Providing and utilizing maps in location determination based on RSSI and RTT data

• US 20130109413A1
• Filed: 12/06/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: DAS, Saumitra Mohan, AGGARWAL, Alok, NAGUIB, Ayman Fawzy, SRIDHARA, Vinay, HARDIE, Edward Thomas Lingham
• Granted Patent: US 8,938,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.6
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/765 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to utilizing location information, such as maps, in location determination based on Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) and Round-Trip Time (RTT) data. Weighting information can be determined from and/or provided in the location information. The weighting information associated with an area in which a mobile device is located can impact how RSSI and RTT data is weighted in a calculation of the mobile device'"'"'s location.

Claims

1. A method for determining a location of a mobile device based upon weighted Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) and Round-Trip Time (RTT) data, the method comprising:

determining an area in which the mobile device is located;

determining a condition of an environment of the mobile device based on location data associated with the area;

weighting, with a processing unit, RSSI and RTT data based on the condition of the environment; and

calculating the location of the mobile device based on the RSSI and RTT data with the determined weighting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location data comprises a map.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the map comprises a heatmap having weighting information for each area of a plurality of areas based on a degree of obstruction between each area of the plurality of areas and a wireless access point.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the map includes a layout of a building.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the condition of the environment comprises using the map to determine the presence of an obstruction between the mobile device and a wireless access point.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the location data comprises information regarding the location of at least one of:

a wall,

a window,

a doorway,

a building material,

furniture, or

shelving.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the location data associated with the area is received by a receiver of the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the location data associated with the area.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein updating the location data associated with the area is based on at least one of:

the RTT data,

the RSSI data,

data from a sensor of the mobile device,

historical data from the mobile device, or

data from at least one other mobile device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the location data depends upon on either or both of:

a time, or

a date.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the weighting of the RSSI and RTT data is further based on a device type of the mobile device.

12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions embedded thereon for causing a processing unit to perform functions including:

determining an area in which a mobile device is located;

determining a condition of an environment of the mobile device based on location data associated with the area;

weighting Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) and Round-Trip Time (RTT) data based on the condition of the environment; and

calculating a location of the mobile device based on the RSSI and RTT data with determined weighting.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions for determining the condition of the environment of the mobile device include instructions for determining the condition of the environment based on a map.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the map comprises a heatmap having weighting information for each area of a plurality of areas based on a degree of obstruction between each area of the plurality of areas and a wireless access point.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the map includes a layout of a building.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions for determining the condition of the environment comprise instructions for using the map to determine the presence of an obstruction between the mobile device and a wireless access point.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions for updating the location data associated with the area.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions for determining the weighting of the RSSI and RTT data include instructions for determining the weighting of the RSSI and RTT data based on a device type of the mobile device.

19. A system for determining a location of a mobile device based upon weighted Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) and Round-Trip Time (RTT) data, the system comprising:

means for determining an area in which the mobile device is located;

means for determining a condition of an environment of the mobile device based on location data associated with the area;

means for weighting Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) and Round-Trip Time (RTT) data based on the condition of the environment; and

means for calculating the location of the mobile device based on the RSSI and RTT data with determined weighting.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for determining the condition of the environment of the mobile device include means for determining the condition of the environment based on a map.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the map comprises a heatmap having a plurality of location classifications based on a degree of obstruction between the mobile device and a wireless access point.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the means for determining the condition of the environment comprise means for using the map to determine the presence of an obstruction between the mobile device and a wireless access point.

23. The system of claim 20, further comprising means for updating the location data associated with the area.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the means for determining the weighting of the RSSI and RTT data include means for determining the weighting of the RSSI and RTT data based on a device type of the mobile device.

25. A mobile device configured to determine a location based upon weighted Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) and Round-Trip Time (RTT) data, the mobile device comprising:

a transmitter;

a receiver;

a memory; and

a processing unit coupled with the transmitter, the receiver, and the memory, the processing unit configured to;

determine an area in which the mobile device is located;

determine a condition of an environment of the mobile device based on location data associated with the area;

weight Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) and Round-Trip Time (RTT) data based on the condition of the environment; and

calculate the location of the mobile device based on the RSSI and RTT data with determined weighting.

26. The mobile device of claim 25, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine the condition of the environment of the mobile device based on a map stored in the memory.

27. The mobile device of claim 26, wherein the processing unit is further configured to receive the map with the receiver.

28. The mobile device of claim 25, wherein the processing unit is further configured to update the location data associated with the area.

29. The mobile device of claim 25, wherein the processing unit is further configured to determine the weighting of the RSSI and RTT data based on a device type of the mobile device.

30. A method for facilitating a determination of a mobile device'"'"'s location based upon weighted Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) and Round-Trip Time (RTT) data, the method comprising:

obtaining location data corresponding to a plurality of areas associated with a structure;

determining, with a processing unit, for each area of the plurality of areas;

a condition of an environment associated with the area, based on the location data; and

weighting information based on the condition of the environment associated with the area and relating to weighting RSSI and RTT data; and

sending the weighting information of each area of the plurality of areas to a mobile device.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the weighting information of each area of the plurality of areas comprises a heatmap.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

exchanging RSSI and RTT communications with the mobile device.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the weighting information includes at least one of:

a confidence level,

a wall composition type,

a number of walls between an area and an access point,

a distance, or

hardware information of an access point.

34. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

receiving data from one or more mobile devices; and

updating the weighting information of at least one area of the plurality of areas based on the received data.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein, the weighting information for each area of the plurality of areas includes information relating to weighting RSSI and RTT data for each of a plurality of access points.

36. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions embedded thereon for causing a processing unit to perform functions including:

obtaining location data corresponding to a plurality of areas associated with a structure;

determining, for each area of the plurality of areas;

a condition of an environment associated with the area, based on the location data; and

weighting information based on the condition of the environment associated with the area and relating to weighting RSSI and RTT data; and

sending the weighting information of each area of the plurality of areas to a mobile device.

37. The computer readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein the weighting information of each area of the plurality of areas comprises a heatmap.

38. The computer readable storage medium of claim 36, further comprising instructions for exchanging RSSI and RTT communications with the mobile device.

39. The computer readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein the weighting information includes at least one of:

a confidence level,

a wall composition type,

a number of walls between an area and an access point,

a distance, or

hardware information of an access point.

40. The computer readable storage medium of claim 36, further comprising instructions for:

receiving data from one or more mobile devices; and

updating the weighting information of at least one area of the plurality of areas based on the received data.

41. The computer readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein, the weighting information for each area of the plurality of areas includes information relating to weighting RSSI and RTT data for each of a plurality of access points.

42. A system for facilitating a determination of a mobile device'"'"'s location based upon weighted Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) and Round-Trip Time (RTT) data, the system comprising:

means for obtaining location data corresponding to a plurality of areas associated with a structure;

means for determining, for each area of the plurality of areas;

a condition of an environment associated with the area, based on the location data; and

weighting information based on the condition of the environment associated with the area and relating to weighting RSSI and RTT data; and

means for sending the weighting information of each area of the plurality of areas to a mobile device.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the weighting information of each area of the plurality of areas comprises a heatmap.

44. The system of claim 42, further comprising means for exchanging RSSI and RTT communications with the mobile device.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein the weighting information includes at least one of:

a confidence level,

a wall composition type,

a number of walls between an area and an access point,

a distance, or

hardware information of an access point.

46. The system of claim 42, further comprising:

means for receiving data from one or more mobile devices; and

means for updating the weighting information of at least one area of the plurality of areas based on the received data.

47. The system of claim 42, wherein, the weighting information for each area of the plurality of areas includes information relating to weighting RSSI and RTT data for each of a plurality of access points.

48. A server for facilitating a determination of a mobile device'"'"'s location based upon weighted Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) and Round-Trip Time (RTT) data, the server comprising:

a transmitter;

a receiver;

a memory; and

a processing unit communicatively coupled with the transmitter, the receiver, and the memory, the processing unit configured to

obtain location data corresponding to a plurality of areas associated with a structure;

determine, for each area of the plurality of areas;

a condition of an environment associated with the area, based on the location data; and

weighting information based on the condition of the environment associated with the area and relating to weighting RSSI and RTT data; and

send, via the transmitter, the weighting information of each area of the plurality of areas to a mobile device.

49. The server of claim 48, wherein the weighting information of each area of the plurality of areas comprises a heatmap.

50. The server of claim 48, wherein the processing unit is further configured to exchange, using either or both the transmitter or the receiver, RSSI and RTT communications with the mobile device.

51. The server of claim 48, wherein the weighting information includes at least one of:

a confidence level,

a wall composition type,

a number of walls between an area and an access point,

a distance, or

hardware information of an access point.

52. The server of claim 48, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

receive data from one or more mobile devices; and

update the weighting information of at least one area of the plurality of areas based on the received data.

53. The server of claim 48, wherein, the weighting information for each area of the plurality of areas includes information relating to weighting RSSI and RTT data for each of a plurality of access points.

54. A method for determining a mobile device'"'"'s location based upon weighted Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) and Round-Trip Time (RTT) data, the method comprising:

receiving, with a mobile device, weighting information of each area of a plurality of areas;

storing the weighting information of each area of the plurality of areas in a memory of the mobile device;

obtaining an RSSI measurement and an RTT measurement relating to an area in which the mobile device is located;

using the weighting information of the area in which the mobile device is located to determine;

a first weight for the RSSI measurement, and

a second weight for the RTT measurement; and

calculating the mobile device'"'"'s location using the first weight and the second weight.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein using the weighting information to determine the first weight and the second weight includes calculating a confidence level for either or both of the RSSI measurement and the RTT measurement, based on the weighting information.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the weighting information of each area of the plurality of areas comprises a heatmap.

57. The method of claim 54, further comprising updating the weighting information of at least one area of the plurality of areas.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the updating the weighting information of at least one area of the plurality of areas is based on either or both of:

historical data of the mobile device;

or

data received from another mobile device.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the weighting information of each area of the plurality of areas includes information regarding a plurality of access points.

60. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions embedded thereon for causing a processing unit to perform functions including:

receiving weighting information of each area of a plurality of areas;

storing the weighting information of each area of the plurality of areas in a memory;

obtaining an RSSI measurement and an RTT measurement relating to an area in which a mobile device is located;

using the weighting information of the area in which the mobile device is located to determine;

a first weight for the RSSI measurement, and

a second weight for the RTT measurement; and

calculating a location of the mobile device using the first weight and the second weight.

61. The computer readable storage medium of claim 60, wherein the instructions for using the weighting information to determine the first weight and the second weight includes include instructions for calculating a confidence level for either or both of the RSSI measurement and the RTT measurement, based on the weighting information.

62. The computer readable storage medium of claim 60, wherein the weighting information of each area of the plurality of areas comprises a heatmap.

63. The computer readable storage medium of claim 60, further comprising instructions for updating the weighting information of at least one area of the plurality of areas.

64. The computer readable storage medium of claim 63, wherein the instructions for updating the weighting information of at least one area of the plurality of areas are configured to base the updating on either or both of:

historical data of the mobile device;

or

data received from another mobile device.

65. The computer readable storage medium of claim 63, wherein the weighting information of each area of the plurality of areas includes information regarding a plurality of access points.

66. A system for determining a mobile device'"'"'s location based upon weighted Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) and Round-Trip Time (RTT) data, the system comprising:

means for receiving weighting information of each area of a plurality of areas;

means for storing the weighting information of each area of the plurality of areas in a memory;

means for obtaining an RSSI measurement and an RTT measurement relating to an area in which a mobile device is located;

means for using the weighting information of the area in which the mobile device is located to determine;

a first weight for the RSSI measurement, and

a second weight for the RTT measurement; and

means for calculating the mobile device'"'"'s location using the first weight and the second weight.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein the means for using the weighting information to determine the first weight and the second weight include means for calculating a confidence level for either or both of the RSSI measurement and the RTT measurement, based on the weighting information.

68. The system of claim 66, wherein the weighting information of each area of the plurality of areas comprises a heatmap.

69. The system of claim 66, further comprising means for updating the weighting information of at least one area of the plurality of areas.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein the means for updating the weighting information of at least one area of the plurality of areas are configured to base the updating on either or both of:

historical data of the mobile device;

or

data received from another mobile device.

71. The system of claim 69, wherein the weighting information of each area of the plurality of areas includes information regarding a plurality of access points.

72. An mobile device configured to determine a location based upon weighted Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) and Round-Trip Time (RTT) data, the mobile device comprising:

a transmitter;

a receiver;

a memory; and

a processing unit coupled with the transmitter, the receiver, and the memory, the processing unit configured to;

receive weighting information of each area of a plurality of areas;

store the weighting information of each area of the plurality of areas in the memory;

obtain an RSSI measurement and an RTT measurement relating to an area in which a mobile device is located;

use the weighting information of the area in which the mobile device is located to determine;

a first weight for the RSSI measurement, and

a second weight for the RTT measurement; and

calculate a location of the mobile device using the first weight and the second weight.

73. The mobile device of claim 72, wherein the processing unit is configured to use the weighting information to determine the first weight and the second weight by calculating a confidence level for either or both of the RSSI measurement and the RTT measurement, based on the weighting information.

74. The mobile device of claim 72, wherein the weighting information of each area of the plurality of areas comprises a heatmap.

75. The mobile device of claim 72, wherein the processing unit is further configured to update the weighting information of at least one area of the plurality of areas.

76. The mobile device of claim 75, wherein the processing unit is configured to base the updating the weighting information of at least one area of the plurality of areas on either or both of:

historical data of the mobile device;

or

data received from another mobile device.

77. The mobile device of claim 75, wherein the weighting information of each area of the plurality of areas includes information regarding a plurality of access points.