Image-aided positioning and navigation system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, at a server, position information of a mobile device indicative of a current location of the mobile device;
determining whether one or more of a plurality of reference images, associated with the server, are associated with the position information of the mobile device;
determining a resolution of an image that should be received from the mobile device based, at least in part, on a number of the plurality of reference images that are associated with the position information of the mobile device;
transmitting, to the mobile device, an indication of the resolution of an image that should be provided from the mobile device;
receiving, at the server, a first image captured by the mobile device indicative of an orientation of the mobile device;
comparing the first image to the one or more of the plurality of reference images, if the one or more of the plurality of reference images are associated with the position information of the mobile device; and
determining an orientation of the mobile device based, at least in part, on results of said comparing the first image to the one or more of the plurality of reference images associated with the position information of the mobile device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Satellite-based navigation techniques can help determine a user'"'"'s position on a map and can also determine directions to a destination. Functionality can be implemented to determine the user'"'"'s orientation and direction of motion based on a captured image taken in the direction of motion. The captured image may be preprocessed to compensate for a camera angle and to vary image properties before being transmitted to a server. The user'"'"'s orientation may be determined based, at least in part, on knowledge of a user'"'"'s position on a map and comparing the captured image to a set of other images. Walking directions can accordingly be tailored based on the user'"'"'s orientation.
64 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, at a server, position information of a mobile device indicative of a current location of the mobile device; determining whether one or more of a plurality of reference images, associated with the server, are associated with the position information of the mobile device; determining a resolution of an image that should be received from the mobile device based, at least in part, on a number of the plurality of reference images that are associated with the position information of the mobile device; transmitting, to the mobile device, an indication of the resolution of an image that should be provided from the mobile device; receiving, at the server, a first image captured by the mobile device indicative of an orientation of the mobile device; comparing the first image to the one or more of the plurality of reference images, if the one or more of the plurality of reference images are associated with the position information of the mobile device; and determining an orientation of the mobile device based, at least in part, on results of said comparing the first image to the one or more of the plurality of reference images associated with the position information of the mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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capturing a first image at a mobile device, wherein the first image is indicative of a current location and orientation of the mobile device; estimating position information associated with the mobile device, wherein the position information is indicative of the current location of the mobile device; transmitting the position information associated with the mobile device to a server; receiving, from the server, image resolution information for the first image based, in part, on the position information of the mobile device, wherein the image resolution information is indicative of a first resolution; processing the first image in response to said receiving the image resolution information to yield a processed first image having the first resolution; transmitting the processed first image at the first resolution to the server; and receiving, from the server, an orientation of the mobile device determined based on the first image and the position information. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A server comprising:
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an image database unit configured to store a plurality of reference images of a plurality of geographic locations; and an orientation calculation unit configured to; receive position information, of a mobile device, indicative of a current location of the mobile device; determine whether one or more of the plurality of reference images, stored in the image database unit, are associated with the position information of the mobile device; determine a resolution of an image that should be received from the mobile device based, at least in part, on a number of the plurality of reference images that are associated with the position information of the mobile device; transmit, to the mobile device, an indication of the resolution of an image that should be provided from the mobile device; receiving, at the server, a first image captured by a mobile device indicative of an orientation of the mobile device; compare the first image to the one or more of the plurality of reference images, if the one or more of the plurality of reference images are associated with the position information of the mobile device; and determine an orientation of the mobile device based, at least in part, on results of the orientation calculation unit comparing the first image to the one or more of the plurality of reference images associated with the position information of the mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A mobile device comprising:
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an image processing unit configured to; capture a first image, wherein the first image is indicative of a current location and orientation of the mobile device; a positioning unit configured to; estimate position information associated with the mobile device based on a plurality of satellites, wherein the position information is indicative of the current location of the mobile device; transmit the position information associated with the mobile device to a server; receive, from the server, image resolution information for the first image based, in part, on the position information of the mobile device, wherein the image resolution information is indicative of a first resolution; process the first image in response to receiving the image resolution information to yield a processed first image having the first resolution; transmit the processed first image at the first resolution to the server; and receive, from the server, an orientation of the mobile device determined based on the first image and the position information. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A non-transitory machine-readable storage media having machine executable instructions stored therein, the machine executable instructions comprising instructions to:
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receive, at a server, position information of a mobile device indicative of a current location of the mobile device; determine whether one or more of a plurality of reference images, associated with the server, are associated with the position information of the mobile device; determine a resolution of a first image that should be received from the mobile device based, at least in part, on a number of the plurality of reference images that are associated with the position information of the mobile device; transmit, to the mobile device, an indication of the resolution of a first image that should be provided from the mobile device; receive the first image captured by the mobile device indicative of an orientation of the mobile device; compare the first image to the one or more of the plurality of reference images, if the one or more of the plurality of reference images are associated with the position information of the mobile device; and determine an orientation of the mobile device based, at least in part, on results of said comparing the first image to the one or more of the plurality of reference images associated with the position information of the mobile device.
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26. A non-transitory machine-readable storage media having machine executable instructions stored therein, the machine executable instructions comprising instructions to:
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capture a first image at a mobile device, wherein the first image is indicative of a current location and orientation of the mobile device; estimate position information associated with the mobile device, wherein the position information is indicative of the current location of the mobile device; transmit the position information associated with the mobile device to a server; receive, from the server, image resolution information for the first image based, in part, on the position information of the mobile device, wherein the image resolution information is indicative of a first resolution; process the first image in response to said receiving the image resolution information to yield a processed first image having the first resolution; transmit the processed first image at the first resolution to the server; and receive, from the server, an orientation of the mobile device determined based on the first image and the position information.
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27. A method comprising:
- receiving, at a server, position information of a mobile device indicative of a current location of the mobile device;
determining whether one or more of a plurality of reference images, associated with the server, are associated with the position information of the mobile device;
if determined that the one or more of the plurality of reference images, associated with the server, are associated with the position information of the mobile device, comparing a first image captured by the mobile device to the one or more of the plurality of reference images, if the one or more of the plurality of reference images are associated with the position information of the mobile device, wherein the first image is indicative of an orientation of the mobile device;
determining an orientation of the mobile device based, at least in part, on results of said comparing the first image to the one or more of the plurality of reference images associated with the position information of the mobile device if determined that the one or more of the plurality of reference images, associated with the server, are not associated with the position information of the mobile device;
providing a notification to the mobile device indicating that the one or more of the plurality of reference images, associated with the server, are not associated with the position information of the mobile device, wherein the notification comprises instructions to move the mobile device;
determining one or more position estimates based on movement of the mobile device; and
estimating at least one of a direction of motion of the mobile device and the orientation of the mobile device based on said determining the one or more position estimates.
- receiving, at a server, position information of a mobile device indicative of a current location of the mobile device;
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28. A method comprising:
- receiving, at a server, position information of a mobile device indicative of a current location of the mobile device;
determining whether one or more of a plurality of reference images, associated with the server, are associated with the position information of the mobile device;
if determined that the one or more of the plurality of reference images, associated with the server, are associated with the position information of the mobile device, comparing a first image captured by the mobile device to the one or more of the plurality of reference images, if the one or more of the plurality of reference images are associated with the position information of the mobile device, wherein the first image is indicative of an orientation of the mobile device;
determining an orientation of the mobile device based, at least in part, on results of said comparing the first image to the one or more of the plurality of reference images associated with the position information of the mobile device if determined that the one or more of the plurality of reference images, associated with the server, are not associated with the position information of the mobile device;
providing a notification to the mobile device indicating that the one or more of the plurality of reference images, associated with the server, are not associated with the position information of the mobile device;
receive compass measurements from a compass on the mobile device; and
determining the orientation of the mobile device based on the compass measurements received from the compass on the mobile device.
- receiving, at a server, position information of a mobile device indicative of a current location of the mobile device;
Specification