Methods and apparatus for distributed learning of parameters of a fingerprint prediction map model

• US 8,692,667 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2011
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Richardson, Thomas, Jovicic, Aleksandar, Measson, Cyril
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alizada, Omeed
• Application Number:
  US13/009,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20120182144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0018 Transmission from mobile station to base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/021 Calibration, monitoring or correction G01S5/0252 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02526 using non-dedicated equipment, e.g. user equipment or crowd-sourcing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

In accordance with various embodiments, mobile wireless devices which use prediction maps, e.g., RF prediction maps, to determine their location also contribute to the updating and distribution of parameters relating to prediction map generation. After a device determines its location, it uses the signal measurements used in determining the device'"'"'s location to determine updated parameters which can be used in generating signal prediction maps in the future. The generated parameters are then transmitted to another device for use in generating prediction maps and/or distribution to other devices. In this manner parameters corresponding to a particular location can be updated and distributed without the need for a survey team and/or dedicated equipment. The devices using the prediction map become the devices which also aid in the updating of the parameters used to facilitate generation of a prediction map at some future time. In some embodiments, statistical information corresponding to the updated parameters is also generated and communicated.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile wireless device, comprising:

measuring signal characteristics of received signals;

determining a position of the mobile wireless device based on the measured signal characteristics;

adjusting at least one of;

(i) a prediction parameter which can be used in generating a prediction map, (ii) statistics of a prediction parameter, or (iii) a distribution of a prediction parameter, based on one or more of the measured signal characteristics and the determined position of the mobile wireless device;

transmitting a prediction parameter update signal including at least one of;

(i) the adjusted prediction parameter, (ii) adjusted statistics of a prediction parameter, or (iii) the adjusted distribution of a prediction parameter, to another mobile wireless device or a network device;

receiving a second prediction parameter update signal from another mobile wireless device;

generating a first prediction map using parameter information included in said second prediction parameter update signal; and

using the generated first prediction map and said measured signal characteristics to determine the position of the mobile wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein said adjusting includes adjusting said prediction parameter, said prediction parameter is one of a wall loss parameter, a diffraction loss parameter, a reflection loss parameter or a refraction loss parameter;

and

wherein said prediction parameter which is adjusted is a prediction parameter which was used in determining the position of the mobile wireless device, said adjusting being performed when the position of the mobile wireless device is determined to a predetermined degree of certainty but not when the position of the mobile wireless device is determined with a lower degree of certainty.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said prediction parameter is not a signal measurement value.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the received second prediction parameter update signal includes parameter statistics in addition to at least one prediction parameter, said prediction parameter statistics including at least one of a mean or a variance.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said second prediction parameter update signal is received prior to determining the position of the mobile wireless device and said first prediction map is generated prior to performing said step of determining a position of the mobile wireless device, said step of determining the position of the mobile wireless device including:

using the generated first prediction map and said measured signal characteristics to determine the position of the mobile wireless device.

6. A mobile wireless device, comprising:

means for measuring signal characteristics of received signals;

means for determining a position of the mobile wireless device based on the measured signal characteristics;

means for adjusting at least one of;

(i) a prediction parameter which can be used in generating a prediction map, (ii) statistics of a prediction parameter, or (iii) a distribution of a prediction parameter, based on one or more of the measured signal characteristics and the determined position of the mobile wireless device;

means for transmitting a prediction parameter update signal including at least one of;

(i) the adjusted prediction parameter, (ii) adjusted statistics of a prediction parameter, or (iii) the adjusted distribution of a prediction parameter, to another mobile wireless device or a network device;

means for receiving a second prediction parameter update signal from another mobile wireless device;

means for generating a first prediction map using parameter information included in said second prediction parameter update signal; and

means for using the generated first prediction map and said measured signal characteristics to determine the position of the mobile wireless device.

7. The mobile wireless device of claim 6,

wherein said means for adjusting adjust said prediction parameter, said prediction parameter being one of a wall loss parameter, a diffraction loss parameter, a reflection loss parameter or a refraction loss parameter;

and

wherein said prediction parameter which is adjusted is a prediction parameter which was used in determining the position of the mobile wireless device, said means for adjusting performing adjustment of said prediction parameter when the position of the mobile wireless device is determined to a predetermined degree of certainty but not when the position of the mobile wireless device is determined with a lower degree of certainty.

8. The mobile wireless device of claim 6, wherein the prediction parameter is not a signal measurement value.

9. The mobile wireless device of claim 6, wherein the received second prediction parameter update signal includes parameter statistics in addition to at least one prediction parameter, said prediction parameter statistics including at least on of a mean or a variance.

10. The mobile wireless device of claim 9,

wherein said means for receiving receive said second prediction parameter update signal prior to said means for determining determine the position of the mobile wireless device;

wherein said means for generating a first prediction map generates said first prediction map prior to said means for determining a position of the mobile device determining a position of the mobile wireless device, and

wherein said means for determining the position of the mobile wireless device includes means for using the generated first prediction map and said measured signal characteristics to determine the position of the mobile wireless device.

11. A computer program product for use in a mobile wireless device, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to measure signal characteristics of received signals;

code for causing said at least one computer to determine a position of the mobile wireless device based on the measured signal characteristics;

code for causing said at least one computer to adjust at least one of;

(i) a prediction parameter which can be used in generating a prediction map, (ii) statistics of a prediction parameter, or (iii) a distribution of a prediction parameter, based on one or more of the measured signal characteristics and the determined position of the mobile wireless device;

code for causing said at least one computer to transmit a prediction parameter update signal including at least one of;

(i) the adjusted prediction parameter, (ii) adjusted statistics of a prediction parameter, or (iii) the adjusted distribution of a prediction parameter, to another mobile wireless device or a network device;

code for receiving a second prediction parameter update signal from another mobile wireless device;

code for generating a first prediction map using parameter information included in said second prediction parameter update signal; and

code for using the generated first prediction map and said measured signal characteristics to determine the position of the mobile wireless device.

12. The computer program product of claim 11,

wherein said code for causing said at least one computer to adjust includes code for causing said at least one computer to adjust said prediction parameter, said prediction parameter being one of a wall loss parameter, a diffraction loss parameter, a reflection loss parameter or a refraction loss parameter;

and

wherein said prediction parameter which is adjusted is a prediction parameter which was used in determining the position of the mobile wireless device, said adjusting being performed when the position of the mobile wireless device is determined to a predetermined degree of certainty but not when the position of the mobile wireless device is determined with a lower degree of certainty.

13. A mobile wireless device comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

measure signal characteristics of received signals;

determine a position of the mobile wireless device based on the measured signal characteristics;

adjust at least one of;

(i) a prediction parameter which can be used in generating a prediction map, (ii) statistics of a prediction parameter, or (iii) a distribution of a prediction parameter, based on one or more of the measured signal characteristics and the determined position of the mobile wireless device;

transmit a prediction parameter update signal including at least one of;

(i) the adjusted prediction parameter, (ii) adjusted statistics of a prediction parameter, or (iii) the adjusted distribution of a prediction parameter, to another mobile wireless device or a network device;

memory coupled to said at least one processor;

receive a second prediction parameter update signal from another mobile wireless device;

generate a first prediction map using parameter information included in said second prediction parameter update signal; and

using the generated first prediction map and said measured signal characteristics to determine the position of the mobile wireless device.

14. The mobile wireless device of claim 13,

wherein said at least one processor is configured to adjust said prediction parameter, said prediction parameter being one of a wall loss parameter, a diffraction loss parameter, a reflection loss parameter or a refraction loss parameter;

and

wherein said prediction parameter which is adjusted is a prediction parameter which was used in determining the position of the mobile wireless device, said at least one processor being configured to adjust said prediction parameter when the position of the mobile wireless device is determined to a predetermined degree of certainty but not when the position of the mobile wireless device is determined with a lower degree of certainty.

15. The mobile wireless device of claim 13, wherein the said prediction parameter is not a signal measurement value.

16. The mobile wireless device of claim 13, wherein the received second prediction parameter update signal includes parameter statistics in addition to at least one prediction parameter, said prediction parameter statistics including at least on of a mean or a variance.

17. The mobile wireless device of claim 16,

wherein said at least one processor receives said second prediction parameter update signal prior to determining the position of the mobile wireless device;

wherein said at least one processor is further configured to generate said first prediction map prior to determining a position of the mobile wireless device; and

wherein said at least one processor is configured to use the generated first prediction map and said measured signal characteristics to determine the position of the mobile wireless device, as part of being configured to determine the position of the mobile wireless device.