METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CALIBRATING A LIGHT BASED POSITIONING SYSTEM

• US 20130030747A1
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bytelight, Inc. (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: GANICK, Aaron, RYAN, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/435,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20130030747A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/95
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/745 Detection of flicker frequency or suppression of flicker wherein the flicker is caused by illumination, e.g. due to fluorescent tube illumination or pulsed LED illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices

Abstract

In one aspect the present disclosure relates to a method for manually calibrating a light based positioning system in a location. In some embodiments, the method includes providing a map of positions of a plurality of light sources in the location; while positioned under one of the plurality of light sources on the map, receiving an identification code from the light source, wherein the identification code identifies the light source; and updating the map with the identification code for the light source. In some embodiments, the light source can be a light emitting diode.

Claims

1. A method for manually calibrating a map of a light based positioning system having a plurality of asynchronous light sources in a location, the method comprising:

providing a map data structure on a mobile device, the map data structure comprising positions of the plurality of light sources in the location;

while positioned under one of the plurality of light sources of the map data structure, wherein the light source has a position stored by the map data structure, the mobile device receiving a broadcast identifier from the light source, wherein the identifier identifies the light source; and

based on the received identifier, updating the map data structure to associate the identifier for the light source with the position on the map of the light source.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a fluorescent light source.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising transmitting the identifier of the light source and the map location to a remote server.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method comprises transmitting metadata to the server.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the metadata comprises Wi-Fi access points, a received signal strength indication, cellular tower information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the location comprises an indoor location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is broadcast from the light source as a modulated signal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the map data structure comprises computer aided drafting files, user provided computerization, or hand drawn images.

10. A device for manually calibrating a light based positioning system having a plurality of asynchronous light sources in a location, the device comprising:

memory for storing a map data structure, the map data structure comprising positions of the plurality of light sources in the location;

an image sensor for receiving an identifier from one of the plurality of light sources, wherein the identifier identifies the light source; and

a transceiver for transmitting the identifier of the light source and the map location to a remote server.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the image sensor comprises a CMOS sensor.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the location comprises an indoor location.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the transceiver transmits metadata to the server and the metadata comprises Wi-Fi access points, a received signal strength indication, and cellular tower information.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the identifier is broadcast from the light source as a modulated signal.

15. A method for calibrating a light based positioning system having a plurality of asynchronous light sources, the method comprising:

electronically receiving information from a mobile device, the information comprising a light source identifier, an approximate position of the mobile device, and an error associated with the approximate position of the mobile device;

matching the light source identifier to light source position information stored in a map data structure, wherein the map data structure comprises positions of the plurality of light sources;

determining a position of the light source in the map data structure based on the information received from the mobile device; and

updating the light source position information stored in the map data structure to include the determined position.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the light source comprises a fluorescent light source.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the determining is performed using machine learning algorithms.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the approximate position of the mobile device is determined using Wi-Fi, GPS, GSM or inertial sensors.

20. The method of claim 15, comprising electronically receiving information from a plurality of mobile devices.

21. A server for calibrating a light based positioning system having a plurality of asynchronous light sources, the server comprising:

logic stored in memory for;

electronically receiving information from a mobile device, the information comprising a light source identifier, an approximate position of the mobile device, and an error associated with the approximate position of the mobile device;

matching the light source identifier to light source position information stored in a map data structure, wherein the map data structure comprises positions of the plurality of light sources;

determining a position of the light source in the map data structure based on the information received from the mobile device; and

updating the light source position information stored in the map data structure to include the determined position.