Method and system for exchanging data

• US 8,818,721 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2011
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Hamilton, Jeffrey A., Jones, Edward F., Cameron, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAIGE, TYLER D
• Application Number:
  US13/149,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20120310529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 701/208, 455/457
• US Class Current: 701/500
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3893 Transmission of map data from distributed sources, e.g. from roadside stations

Abstract

A system for exchanging data. A first mobile device configured to generate a first set of data related to a plurality of geographic positions where the first mobile device has been located and configured to exchange the first set of data with a second mobile device wherein the first mobile device receives a second set of data related to a plurality of geographic positions where the second mobile device has been located. A mapping system configured to receive the first set of data and the second set of data and to generate a map based on the first set of data and the second set of data.

Claims

1. A system for exchanging data:

a first mobile device configured to generate a first set of data related to a plurality of geographic positions where said first mobile device has been located and configured to exchange said first set of data with a second mobile device wherein said first mobile device receives a second set of data related to a plurality of geographic positions where said second mobile device has been located; and

a mapping system configured to receive said first set of data and said second set of data from said first mobile device and to generate a map of space and objects around said first mobile device and said second mobile device based on said first set of data and said second set of data.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first wireless router coupled with said first mobile device for forwarding said first set of data to said mapping system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said mapping system is a wireless router fixed in a geographical position coupled with a memory and a process.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said first mobile device automatically exchanges data with said second mobile device when said first mobile device is physically proximate to said second mobile device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said first mobile device forms a temporary pico-net with said second mobile device.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said first mobile device forms a temporary macro-net with said second mobile device and a plurality of other devices.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said first mobile device forms a temporary personal area network with said second mobile device.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said map is of an outdoor area.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said map is an interior map of a building.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said mapping system communicates with a plurality of mobile devices.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said mapping system makes inferences of characteristics of an interior of a building based on a measurement of signal strength of said plurality of mobile devices.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said mapping system makes inferences about movements of people in an interior of a building based on said first set of data and said second set of data.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said first mobile device is further configured to generate environmental data related to environmental conditions and exchange said environmental data with said second mobile device and said mapping system.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said first mobile device makes geographical position data and environmental data available to a user to perform reality searches.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said first mobile device employs a radio frequency identity for exchanging data.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said first mobile device employs a wireless communication protocol for exchanging data.

17. A method for exchanging data:

generating a first set of data at a first mobile device wherein said first set of data is related to a plurality of geographic positions where said first mobile device has been located;

wirelessly receiving a second set of data at said first mobile device wherein said second set of data is related to a plurality of geographic positions where said second mobile device has been located; and

wirelessly transmitting said first set of data and said second set of data from said first mobile device to a mapping system such that said first set of data and said second set of data is used to create a map of space and objects around said first mobile device and said second mobile device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said receiving said second set of data occurs automatically when said first mobile device is in physical proximity to said second mobile device.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said transmitting said first set of data and said second set of data occurs automatically when said first mobile device is in range of said mapping system.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said generating said first set of data comprises environment data related to environmental conditions.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

making geographical position data and environmental data available to a user to perform reality searches.

22. A method for exchanging data:

receiving a first set of data and a second set of data from a first mobile device at a mapping system wherein said first set of data comprises data related to geographical positions of said first mobile device and said second set of data comprises data related to geographical positions of a second mobile device; and

generating a map of space and objects around said first mobile device and said second mobile device at said mapping system based on said first set of data and said second set of data.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

inferring movements of people based on said first set of data and said second set of data.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

inferring characteristics of a building based on a measurement of a signal strength of said receiving said first set of data and said second set of data from said first mobile device.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein said generating said map further comprises generating an interior map of a building.

26. A computer-usable storage medium having instructions embodied therein that when executed cause a computer system to perform a method for exchanging data, said method comprising:

generating a first set of data at a first mobile device wherein said first set of data is related to a plurality of geographic positions where said first mobile device has been located;

wirelessly receiving a second set of data at said first mobile device wherein said second set of data is related to a plurality of geographic positions where said second mobile device has been located; and

wirelessly transmitting said first set of data and said second set of data from said first mobile device to a mapping system such that said first set of data and said second set of data is used to create a map of space and objects around said first mobile device and said second mobile device.

27. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 26 wherein said receiving said second set of data occurs automatically when said first mobile device is in physical proximity to said second mobile device.

28. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 26 wherein said transmitting said first set of data and said second set of data occurs automatically when said first mobile device is in range of said mapping system.

29. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 26 wherein said generating said first set of data comprises environment data related to environmental conditions.

30. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 29 further comprising:

making geographical position data and environmental data available to a user to perform reality searches.

31. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions embodied therein that when executed cause a computer system to perform a method for exchanging data, said method comprising:

receiving a first set of data and a second set of data from a first mobile device at a mapping system wherein said first set of data comprises data related to geographical positions of said first mobile device and said second set of data comprises data related to geographical positions of a second mobile device; and

generating a map of space and objects around said first mobile device and said second mobile device at said mapping system based on said first set of data and said second set of data.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, further comprising:

inferring movements of people based on said first set of data and said second set of data.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, further comprising:

inferring characteristics of a building based on a measurement of a signal strength of said receiving said first set of data and said second set of data from said first mobile device.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 31 wherein said generating said map further comprises generating an interior map of a building.

35. A method for exchanging data:

receiving a first transmission from a first mobile transceiver at a control station;

measuring a signal strength of said first transmission at said control station;

determining a geographical location of said first mobile transceiver based on said signal strength; and

generating a map of space and objects around said first mobile transceiver based on said geographical location of said first mobile transceiver.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising:

receiving a second transmission from a second mobile transceiver at said control station wherein said second transmission comprises a second signal strength measurement of a transmission from said first mobile transceiver to said second mobile transceiver; and

wherein said generating said map is further based on said second signal strength measurement.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein said first mobile transceiver, said second mobile transceiver and said control station form a data network.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein control station establishes a common time base with said first mobile transceiver.

39. The method of claim 35 wherein said first transmission is time stamped.

40. The method of claim 35 wherein said generating said map is further based on inferences regarding a plurality of geographical locations where said first mobile transceiver has been located and where said first mobile transceiver has not been located.

41. The method of claim 35 wherein said first transmission is transmitted using a radio frequency.

42. The method of claim 35 wherein said first transmission is transmitted using a protocol selected from the list of protocols consisting of:

Wi-Fi™

, Bluetooth™ and

Zigbee™

.

43. The method of claim 35 further comprising:

updating said map in real time.

44. The method of claim 35 further comprising:

wherein said first transmission comprises video data; and

wherein said determining said geographical location of said first mobile transceiver is based on said video data.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising:

identifying a potential life form at said control station using said video data.

46. The method of claim 44 further comprising:

receiving a radio frequency identity of an object at said control station;

wherein said video data of said first transmission comprises video data of said object; and

identifying a mismatch between said radio frequency identity of said object and said video data of said object.

47. The method of claim 46 further comprising:

alerting a user regarding said mismatch.

48. A method for exchanging data:

receiving a plurality of transmissions from a plurality of mobile transceivers at a control station;

measuring a signal strength for each of said plurality of transmissions at said control station;

determining a geographical location of each of said plurality of mobile transceivers based on said signal strength; and

generating a map of space and objects around said plurality of mobile transceivers based on said geographical location of said first mobile transceiver.

49. A system for exchanging data:

a control station configured to receive a plurality of transmissions from a plurality of mobile transceivers, to determine a geographic location of a first mobile transceiver based on a signal strength of a first transmission from said first mobile transceiver and generate a map of space and objects around said plurality of mobile transceivers based on inferences made regarding the geographic location of said first mobile receiver.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein said plurality of transmissions from said plurality of mobile transceivers have data regarding a plurality of signal strengths received at each of said plurality of mobile devices regarding said first transmission of said first mobile receiver and further configured to determine a path of geographic locations of said first mobile transceiver.

51. The system of claim 49 further comprising:

said first mobile transceiver configured to form a data network with said control station and said plurality of mobile transceivers and wherein said first mobile transceiver is configured to receive a second transmission from a second mobile transceiver and generate signal strength data related to said second transmission and transmit said signal strength data to said control station.

52. A method for exchanging data:

receiving a first set of data and a second set of data from a first mobile device at a mapping system wherein said first set of data comprises data related to geographical positions of said first mobile device located at a construction site and said second set of data comprises data related to geographical positions of a second mobile device located at said construction site; and

generating a map of said construction site at said mapping system based on said first set of data and said second set of data wherein said map is of a partially constructed building.

53. The method of claim 52 further comprising:

updating said map of said partially constructed building based on an additional set of data.

54. The method of claim 52 further comprising:

generating an alert regarding an exclusion area associated said construction site.