METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR USE IN DETERMINING AN ALTITUDE OF A MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20150133145A1
• Filed: 11/12/2013
• Published: 05/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Palanki, Ravi, Mohammad Mirzaei, Faraz, Das, Saumitra Mohan
• Granted Patent: US 9,986,529 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 25/00 Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices referred to in the other groups of this subclass testing, calibrating or compensating compasses G01C17/38
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/06 by using barometric means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0264 at least one of the systems being a non-radio wave positioning system
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

Various methods, apparatuses and articles of manufacture are provided which may be used in determining an altitude of a mobile device. For example, an electronic device may select a subset of reporting mobile devices located within a particular environment, estimate a reference parameter that is indicative, at least in part, of a reference altitude within the particular region, e.g., based, at least in part, on one or more altitude measurements for one or more of the reporting mobile devices, and initiate transmission of the reference parameter to at least a target mobile device. In another example, a mobile device may obtain such a reference parameter, and estimate its altitude based, at least in part, on the reference parameter.

Claims

1. A method comprising, at a computing platform:

selecting a subset of reporting mobile devices from a plurality of reporting mobile devices located within a particular environment based, at least in part, on a characteristic of a target mobile device having an estimated location within a particular region of said particular environment;

determining a reference parameter that is indicative, at least in part, of a reference altitude within said particular region based, at least in part, on an altitude measurement for at least one of said reporting mobile devices in said subset of reporting mobile devices; and

transmitting said reference parameter to said target mobile device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, and wherein said reference parameter comprises an expected barometric pressure for said reference altitude.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising, at said computing platform:

selecting said subset of reporting mobile devices in response to a request for said reference parameter from said target mobile device.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising, at said computing platform:

determining said altitude measurement for said at least one of said reporting mobile devices in said subset of reporting mobile devices based, at least in part, on at least one reported barometric pressure measurement for said at least one of said reporting mobile devices.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising, at said computing platform:

determining said altitude measurement for said at least one of said reporting mobile devices in said subset of reporting mobile devices based, at least in part, on a geographic contour parameter of an electronic map corresponding to said particular environment.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising, at said computing platform:

transmitting a request for said altitude measurement to said at least one of said reporting mobile devices in said subset of reporting mobile devices.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising, at said computing platform:

selecting at least one reporting mobile device of said plurality of reporting mobile devices to be in said subset of reporting mobile devices based, at least in part, on;

(1) a position fix parameter for said at least one reporting mobile device;

(2) a make or model of said at least one reporting mobile device;

(3) a service or subscription feature corresponding to said at least one reporting mobile device;

(4) a barometric sensor capability of said at least one reporting mobile device a measurement obtained from an inertial sensor of said at least one reporting mobile device;

(5) a confidence level indicator corresponding to a reported barometric pressure measurement and/or said altitude measurement for said at least one reporting mobile device;

(6) an age indicator corresponding to said reported barometric pressure measurement and/or said altitude measurement for said at least one reporting mobile device;

or (7) some combination of (1) through (6).

8. The method as recited in claim 1, and wherein said characteristic of said target mobile device is indicative of:

(1) a position fix parameter for said estimated location;

(2) a make or model of said target mobile device;

(3) a service or subscription feature corresponding to said target mobile device;

(4) a barometric sensor capability of said target mobile device;

or (5) some combination of (1) through (4).

9. An electronic device comprising:

a communication interface capable of sending electronic messages to and receiving electronic messages from various mobile devices; and

a processing unit coupled to said communication interface and configured to;

select a subset of reporting mobile devices from a plurality of reporting mobile devices located within a particular environment based, at least in part, on a characteristic of a target mobile device having an estimated location within a particular region of said particular environment;

determine a reference parameter that is indicative, at least in part, of a reference altitude within said particular region based, at least in part, on an altitude measurement for at least one of said reporting mobile devices in said subset of reporting mobile devices; and

initiate transmission of said reference parameter to said target mobile device via said communication interface.

10. The electronic device as recited in claim 9, and wherein said reference parameter comprises an expected barometric pressure for said reference altitude.

11. The electronic device as recited in claim 9, and wherein said processing unit is further configured to:

select said subset of reporting mobile devices in response to a request for said reference parameter received via said communication interface from said target mobile device.

12. The electronic device as recited in claim 9, and wherein said processing unit is further configured to:

determine said altitude measurement for said at least one of said reporting mobile devices in said subset of reporting mobile devices based, at least in part, on at least one reported barometric pressure measurement for said at least one of said reporting mobile devices.

13. The electronic device as recited in claim 9, and wherein said processing unit is further configured to:

determine said altitude measurement for said at least one of said reporting mobile devices in said subset of reporting mobile devices based, at least in part, on a geographic contour parameter of an electronic map corresponding to said particular environment.

14. The electronic device as recited in claim 9, and wherein said processing unit is further configured to:

initiate transmission of a request for said altitude measurement to said at least one of said reporting mobile devices in said subset of reporting mobile devices, via said communication interface.

15. The electronic device as recited in claim 9, and wherein said processing unit is further configured to:

select at least one reporting mobile device of said plurality of reporting mobile devices to be in said subset of reporting mobile devices based, at least in part, on;

(1) a position fix parameter for said at least one reporting mobile device;

(2) a make or model of said at least one reporting mobile device;

(3) a service or subscription feature corresponding to said at least one reporting mobile device;

(4) a barometric sensor capability of said at least one reporting mobile device a measurement obtained from an inertial sensor of said at least one reporting mobile device;

(5) a confidence level indicator corresponding to a reported barometric pressure measurement and/or said altitude measurement for said at least one reporting mobile device;

(6) an age indicator corresponding to said reported barometric pressure measurement and/or said altitude measurement for said at least one reporting mobile device;

or (7) any combination of (1) through (6).

16. The electronic device as recited in claim 9, and wherein said characteristic of said target mobile device is indicative of:

(1)a position fix parameter for said estimated location;

(2) a make or model of said target mobile device;

(3) a service or subscription feature corresponding to said target mobile device;

(4) a barometric sensor capability of said target mobile device;

or (5) any combination of (1) through (4).

17. A method comprising, at a mobile device:

obtaining a reference parameter that is indicative, at least in part, of a reference altitude within a particular region of a particular environment, said expected reference parameter having been determined based, at least in part, on an altitude measurement for at least one of a subset of reporting mobile devices, said subset of reporting mobile devices having been selected from a plurality of reporting mobile devices within said particular environment based, at least in part, on a characteristic of said mobile device, and wherein an estimated location of said mobile device is within said particular region; and

estimating an altitude of said mobile device based, at least in part, on said reference parameter.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein said reference parameter comprises an expected barometric pressure for said reference altitude, and further comprising, at said mobile device:

determining a local barometric pressure based, at least in part, on a local barometric pressure measurement, and wherein estimating said altitude said mobile device comprises estimating said altitude based, at least in part, on said local barometric pressure.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein said structure comprises a plurality of levels having different altitudes and the method further comprising, at said mobile device:

selecting a mode of transition from one of said plurality of levels to another one of plurality of levels based, at least in part, on said estimated altitude.

20. The method as recited in claim 17, and further comprising, at said mobile device:

transmitting a request for said reference parameter to an electronic device.

21. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein said characteristic of said mobile device is based, at least in part, on a measurement obtained from an inertial sensor provisioned in said mobile device.

22. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein said characteristic of said mobile device is indicative of:

(1) a position fix parameter for said estimated location;

(2) a make or model of said mobile device;

(3) a service or subscription feature corresponding to said mobile device;

(4) a barometric sensor capability of said mobile device;

or (5) some combination of (1) through (4).

23. The method as recited in claim 17, and wherein said subset of reporting mobile devices having been further selected from said plurality of reporting mobile devices within said particular environment based, at least in part, on (1) a position fix parameter for said at least one reporting mobile device;

(2) a make or model of said at least one reporting mobile device;

(3) a service or subscription feature corresponding to said at least one reporting mobile device;

(4) a barometric sensor capability of said at least one reporting mobile device a measurement obtained from an inertial sensor of said at least one reporting mobile device;

(5) a confidence level indicator corresponding to a reported barometric pressure measurement and/or said altitude measurement for said at least one reporting mobile device;

(6) an age indicator corresponding to said reported barometric pressure measurement and/or said altitude measurement for said at least one reporting mobile device;

or (7) some combination of (1) through (6).

24. A mobile device comprising:

a communication interface capable of sending electronic messages to and receiving electronic messages from various electronic devices; and

a processing unit coupled to said communication interface and configured to;

obtain, via said communication interface, a reference parameter that is indicative, at least in part, of a reference altitude within a particular region of a particular environment, said expected reference parameter having been determined based, at least in part, on an altitude measurement for at least one of a subset of reporting mobile devices, said subset of reporting mobile devices having been selected from a plurality of reporting mobile devices within said particular environment based, at least in part, on a characteristic of said mobile device, and wherein an estimated location of said mobile device is within said particular region; and

estimate an altitude of said mobile device based, at least in part, on said reference parameter.

25. The mobile device as recited in claim 24, wherein said reference parameter comprises an expected barometric pressure for said reference altitude, and wherein said processing unit is further configured to estimate said altitude further based, at least in part, on a local barometric pressure.

26. The mobile device as recited in claim 24, wherein said structure comprises a plurality of levels having different altitudes, and wherein said processing unit is further configured to select a mode of transition from one of said plurality of levels to another one of plurality of levels based, at least in part, on said estimated altitude.

27. The mobile device as recited in claim 24, and wherein said processing unit is further configured to initiate transmission of a request for said reference parameter to an electronic device via said communication interface.

28. The mobile device as recited in claim 24, and wherein said processing unit is further configured to determine a position fix parameter for said estimated location.

29. The mobile device as recited in claim 24, wherein said characteristic of said mobile device is indicative of:

(1) a position fix parameter for said estimated location;

(2) a make or model of said mobile device;

(3) a service or subscription feature corresponding to said mobile device;

(4) a barometric sensor capability of said mobile device;

or (5) some combination of (1) through (4).

30. The mobile device as recited in claim 24, and wherein said subset of reporting mobile devices having been further selected from said plurality of reporting mobile devices within said particular environment based, at least in part, on (1) a position fix parameter for said at least one reporting mobile device;

(2) a make or model of said at least one reporting mobile device;

(3) a service or subscription feature corresponding to said at least one reporting mobile device;

(4) a barometric sensor capability of said at least one reporting mobile device a measurement obtained from an inertial sensor of said at least one reporting mobile device;

(5) a confidence level indicator corresponding to a reported barometric pressure measurement and/or said altitude measurement for said at least one reporting mobile device;

(6) an age indicator corresponding to said reported barometric pressure measurement and/or said altitude measurement for said at least one reporting mobile device;

or (7) some combination of (1) through (6).