Localization of mobile computing devices in indoor environments
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- assigning a frequency to a mobile computing device, the frequency being the frequency of vibrations of a speaker of the mobile computing device, wherein the frequency of vibrations is one of an audible frequency or an inaudible frequency;
receiving data that is indicative of vibrations output by the speaker on the mobile computing device from at least one microphone array, the at least one microphone array configured to sense the vibrations; and
computing a location of the mobile computing device relative to the at least one microphone array based at least in part upon the data that is indicative of the vibrations.
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Abstract
Various technologies pertaining to localizing multiple mobile computing devices in an indoor environment are described. Pairs of microphone arrays are selectively positioned in an indoor environment. A localization service assigns a frequency and schedule to a mobile telephone, and the mobile telephone begins outputting vibrations at the assigned frequency and in conformance with the assigned schedule. The microphone arrays sense the vibrations, and angles between the microphone arrays, respectively, and the mobile computing device are computed based upon the sensed vibrations. Such angles are subsequently employed to compute the location of the mobile computing device in the indoor environment.
88 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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assigning a frequency to a mobile computing device, the frequency being the frequency of vibrations of a speaker of the mobile computing device, wherein the frequency of vibrations is one of an audible frequency or an inaudible frequency; receiving data that is indicative of vibrations output by the speaker on the mobile computing device from at least one microphone array, the at least one microphone array configured to sense the vibrations; and computing a location of the mobile computing device relative to the at least one microphone array based at least in part upon the data that is indicative of the vibrations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system that facilitates computing a location of a mobile computing device in a building, the system comprising:
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a frequency assigner component that assigns a frequency to the mobile computing device, assignation of the frequency to the mobile computing device causing a speaker on the mobile computing device to output vibrations at the assigned frequency, wherein the assigned frequency is one of an audible frequency or an inaudible frequency; a receiver component that receives a first signal from a first microphone array and a second signal from a second microphone array, the first and second signals indicative of vibrations sensed by the first microphone array and the second microphone array, respectively, that are output by the speaker on the mobile computing device; and a location determiner component that is in communication with the receiver component, the location determiner component computes a location of the mobile computing device relative to the first microphone array and the second microphone array based at least in part upon the first signal received from the first microphone array and the second signal received from the second microphone array. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising:
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receiving an indication that a mobile telephone is proximate to a building; responsive to receiving the indication, assigning a frequency and a schedule to the mobile telephone, the frequency being a frequency that a speaker on the mobile telephone is to output vibrations and the schedule defining time slots when the speaker is to output the vibrations; receiving a first signal from a first microphone array that is located in the building; receiving a second signal from a second microphone array that is located in the building, the first and second signals, respectively, indicative of vibrations sensed by the first microphone array and the second microphone array, respectively, the vibrations output by the mobile telephone; identifying that the mobile telephone is outputting the vibrations; and computing a location of the mobile telephone in the building based at least in part upon the first signal and the second signal.
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Specification