Binning venues into categories based on propagation characteristics

• US 8,698,671 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2010
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sridhara, Vinay, Das, Saumitra Mohan, Naguib, Ayman Fawzy, Navare, Manasi Deepak, Aggarwal, Alok
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing, Gregory C
• Application Number:
  US12/904,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20110090123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 342/451
• US Class Current: 342/451
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02521 using a radio-map
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0278 involving statistical or probabilistic considerations G01S5/0252, G01S5/0294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

Example methods, apparatuses, or articles of manufacture are disclosed herein that may be utilized to facilitate or otherwise support one or more processes or operations in connection with defining and determining a plurality of venue types and binning a plurality of venues into categories based, at least in part, on signal propagation characteristics associated with such venues.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

processing, by one or more processors, first radio frequency (RF) measurements obtained from one or more wireless devices at one or more predetermined locations in a plurality of venues, wherein individual venues of the plurality of venues comprise a physical place or locale;

identifying, by said one or more processors, a plurality of venue types for said plurality of venues based at least in part on structural features of said plurality of venues, wherein a first venue type of said plurality of venue types is identified based on a first subset of said plurality of venues and a second venue type of said plurality of venue types is identified based on a second subset of said plurality of venues; and

determining, by said one or more processors, for at least said first venue type, a signal parameter model based, at least in part, on said first RF measurements obtained within said first subset of said plurality of venues.

2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

acquiring, by said one or more processors, second RF measurements obtained within a present venue, wherein said present venue is separate from the plurality of venues; and

associating, by said one or more processors, said present venue with one of said plurality of said venue types based, at least in part, on a comparison between said first and second RF signal measurements.

3. The method of claim 2, and further comprising:

generating assistance information, by said one or more processors, for use by at least one mobile device in said present venue based, at least in part, on said signal parameter model.

4. The method of claim 3, and further comprising:

initiating transmission, by said one or more processors, or said assistance information to said at least one mobile device to enable said at least one mobile device to estimate its location while positioned in said present venue.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said assistance information comprises information for performing a heat map signature matching operation.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said assistance information comprises information for performing a position determination operation.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said information for performing a position determination operation comprises information for performing at least one of the following:

a trilateration operation;

a triangulation operation;

a multilateration operation;

or any combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of said venue types are further identified based, at least in part, on a venue function.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said venue function comprises a function associated with at least one of the following:

an auditorium;

an amphitheater;

a warehouse;

an office building;

a classroom building;

a theater;

a supermarket;

a shopping mall;

a convention center;

a sports arena;

a stadium;

a transit station terminal;

a library;

or any combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of venue types are further identified, at least in part, on a building material type.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of venue types are identified, at least in part, on a venue geometry.

12. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors programmed with instructions to;

processing first radio frequency (RF) measurements obtained from one or more wireless devices at one or more predetermined locations in a plurality of venues, wherein individual venues of the plurality of venues comprise a physical place or locale;

identify a plurality of venue types for said plurality of venues based at least in part on structural features of said plurality of venues, wherein a first venue type of said plurality of venue types is identified based on a first subset of said plurality of venues and a second venue type of said plurality of venue types is identified based on a second subset of said plurality of venues; and

determine, for at least said first venue type, a signal parameter model based, at least in part, on said first RF measurements obtained within said first subset of said plurality of venues.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said one or more processors are further programmed with instructions to:

acquiring second RF measurements obtained within a present venue, wherein said present venue is separate from the plurality of venues; and

associate said present venue with one of said plurality of said venue types based, at least in part, on a comparison between said first and second RF signal measurements.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said one or more processors are further programmed with instructions to:

generate assistance information for use by at least one mobile device in said present venue based, at least in part, on said signal parameter model.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said one or more processors are further programmed with instructions to:

initiate transmission of said assistance information to said at least one mobile device to enable said at least one mobile device to estimate its location while positioned in said present venue.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said assistance information comprises information for performing a heat map signature matching operation.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said assistance information comprises information for performing a position determination operation.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said information for performing a position determination operation comprises information for performing at least one of the following:

a trilateration operation;

a triangulation operation;

a multilateration operation;

or any combination thereof.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said plurality of venue types are further identified, at least in part, on a venue function.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said venue function comprises a function associated with at least one of the following:

an auditorium;

an amphitheater;

a warehouse;

an office building;

a classroom building;

a theater;

a supermarket;

a shopping mall;

a convention center;

a sports arena;

a stadium;

a transit station terminal;

a library;

or any combination thereof.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said plurality of venue types are further identified, at least in part, on a building material type.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said plurality of venue types are further identified, at least in part, on a venue geometry.

23. An apparatus comprising:

means for processing first radio frequency (RF) measurements obtained from one or more wireless devices at one or more predetermined locations in a plurality of venues, wherein individual venues of the plurality of venues comprise a physical place or locale;

means for identifying a plurality of venue types for said plurality of venues based at least in part on structural features of said plurality of venues, wherein a first venue type of said plurality of venue types is identified based on a first subset of said plurality of venues and a second venue type of said plurality of venue types is identified based on a second subset of said plurality of venues; and

means for determining, for at least said first venue type, a signal parameter model based, at least in part, on said first radio frequency (RF) measurements obtained within said first subset of said plurality of venues.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, and further comprising:

means for associating a present venue with one of said plurality of said venue types based, at least in part, on one or more RF signal propagation characteristics associated with said one of said plurality of said venue types.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, and further comprising:

means for generating assistance information for use by at least one mobile device in said present venue based, at least in part, on an application of said observed signal parameter model.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, and further comprising:

means for providing said assistance information to said at least one mobile device to enable said at least one mobile device to estimate its location while positioned in said present venue.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said assistance information comprises information for performing a heat map signature matching operation.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said assistance information comprises information for performing at least one of the following:

a trilateration operation;

a triangulation operation;

a multilateration operation;

or any combination thereof.

29. An article comprising:

a storage medium having instructions stored thereon executable by a special purpose computing platform to;

process first radio frequency (RF) measurements obtained from one or more wireless devices at one or more predetermined locations in a plurality of venues, wherein individual venues of the plurality of venues comprise a physical place or locale;

identify a plurality of venue types for said plurality of venues based at least in part on structural features of said plurality of venues, wherein a first venue type of said plurality of venue types is identified based on a first subset of said plurality of venues and a second venue type of said plurality of venue types is identified based on a second subset of said plurality of venues; and

determine, for at least said first venue type, a signal parameter model based, at least in part, on said first radio frequency (RF) measurements obtained within said first subset of said plurality of venues.

30. The article of claim 29, wherein said storage medium further includes instructions to:

acquire second RF measurements obtained within a present venue, wherein said present venue is separate from the plurality of venues; and

associate said present venue with one of said plurality of said venue types based, at least in part, on a comparison between said first and second RF signal measurements.

31. The article of claim 30, wherein said storage medium further includes instructions to:

generate assistance information for use by at least one mobile device in said present venue based, at least in part, on said signal parameter model.

32. The article of claim 31, wherein said storage medium further includes instructions to:

initiate transmission of said assistance information to said at least one mobile device to enable said at least one mobile device to estimate its location while positioned in said present venue.

33. The article of claim 31, wherein said assistance information comprises information for performing a heat map signature matching operation.

34. The article of claim 31, wherein said assistance information comprises information for performing at least one of the following:

a trilateration operation;

a triangulation operation;

a multilateration operation;

or any combination thereof.