Methods and apparatuses for use in identifying wireless transmitting devices for use in estimating a location of a mobile device

• US 8,704,713 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2011
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Das, Saumitra Mohan, Naguib, Ayman Fawzy, Sridhara, Vinay
• Primary Examiner(s): GALT, CASSI J
• Application Number:
  US13/008,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20110183626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 342463-465, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.6
• US Class Current: 342/464
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0278 involving statistical or probabilistic considerations G01S5/0252, G01S5/0294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Techniques for provided which may be implemented using various methods and/or apparatuses to allow a mobile device to identify and select certain wireless transmitting devices for use in estimating a location of the mobile device. For example with one method, a mobile device may identify a plurality of wireless transmitting devices from which measurements are obtainable to estimate a location of the mobile device, and select a set of wireless transmitting devices based, at least in part, on a location reliability indicator.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, with a mobile device, a plurality of wireless transmitting devices from which measurements are obtainable to estimate a location of said mobile device; and

selecting, with said mobile device, a set of wireless transmitting devices from said plurality of wireless transmitting devices based, at least in part, on a location reliability indicator associated, respectively, with at least each wireless transmitting device in said set of wireless transmitting devices, wherein at least one location reliability indicator for at least one wireless transmitting device in said set of wireless transmitting devices is based, at least in part, on a specific level of trust for a source involved in identifying or verifying a location of said at least one wireless transmitting device, and wherein said source is one of a plurality of sources and at least two of said plurality of sources are different types of sources, and each of said plurality of sources is assigned a corresponding specific level of trust.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

with said mobile device;

obtaining, with said mobile device, said measurements from said set of wireless transmitting devices.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

estimating, with said mobile device, said location of said mobile device based, at least in part, on the obtained measurements.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining, with said mobile device, at least one said location reliability indicator from a network resource.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, with said mobile device, at least one said location reliability indicator from at least one of said set of wireless transmitting devices or at least one of said plurality of wireless transmitting devices.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein selecting, with said mobile device, said set of wireless transmitting devices further comprises prioritizing, with said mobile device, each of at least a portion of said plurality of wireless transmitting devices based, at least in part, on said respective location reliability indicator.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one said location reliability indicator indicates that location information corresponding to said respective wireless transmitting device is deemed to be more reliable than location information corresponding to at least one other of said plurality of wireless transmitting devices.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one said location reliability indicator indicates that location information corresponding to said respective wireless transmitting device has been verified.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining, with said mobile device, a location context identifier; and

wherein identifying, with said mobile device, said plurality of wireless transmitting devices further comprises identifying, with said mobile device, at least said set of wireless transmitting devices based, at least in part, on said location context identifier.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein said location context identifier is for a specific region and identifies at least said plurality of wireless transmitting devices from which measurements are obtainable to estimate said location of said mobile device within said specific region.

81. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of sources comprises a computing device, and said corresponding specific level of trust for said computing device is for said computing device.

82. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of sources comprises a computing device, and said corresponding specific level of trust for said computing device is assigned to an entity and/or a person for said computing device.

11. An apparatus for use in a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

means for identifying a plurality of wireless transmitting devices from which measurements are obtainable to estimate a location of said mobile device; and

means for selecting a set of wireless transmitting devices from said plurality of wireless transmitting devices based, at least in part, on a location reliability indicator associated, respectively, with at least each wireless transmitting device in said set of wireless transmitting devices, wherein at least one location reliability indicator for at least one wireless transmitting device in said set of wireless transmitting devices is based, at least in part, on a specific level of trust for a source involved in identifying or verifying a location of said at least one wireless transmitting device, and wherein said source is one of a plurality of sources and at least two of said plurality of sources are different types of sources, and each of said plurality of sources is assigned a corresponding specific level of trust.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

means for obtaining said measurements from said set of wireless transmitting devices.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

means for estimating said location of said mobile device based, at least in part, on obtained measurements.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

means for obtaining at least one said location reliability indicator from a network resource.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

means for receiving at least one said location reliability indicator from at least one of said set of wireless transmitting devices or at least one of said plurality of wireless transmitting devices.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

means for prioritizing each of at least a portion of said plurality of wireless transmitting devices based, at least in part, on said respective location reliability indicator.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein at least one said location reliability indicator indicates that location information corresponding to said respective wireless transmitting device is deemed to be more reliable than location information corresponding to at least one other of said plurality of wireless transmitting devices.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein at least one said location reliability indicator indicates that location information corresponding to said respective wireless transmitting device has been verified.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

means for obtaining a location context identifier; and

means for identifying at least said set of wireless transmitting devices based, at least in part, on said location context identifier.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said location context identifier is for a specific region and identifies at least said plurality of wireless transmitting devices from which measurements are obtainable to estimate said location of said mobile device within said specific region.

83. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein at least one of said plurality of sources comprises a computing device, and said corresponding specific level of trust for said computing device is:

(i) for said computing device;

or

(ii) assigned to an entity and/or a person for said computing device.

21. An apparatus for use in a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

a wireless network interface; and

at least one processing unit configured to identify a plurality of wireless transmitting devices from which measurements are obtainable via said wireless network interface to estimate a location of said mobile device, and select a set of wireless transmitting devices from said plurality of wireless transmitting devices based, at least in part, on a location reliability indicator associated, respectively, with at least each wireless transmitting device in said set of wireless transmitting devices, wherein at least one location reliability indicator for at least one wireless transmitting device in said set of wireless transmitting devices is based, at least in part, on a specific level of trust for a source involved in identifying or verifying a location of said at least one wireless transmitting device, and wherein said source is one of a plurality of sources and at least two of said plurality of sources are different types of sources, and each of said plurality of sources is assigned a corresponding specific level of trust.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said at least one processing unit is further configured to obtain said measurements from said set of wireless transmitting devices using said wireless network interface.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein said at least one processing unit is further configured to estimate said location of said mobile device based, at least in part, on the obtained measurements.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said at least one processing unit is further configured to obtain at least one said location reliability indicator from a network resource using said wireless network interface.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said at least one processing unit is further configured to obtain at least one said location reliability indicator from at least one of said set of wireless transmitting devices or at least one of said plurality of wireless transmitting devices using said wireless network interface.

26. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said at least one processing unit is further configured to prioritize each of at least a portion of said plurality of wireless transmitting devices based, at least in part, on said respective location reliability indicator.

27. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein at least one said location reliability indicator indicates that location information corresponding to said respective wireless transmitting device is deemed to be more reliable than location information corresponding to at least one other of said plurality of wireless transmitting devices.

28. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein at least one said location reliability indicator indicates that location information corresponding to said respective wireless transmitting device has been verified.

29. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said at least one processing unit is further configured to obtain a location context identifier using said wireless network interface, and to further identify at least said set of wireless transmitting devices based, at least in part, on said location context identifier.

30. The apparatus as recited in claim 29, wherein said location context identifier is for a specific region and identifies at least said plurality of wireless transmitting devices from which measurements are obtainable to estimate said location of said mobile device within said specific region.

84. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein at least one of said plurality of sources comprises a computing device, and said corresponding specific level of trust for said computing device is:

(i) for said computing device;

or

(ii) assigned to an entity and/or a person for said computing device.

31. An article comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer implementable instructions stored therein that are executable by one or more processing units of a mobile device to;

identify a plurality of wireless transmitting devices from which measurements are obtainable to estimate a location of said mobile device; and

select a set of wireless transmitting devices from said plurality of wireless transmitting devices based, at least in part, on a location reliability indicator associated, respectively, with at least each wireless transmitting device in said set of wireless transmitting devices, wherein at least one location reliability indicator for at least one wireless transmitting device in said set of wireless transmitting devices is based, at least in part, on a specific level of trust for a source involved in identifying or verifying a location of said at least one wireless transmitting device, and wherein said source is one of a plurality of sources and at least two of said plurality of sources are different types of sources, and each of said plurality of sources is assigned a corresponding specific level of trust.

32. The article as recited in claim 31, wherein said computer implementable instructions are further executable by said one or more processing units to:

initiate obtaining said measurements from said set of wireless transmitting devices.

33. The article as recited in claim 32, wherein said computer implementable instructions are further executable by said one or more processing units to:

initiate estimating said location of said mobile device based, at least in part, on the obtained measurements.

34. The article as recited in claim 31, wherein said computer implementable instructions are further executable by said one or more processing units to:

initiate obtaining at least one said location reliability indicator from a network resource.

35. The article as recited in claim 31, wherein said computer implementable instructions are further executable by said one or more processing units to:

initiate obtaining at least one said location reliability indicator from at least one of said set of wireless transmitting devices or at least one of said plurality of wireless transmitting devices.

36. The article as recited in claim 31, wherein said computer implementable instructions are further executable by said one or more processing units to:

prioritize each of at least a portion of said plurality of wireless transmitting devices based, at least in part, on said respective location reliability indicator.

37. The article as recited in claim 31, wherein at least one said location reliability indicator indicates that location information corresponding to said respective wireless transmitting device is deemed to be more reliable than location information corresponding to at least one other of said plurality of wireless transmitting devices.

38. The article as recited in claim 31, wherein at least one said location reliability indicator indicates that location information corresponding to said respective wireless transmitting device has been verified.

39. The article as recited in claim 31, wherein said computer implementable instructions are further executable by said one or more processing units to:

initiate obtaining a location context identifier; and

identify at least said set of wireless transmitting devices based, at least in part, on said location context identifier.

40. The article as recited in claim 39, wherein said location context identifier is for a specific region and identifies at least said plurality of wireless transmitting devices from which measurements are obtainable to estimate said location of said mobile device within said specific region.

85. The article as recited in claim 31, wherein at least one of said plurality of sources comprises a computing device, and said corresponding specific level of trust for said computing device is:

(i) for said computing device;

or

(ii) assigned to an entity and/or a person for said computing device.

41. A method comprising:

with a processing unit, associating at least one wireless transmitting device, from which measurements are obtainable to estimate a location of a mobile device, with a location reliability indicator, said location reliability indicator being based, at least in part, on a specific level of trust for a source involved in identifying or verifying a location of said at least one wireless transmitting device, and wherein said source is one of a plurality of sources and at least two of said plurality of sources are different types of sources, and each of said plurality of sources is assigned a corresponding specific level of trust; and

transmitting, with said mobile device, at least said location reliability indicator.

42. The method as recited in claim 41, wherein transmitting, with said processing unit, at least location reliability indicator comprises transmitting at least said location reliability indicator to at least one other mobile device.

43. The method as recited in claim 41, wherein said location reliability indicator is based, at least in part, on a verification of location information corresponding to said wireless transmitting device.

44. The method as recited in claim 41, wherein said location reliability indicator is selected, with said processing unit, from a set of location reliability indicators comprising at least a first location reliability indicator and a second location reliability indicator, and wherein said first location reliability indicator indicates a higher level of reliability than said second location reliability indicator with regard to location information corresponding to said wireless transmitting device.

45. The method as recited in claim 44, further comprising:

obtaining, with said processing unit, estimated location information for said wireless transmitting device;

determining, with said processing unit, a difference between said location information and said estimated location information; and

selecting, with said processing unit, said location reliability indicator for said wireless transmitting device as either said first location reliability indicator or said second location reliability indicator based, at least in part, on said difference and one or more threshold values.

46. The method as recited in claim 45, wherein said estimated location information is obtained, with said processing unit, based, at least in part, on signal strength information measured from one or more wireless signals transmitted by said wireless transmitting device and received by one or more mobile devices.

47. The method as recited in claim 44, further comprising:

changing, with said processing unit, said location reliability indicator for said wireless transmitting device from said first location reliability indicator to said second location reliability indicator based, at least in part, on a measurement of time following a verification of location information corresponding to said wireless transmitting device.

48. The method as recited in claim 41, further comprising:

associating, with said processing unit, at least said wireless transmitting device with a location context identifier; and

transmitting, with said processing unit, at least said location context identifier.

49. The method as recited in claim 48, wherein said location context identifier is for a specific region and identifies that at least said wireless transmitting device is acceptable for use in estimating said location of said mobile device within said specific region.

50. The method as recited in claim 41, wherein transmitting, with said processing unit, said at least said location reliability indicator further comprises:

transmitting, with said processing unit, said at least said location reliability indicator to at least one of;

said wireless transmitting device, at least one other wireless transmitting device, a wireless access point, a base station, a network resource, and/or said mobile device.

86. The method as recited in claim 41, wherein at least one of said plurality of sources comprises a computing device, and said corresponding specific level of trust for said computing device is:

(i) for said computing device;

or

(ii) assigned to an entity and/or a person for said computing device.

51. An apparatus for use in at least one computing device, the apparatus comprising:

means for associating at least one wireless transmitting device, from which measurements are obtainable to estimate a location of a mobile device, with a location reliability indicator, said location reliability indicator being based, at least in part, on a specific level of trust for a source involved in identifying or verifying a location of said at least one wireless transmitting device, and wherein said source is one of a plurality of sources and at least two of said plurality of sources are different types of sources, and each of said plurality of sources is assigned a corresponding specific level of trust; and

means for transmitting at least said location reliability indicator to at least one other device.

52. The apparatus as recited in claim 51, wherein said at least one other device comprises at least one other mobile device.

53. The apparatus as recited in claim 51, wherein said location reliability indicator is based, at least in part, on a verification of location information corresponding to said wireless transmitting device.

54. The apparatus as recited in claim 51, wherein said location reliability indicator is selected from a set of location reliability indicators comprising at least a first location reliability indicator and a second location reliability indicator, and wherein said first location reliability indicator indicates a higher level of reliability than said second location reliability indicator with regard to location information corresponding to said wireless transmitting device.

55. The apparatus as recited in claim 54, further comprising:

means for obtaining estimated location information for said wireless transmitting device;

means for determining a difference between said location information and said estimated location information; and

means for selecting said location reliability indicator for said wireless transmitting device as either said first location reliability indicator or said second location reliability indicator based, at least in part, on said difference and one or more threshold values.

56. The apparatus as recited in claim 55, wherein said estimated location information is obtained based, at least in part, on signal strength information measured from one or more wireless signals transmitted by said wireless transmitting device and received by one or more mobile devices.

57. The apparatus as recited in claim 54, further comprising:

means for changing said location reliability indicator for said wireless transmitting device from said first location reliability indicator to said second location reliability indicator based, at least in part, on a measurement of time following a verification of location information corresponding to said wireless transmitting device.

58. The apparatus as recited in claim 51, further comprising:

means for associating at least said wireless transmitting device with a location context identifier; and

means for transmitting at least said location context identifier to said at least one other device.

59. The apparatus as recited in claim 58, wherein said location context identifier is for a specific region and identifies that at least said wireless transmitting device is acceptable for use in estimating said location of said mobile device within said specific region.

60. The apparatus as recited in claim 51, wherein said at least one other device comprises at least one of:

said wireless transmitting device, at least one other wireless transmitting device, a wireless access point, a base station, a network resource, and/or said mobile device.

87. The apparatus as recited in claim 51, wherein at least one of said plurality of sources comprises a computing device, and said corresponding specific level of trust for said computing device is:

(i) for said computing device;

or

(ii) assigned to an entity and/or a person for said computing device.

61. An apparatus for use in at least one computing device, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface; and

one or more processing units configured to associate at least one wireless transmitting device, from which measurements are obtainable to estimate a location of a mobile device, with a location reliability indicator, said location reliability indicator being based, at least in part, on a specific level of trust for a source involved in identifying or verifying a location of said at least one wireless transmitting device, and wherein said source is one of a plurality of sources and at least two of said plurality of sources are different types of sources, and each of said plurality of sources is assigned a corresponding specific level of trust; and

initiate transmission of said at least said location reliability indicator to at least one other device via said network interface.

62. The apparatus as recited in claim 61, wherein said at least one other device comprises at least one other mobile device.

63. The apparatus as recited in claim 61, wherein said location reliability indicator is based, at least in part, on a verification of location information corresponding to said wireless transmitting device.

64. The apparatus as recited in claim 61, wherein said one or more processing units is further configured to select said location reliability indicator from a set of location reliability indicators comprising at least a first location reliability indicator and a second location reliability indicator, and wherein said first location reliability indicator indicates a higher level of reliability than said second location reliability indicator with regard to location information corresponding to said wireless transmitting device.

65. The apparatus as recited in claim 64, wherein said one or more processing units is further configured to:

obtain estimated location information for said wireless transmitting device;

determine a difference between said location information and said estimated location information; and

select said location reliability indicator for said wireless transmitting device as either said first location reliability indicator or said second location reliability indicator based, at least in part, on said difference and one or more threshold values.

66. The apparatus as recited in claim 65, wherein said estimated location information is obtained based, at least in part, on signal strength information measured from one or more wireless signals transmitted by said wireless transmitting device and received by one or more mobile devices.

67. The apparatus as recited in claim 64, wherein said one or more processing units is further configured to change said location reliability indicator for said wireless transmitting device from said first location reliability indicator to said second location reliability indicator based, at least in part, on a measurement of time following a verification of location information corresponding to said wireless transmitting device.

68. The apparatus as recited in claim 61, wherein said one or more processing units is further configured to:

associate at least said wireless transmitting device with a location context identifier; and

initiate transmission of at least said location context identifier to said at least one other device via said network interface.

69. The apparatus as recited in claim 68, wherein said location context identifier is for a specific region and identifies that at least said wireless transmitting device is acceptable for use in estimating said location of said mobile device within said specific region.

70. The apparatus as recited in claim 61, wherein said at least one other device comprises at least one of:

said wireless transmitting device, at least one other wireless transmitting device, a wireless access point, a base station, a network resource, and/or said mobile device.

88. The apparatus as recited in claim 61, wherein at least one of said plurality of sources comprises a computing device, and said corresponding specific level of trust for said computing device is:

(i) for said computing device;

or

(ii) assigned to an entity and/or a person for said computing device.

71. An article comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer implementable instructions stored therein that are executable by one or more processing units of a computing device to;

associate at least one wireless transmitting device, from which measurements are obtainable to estimate a location of a mobile device, with a location reliability indicator, said location reliability indicator being based, at least in part, on a specific level of trust for a source involved in identifying or verifying a location of said at least one wireless transmitting device, and wherein said source is one of a plurality of sources and at least two of said plurality of sources are different types of sources, and each of said plurality of sources is assigned a corresponding specific level of trust; and

initiate transmission of at least said location reliability indicator to at least one other device.

72. The article as recited in claim 71, wherein said at least one other device comprises at least one other mobile device.

73. The article as recited in claim 71, wherein said location reliability indicator is based, at least in part, on a verification of location information corresponding to said wireless transmitting device.

74. The article as recited in claim 71, wherein said location reliability indicator is selected from a set of location reliability indicators comprising at least a first location reliability indicator and a second location reliability indicator, and wherein said first location reliability indicator indicates a higher level of reliability than said second location reliability indicator with regard to location information corresponding to said wireless transmitting device.

75. The article as recited in claim 74, wherein said computer implementable instructions are further executable by said one or more processing units to:

obtain estimated location information for said wireless transmitting device;

determine a difference between said location information and said estimated location information; and

select said location reliability indicator for said wireless transmitting device as either said first location reliability indicator or said second location reliability indicator based, at least in part, on said difference and one or more threshold values.

76. The article as recited in claim 75, wherein said estimated location information is obtained based, at least in part, on signal strength information measured from one or more wireless signals transmitted by said wireless transmitting device and received by one or more mobile devices.

77. The article as recited in claim 74, wherein said computer implementable instructions are further executable by said one or more processing units to:

change said location reliability indicator for said wireless transmitting device from said first location reliability indicator to said second location reliability indicator based, at least in part, on a measurement of time following a verification of location information corresponding to said wireless transmitting device.

78. The article as recited in claim 71, wherein said computer implementable instructions are further executable by said one or more processing units to:

associate at least said wireless transmitting device with a location context identifier; and

initiate transmission of at least said location context identifier to said at least one other device.

79. The article as recited in claim 78, wherein said location context identifier is for a specific region and identifies that at least said wireless transmitting device is acceptable for use in estimating said location of said mobile device within said specific region.

80. The article as recited in claim 71, wherein said at least one other device comprises at least one of:

said wireless transmitting device, at least one other wireless transmitting device, a wireless access point, a base station, a network resource, and/or said mobile device.

89. The article as recited in claim 71, wherein at least one of said plurality of sources comprises a computing device, and said corresponding specific level of trust for said computing device is:

(i) for said computing device;

or

(ii) assigned to an entity and/or a person for said computing device.