METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LOCATION DETERMINATION AND NAVIGATION USING TEXTUAL INFORMATION

• US 20130157682A1
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radioxio, LLC
• Original Assignee: Maxlinear Incorporated
• Inventors: Ling, Curtis
• Granted Patent: US 9,253,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/70 Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras camera calibration G06T7/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/224 of printed characters having additional code marks or containing code marks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 using orientation information, e.g. compass
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Methods and systems for location determination and navigation using textual information may comprise capturing images of sources of textual information in the vicinity of a wireless communication device (WCD). Text may be extracted from the sources and a position of the WDC may be determined based on a comparison of the extracted text a stored database of textual information. An orientation of the text may be sensed and may be utilized with the extracted text and determined distances from the sources for the position determining. Locations of the sources and/or the captured images may be stored in the database. An instruction to capture images in a different orientation may be received when the positioning does not meet an accuracy requirement. A distance from the sources of textual information may be determined based on known optical properties of a camera in the WCD, such as focal length and/or and focus setting.

Claims

1. A method for wireless device positioning, the method comprising:

in a wireless communication device;

capturing one or more images of one or more sources of textual information in the vicinity of said wireless communication device;

extracting text from said one or more sources of textual information; and

determining a position of said wireless communication device based on a comparison of said extracted text in said captured one or more images to text in a stored database of textual information.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising sensing an orientation of said text in said captured one or more images relative to said wireless device.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising utilizing an orientation of said wireless device in conjunction with said extracted text for said position determining.

4. The method according to claim 3, comprising utilizing said orientation and said extracted text in conjunction with determined distances from said one or more sources of textual information for said position determining.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising storing locations of said sources of textual information and/or said captured one or more images in said database of textual information.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving an instruction to capture one or more images in a different orientation when said positioning does not meet an accuracy requirement.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising downloading and storing said database of textual information when GNSS signals sufficient for positioning are no longer received by said wireless communication device.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining a distance from one or more of said sources of textual information in the vicinity of said wireless communication device based on known optical properties of a camera in said wireless communication device.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said optical properties comprises focal length and/or and focus setting.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein said determined distance is used to determine an accurate location based on said captured one or more images.

11. A system for wireless communication, the system comprising:

one or more circuits for use in a wireless communication device, said one or more circuits being operable to;

capture one or more images of one or more sources of textual information in the vicinity of said wireless communication device;

extract text from said one or more sources of textual information; and

determine a position of said wireless communication device based on a comparison of said extracted text in said captured one or more images to text in a stored database of textual information.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to sense an orientation of said text in said captured one or more images relative to said wireless device.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to utilize an orientation of said wireless device in conjunction with said extracted text for said position determining.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to utilize said orientation and said extracted text in conjunction with determined distances from said one or more sources of textual information for said position determining.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to store locations of said sources of textual information and/or said captured one or more images in said database of textual information.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to receive an instruction to capture one or more images in a different orientation when said positioning does not meet an accuracy requirement.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to download and store said database of textual information when GNSS signals sufficient for positioning are no longer received by said wireless communication device.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to determine a distance from one or more of said sources of textual information in the vicinity of said wireless communication device based on known optical properties of a camera in said wireless communication device.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said optical properties comprises focal length and/or and focus setting.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein said stored database of textual information comprises a plurality of images of text.

21. A system for location determination, the system comprising:

one or more circuits for use in a wireless communication device, said one or more circuits being operable to;

receive global positioning satellite (GPS) signals for determining a first position of said wireless communication device;

capture one or more images of one or more sources of textual information in the vicinity of said wireless communication device;

extract text from said one or more sources of textual information; and

determine a second position of said wireless communication device based on a comparison of said extracted text in said captured one or more images to text in a stored database of textual information.