IDENTIFICATION OF MOBILE DEVICE LOCATION

• US 20150241222A1
• Filed: 02/26/2014
• Published: 08/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Majumdar, Gautam, Wang, Michael Q.
• Granted Patent: US 9,250,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation

Abstract

An approach for identifying a location of a mobile device is provided. In the approach, location information from a mobile device is received, wherein the location information includes a sampling of location coordinates of the mobile device over a period of time. A processor generates a path, using the sampling of location coordinates of the mobile device over the period of time. A processor compares the path to geographic information system (GIS) data associated with the received location information. A processor determines additional location information based on the path and the GIS data.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a location of a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving location information from a mobile device, wherein the location information includes a sampling of location coordinates of the mobile device over a period of time;

generating, by one or more processors, a path, using the sampling of location coordinates of the mobile device over the period of time;

comparing, by one or more processors, the path to geographic information system (GIS) data associated with the received location information; and

determining, by one or more processors, additional location information based on the path and the GIS data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the GIS data comprises information designating physical barriers.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining, by the one or more processors, additional location information based on the path and the GIS data comprises:

determining, by one or more processors, that the path passes through at least one physical barrier, as designated by the GIS data; and

generating, by one or more processors, a calibration factor, wherein the calibration factor adjusts the GIS data as compared to the path, such that the path does not pass through the physical barriers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the GIS data comprises information designating a plurality of floor levels located at a set of coordinates, wherein information for each floor includes a designation of physical barriers on the floor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining, by the one or more processors, additional location information based on the path and the GIS data comprises:

determining, by one or more processors, whether the path passes through at least a physical barrier located on a first floor, as designated by the GIS data; and

responsive to the path passing through at least the physical barrier located on the first floor, the one or more processors determining the mobile device is not located on the first floor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the GIS data comprises information indicating a type of activity commonly performed by individuals at a location.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of determining, by the one or more processors, additional location information based on the path and the GIS data comprises:

determining, by one or more processors, whether the path matches a movement signature associated with the type of activity commonly performed by individuals at the location; and

responsive to the path matching the movement signature, the one or more processors determining the mobile device is at the location.

8. A computer program product for identifying a location of a mobile device, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to receive location information from a mobile device, wherein the location information includes a sampling of location coordinates of the mobile device over a period of time;

program instructions to generate a path, using the sampling of location coordinates of the mobile device over the period of time;

program instructions to compare the path to geographic information system (GIS) data associated with the received location information; and

program instructions to determine additional location information based on the path and the GIS data.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the GIS data comprises information designating physical barriers.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein program instructions to determine additional location information based on the path and the GIS data comprise:

program instructions to determine that the path passes through at least one physical barrier, as designated by the GIS data; and

program instructions to generate a calibration factor, wherein the calibration factor adjusts the GIS data as compared to the path, such that the path does not pass through the physical barriers.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the GIS data comprises information designating a plurality of floor levels located at a set of coordinates, wherein information for each floor includes a designation of physical barriers on the floor.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein program instructions to determine additional location information based on the path and the GIS data comprise:

program instructions to determine whether the path passes through at least a physical barrier located on a first floor, as designated by the GIS data; and

program instructions to, responsive to the path passing through at least the physical barrier located on the first floor, determine the mobile device is not located on the first floor.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the GIS data comprises information indicating a type of activity commonly performed by individuals at a location.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein program instructions to determine additional location information based on the path and the GIS data comprise:

program instructions to determine whether the path matches a movement signature associated with the type of activity commonly performed by individuals at the location; and

program instructions to, responsive to the path matching the movement signature, determine the mobile device is at the location.

15. A computer system for identifying a location of a mobile device, the computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors, one or more computer readable storage media, and program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to receive location information from a mobile device, wherein the location information includes a sampling of location coordinates of the mobile device over a period of time;

program instructions to generate a path, using the sampling of location coordinates of the mobile device over the period of time;

program instructions to compare the path to geographic information system (GIS) data associated with the received location information; and

program instructions to determine additional location information based on the path and the GIS data.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the GIS data comprises information designating physical barriers.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein program instructions to determine additional location information based on the path and the GIS data comprise:

program instructions to determine that the path passes through at least one physical barrier, as designated by the GIS data; and

program instructions to generate a calibration factor, wherein the calibration factor adjusts the GIS data as compared to the path, such that the path does not pass through the physical barriers.

18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the GIS data comprises information designating a plurality of floor levels located at a set of coordinates, wherein information for each floor includes a designation of physical barriers on the floor.

19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein program instructions to determine additional location information based on the path and the GIS data comprise:

program instructions to determine whether the path passes through at least a physical barrier located on a first floor, as designated by the GIS data; and

program instructions to, responsive to the path passing through at least the physical barrier located on the first floor, determine the mobile device is not located on the first floor.

20. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the GIS data comprises information indicating a type of activity commonly performed by individuals at a location.