METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ADAPTING OBJECT LOCATING

• US 20130116960A1
• Filed: 07/11/2011
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University Antwerpen
• Original Assignee: University Antwerpen
• Inventors: Weyn, Maarten
• Granted Patent: US 9,606,962 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/94
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02521 using a radio-map
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0278 involving statistical or probabilistic considerations G01S5/0252, G01S5/0294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0294 Trajectory determination or predictive filtering, e.g. target tracking or Kalman filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method and device for dynamically altering the signal-space-to-physical-space mapping database of a set of access points for use in localizing of an object, by obtaining a location profile for the object and obtaining an estimated location of an object by measuring the signal parameter induced by at least one access point and using the signal-space-to-physical-space mapping database for deriving an estimated location from the measured signal parameter, and determining whether the obtained estimated location complies with the obtained location profile for the object. If the obtained estimated location does not comply with the location profile, the mapping database is dynamically adjusted to obtain an adjusted signal-space-to-physical-space mapping database based on a difference between the measured signal parameter and the signal parameter corresponding with the signal space for the location expected based on the location profile.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A method for dynamically altering a signal-space-to-physical-space mapping database of a set of access points for use in localizing of an object, comprising:

obtaining a location profile for the object, the location profile comprising an object'"'"'s location pattern,

obtaining an estimated location of the object by measuring a signal parameter induced by at least one access point and using the signal-space-to-physical-space mapping database to derive an estimated location from the measured signal parameter,

determining whether the obtained estimated location complies with the obtained location profile for the object by determining whether or not the object is, within a predetermined time interval, usually located at a recent usual location different from a classic usual location based on the location profile, and

if the obtained estimated location does not comply with the location profile, dynamically adjusting the mapping database to obtain an adjusted signal-space-to-physical-space mapping database.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein obtaining a location profile for the object comprises obtaining a location profile for the object based on a plurality of localization determinations of the object using the signal-space-to-physical-space mapping database.

24. The method according to claim 22, the method comprising determining a new estimated location of the object using said adjusted signal-space-to-physical-space mapping database.

25. The method according to claim 24, including repeating said determining whether an obtained estimated location complies with the obtained location profile for the object, said dynamically adjusting and said determining a new estimated location being carried out until the obtained estimated location complies with the obtained location profile.

26. The method according to claim 22, including, before dynamically adjusting, evaluating whether the location profile is adequate.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the location profile is updated depending on said evaluating.

28. The method according to claim 22, including determining whether or not a sudden change in a signal parameter for a plurality of emitters and/or receivers occurs.

29. A method according to claim 22, wherein dynamically adjusting comprises determining the adjusted signal space to physical space mapping database based on the difference between the measured signal parameter and the signal parameter corresponding with the signal space for the location expected based on the location profile.

30. The method according to claim 22, wherein dynamically adjusting the mapping to obtain an adjusted signal-space-to-physical-space mapping database comprises determining the adjusted signal-space-to-physical-space mapping database based on unlikely positions of the object.

31. The method according to claim 22, wherein the signal-space-to-physical-space mapping database is any of an RF fingerprint database or a database of base station locations.

32. The method according to claim 22, wherein the set of access points is a selected set of access points, selected depending on their spatial configuration.

33. The method according to claim 22, wherein said dynamically adjusting is performed if the expected location does not comply with the location profile for at least a predetermined number of times.

34. The method according to claim 22, wherein said dynamically adjusting is performed if a difference between the measured signal parameter and the signal parameter corresponding with the signal space for the location expected based on the location profile is detected for at least a predetermined number of access points.

38. A method according to claim 22, the method being implemented as a computer program product.

35. A device for dynamically altering a signal-space-to-physical-space mapping database of a set of access points for use in localizing an object, comprising:

an input arrangement configured to receive a location profile for the object and to receive a measured signal parameter induced by at least one access point,

a processor programmed to derive from the signal parameter an estimated location of an object using the signal-space-to-physical-space mapping database,

the processor furthermore being programmed to determine whether the obtained estimated location complies with the obtained location profile for the object by determining whether or not the object is, within a predetermined time interval, usually located at a recent usual location different from a classic usual location based on the location profile, and

if the obtained estimated location does not comply with the location profile, to dynamically adjust the mapping database to obtain an adjusted signal-space-to-physical-space mapping database.

36. The device according to claim 35, wherein the device comprises a controller for use in a system for localizing an object.

37. The device according to claim 35 or 36, the device being implemented as a computer program product that, when executed on a computer, performs dynamically altering the mapping of either or both a signal space of a set of emitters and receivers for localizing an object.

39. A method for upgrading a localization system, the method comprising installing on a processor of the localization system a computer program product for executing a method that dynamically alters a signal-space-to-physical-space mapping database of a set of access points for use in localizing of an object, the method comprising:

obtaining a location profile for the object, the location profile comprising an object'"'"'s location pattern,

obtaining an estimated location of the object by measuring a signal parameter induced by at least one access point and using the signal-space-to-physical-space mapping database for deriving an estimated location from the measured signal parameter,

determining whether the obtained estimated location complies with the obtained location profile for the object by determining whether or not the object is, within a predetermined time interval, usually located at a recent usual location different from a classic usual location based on the location profile, and

if the obtained estimated location does not comply with the location profile, dynamically adjusting the mapping database to obtain an adjusted signal-space-to-physical-space mapping database.