Method and system for embedded device localization-based progressive indicators

• US 10,349,377 B1
• Filed: 09/06/2018
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mapsted Corp.
• Original Assignee: Mapsted Corp.
• Inventors: Nagpal, Paramvir Singh, Hamidifar, Saeedeh
• Primary Examiner(s): Brandt, Christopher M
• Application Number:
  US16/123,043
• Time in Patent Office: 306 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/12 executed aboard the object being navigated; Dead reckoning
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/06 by using barometric means
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/02 Measuring direction or magnitude of magnetic fields or magnetic flux G01R33/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/12 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/02 Indoor
• 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 5/0278 involving statistical or probabilistic considerations G01S5/0252, G01S5/0294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

A method and system of locating an embedded computing and communication device. The method, executed in a processor of a server computing device, comprises receiving, from a locator device, a request for locating the embedded device hosted within a host asset device, localizing the embedded device, determining a proximity of the locator device relative to the embedded device, and operating at least one user interface indicator based on the proximity.

Claims

1. A method, executed in a processor of a server computing device, of locating an embedded device, the method comprising:

receiving at the server computing device, from a locator device, a request for locating the embedded device hosted within a host asset device, the server computing device being communicatively coupled to the embedded device and the locator device;

localizing the embedded device, based on fingerprint data of a pedestrian area and data received from the embedded device, the embedded device comprising the fingerprint data, wherein localization comprises a confidence level determined by fusing probabilistic results of multiple concurrent location estimates of the embedded device;

providing, to the locator device, localization results for showing a trajectory traversed by a user in possession of the locator device relative to the host asset device and the embedded device within the pedestrian area;

determining a proximity of the locator device relative to the embedded device; and

providing an input to operate at least one user interface indicator based on the proximity and the confidence level.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the embedded device is one of removably and fixedly hosted within the host asset device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the proximity includes determining at least one of a distance and a direction of the embedded device relative to the locator device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the at least one indicator comprises at least one of an audible and a visible indicator at the host asset device.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising varyingly operating the at least one indicator as the locator device advances in proximity to the embedded device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the localizing comprises location coordinate information and floor number information for the embedded device within a multi-floor building.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the localizing is based on at least one of 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 of a multi-floor building.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the fingerprint data includes time-stamps whereby the magnetic field strength and direction, the received wireless signal strength, the wireless connectivity indication and the barometric pressure are time-correlated based on the time-stamps.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the localizing comprises a coordinate location associated with a probabilistic estimate expressed as the confidence level.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising operating the at least one user interface indicator only if the confidence level exceeds 70 percent.

11. A server computing system for locating an embedded device, the server computing system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory including instructions executable in the processor to;

receive, from a locator device, a request for locating the embedded device hosted within a host asset device, the server computing device being communicatively coupled to the embedded device and a locator device;

localize the embedded device, based on fingerprint data of a pedestrian area and data received from the embedded device, the embedded device comprising the fingerprint data, wherein localization comprises a confidence level determined by fusing probabilistic results of multiple concurrent location estimates of the embedded device;

provide, to the locator device, localization results for showing a trajectory traversed by a user in possession of the locator device relative to the host asset device and the embedded device within the pedestrian area;

determine a proximity of the locator device relative to the embedded device; and

provide an input to operate at least one user interface indicator based on the proximity and the confidence level.

12. The server computing system of claim 11 wherein the embedded device is one of removably and fixedly hosted within the host asset device.

13. The server computing system of claim 12 wherein determining the proximity includes determining at least one of a distance and a direction of the embedded device relative to the locator device.

14. The server computing system of claim 13 wherein the at least one indicator comprises at least one of an audible and a visible indicator at the host asset device.

15. The server computing system of claim 14 further comprising instructions executable in the processor to varyingly operate the at least one indicator as the locator device advances in proximity to the embedded device.

16. The server computing system of claim 11 wherein the localizing comprises location coordinate information and floor number information for the embedded device within a multi-floor building.

17. The server computing system of claim 11 wherein the localizing is based on at least one of 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 of a multi-floor building.

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

19. The server computing system of claim 11 wherein the localizing comprises a coordinate location associated with a probabilistic estimate expressed as the confidence level.

20. The server computing system of claim 19 further comprising instructions executable in the processor to operate the at least one user interface indicator only if the confidence level exceeds 70 percent.