LOCALIZATION METHOD EMPLOYING RADIO SIGNAL STRENGTH MEASUREMENTS OF ELECTRIC AND GAS METERS

• US 20140018111A1
• Filed: 07/16/2012
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: FARLEY, Richard O., KALEAS, Dimosthenis, RUUSPAKKA, Roger M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,078,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.6
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0252 Radio frequency fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for determining the geospatial position/location of a mobile device by using transmissions from surrounding wireless utility meters and prior knowledge of the locations of the surrounding meters. A mobile device may receive transmissions from a plurality of wireless utility meters, and determine signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters from the received transmissions. The signal strengths and meter identifiers may be compared to data records stored in a wireless utility meter signal signature database to identify a best match data record, which may include geographic coordinates that may be used by the mobile device to determine its current geospatial position and/or location.

Claims

1. A method of determining a location of a mobile device without using a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, comprising:

receiving in the mobile device transmissions from a plurality of wireless utility meters;

determining from the received transmissions signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters;

comparing the determined wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths to a meter signal signature database, wherein the meter signal signature database comprises a plurality of records that associate a plurality of geographic coordinates with a plurality of wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths;

identifying a best match data record within the meter signal signature database that represents a best match between signal strengths and meter identifiers determined from received transmissions and the plurality of wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths stored in the best match data record; and

using geographic coordinates of the identified best match data record as the location of the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a best match data record within the meter signal signature database comprises determining a database record whose combinations of meter identifiers and signal strength measurements most closely match those of the received transmissions.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining a database record whose combinations of meter identifiers and signal strength measurements most closely match those of the received transmissions comprises searching the meter signal signature database with the determined wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a subset of the meter signal signature database in the mobile device corresponding to an approximate location of the mobile device,

wherein comparing the determined wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths to a meter signal signature database comprises using the subset of the meter signal signature database to accomplish the comparison in the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving a subset of the meter signal signature database comprises:

transmitting the approximate location of the mobile device to a server;

using the approximate location in the server to identify the subset of the meter signal signature database within a vicinity of the approximate location of the mobile device; and

transmitting the subset of the meter signal signature database to the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein transmitting the approximate location of the mobile device comprises one of transmitting an identifier of a cell tower or wireless base station with which the mobile device is communicating, transmitting at least one wireless utility meter identifier determined from the received transmissions, transmitting a previously determined location, and transmitting an identifier of the mobile device to enable the server to look up the approximate location of the mobile device from a database of mobile devices.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the mobile device transmitting the determined signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters to a server,

wherein comparing the determined wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths to a meter signal signature database and identifying a best match data record within the meter signal signature database are accomplished in the server using the determined signal strengths and meter identifiers,

the method further comprising transmitting the geographic coordinates of the identified best match data record to the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein searching the meter signal signature database with the determined wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths comprises searching the meter signal signature database using a particle filter search algorithm.

9. A mobile device, comprising:

a transceiver configured to send and receive wireless communication signals;

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving transmissions from a plurality of wireless utility meters;

determining from the received transmissions signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters;

comparing the determined wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths to a meter signal signature database, wherein the meter signal signature database comprises a plurality of records that associate a plurality of geographic coordinates with a plurality of wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths;

identifying a best match data record within the meter signal signature database that represents a best match between signal strengths and meter identifiers determined from received transmissions and the plurality of wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths stored in the best match data record; and

recording geographic coordinates of the identified best match data record as a mobile device location.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that identifying a best match data record within the meter signal signature database comprises determining a database record whose combinations of meter identifiers and signal strength measurements most closely match those of the received transmissions.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that determining a database record whose combinations of meter identifiers and signal strength measurements most closely match those of the received transmissions comprises searching the meter signal signature database with the determined wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths.

12. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein:

the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising receiving a subset of the meter signal signature database corresponding to an approximate location of the mobile device, and

the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that comparing the determined wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths to a meter signal signature database comprises using the subset of the meter signal signature database.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that receiving a subset of the meter signal signature database comprises:

transmitting the approximate location of the mobile device to a server; and

receiving the subset of the meter signal signature database that includes information relevant to the approximate location of the mobile device.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that transmitting the approximate location of the mobile device comprises one of:

transmitting an identifier of a cell tower or wireless base station with which the mobile device is communicating;

transmitting at least one wireless utility meter identifier determined from the received transmissions;

transmitting a previously determined location; and

transmitting a mobile device identifier.

15. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

transmitting the determined signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters to a server, and

receiving the geographic coordinates of the identified best match data record in response to transmitting the determined signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters to the server.

16. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that searching the meter signal signature database with the determined wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths comprises searching the meter signal signature database using a particle filter search algorithm.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations for determining a location of a mobile device without using a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, the operations comprising:

receiving transmissions from a plurality of wireless utility meters;

determining from the received transmissions signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters;

comparing the determined wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths to a meter signal signature database, wherein the meter signal signature database comprises a plurality of records that associate a plurality of geographic coordinates with a plurality of wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths;

identifying a best match data record within the meter signal signature database that represents a best match between signal strengths and meter identifiers determined from received transmissions and the plurality of wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths stored in the best match data record; and

recording geographic coordinates of the identified best match data record as the location of the mobile device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that identifying a best match data record within the meter signal signature database comprises determining a database record whose combinations of meter identifiers and signal strength measurements most closely match those of the received transmissions.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that determining a database record whose combinations of meter identifiers and signal strength measurements most closely match those of the received transmissions comprises searching the meter signal signature database with the determined wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations further comprising receiving a subset of the meter signal signature database corresponding to an approximate location of the mobile device, and

wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that comparing the determined wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths to a meter signal signature database comprises using the subset of the meter signal signature database to accomplish the comparison.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that receiving a subset of the meter signal signature database comprises:

transmitting the approximate location of the mobile device to a server; and

receiving a subset of the meter signal signature database that includes information relevant to the approximate location of the mobile device in response to transmitting the approximate location of the mobile device to the server.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that transmitting the approximate location of the mobile device comprises one of:

transmitting an identifier of a cell tower or wireless base station with which the mobile device is communicating;

transmitting at least one wireless utility meter identifier determined from the received transmissions;

transmitting a previously determined location; and

transmitting a mobile device identifier.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

transmitting the determined signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters to a server, and

receiving geographic coordinates of the identified best match data record from the server in response to transmitting the determined signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters to the server.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that searching the meter signal signature database with the determined wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths comprises searching the meter signal signature database using a particle filter search algorithm.

25. A mobile device, comprising:

means for receiving transmissions from a plurality of wireless utility meters;

means for determining from the received transmissions signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters;

means for comparing the determined wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths to a meter signal signature database, wherein the meter signal signature database comprises a plurality of records that associate a plurality of geographic coordinates with a plurality of wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths;

means for identifying a best match data record within the meter signal signature database that represents a best match between signal strengths and meter identifiers determined from received transmissions and the plurality of wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths stored in the best match data record; and

means for using geographic coordinates of the identified best match data record as a mobile device location.

26. The mobile device of claim 25, wherein means for identifying a best match data record within the meter signal signature database comprises means for determining a database record whose combinations of meter identifiers and signal strength measurements most closely match those of the received transmissions.

27. The mobile device of claim 26, wherein means for determining a database record whose combinations of meter identifiers and signal strength measurements most closely match those of the received transmissions comprises means for searching the meter signal signature database with the determined wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths.

28. The mobile device of claim 25, further comprising:

means for receiving a subset of the meter signal signature database corresponding to an approximate location of the mobile device,

wherein means for comparing the determined wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths to a meter signal signature database comprises means for using the subset of the meter signal signature database to accomplish the comparison.

29. The mobile device of claim 28, wherein receiving a subset of the meter signal signature database comprises:

means for transmitting the approximate location of the mobile device to a server;

means for using the approximate location in the server to identify the subset of the meter signal signature database within a vicinity of the approximate location of the mobile device; and

means for transmitting the subset of the meter signal signature database to the mobile device.

30. The mobile device of claim 29, wherein means for transmitting the approximate location of the mobile device comprises one of:

means for transmitting an identifier of a cell tower or wireless base station with which the mobile device is communicating,

means for transmitting at least one wireless utility meter identifier determined from the received transmissions,

means for transmitting a previously determined location, and

means for transmitting a mobile device identifier.

31. The mobile device of claim 25, further comprising:

means for transmitting the determined signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters to a server, and

means for receiving the geographic coordinates of the identified best match data record from the server in response to transmitting the determined signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters to the server.

32. The mobile device of claim 27, wherein means for searching the meter signal signature database with the determined wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths comprises means for searching the meter signal signature database using a particle filter search algorithm.

33. A communication system, comprising:

a mobile device comprising a device memory and a device processor coupled to the device memory, and

a server comprising a server memory and a server processor coupled to the server memory,

wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving transmissions from a plurality of wireless utility meters;

determining from the received transmissions signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters;

sending the signal strengths and meter identifiers to the server;

receiving geographic coordinates in response to sending the signal strengths and meter identifiers; and

recording the received geographic coordinates as a mobile device location, and

wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving the signal strengths and meter identifiers sent from the mobile device;

comparing the meter identifiers and signal strengths to a meter signal signature database, wherein the meter signal signature database comprises a plurality of records that associate a plurality of geographic coordinates with a plurality of wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths;

identifying a best match data record within the meter signal signature database that represents a best match between signal strengths and meter identifiers determined from received transmissions and the plurality of wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths stored in the best match data record; and

sending the best match data record to the mobile device.

34. The communication system of claim 33, wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions such that identifying a best match data record within the meter signal signature database comprises determining a database record whose combinations of meter identifiers and signal strength measurements most closely match those of the received signal strengths and meter identifiers.

35. The communication system of claim 34, wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions such that determining a database record whose combinations of meter identifiers and signal strength measurements most closely match those of the received signal strengths and meter identifiers comprises searching the meter signal signature database with the determined wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths.

36. The communication system of claim 33, wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

sending an approximate location of the mobile device to the server; and

receiving a subset of the meter signal signature database corresponding to the approximate location of the mobile device.

37. The communication system of claim 36, wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

receiving the approximate location of the mobile device;

using the approximate location to identify the subset of the meter signal signature database within a vicinity of the approximate location of the mobile device; and

sending the subset of the meter signal signature database to the mobile device.

38. The communication system of claim 37, wherein the device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that sending the approximate location of the mobile device comprises one of transmitting an identifier of a cell tower or wireless base station with which the mobile device is communicating, transmitting at least one wireless utility meter identifier determined from the received transmissions, transmitting a previously determined location, and transmitting a mobile device identifier.

39. The communication system of claim 35, wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions such that searching the meter signal signature database with the determined wireless utility meter identifiers and respective signal strengths comprises searching the meter signal signature database using a particle filter search algorithm.

40. A method for generating meter signal signature database, comprising:

receiving in the mobile device transmissions from a plurality of wireless utility meters;

determining from the received transmissions signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters;

determining a geographic location of the mobile device at a location where the transmissions from the plurality of wireless utility meters was received using a high-accuracy geolocation method;

transmitting to a server the determined geographic location of the mobile device and the determined signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters; and

storing received geographic locations and wireless utility meter identifiers and signal strengths in the meter signal signature database maintained by the server.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising assigning a weight value to at least one of the determined signal strengths and determined geographic location of the mobile device.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

receiving geographic location, wireless utility meter identifier and correspondingly signal strength information from a plurality of mobile devices; and

continuously updating the meter signal signature database based on information received from the plurality of mobile devices.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein determining a geographic location of the mobile device using a high-accuracy geolocation method comprises determining the geographic location using a GPS receiver within the mobile device.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

computing an error value for the determined geographic location; and

assigning a weight value to the determined geographic location based on the computed error value.

45. A mobile device, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving transmissions from a plurality of wireless utility meters;

determining from the received transmissions signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters;

determining a geographic location of the mobile device at a location where the transmissions from the plurality of wireless utility meters was received using a high-accuracy geolocation method; and

transmitting to a server the determined geographic location of the mobile device and the determined signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters.

46. The mobile device of claim 45, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

assigning a weight value to at least one of the determined signal strengths and determined geographic location of the mobile device.

47. The mobile device of claim 45, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that determining a geographic location of the mobile device using a high-accuracy geolocation method comprises determining the geographic location using a GPS receiver.

48. The mobile device of claim 47, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

computing an error value for the determined geographic location; and

assigning a weight value to the determined geographic location based on the computed error value.

64. The mobile device of claim 45, further comprising:

means for assigning a weight value to at least one of the determined signal strengths and determined geographic location of the mobile device.

65. The mobile device of claim 45, wherein means for determining a geographic location of the mobile device using a high-accuracy geolocation method comprises means for determining the geographic location using a GPS receiver.

66. The mobile device of claim 47, further comprising:

means for computing an error value for the determined geographic location; and

means for assigning a weight value to the determined geographic location based on the computed error value.

49. A server, comprising:

a memory; and

a server processor coupled to the memory, wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving location information identifying a geographic location of a mobile device, signal strength information, and meter identifiers of each of a plurality of wireless utility meters from the mobile device; and

storing the received location information, meter identifiers and signal strengths in the meter signal signature database.

50. The server of claim 49, wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

assigning a weight value to at least one of the received location information and signal strength information.

51. The server of claim 49, wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

receiving geographic location, meter identifiers and corresponding signal strength information from a plurality of mobile devices; and

continuously updating the meter signal signature database based on information received from the plurality of mobile devices.

52. The server of claim 49, wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions such that receiving location information identifying a geographic location of a mobile device, signal strength information, and meter identifiers of each of a plurality of wireless utility meters from the mobile device comprises receiving location information identifying a geographic location determined using a high-accuracy geolocation method.

53. The server of claim 52, wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

assigning a weight value to the received location information based on a error value determined based on the high-accuracy geolocation method.

54. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations for generating a meter signal signature database, the operations comprising:

receiving transmissions from a plurality of wireless utility meters;

determining from the received transmissions signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters;

determining a geographic location of a mobile device at a location where the transmissions from the plurality of wireless utility meters was received using a high-accuracy geolocation method; and

transmitting to a server the determined geographic location of the mobile device and the determined signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters.

55. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 54, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

assigning a weight value to at least one of the determined signal strengths and determined geographic location of the mobile device.

56. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 54, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that determining a geographic location of the mobile device using a high-accuracy geolocation method comprises determining the geographic location using a GPS receiver.

57. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 56, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

computing an error value for the determined geographic location; and

assigning a weight value to the determined geographic location based on the computed error value.

58. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon server-executable software instructions configured to cause a server processor to perform operations for generating a meter signal signature database, the operations comprising:

receiving location information identifying a geographic location of a mobile device, signal strength information, and meter identifiers of each of a plurality of wireless utility meters from the mobile device; and

storing received location information, meter identifiers and signal strengths in the meter signal signature database.

59. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein the stored server-executable software instructions are configured to cause a server processor to perform operations comprising:

assigning a weight value to at least one of the received location information and signal strength information.

60. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein the stored server-executable software instructions are configured to cause a server processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving geographic location, meter identifiers and corresponding signal strength information from a plurality of mobile devices; and

continuously updating the meter signal signature database based on information received from the plurality of mobile devices.

61. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein the stored server-executable software instructions are configured to cause a server processor to perform operations such that receiving location information identifying a geographic location of a mobile device, signal strength information, and meter identifiers of each of a plurality of wireless utility meters from the mobile device comprises receiving location information identifying a geographic location determined using a high-accuracy geolocation method.

62. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 61, wherein the stored server-executable software instructions are configured to cause a server processor to perform operations comprising:

computing an error value for the location information; and

assigning a weight value to the received location information based on the error value.

63. A mobile device, comprising:

means for receiving transmissions from a plurality of wireless utility meters;

means for determining from the received transmissions signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters;

means for determining a geographic location of the mobile device at a location where the transmissions from the plurality of wireless utility meters was received using a high-accuracy geolocation method; and

means for transmitting to a server the determined geographic location of the mobile device and the determined signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters.

67. A server, comprising:

means for receiving location information identifying a geographic location of a mobile device, signal strength information, and meter identifiers of each of a plurality of wireless utility meters from the mobile device; and

means for storing received location information, meter identifiers and signal strengths in the meter signal signature database.

68. The server of claim 67, further comprising:

means for assigning a weight value to at least one of the received location information and signal strength information.

69. The server of claim 67, further comprising:

means for receiving geographic location, meter identifiers and corresponding signal strength information from a plurality of mobile devices; and

means for continuously updating the meter signal signature database based on information received from the plurality of mobile devices.

70. The server of claim 67, wherein means for receiving location information identifying a geographic location of a mobile device, signal strength information, and meter identifiers of each of a plurality of wireless utility meters from the mobile device comprises means for receiving location information identifying a geographic location determined using a high-accuracy geolocation method.

71. The server of claim 70, further comprising:

means for computing an error value for the received location information; and

means for assigning a weight value to the received location information based on the error value.

72. A method of determining locations of wireless utility meters, comprising:

receiving, in a server, geographic location, wireless utility meter identifier and corresponding signal strength information from a plurality of mobile devices;

for each meter identifier, calculating a separation distance between the corresponding meter and each geographic location associated with a signal strength information based upon the corresponding signal strength information; and

performing a least squares calculation to determine each meter'"'"'s location using the calculated separation distances and corresponding geographic locations.

73. The method of claim 72, further comprising storing the determined meter location in a meter location database.

74. The method of claim 72, wherein receiving, in a server, geographic location, wireless utility meter identifier and corresponding signal strength information from a plurality of mobile devices comprises accessing a meter signal signature database generated by storing received geographic locations and wireless utility meter identifiers and corresponding signal strengths in the meter signal signature database maintained by the server.

75. The method of claim 72, further comprising assigning a weight value to at least one of the geographic location and signal strength information.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein:

assigning a weight value to at least one of the geographic location and signal strength information comprises assigning a weight value to the signal strength information based on a magnitude of the signal strength; and

performing a least squares calculation to determine each meter'"'"'s location using the calculated separation distances and corresponding geographic locations comprises performing a least squares calculation using the assigned weight values so that location information associated with greater signal strengths contribute more to the determination of each meter'"'"'s location.

77. The method of claim 75, wherein:

assigning a weight value to at least one of the geographic location and signal strength information comprises assigning a weight value to the geographic location information based on location determination error probability values; and

performing a least squares calculation to determine each meter'"'"'s location using the calculated separation distances and corresponding geographic locations comprises performing a least squares calculation using the assigned weight values so that location information associated with greater location determination error probability values contribute less to the determination of each meter'"'"'s location.

78. A server, comprising:

a memory; and

a server processor coupled to the memory, wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving geographic location, wireless utility meter identifier and corresponding signal strength information from a plurality of mobile devices;

for each meter identifier, calculating a separation distance between the corresponding meter and each geographic location associated with a signal strength information based upon the corresponding signal strength information; and

performing a least squares calculation to determine each meter'"'"'s location using the calculated separation distances and corresponding geographic locations.

79. The server of claim 78, wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising storing the determined meter location in a meter location database.

80. The server of claim 78, wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions such that receiving geographic location, wireless utility meter identifier and corresponding signal strength information from a plurality of mobile devices comprises accessing a meter signal signature database generated by storing received geographic locations and wireless utility meter identifiers and corresponding signal strengths in the meter signal signature database.

81. The server of claim 78, wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising assigning a weight value to at least one of the geographic location and signal strength information.

82. The server of claim 81, wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations such that:

assigning a weight value to at least one of the geographic location and signal strength information comprises assigning a weight value to the signal strength information based on a magnitude of the signal strength; and

performing a least squares calculation to determine each meter'"'"'s location using the calculated separation distances and corresponding geographic locations comprises performing a least squares calculation using the assigned weight values so that location information associated with greater signal strengths contribute more to the determination of the meter'"'"'s location.

83. The server of claim 81, wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations such that:

assigning a weight value to at least one of the geographic location and signal strength information comprises assigning a weight value to the geographic location information based on location determination error probability values; and

performing a least squares calculation to determine each meter'"'"'s location using the calculated separation distances and corresponding geographic locations comprises performing a least squares calculation using the assigned weight values so that location information associated with greater location determination error probability values contribute less to the determination of the meter'"'"'s location.

84. A non-transitory server readable storage medium having stored thereon server-executable software instructions configured to cause a server processor to perform operations for determining locations of wireless utility meters, the operations comprising:

receiving geographic location, wireless utility meter identifier and corresponding signal strength information from a plurality of mobile devices;

for each meter identifier, calculating a separation distance between the corresponding meter and each geographic location associated with a signal strength information based upon the corresponding signal strength information; and

performing a least squares calculation to determine each meter'"'"'s location using the calculated separation distances and corresponding geographic locations.

85. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 84, wherein the stored server-executable software instructions are configured to cause a server processor to perform operations comprising storing the determined meter location in a meter location database.

86. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 84, wherein the stored server-executable software instructions are configured to cause a server processor to perform operations such that receiving geographic location, wireless utility meter identifier and corresponding signal strength information from a plurality of mobile devices comprises accessing a meter signal signature database generated by storing received geographic locations and wireless utility meter identifiers and corresponding signal strengths in the meter signal signature database maintained by the server.

87. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 84, wherein the stored server-executable software instructions are configured to cause a server processor to perform operations comprising assigning a weight value to at least one of the geographic location and signal strength information.

88. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 87, wherein the stored server-executable software instructions are configured to cause a server processor to perform operations such that:

assigning a weight value to at least one of the geographic location and signal strength information comprises assigning a weight value to the signal strength information based on a magnitude of the signal strength; and

performing a least squares calculation to determine each meter'"'"'s location using the calculated separation distances and corresponding geographic locations comprises performing a least squares calculation using the assigned weight values so that location information associated with greater signal strengths contribute more to the determination of the meter'"'"'s location.

89. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 87, wherein the stored server-executable software instructions are configured to cause a server processor to perform operations such that:

assigning a weight value to at least one of the geographic location and signal strength information comprises assigning a weight value to the geographic location information based on location determination error probability values; and

performing a least squares calculation to determine each meter'"'"'s location using the calculated separation distances and corresponding geographic locations comprises performing a least squares calculation using the assigned weight values so that location information associated with greater location determination error probability values contribute less to the determination of the meter'"'"'s location.

90. A server, comprising:

means for receiving geographic location, wireless utility meter identifier and corresponding signal strength information from a plurality of mobile devices;

means for calculating, for each meter identifier, separation distances between the corresponding meter and each geographic location associated with a signal strength information based upon the corresponding signal strength information; and

means for performing a least squares calculation to determine each meter'"'"'s location using the calculated separation distances and corresponding geographic locations.

91. The server of claim 90, further comprising means for storing the determined meter location in a meter location database.

92. The server of claim 90, wherein means for receiving geographic location, wireless utility meter identifier and corresponding signal strength information from a plurality of mobile devices comprises means for accessing a meter signal signature database generated by storing received geographic locations and wireless utility meter identifiers and corresponding signal strengths in the meter signal signature database maintained by the server.

93. The server of claim 90, further comprising means for assigning a weight value to at least one of the geographic location and signal strength information.

94. The server of claim 93, wherein:

means for assigning a weight value to at least one of the geographic location and signal strength information comprises means for assigning a weight value to the signal strength information based on a magnitude of the signal strength; and

means for performing a least squares calculation to determine each meter'"'"'s location using the calculated separation distances and corresponding geographic locations comprises means for performing a least squares calculation using assigned weight values so that location information associated with greater signal strengths contribute more to the determination of the meter'"'"'s location.

95. The server of claim 93, wherein:

means for assigning a weight value to at least one of the geographic location and signal strength information comprises means for assigning a weight value to the geographic location information based on location determination error probability values; and

means for performing a least squares calculation to determine each meter'"'"'s location using the calculated separation distances and corresponding geographic locations comprises means for performing a least squares calculation using the assigned weight values so that location information associated with greater location determination error probability values contribute less to the determination of the meter'"'"'s location.