METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING PREMISES SEMANTICS

• US 20110121963A1
• Filed: 11/24/2009
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conversant Wireless Licensing S.à.r.l. (f/k/a Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l.) (MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management))
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: PREHOFER, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 9,803,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/30 Map- or contour-matching
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/383 Indoor data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3841 Data obtained from two or more sources, e.g. probe vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3844 Data obtained from position sensors only, e.g. from inertial navigation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

An approach is provided for generating trace data corresponding to one or more mobile devices detected within a premises, where the trace data specifies movement of the mobile device(s) within the premises. A map customizing platform utilizes the user traces to determine accessibility information about areas within the premises using connecting elements of the premises.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting presence of one or more mobile devices within a premises;

generating trace data corresponding to the one or more mobile devices, wherein the trace data specifies movement of the one or more mobile devices within the premises; and

determining accessibility information about the premises based on the trace data.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating map information of the premises according to the determined accessibility information.

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining position information of the one or more mobile devices over a predetermined time interval, wherein the trace data is generated based on the position information.

4. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a property of the premises by using the determined accessibility information.

5. A method of claim 4, wherein the premises includes a plurality of floors connected by an elevator, an escalator, or a stairway, and the property specifies connectivity of two of the floors by the elevator, the escalator, or the stairway.

6. A method of claim 4, further comprising:

generating a message for transmission to the one or more mobile devices associated with a user, wherein the message prompts the user to provide feedback information about the determined property when the user is positioned near a location point within the premises to verify the determined property.

7. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, storage of trace data within a database configured to store a plurality of trace data; and

determining whether the trace data and another one of the trace data corresponds to a common user identifier.

8. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving a user profile of a user associated with one of the mobile devices, wherein the user profile includes classification of the user; and

filtering the trace data based on the classification of the user.

9. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

detect presence of one or more mobile devices within a premises;

generate trace data corresponding to the one or more mobile devices, wherein the trace data specifies movement of the one or more mobile devices within the premises; and

determine accessibility information about the premises based on the trace data.

10. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to generate map information of the premises according to the determined accessibility information.

11. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to determine position information of the one or more mobile devices over a predetermined time interval, wherein the trace data is generated based on the position information.

12. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to determine a property of the premises by using the determined accessibility information.

13. An apparatus of claim 12, wherein the premises includes a plurality of floors connected by an elevator, an escalator, or a stairway, and the property specifies connectivity of two of the floors by the elevator, the escalator, or the stairway.

14. An apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to generate a message for transmission to the one or more mobile devices associated with a user, wherein the message prompts the user to provide feedback information about the determined property when the user is positioned near a location point within the premises to verify the determined property.

15. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

store of trace data within a database configured to store a plurality of trace data; and

determine whether the trace data and another one of the trace data corresponds to a common user identifier.

16. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

retrieve a user profile of a user associated with one of the mobile devices, wherein the user profile includes classification of the user; and

filter the trace data based on the classification of the user.

17. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:

detecting presence of one or more mobile devices within a premises;

determining position information of the one or more mobile devices over a predetermined time interval;

generating trace data corresponding to the one or more mobile devices using the position information, wherein the trace data specifies movement of the one or more mobile devices within the premises;

determining accessibility information about the premises based on the trace data; and

generating map information of the premises according to the determined accessibility information.

18. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is caused, at least in part, to further perform:

determining a property of the premises by using the determined accessibility information, wherein the premises includes a plurality of floors connected by an elevator, an escalator, or a stairway, and the property specifies connectivity of two of the floors by the elevator, the escalator, or the stairway.

19. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the apparatus is caused, at least in part, to further perform:

generating a message for transmission to a user associated with the one or more mobile devices, wherein the message prompts the user to provide feedback information about the determined property when the user is positioned near a location point within the premises to verify the determined property.

20. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is caused, at least in part, to further perform:

causing, at least in part, storage of trace data within a database configured to store a plurality of trace data; and

determining whether the trace data and another one of the trace data corresponds to a common user identifier.