Method and system for server based mobile device monitoring in crowd-sourced pedestrian localization

• US 10,206,067 B1
• Filed: 09/04/2018
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mapsted Corp.
• Original Assignee: Mapsted Corp.
• Inventors: Gulo, Eros, Nagpal, Paramvir Singh, Huberman, Sean, Bavand, Majid
• Primary Examiner(s): Orange, David
• Application Number:
  US16/121,258
• Time in Patent Office: 161 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0215 Interference
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0226 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0242 Determining the position of transmitters to be subsequently used in positioning G01S5/0289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0244 Accuracy or reliability of position solution or of measurements contributing thereto
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0252 Radio frequency fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Methods and Systems of adjusting a radio frequency (RF) broadcast signal power level in a crowd-sourced mobile device localization system in a pedestrian area are described. In an example, a first mobile device and a second mobile device may be localized to establish a first estimated position a second estimated position, respectively. The localizing may be based on fingerprint data of the pedestrian area, wherein a localization data packet including the first estimated position broadcasted by the first mobile device at a first broadcast power level and another localization data packet including the second estimated position broadcasted by the second broadcast device at a second broadcast power level may be received. Based on a degree of accuracy of the first estimated position and/or the second estimated position, an input may be provided to increase and/or lower at least one of the first broadcast power level and the second broadcast power level, wherein broadcast power levels mobile devices are increased and lowered based on a power level budget for the crowd-sourced localization system.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting a radio frequency (RF) broadcast signal power level in a crowd-sourced mobile device localization system in a pedestrian area, the method executed in the processor of a server computing device and comprising:

localizing a first mobile device to establish a first estimated position within the pedestrian area, and a second mobile device to establish a second estimated position within the pedestrian area, the localizing being in accordance with fingerprint data of the pedestrian area, wherein the processor receives a localization data packet including the first estimated position broadcasted by the first mobile device at a first broadcast power level and another localization data packet including the second estimated position broadcasted by the second broadcast device at a second broadcast power level; and

based on a degree of accuracy of at least one of the first estimated position and the second estimated position, providing an input to perform at least one of;

increasing the first broadcast power level and lowering the second broadcast power level, and

lowering the first broadcast power level and increasing the second broadcast power level,

wherein the broadcast power levels corresponding to the first mobile device and the second mobile device are increased and lowered according to a power level budget for the crowd-sourced localization system including the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a confidence level for each of the first estimated position and the second estimated position by fusing probabilistic results of a plurality of concurrent location estimates of a corresponding mobile device, the confidence level being indicative of the degree of accuracy of an estimated position of the corresponding mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising upon increasing the first broadcast power level, lowering the second broadcast power level.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the localization data packet comprises location coordinate information and floor number information within the pedestrian area.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting that the one of the first estimated position and the at least a second estimated position is proximate in location to one of a building physical feature and a physical landmark; and

performing at least one of lowering and increasing at least one of the first broadcast power level and the at least a second broadcast power level.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the localizing is based on at least one of an orientation, a magnetic field strength and direction, a received wireless communication signal strength, a wireless connectivity indication and a barometric pressure in accordance with the fingerprint data.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the fingerprint data includes respective time-stamps whereby the orientation, the magnetic field strength and direction, the received wireless signal strength, the wireless connectivity indication and the barometric pressure are correlated in accordance with the respective time-stamps.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one of lowering and increasing at least one of the first broadcast power level and the at least a second broadcast power level is performed in a range from −

100 to +20 Decibel-milliwatts (dBm).

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the estimated position comprises a probabilistic estimate expressed as a confidence level.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the threshold confidence level indicates 60 to 90 percent probability of the estimated position being accurate.

11. A server computing system for adjusting a radio frequency (RF) broadcast signal power level in a crowd-sourced mobile device localization system in a pedestrian area, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory including instructions executable in the processor to;

localize a first mobile device to establish a first estimated position within the pedestrian area, and a second mobile device to establish a second estimated position within the pedestrian area, the localizing being in accordance with fingerprint data of the pedestrian area, wherein the processor receives a localization data packet including the first estimated position broadcasted by the first mobile device at a first broadcast power level and another localization data packet including the second estimated position broadcasted by the second broadcast device at a second broadcast power level; and

based on a degree of accuracy of at least one of the first estimated position and the second estimated position, provide an input to perform at least one of;

increasing the first broadcast power level and lowering the second broadcast power level, and

lowering the first broadcast power level and increasing the second broadcast power level,

wherein the broadcast power levels corresponding to the first mobile device and the second mobile device are increased and lowered according to a power level budget for the crowd-sourced localization system including the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising instructions executable in the processor to, determine a confidence level for each of the first estimated position and the second estimated position by fusing probabilistic results of a plurality of concurrent location estimates of a corresponding mobile device, the confidence level being indicative of the degree of accuracy of an estimated position of the corresponding mobile device.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising instructions executable in the processor to, upon increasing the first broadcast power level, lower the at least a second broadcast power level.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the localization data packet comprises location coordinate information and floor number information within the pedestrian area.

15. The system of claim 11 further comprising instructions executable in the process to:

detect that the one of the first estimated position and the at least a second estimated position is proximate in location to one of a building physical feature and a physical landmark; and

perform at least one of lowering and increasing at least one of the first broadcast power level and the at least a second broadcast power level.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the localizing is based on at least one of an orientation, a magnetic field strength and direction, a received wireless communication signal strength, a wireless connectivity indication and a barometric pressure in conjunction with the fingerprint data.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the fingerprint data includes respective time-stamps whereby the orientation, the magnetic field strength and direction, the received wireless signal strength, the wireless connectivity indication and the barometric pressure are correlated in accordance with the respective time-stamps.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the at least one of lowering and increasing at least one of the first broadcast power level and the at least a second broadcast power level is performed in a range from −

100 to +20 Decibel-milliwatts (dBm).

19. The system of claim 11 wherein the estimated position comprises a probabilistic estimate expressed as a confidence level.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the threshold confidence level indicates 60 to 90 percent probability of the estimated position being accurate.