Wide area positioning system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A positioning system comprising at least one processor that:
- determines a reference pressure estimate associated with a position of a mobile device, wherein the reference pressure estimate is based on reference data from one or more reference sensor units that are positioned at respective known locations; and
determines an estimated elevation of the mobile device using the reference pressure estimate and atmospheric data collected by an atmospheric sensor of the mobile device,wherein the reference pressure estimate is generated based on a calculation using a first reference elevation pressure and a second reference elevation pressure, wherein the first reference elevation pressure is based on pressure and temperature measurements at a first location of a first reference sensor unit in addition to an elevation of the first reference sensor unit, and wherein the second reference elevation pressure is based on pressure and temperature measurements at a second location of a second reference sensor unit in addition to an elevation of the second reference sensor unit.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for estimating a height of a mobile device are described. A reference pressure estimate is generated using atmospheric data from one or more reference locations. Various approaches for determining the reference pressure estimate are described. The reference pressure estimate is used, along with a pressure measurement at a position of a mobile device, to estimate the height of the mobile device.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A positioning system comprising at least one processor that:
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determines a reference pressure estimate associated with a position of a mobile device, wherein the reference pressure estimate is based on reference data from one or more reference sensor units that are positioned at respective known locations; and determines an estimated elevation of the mobile device using the reference pressure estimate and atmospheric data collected by an atmospheric sensor of the mobile device, wherein the reference pressure estimate is generated based on a calculation using a first reference elevation pressure and a second reference elevation pressure, wherein the first reference elevation pressure is based on pressure and temperature measurements at a first location of a first reference sensor unit in addition to an elevation of the first reference sensor unit, and wherein the second reference elevation pressure is based on pressure and temperature measurements at a second location of a second reference sensor unit in addition to an elevation of the second reference sensor unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A positioning system comprising at least one processor that:
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determines a reference pressure estimate associated with a position of a mobile device, wherein the reference pressure estimate is based on reference data from one or more reference sensor units that are positioned at respective known locations; determines when the position of the mobile device is approximately at a known position; after determining that the position of the mobile device is approximately at the known position, determines an estimated elevation of the mobile device using the reference pressure estimate and atmospheric data collected by an atmospheric sensor of the mobile device; and determines a difference between the estimated elevation and a known height of the known position. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A positioning system comprising at least one processor that:
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determines a reference pressure estimate associated with a position of a mobile device, wherein the reference pressure estimate is based on reference data from one or more reference sensor units that are positioned at respective known locations; determines an estimated elevation of the mobile device using the reference pressure estimate and atmospheric data collected by an atmospheric sensor of the mobile device; and determines based on satellite signals, an estimated amount of drift associated with the atmospheric sensor.
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11. A positioning system comprising at least one processor that:
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determines a reference pressure estimate associated with a position of a mobile device, wherein the reference pressure estimate is based on reference data from one or more reference sensor units that are positioned at respective known locations; determines an estimated elevation of the mobile device using the reference pressure estimate and atmospheric data collected by an atmospheric sensor of the mobile device; identifies a first set of estimated elevations that are within a threshold difference in elevation from each other, wherein the first set of estimated elevations are associated with a first set of positions of one or more mobile devices; and determines, based on the first set of estimated elevations, a first estimated elevation of a first floor in a structure. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A positioning system comprising at least one processor that:
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determines a reference pressure estimate associated with a position of a mobile device, wherein the reference pressure estimate is based on reference data from one or more reference sensor units that are positioned at respective known locations; determines an estimated elevation of the mobile device using the reference pressure estimate and atmospheric data collected by an atmospheric sensor of the mobile device; and calibrates the atmospheric sensor of the mobile device, wherein the atmospheric sensor is calibrated using aggregated reference data over a time period, or wherein the atmospheric sensor is calibrated when a n elevation and atmospheric pressure at the position of the mobile device is known. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A positioning system, wherein the system comprises:
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a database that includes historical reference data of one or more reference sensor units and historical atmospheric data collected by a plurality of mobile devices; and at least one processor that; determines a reference pressure estimate associated with a position of a mobile device, wherein the reference pressure estimate is based on reference data from one or more reference sensor units that are positioned at respective known locations; and determines an estimated elevation of the mobile device using the reference pressure estimate and atmospheric data collected by an atmospheric sensor of the mobile device.
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17. A computer-implemented method for estimating an elevation of a mobile device, the method comprising:
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determining a reference pressure estimate associated with a position of a mobile device, wherein the reference pressure estimate is based on reference data from one or more reference sensor units that are positioned at respective known locations; and determining an estimated elevation of the mobile device using the reference pressure estimate and atmospheric data collected by an atmospheric sensor of the mobile device, wherein the reference pressure estimate is determined based on a calculation using a first reference elevation pressure and a second reference elevation pressure, wherein the first reference elevation pressure is based on pressure and temperature measurements at a first location of a first reference sensor unit in addition to an elevation of the first reference sensor unit, and wherein the second reference elevation pressure is based on pressure and temperature measurements at a second location of a second reference sensor unit in addition to an elevation of the second reference sensor unit. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A computer-implemented method for estimating an elevation of a mobile device, the method comprising:
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determining a reference pressure estimate associated with a position of a mobile device, wherein the reference pressure estimate is based on reference data from one or more reference sensor units that are positioned at respective known locations; determining when the position of the mobile device is approximately at a known position; after determining that the position of the mobile device is approximately at the known position, determining an estimated elevation of the mobile device using the reference pressure estimate and atmospheric data collected by an atmospheric sensor of the mobile device; and determining a difference between the estimated elevation and a known height of the known position. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A computer-implemented method for estimating an elevation of a mobile device, the method comprising:
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determining a reference pressure estimate associated with a position of a mobile device, wherein the reference pressure estimate is based on reference data from one or more reference sensor units that are positioned at respective known locations; determining an estimated elevation of the mobile device using the reference pressure estimate and atmospheric data collected by an atmospheric sensor of the mobile device; and determining, based on satellite signals, an estimated amount of drift associated with the atmospheric sensor.
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27. A computer-implemented method for estimating an elevation of a mobile device, the method comprising:
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determining a reference pressure estimate associated with a position of a mobile device, wherein the reference pressure estimate is based on reference data from one or more reference sensor units that are positioned at respective known locations; determining an estimated elevation of the mobile device using the reference pressure estimate and atmospheric data collected by an atmospheric sensor of the mobile device; identifying a first set of estimated elevations that are within a threshold difference in elevation from each other, wherein the first set of estimated elevations are associated with a first set of positions of one or more mobile devices; and determining, based on the first set of estimated elevations, a first estimated elevation of a first floor in a structure. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A computer-implemented method for estimating an elevation of a mobile device, the method comprising:
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determining a reference pressure estimate associated with a position of a mobile device, wherein the reference pressure estimate is based on reference data from one or more reference sensor units that are positioned at respective known locations; determining an estimated elevation of the mobile device using the reference pressure estimate and atmospheric data collected by an atmospheric sensor of the mobile device; and calibrating the atmospheric sensor of the mobile device, wherein the atmospheric sensor is calibrated using aggregated reference data over a specified time period, or wherein the atmospheric sensor is calibrated when an elevation and atmospheric pressure at the position of the mobile device is known. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media embodying program instructions adapted to be executed to implement a method for estimating an elevation of a mobile device, the method comprising:
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determining a reference pressure estimate associated with a position of a mobile device, wherein the reference pressure estimate is based on reference data from one or more reference sensor units that are positioned at respective known locations; and determining an estimated elevation of the mobile device using the reference pressure estimate and atmospheric data collected by an atmospheric sensor of the mobile device, wherein the reference pressure estimate is determined based on a calculation using a first reference elevation pressure and a second reference elevation pressure, wherein the first reference elevation pressure is based on pressure and temperature measurements at a first location of a first reference sensor unit in addition to an elevation of the first reference sensor unit, and wherein the second reference elevation pressure is based on pressure and temperature measurements at a second location of a second reference sensor unit in addition to an elevation of the second reference sensor unit. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media embodying program instructions adapted to be executed to implement a method for estimating an elevation of a mobile device, the method comprising:
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determining a reference pressure estimate associated with a position of a mobile device, wherein the reference pressure estimate is based on reference data from one or more reference sensor units that are positioned at respective known locations; determining when the position of the mobile device is approximately at a known position; after determining that the position of the mobile device is approximately at the known position, determining an estimated elevation of the mobile device using the reference pressure estimate and atmospheric data collected by an atmospheric sensor of the mobile device; and determining a difference between the estimated elevation and a known height of known the position. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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41. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media embodying program instructions adapted to be executed to implement a method for estimating an elevation of a mobile device, the method comprising:
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determining a reference pressure estimate associated with a position of a mobile device, wherein the reference pressure estimate is based on reference data from one or more reference sensor units that are positioned at respective known locations; determining an estimated elevation of the mobile device using the reference pressure estimate and atmospheric data collected by an atmospheric sensor of the mobile device; and determining, based on satellite signals, an estimated amount of drift associated with the atmospheric sensor.
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42. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media embodying program instructions adapted to be executed to implement a method for estimating an elevation of a mobile device, the method comprising:
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determining a reference pressure estimate associated with a position of a mobile device, wherein the reference pressure estimate is based on reference data from one or more reference sensor units that are positioned at respective known locations; determining an estimated elevation of the mobile device using the reference pressure estimate and atmospheric data collected by an atmospheric sensor of the mobile device; identifying a first set of estimated elevations that are within a threshold difference in elevation from each other, wherein the first set of estimated elevations are associated with a first set of positions of one or more mobile devices; and determining, based on the first set of estimated elevations, an estimated elevation of a first floor in a structure. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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44. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media embodying program instructions adapted to be executed to implement a method for estimating an elevation of a mobile device, the method comprising:
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determining a reference pressure estimate associated with a position of a mobile device, wherein the reference pressure estimate is based on reference data from one or more reference sensor units that are positioned at respective known locations; determining an estimated elevation of the mobile device using the reference pressure estimate and atmospheric data collected by an atmospheric sensor of the mobile device; and calibrating the atmospheric sensor of the mobile device, wherein the atmospheric sensor is calibrated using aggregated reference data over a specified time period, or wherein the atmospheric sensor is calibrated when an elevation and atmospheric pressure at the position of the mobile device is known. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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Specification