Method and apparatus for dynamically specifying location collection and computation logic

• US 8,285,842 B1
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Tsuwei, Ji, Zhengrong
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Quang N.
• Application Number:
  US12/900,982
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/224, 709/226, 709/249, 370/229, 455/415, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

The invention pertains to dynamic specification of location collection and computation logic. First, a request for location data from an end device is received. The location data is loaded from at least one electronic database. It is then determined whether an algorithm version number is indicated in the request and whether the algorithm version number indicated in the request equals a latest algorithm version number. The location data and an algorithm for location collection and computation is embedded in a stream, if it is determined that the algorithm version number is not indicated in the request or that the algorithm version number indicated in the request is not equal to the latest algorithm version number. Only the location data is embedded in the stream, if it is determined that the algorithm version number is indicated in the request and that the algorithm version number indicated in the request is equal to the latest algorithm version number. The stream is then streamed to the end device.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically specifying location collection and computation logic, the method comprising:

receiving a request for location data from an end device;

loading the location data from at least one electronic database;

determining whether an algorithm version number is indicated in the request and whether the algorithm version number indicated in the request equals a latest algorithm version number;

embedding the location data and an algorithm for location collection and computation in a stream, if it is determined that the algorithm version number is not indicated in the request or that the algorithm version number indicated in the request is not equal to the latest algorithm version number;

embedding only the location data in the stream, if it is determined that the algorithm version number is indicated in the request and that the algorithm version number indicated in the request is equal to the latest algorithm version number; and

streaming the stream to the end device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location data contains information regarding at least one of cellular towers and wireless access points.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the stream is in a wire format.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the algorithm is specified using function blocks predefined in a location program of the end device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the algorithm reflects relevant changes on the server.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the location program accommodates relevant changes on the server in order to effectively process location data and compute location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the algorithm is consistent with the location data structure.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the end device is a mobile computing device and the algorithm version number represents the current version of the location collection and computation algorithm stored in the mobile computing device.

9. A processing system for dynamically specifying location collection and computation logic, the processing system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a streamer module associated with the at least one processor wherein the streamer module being configured to receive a request for location data from an end device, the request containing an algorithm version number, to load the location data from at least one electronic database, to determine whether an algorithm version number is indicated in the request and whether the algorithm version number indicated in the request equals a latest algorithm version number, to embed the location data and an algorithm for location collection and computation in a stream, if it is determined that the algorithm version number is not indicated in the request or that the algorithm version number indicated in the request is not equal to the latest algorithm version number, to embed only the location data in the stream, if it is determined that the algorithm version number is indicated in the request and that the algorithm version number indicated in the request is equal to the latest algorithm version number, and to stream the stream to an end device.

10. The processing system of claim 9, wherein the streamer module is configured to create the stream in a wired format.

11. The processing system of claim 9, wherein the streamer module is configured to construct the algorithm using function blocks predefined in a location program of the end device.

12. The processing system of claim 11, wherein the streamer module is configured to communicate with the location program of the end device.

13. The processing system of claim 9, wherein the streamer module is configured to analyze and characterize the location data.

14. The processing system of claim 9, wherein the streamer module is configured to check for relevant changes on the system.

15. A method for executing a location collection and calculation algorithm, comprising:

a processor of an end device transmitting a request for data, the request containing an algorithm version number;

receiving a stream from a server at an end device;

a processor of the end device parsing the stream;

determining if the stream is encoded with an algorithm;

mapping the algorithm to predefined function blocks, if it is determined that the stream is encoded with an algorithm;

the processor executing the algorithm provided in the stream, if it is determined that the stream is encoded with an algorithm; and

the processor executing a previously stored algorithm, if it is determined that the stream is not encoded with an algorithm.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the stream is in a wire format.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the predefined function blocks define functions and types applicable to location collection and computation algorithms.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the predefined function blocks define data structures applicable to location collection and computation algorithms.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the algorithm version number represents the current version of the location collection and computation algorithm stored in the end device.

20. A location collection and calculation system, comprising:

a processor; and

a location program module managed by the processor for executing operations wherein the location program module being configured to transmit a request for data, the request containing an algorithm version number, to receive a stream from a server at an end device, to parse the stream, to determine if the stream is encoded with an algorithm, to map the algorithm to predefined function blocks, if it is determined that the stream is encoded with an algorithm, to execute the algorithm provided in the stream, if it is determined that the stream is encoded with an algorithm, and to execute a currently stored algorithm, if it is determined that the stream is not encoded with an algorithm.

21. The location collection and calculation system of claim 20, wherein the location program module is configured to parse wire formatted streams.

22. The location collection and calculation system of claim 20, wherein the stream is constructed by a streamer module of the server.