DETERMINING A LOCATION OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20170269189A1
• Filed: 03/17/2017
• Published: 09/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Embarcadero Technologies, Inc. (Idera, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarcadero Technologies, Inc. (Idera, Inc.)
• Inventors: SWINDELL, Michael L., NAVARRO, Diego, ALCALDE, Jorge, GRACIA MACI, Ivan
• Granted Patent: US 11,275,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/024 of beacon transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0278 involving statistical or probabilistic considerations G01S5/0252, G01S5/0294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• 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 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

In a method for determining a location of an electronic device, a plurality of beacon signals are received from a plurality of beacon devices at the electronic device, wherein each beacon signal of the plurality of beacon signals includes an identity of a beacon device transmitting a respective beacon signal, and each beacon device of the plurality of beacon devices has a known location. A received signal strength for each beacon signal of the plurality of beacon signals is measured. A distance of the electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received is determined, wherein the distance of the electronic device from a beacon device is based at least in part on the received signal strength of the beacon signal transmitted by the beacon device. A location of the electronic device is determined based at least on part on the distance of the electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for determining a location of an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of beacon signals from a plurality of beacon devices at the electronic device, wherein each beacon signal of the plurality of beacon signals comprises an identity of a beacon device transmitting a respective beacon signal, and wherein each beacon device of the plurality of beacon devices has a known location;

measuring a received signal strength for each beacon signal of the plurality of beacon signals;

determining a distance of the electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received, wherein the distance of the electronic device from a beacon device is based at least in part on the received signal strength of the beacon signal transmitted by the beacon device; and

determining a location of the electronic device based at least on part on the distance of the electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a beacon device of the plurality of beacon devices has an associated calibration factor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining a distance of the electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received comprises:

adjusting the distance of the electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received according to the associated calibration factor for each beacon device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sorting the plurality of beacon devices according to a distance from the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the electronic device is determined within a map of an environment.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the determining a location of the electronic device based at least on part on the distance of the electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received comprises:

applying a particle filter to possible locations of the electronic device with the map of the environment; and

determining the location based on a comparison of the distance of the electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received to the map of the environment.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

displaying the map of the environment; and

displaying the location of the electronic device within the map of the environment.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the map comprises at least one virtual zone, the method further comprising:

responsive to determining that the electronic device encounters the virtual zone, detecting an event.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

responsive to the detecting the event, initiating an action.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating the received signal strength for each beacon signal of the plurality of beacon signals and the identity of the beacon device transmitting a respective beacon signal to a remote computing device, wherein the determining a distance of the electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received and the determining a location of the electronic device based at least on part on the distance of the electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received are performed at the remote computing device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining a distance of the electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received and the determining a location of the electronic device based at least on part on the distance of the electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received are performed at the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calibrating the plurality of beacon devices such that the received signal strength for the plurality of beacon devices are normalized.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the calibrating the plurality of beacon devices comprises:

determining a calibration factor for at least one beacon device of the plurality of beacon devices.

14. A mobile electronic device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a plurality of beacon signals from a plurality of beacon devices and to measure a received signal strength for each beacon signal of the plurality of beacon signals, wherein each beacon signal of the plurality of beacon signals comprises an identity of a beacon device transmitting a respective beacon signal, and wherein each beacon device of the plurality of beacon devices has a known location;

a processor capable of determining a location of the mobile electronic device, wherein the processor is operable to;

determine a distance of the mobile electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received, wherein the distance of the mobile electronic device from a beacon device is based at least in part on the received signal strength of the beacon signal transmitted by the beacon device; and

determine a location of the mobile electronic device based at least on part on the distance of the mobile electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received.

15. The mobile electronic device of claim 14, wherein a beacon device of the plurality of beacon devices has an associated calibration factor.

16. The mobile electronic device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further operable to:

adjust the distance of the mobile electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received according to the associated calibration factor for each beacon device.

17. The mobile electronic device of claim 14, wherein the location of the mobile electronic device is determined within a map of an environment.

18. The mobile electronic device of claim 17, wherein the map comprises at least one virtual zone wherein the processor is further operable to:

responsive to determining that the mobile electronic device encounters the virtual zone, detect an event; and

responsive to detecting the event, initiate an action.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code stored thereon for causing a computer system to perform a method for determining a location of an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of beacon signals from a plurality of beacon devices at the electronic device, wherein each beacon signal of the plurality of beacon signals comprises an identity of a beacon device transmitting a respective beacon signal, wherein each beacon device of the plurality of beacon devices has a known location, and wherein at least one beacon device of the plurality of beacon devices has an associated calibration factor;

measuring a received signal strength for each beacon signal of the plurality of beacon signals;

determining a distance of the electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received, wherein the distance of the electronic device from a beacon device is based at least in part on the received signal strength of the beacon signal transmitted by the beacon device;

adjusting the distance of the electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received according to the associated calibration factor for the at least one beacon device; and

determining a location of the electronic device based at least on part on the distance of the electronic device from each beacon device for which the plurality of beacon signals is received.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the location of the electronic device is determined within a map of an environment;

the method further comprising;

displaying the map of the environment; and

displaying the location of the electronic device within the map of the environment.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the map comprises at least one virtual zone, the method further comprising:

responsive to determining that the electronic device encounters the virtual zone, detecting an event; and

responsive to the detecting the event, initiating an action.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the initiating an action comprises:

communicating information to the electronic device.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the initiating an action comprises:

generating an alert.