Mobile Device Positioning In A Constrained Environment

• US 20110172916A1
• Filed: 01/10/2011
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Naguib, Ayman Fawzy, Aggarwal, Alok, Pakzad, Payam
• Application Number:
  US12/987,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20110172916A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/14 by recording the course traversed by the object G01C21/16 takes precedence

Abstract

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems, methods, devices, articles, apparatuses, means, etc. for mobile device positioning in a constrained environment. For certain example implementations, a method may comprise obtaining an estimated velocity distribution and an estimated direction of movement distribution of a mobile device for a current position based at least in part on routability information for a constrained environment. A subsequent position of the mobile device may be estimated based at least in part on the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position. Other example implementations are described herein.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining an estimated velocity distribution and an estimated direction of movement distribution for a current position of a mobile device based at least in part on routability information for a constrained environment that includes at least a portion of an interior of a building structure; and

estimating a subsequent position of the mobile device based at least in part on the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said obtaining further comprises:

obtaining the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position based at least partly on a previous position of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said obtaining further comprises:

obtaining the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position based at least partly on a shortest map path between the previous position and the current position as constrained by the routability information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the routability information comprises a routing graph that corresponds to the at least a portion of the interior of the building structure and that indicates traversable paths and feasible locations.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said obtaining further comprises:

estimating the estimated velocity distribution for the current position based at least partly on a length of the shortest map path.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said obtaining further comprises:

estimating the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position based at least partly on a segment of the shortest map path leading to the current position.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said obtaining comprises:

determining a shortest map path between a previous position of the mobile device and the current position as constrained by the routability information;

estimating the estimated velocity distribution for the current position based at least partly on a length of the shortest map path; and

estimating the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position based at least partly on a segment of the shortest map path leading to the current position.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said estimating further comprises:

estimating the subsequent position of the mobile device based at least partly on a shortest map path between the current position and the subsequent position that begins in accordance with the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said estimating comprises:

applying at least one weighting function along multiple directions of potential continued movement in accordance with the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position; and

estimating the subsequent position of the mobile device based at least partly on the multiple directions of potential continued movement as weighted by the at least one weighting function and the estimated velocity distribution for the current position.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said applying further comprises:

applying a probabilistic weighting function to probabilistically distribute the multiple directions of potential continued movement with respect to the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said estimating further comprises:

estimating a subsequent position distribution of the mobile device based at least in part on the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the subsequent position distribution, the estimated velocity distribution for the current position, and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position comprises a probability distribution.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said estimating comprises:

recursively determining a probability distribution of the subsequent position of the mobile device based at least partly on a joint probability distribution of the current position of the mobile device, an estimated direction of movement for the current position, and an estimated velocity for the current position; and

estimating the subsequent position of the mobile device based at least partly on the probability distribution of the subsequent position of the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining the joint probability distribution of the current position by applying a probabilistic weighting function to probabilistically distribute multiple directions of potential continued movement with respect to the estimated direction of movement for the current position.

15. A device comprising:

at least one memory to store instructions; and

one or more processors to execute said instructions and cause the device to;

obtain an estimated velocity distribution and an estimated direction of movement distribution for a current position of a mobile device based at least in part on routability information for a constrained environment that includes at least a portion of an interior of a building structure; and

estimate a subsequent position of the mobile device based at least in part on the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein to obtain the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to:

obtain the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position based at least partly on a previous position of the mobile device.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein to obtain the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to:

obtain the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position based at least partly on a shortest map path between the previous position and the current position as constrained by the routability information.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the routability information comprises a routing graph that corresponds to the at least a portion of the interior of the building structure and that indicates traversable paths and feasible locations.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein to obtain the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to:

estimate the estimated velocity distribution for the current position based at least partly on a length of the shortest map path.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein to obtain the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to:

estimate the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position based at least partly on a segment of the shortest map path leading to the current position.

21. The device of claim 15, wherein to obtain the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to:

determine a shortest map path between a previous position of the mobile device and the current position as constrained by the routability information;

estimate the estimated velocity distribution for the current position based at least partly on a length of the shortest map path; and

estimate the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position based at least partly on a segment of the shortest map path leading to the current position.

22. The device of claim 15, wherein to estimate the subsequent position said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to:

estimate the subsequent position of the mobile device based at least partly on a shortest map path between the current position and the subsequent position that begins in accordance with the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position.

23. The device of claim 15, wherein to estimate the subsequent position said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to:

apply at least one weighting function along multiple directions of potential continued movement in accordance with the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position; and

estimate the subsequent position of the mobile device based at least partly on the multiple directions of potential continued movement as weighted by the at least one weighting function and the estimated velocity distribution for the current position.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein to apply at least one weighting function along the multiple directions of potential continued movement said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to:

apply a probabilistic weighting function to probabilistically distribute the multiple directions of potential continued movement with respect to the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position.

25. The device of claim 15, wherein to estimate the subsequent position said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to:

estimate a subsequent position distribution of the mobile device based at least in part on the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein each of the subsequent position distribution, the estimated velocity distribution for the current position, and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position comprises a probability distribution.

27. The device of claim 15, wherein to estimate the subsequent position said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to:

recursively determine a probability distribution of the subsequent position of the mobile device based at least partly on a joint probability distribution of the current position of the mobile device, an estimated direction of movement for the current position, and an estimated velocity for the current position; and

estimate the subsequent position of the mobile device based at least partly on the probability distribution of the subsequent position of the mobile device.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions and cause the device to:

determine the joint probability distribution of the current position by applying a probabilistic weighting function to probabilistically distribute multiple directions of potential continued movement with respect to the estimated direction of movement for the current position.

29. An article comprising:

at least one storage medium having stored thereon instructions executable by one or more processors to;

obtain an estimated velocity distribution and an estimated direction of movement distribution for a current position of a mobile device based at least in part on routability information for a constrained environment that includes at least a portion of an interior of a building structure; and

estimate a subsequent position of the mobile device based at least in part on the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position.

30. The article of claim 29, wherein to obtain the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution the instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

obtain the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position based at least partly on a previous position of the mobile device.

31. The article of claim 30, wherein to obtain the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution the instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

obtain the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position based at least partly on a shortest map path between the previous position and the current position as constrained by the routability information.

32. The article of claim 31, wherein the routability information comprises a routing graph that corresponds to the at least a portion of the interior of the building structure and that indicates traversable paths and feasible locations.

33. The article of claim 31, wherein to obtain the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution the instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

estimate the estimated velocity distribution for the current position based at least partly on a length of the shortest map path.

34. The article of claim 31, wherein to obtain the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution the instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

estimate the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position based at least partly on a segment of the shortest map path leading to the current position.

35. The article of claim 29, wherein to obtain the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution the instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

determine a shortest map path between a previous position of the mobile device and the current position as constrained by the routability information;

estimate the estimated velocity distribution for the current position based at least partly on a length of the shortest map path; and

estimate the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position based at least partly on a segment of the shortest map path leading to the current position.

36. The article of claim 29, wherein to estimate the subsequent position the instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

estimate the subsequent position of the mobile device based at least partly on a shortest map path between the current position and the subsequent position that begins in accordance with the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position.

37. The article of claim 29, wherein to estimate the subsequent position the instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

apply at least one weighting function along multiple directions of potential continued movement in accordance with the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position; and

estimate the subsequent position of the mobile device based at least partly on the multiple directions of potential continued movement as weighted by the at least one weighting function and the estimated velocity distribution for the current position.

38. The article of claim 37, wherein to apply at least one weighting function along the multiple directions of potential continued movement the instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

apply a probabilistic weighting function to probabilistically distribute the multiple directions of potential continued movement with respect to the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position.

39. The article of claim 29, wherein to estimate the subsequent position the instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

estimate a subsequent position distribution of the mobile device based at least in part on the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position.

40. The article of claim 39, wherein each of the subsequent position distribution, the estimated velocity distribution for the current position, and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position comprises a probability distribution.

41. The article of claim 29, wherein to estimate the subsequent position the instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

recursively determine a probability distribution of the subsequent position of the mobile device based at least partly on a joint probability distribution of the current position of the mobile device, an estimated direction of movement for the current position, and an estimated velocity for the current position; and

estimate the subsequent position of the mobile device based at least partly on the probability distribution of the subsequent position of the mobile device.

42. The article of claim 41, wherein the instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

determine the joint probability distribution of the current position by applying a probabilistic weighting function to probabilistically distribute multiple directions of potential continued movement with respect to the estimated direction of movement for the current position.

43. An apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining an estimated velocity distribution and an estimated direction of movement distribution for a current position of a mobile device based at least in part on routability information for a constrained-environment that includes at least a portion of an interior of a building structure; and

means for estimating a subsequent position of the mobile device based at least in part on the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said means for obtaining the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution comprises:

means for obtaining the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position based at least partly on a previous position of the mobile device.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein said means for obtaining the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution further comprises:

means for obtaining the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position based at least partly on a shortest map path between the previous position and the current position as constrained by the routability information.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the routability information comprises a routing graph that corresponds to the at least a portion of the interior of the building structure and that indicates traversable paths and feasible locations.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said means for obtaining the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution further comprises:

means for estimating the estimated velocity distribution for the current position based at least partly on a length of the shortest map path.

48. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said means for obtaining the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution further comprises:

means for estimating the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position based at least partly on a segment of the shortest map path leading to the current position.

49. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said means for obtaining comprises:

means for determining a shortest map path between a previous position of the mobile device and the current position as constrained by the routability information;

means for estimating the estimated velocity distribution for the current position based at least partly on a length of the shortest map path; and

means for estimating the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position based at least partly on a segment of the shortest map path leading to the current position.

50. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said means for estimating the subsequent position comprises:

means for estimating the subsequent position of the mobile device based at least partly on a shortest map path between the current position and the subsequent position that begins in accordance with the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position.

51. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said means for estimating comprises:

means for applying at least one weighting function along multiple directions of potential continued movement in accordance with the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position; and

means for estimating the subsequent position of the mobile device based at least partly on the multiple directions of potential continued movement as weighted by the at least one weighting function and the estimated velocity distribution for the current position.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said means for applying further comprises:

means for applying a probabilistic weighting function to probabilistically distribute the multiple directions of potential continued movement with respect to the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position.

53. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said means for estimating the subsequent position comprises:

means for estimating a subsequent position distribution of the mobile device based at least in part on the estimated velocity distribution and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein each of the subsequent position distribution, the estimated velocity distribution for the current position, and the estimated direction of movement distribution for the current position comprises a probability distribution.

55. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said means for estimating comprises:

means for recursively determining a probability distribution of the subsequent position of the mobile device based at least partly on a joint probability distribution of the current position of the mobile device, an estimated direction of movement for the current position, and an estimated velocity for the current position; and

means for estimating the subsequent position of the mobile device based at least partly on the probability distribution of the subsequent position of the mobile device.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, further comprising:

means for determining the joint probability distribution of the current position by applying a probabilistic weighting function to probabilistically distribute multiple directions of potential continued movement with respect to the estimated direction of movement for the current position.