Method and apparatus for determining location using a hybrid solution

• US 8,779,970 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2012
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Yeshayahu, Yerachmiel, Greenberg, Shimeon
• Primary Examiner(s): LIU, HARRY K
• Application Number:
  US13/397,851
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.29
• US Class Current: 342/357.29
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0263 by combining or switching between positions derived from two or more separate positioning systems

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for identifying an estimated location of a mobile device. A first wireless communication signal of a first type is received, and a second wireless communication signal of a second type is received, the second type differing from the first type. A first candidate location of the mobile device and a first accuracy metric are determined based on the first wireless communication signal, and a second candidate location of the mobile device and a second accuracy metric are determined based on the second wireless communication signal. An estimated location of the mobile device is determined based on the first candidate location, the first accuracy metric, the second candidate location, and the second accuracy metric.

Claims

1. A method of identifying an estimated location of a mobile device, comprising:

receiving a first wireless communication signal of a first type;

receiving a second wireless communication signal of a second type, the second type differing from the first type;

determining a first candidate location of the mobile device and a first accuracy metric based on a signal strength of the first wireless communication signal;

determining a second candidate location of the mobile device and a second accuracy metric based on the second wireless communication signal, the second accuracy metric being of a different type from the first accuracy metric, where the second accuracy metric is associated with a feature of the second wireless communication signal other than signal strength;

normalizing the first accuracy metric that is based on signal strength of the first wireless communication signal with the second accuracy metric of the different type from the first accuracy metric; and

determining an estimated location of the mobile device based on the first candidate location, the normalized first accuracy metric, the second candidate location, and the normalized second accuracy metric, the estimated location being determined using a weighted average of the first candidate location and the second candidate location, where weights of the weighted average are based on the normalized first accuracy metric and the normalized second accuracy metric.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the estimated location is calculated based on a sum of:

a product of the first candidate location and a first weight; and

a product of the second candidate location and a second weight.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication signal is a global positioning system signal, a cellular telephone system signal, a digital television signal, or a Wi-Fi (802.11) signal, and wherein the second wireless communication signal is a global positioning system signal, a cellular telephone system signal, a digital television signal, or a Wi-Fi (802.11) signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication signal is a cellular telephone system signal, wherein determining the first candidate location of the mobile device comprises using a plurality of wireless communication signals of the cellular telephone system, wherein the first accuracy metric is determined based on signal strengths associated with the plurality of wireless communication signals of the cellular telephone system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication signal is a digital television signal, wherein determining the first candidate location of the mobile device comprises using a difference between a time stamp of the digital television signal and a time of a reference clock, wherein the first accuracy metric is determined based on a signal strength associated with the digital television signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication signal is a Wi-Fi signal, wherein the first candidate location of the mobile device is determined based on a connection of the mobile device to a Wife hotspot of known location, wherein determining the first accuracy metric is performed based on a signal strength associated with the connection of the mobile device to the Wi-Fi hotspot.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the estimated location is performed at the wireless device or at another device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating a third accuracy metric based on the estimated location, wherein the third accuracy metric identifies an improved accuracy of the estimated location over the first candidate location and the second candidate location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the estimated location is performed based on more than two received wireless communication signals of different types.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a second estimated location of the mobile device;

determining a distance between the first estimated location and the second estimated location; and

generating a third estimated location of the mobile device using only of the first wireless communication signal and the second wireless communication signal when the determined distance is less than a threshold distance.

11. A system for identifying an estimated location of a mobile device, comprising:

a first receiver configured to receive a first wireless communication signal of a first type;

a second receiver configured to receive a second wireless communication signal of a second type, the second type differing from the first type;

a processor configured to;

determine a first candidate location of the mobile device and a first accuracy metric based on a signal strength of the first wireless communication signal;

determine a second candidate location of the mobile device and a second accuracy metric based on the second wireless communication signal, the second accuracy metric being of a different type from the first accuracy metric, where the second accuracy metric is associated with a feature of the second wireless communication signal other than signal strength;

normalize the first accuracy metric that is based on the signal strength of the first wireless communication signal with the second accuracy metric of the different type from the first accuracy metric; and

determine an estimated location of the mobile device based on the first candidate location, the normalized first accuracy metric, the second candidate location, and the normalized second accuracy metric, the estimated location being determined using a weighted average of the first candidate location and the second candidate location, where weights of the weighted average are based on the normalized first accuracy metric and the normalized second accuracy metric.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first receiver is a global positioning system receiver, a cellular telephone system receiver, a digital television receiver, or a Wi-Fi (802.11) receiver, and wherein the second receiver is a global positioning system receiver, a cellular telephone receiver signal, a digital television receiver, or a Wi-Fi (802.11) receiver.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit the estimated location of the mobile device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to calculate a third accuracy metric based on the estimated location, wherein the third accuracy metric identifies an improved accuracy of the estimated location over the first candidate location and the second candidate location, and wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the third accuracy metric.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the estimated location is calculated based on a sum of:

a product of the first candidate location and a first weight; and

a product of the second candidate location and a second weight.

16. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions for commanding one or more data processors to execute a method of identifying an estimated location of a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving a first wireless communication signal of a first type;

receiving a second wireless communication signal of a second type, the second type differing from the first type;

determining a first candidate location of the mobile device and a first accuracy metric based on a signal strength of the first wireless communication signal;

determining a second candidate location of the mobile device and a second accuracy metric based on the second wireless communication signal, the second accuracy metric being of a different type from the first accuracy metric, where the second accuracy metric is associated with a feature of the second wireless communication signal other than signal strength;

normalizing the first accuracy metric that is based on signal strength of the first wireless communication signal with the second accuracy metric of the different type from the first accuracy metric; and

determining an estimated location of the mobile device based on the first candidate location, the normalized first accuracy metric, the second candidate location, and the normalized second accuracy metric, the estimated location being determined using a weighted average of the first candidate location and the second candidate location, where weights of the weighted average are based on the normalized first accuracy metric and the normalized second accuracy metric.