LOCATION DETERMINATION

• US 20120299724A1
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: KUPER, Vadim, SCHLESINGER, Benny
• Application Number:
  US13/117,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20120299724A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/165 combined with non-inertial navigation instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/49 whereby the further system is an inertial position system, e.g. loosely-coupled
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0278 involving statistical or probabilistic considerations G01S5/0252, G01S5/0294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention provides a method of determining a location of a mobile target, that use data characterizing features of the target, data characterizing an environment in which the target is located, and a region of uncertainty for a location of the target provided by a wireless location technology tracker to provide a location for the target having a region of uncertainty that is smaller than that provided by the wireless technology.

Claims

1. A method of determining a location of a mobile target, the method comprising:

receiving data provided by a wireless location technology (WILOT) defining a first region of uncertainty (ROU) for a location of the target;

receiving environment data characterizing features of an environment in which the ROU is located;

receiving target data characterizing features of the target; and

using the environment data and the target data to determine a second ROU smaller than the first ROU for a location of the target.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein using environment and target data comprises determining probabilities for presence of the target in different portions of the ROU.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein using environment and target data comprises inferring presence of the target in a portion of the ROU having a highest probability of presence.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein environment data comprises natural features of an environment.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein natural features comprise at least one of terrain contour, ground cover, climate, and bodies of water.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein environment data comprises manmade features of an environment.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein manmade features of an environment comprise at least one of roadways, bridges, buildings, and commercial enterprises.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein motion of the target is determined by a person, and target data comprises data characterizing psychological features of the person.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein psychological features comprise at least one of preferences, dislikes, phobias, and behavioral habits.

10. A method according to claim 8 wherein psychological features comprise temporary mind sets generated by a social environment that vector a person toward or away from regions in an ROU.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein target data comprises data characterizing physical features of a conveyance that moves the target.

12. Apparatus for determining a location of a mobile target, the apparatus comprising:

a wireless location technology (WILOT) that provides a first region of uncertainty (ROU) for a location of the target;

at least one memory having stored therein environment data characterizing features of an environment in which the ROU is located and target data characterizing features of the target; and

a processor configured to execute an instruction set that uses the first ROU, the environment data and the target data to determine a second ROU for the target that is smaller than the first ROU.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the at least one memory comprises a cloud based memory.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the processor comprises a programmable processor.

15. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the processor comprises an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the instruction set is executed by the ASIC.

17. Apparatus according to claim 12 and comprising a system on a chip that comprises the processor and a memory of the at least one memory.

18. Apparatus according to claim 12 and comprising a wireless network interface.

19. Apparatus according to claim 12 configured as a system on a chip.

20. A mobile communication device comprising an apparatus according to claim 12.