficient distribution of signal processing. Local signal processing is performed using any of multiple eigen structure algorithms or a linear probabilistic inference, before cloud-based signal processing is performed using a nonlinear probabilistic inference and machine learning that's been trained with historical data transmitted by the base stations and time-of-day location patterns. Without having to generate and constantly update an energy-exorbitant fingerprint map, the disclosed system reduces localization error to merely 50 cm with 95% probability without compromising energy-efficiency to rival the accuracy of indoor localization systems that utilize fingerprinting.

Claims (49)

1 . An energy-efficient method ( 100 ) of distributed signal processing for radiofrequency (RF) localization, wherein statistical algorithms and machine learning are used in place of a fingerprint map, the method comprising:

A. announcing, by an RF beacon ( 901 ), a location of said RF beacon ( 901 ) through a plurality of transmissions ( 903 ) to a plurality of base stations;

B. receiving ( 101 ), by each base station ( 902 ) of the plurality of base stations, the plurality of transmissions ( 903 ) from the RF beacon ( 901 );

C. measuring ( 102 ), by each base station ( 902 ) of the plurality of base stations, each transmission of the plurality of transmissions;

D. calculating ( 102 ) for each transmission ( 903 ), by each base station ( 902 ), at least one of: an angle of arrival (AOA) data point ( 904 ), a received signal strength indication (RSSI) distance data point ( 905 ), and a Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) distance data point ( 906 );

E. filtering ( 103 ), by each base station ( 902 ), any AOA data points, any RSSI distance data points, and any TDOA distance data points, wherein filtering comprises:

i. filtering ( 103 ), by each base station ( 902 ), any AOA data points ( 904 ) into a smaller plurality of frequency estimates ( 909 ),

ii. filtering ( 103 ), by each base station ( 902 ), any RSSI distance data points ( 905 ) into a smaller plurality of first distance estimates ( 910 ), and

iii. filtering ( 103 ), by each base station ( 902 ), any TDOA distance data points ( 906 ) into a smaller plurality of second distance estimates ( 911 );

F. receiving ( 104 ), by a cloud server ( 912 ) from each base station ( 902 ), any transmitted frequency estimates ( 909 ), any transmitted first distance estimates ( 910 ), and any transmitted second distance estimates ( 911 ); and

G. processing ( 105 ), by the cloud server ( 912 ), a sensor fusion of: a statistical inference ( 913 ), machine learning ( 914 ), any received frequency estimates ( 909 ), any received first distance estimates ( 910 ), and any received second distance estimates ( 911 ) into a location estimate ( 915 ) of the RF beacon ( 901 ).

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the AOA data points ( 904 ) are filtered into a smaller plurality of frequency estimates ( 909 ) using one or more statistical algorithms ( 907 ).

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the RSSI distance data points ( 905 ) and the TDOA distance data points ( 906 ) are filtered into a smaller plurality of first distance estimates ( 910 ) and a smaller plurality of second distance estimates ( 911 ), respectively, each using a linear quadratic estimation ( 908 ).

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the statistical inference is a Bayesian inference ( 913 ) comprising a Sequential Monte Carlo algorithm ( 913 ).

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the statistical algorithms ( 907 ) are eigen structure algorithms comprising MUltiple Signal Classification (MUSIC), beamscan, and cross-correlation.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein each base station ( 902 ) uses a deep forward error correction (FEC) code technique to transmit ( 308 ) the smaller plurality of frequency estimates ( 909 ), the smaller plurality of first distance estimates ( 910 ), and the smaller plurality of second distance estimates ( 911 ) to the cloud server ( 912 ).

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the AOA data point ( 904 ) of each transmission ( 903 ) calculated by each base station ( 902 ) comprises an azimuth and a bearing.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the machine learning ( 914 ) is a deep neural network trained with previous data transmitted by the plurality of base stations ( 902 ) and time-of-day location patterns.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the linear quadratic estimation ( 908 ) is implemented with a multiplication algorithm based on Horner's method.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the RF modulation scheme is a close approximation of Gaussian minimum-shift keying (GMSK).

11 . An energy-efficient system of distributed signal processing for radiofrequency (RF) localization, wherein statistical algorithms and machine learning are used in place of a fingerprint map, the system comprising:

A. an RF beacon ( 901 ):

i. a first processor ( 1001 ) capable of executing computer-executable instructions,

ii. a first antenna ( 1002 ), and

iii. a first memory device ( 1004 ) comprising computer-executable instructions for:

a. announcing a location of the RF beacon ( 901 ) by transmitting ( 101 ) a plurality of transmissions ( 903 );

B. a base station ( 902 ):

i. a second processor ( 1005 ) capable of executing computer-executable instructions,

ii. a second antenna ( 1006 ), and

iii. a second memory device ( 1008 ) comprising computer-executable instructions for:

a. receiving ( 101 ) a plurality of transmissions ( 903 ) from an RF beacon ( 901 ),

b. measuring ( 102 ) a transmission;

c. calculating, for each transmission ( 903 ) at least one of: an angle of arrival (AOA) data point ( 904 ), a received signal strength indication (RSSI) distance data point ( 905 ), and a Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) distance data point ( 906 ), and

d. filtering ( 103 ) any AOA data points ( 904 ) into a smaller plurality of frequency estimates ( 909 ), any RSSI distance data points ( 905 ) into a smaller plurality of first distance estimates ( 910 ), and any TDOA distance data points ( 906 ) into a smaller plurality of second distance estimates ( 911 ); and

C. a cloud server ( 912 ):

i. a third processor ( 1009 ) capable of executing computer-executable instructions,

ii. a third antenna ( 1010 ), and

iii. a third memory device ( 1012 ) comprising computer-executable instructions for:

a. receiving ( 104 ) any transmitted any transmitted frequency estimates ( 909 ), first distance estimates ( 910 ), and any transmitted second distance estimates ( 911 ), and

b. processing ( 105 ), by the cloud server ( 912 ), a sensor fusion of: a statistical inference ( 913 ), machine learning ( 914 ), any received frequency estimates ( 909 ), any received first distance estimates ( 910 ), and any received second distance estimates ( 911 ) into a location estimate ( 915 ) of the RF beacon ( 901 ).

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the AOA data points ( 904 ) are filtered into a smaller plurality of frequency estimates ( 909 ) using one or more statistical algorithms ( 907 ).

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the RSSI distance data points ( 905 ) and the TDOA distance data points ( 906 ) are filtered into a smaller plurality of first distance estimates ( 910 ) and a smaller plurality of second distance estimates ( 911 ), respectively, each using a linear quadratic estimation ( 908 ).

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the statistical inference is a Bayesian inference ( 913 ) comprising a Sequential Monte Carlo algorithm ( 913 ).

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the statistical algorithms ( 907 ) are eigen structure algorithms comprising MUSIC, beamscan, and cross-correlation.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein each base station ( 902 ) uses a deep FEC to transmit ( 308 ) the smaller plurality of frequency estimates ( 909 ), the smaller plurality of first distance estimates ( 910 ), and the smaller plurality of second distance estimates ( 911 ) to the cloud server ( 912 ).

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the AOA data point ( 904 ) of each transmission ( 903 ) calculated by each base station ( 902 ) comprises an azimuth and a bearing.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the machine learning ( 914 ) is a deep neural network trained with previous data transmitted by the plurality of base stations ( 902 ) and time-of-day location patterns.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the linear quadratic estimation ( 908 ) is implemented with a multiplication algorithm based on Horner's system.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the RF modulation scheme is a close approximation of GMSK.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2021
From: SIANN, JON; WILLIAMS, CHRISTOPHER
To: TRAKPOINT SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 055077/0658 →