User localization using friend location information

• US 8,909,709 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2013
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Zang, Hui, Bali, Soshant, Reuther, Phyllis Joan
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Liangche A
• Application Number:
  US14/086,035
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/205, 709/217, 709/218
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/00 Speaker identification or verification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/04 Training, enrolment or model building
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/14 Use of phonemic categorisation or speech recognition prior to speaker recognition or verification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location where the service is an information service H04M2242/15; services independent of location H04M3/42229
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4936 Speech interaction details speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing

Abstract

A method, system, and medium are provided for refining an estimated location of a user using an accurate location associated with a friend of the user. A location of the user is estimated with a first level of accuracy, and the friend of the user is identified. A location of the friend is determined with a level of accuracy greater than that of the user'"'"'s location. A probability that the user is near the friend is determined, and when the probability exceeds a predetermined threshold, the friend'"'"'s location is used to refine the user'"'"'s location.

Claims

1. Computer-storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, enable a computing device to perform a method of refining an estimated location for a user using an accurate location associated with a friend of the user, the method comprising:

estimating a location of the user, wherein the location of the user has a first level of accuracy;

identifying the friend of the user;

determining a location of the friend, wherein the location of the friend has a level of accuracy greater than that of the location of the user;

determining a probability that the user is near the friend; and

when the probability exceeds a predetermined threshold, utilizing the location of the friend to refine the location of the user.

2. The media of claim 1, wherein the location of the user is used to accept or reject the location of the friend.

3. The media of claim 1, wherein the probability is time dependent.

4. The media of claim 1, wherein the location of the friend is used to refine the location of the user when the probability that the user is near the friend is high.

5. A computerized method carried out by at least one server having at least one processor for refining an estimated location for a user using an accurate location associated with a friend of the user, the method comprising:

estimating a location of the user, wherein the location of the user has a first level of accuracy;

identifying the friend of the user;

determining a location of the friend, wherein the location of the friend has a level of accuracy greater than that of the location of the user;

determining, using that at least one processor, a probability that the user is near the friend; and

when the probability exceeds a predetermined threshold, utilizing the location of the friend to refine the location of the user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the location of the user is used to accept or reject the location of the friend.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the probability is time dependent.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the location of the friend is used to refine the location of the user when the probability that the user is near the friend is high.

9. A system for refining an estimated location for a user using an accurate location associated with a friend of the user, the system comprising:

a computing device having one or more processors and one or more computer-readable media; and

a data store coupled with the computing device,

wherein the computing device;

estimates a location of the user, wherein the location of the user has a first level of accuracy;

identifies the friend of the user;

determines a location of the friend, wherein the location of the friend has a level of accuracy greater than that of the location of the user;

determines a probability that the user is near the friend; and

when the probability exceeds a predetermined threshold, utilizes the location of the friend to refine the location of the user.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the location of the user is used to accept or reject the location of the friend.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the probability is time dependent.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the location of the friend is used to refine the location of the user when the probability that the user is near the friend is high.