Monitoring a location fingerprint database

• US 9,002,373 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2012
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Marti, Lukas M., Ma, Shannon M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sarwar, Babar
• Application Number:
  US13/715,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20140171100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/456.1, 455/456.6, 455/457, 455/556.2, 455/421, 455/420, 455/435.2, 370/328, 370/338, 370/331, 370/332
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0242 Determining the position of transmitters to be subsequently used in positioning G01S5/0289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0249 Determining position using measurements made by a non-stationary device other than the device whose position is being determined
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02524 Creating or updating the radio-map
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

Methods, program products, and systems for monitoring a location fingerprint database are described. A location fingerprint database can store location data associated with multiple signal sources. A mobile device can use signals of the signal sources and the location data to determine a current location. A location server can monitor the location fingerprint database, including detecting if any one of the signal sources has moved or otherwise becomes unsuitable for location determination. The location server can prevent location data associated with the unsuitable signal source from being used by the mobile device to determine the current location of the mobile device

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a server and from a mobile device, an identifier of a signal source and a device location, the device location being a location at which the mobile device detected a signal of the signal source, the device location being determined independently of the signal source;

determining, by the server, that the identifier of the signal source is stored in a location fingerprint database and in association with a signal source location, the signal source and the signal source location usable for determining an estimated location of a pedestrian located at a venue, the venue comprising a space accessible by the pedestrian and one or more constraints of movements of the pedestrian;

determining, by the server and based on the received device location, a calculated location of the signal source;

determining, by the server, that a distance between the calculated location of the signal source and the signal source location stored in the location fingerprint database exceeds a reliability threshold;

upon determining that the distance exceeds the reliability threshold, modifying the location fingerprint database, including modifying the signal source location stored in the location fingerprint database;

determining, by the server, that a distance between the updated signal source location and a second venue satisfies a fingerprint threshold where the signal source is usable for determining an estimated location of a second pedestrian located at the second venue; and

in response, submitting, by the server and to one or more sampling devices, a request for conducting a fingerprint survey at the second venue to generate one or more measurements of the second venue, the one or more measurements usable by the server to determine a location fingerprint of the second venue,

wherein the server comprises one or more computers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal source comprises a wireless access point, where a signal of the signal source is detectable by the mobile device when the mobile device is located within a reach of the wireless access point, the reach comprising a detected or estimated communication range of the wireless access point.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the reliability threshold corresponds to the reach of the wireless access point.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the calculated location of the signal source comprises at least one of:

designating the device location as the calculated location, or

receiving a second device location from another mobile device, and determining the calculated location based on the received device locations using a probability density function.

5. The method claim 1, wherein:

changing the procedure of using the signal source for determining the estimated location comprises preventing the signal source from being used for determining the estimated location of the pedestrian, and

changing the data stored in the location fingerprint database comprises labeling the signal source, removing information on the signal source, or adjusting a weight of the signal source in determining the estimated location of the pedestrian.

6. The method of claim 1,

wherein conducing the fingerprint survey comprises:

determining a measurement of a signal from the signal source detected by each sampling device at each of a plurality of locations at the second venue; and

submitting, by the sampling device and to the server, each measurement and each corresponding location.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising, determining, by the server, the location fingerprint of the second venue based on the measurements and corresponding locations received from the one or more sampling devices, wherein the measurements comprise at least one of a received signal strength indication (RSSI), a round-trip time, a magnetic field strength, a temperature, a sound level, or an air pressure level.

8. A system comprising:

a server including one or more computer processors;

a non-transitory storage device storing instructions operable to cause the server to perform operations comprising;

receiving, from a mobile device, an identifier of a signal source and a device location, the device location being a location at which the mobile device detected a signal of the signal source, the device location being determined independently of the signal source;

determining that the identifier of the signal source is stored in a location fingerprint database and in association with a signal source location, the signal source and the signal source location usable for determining an estimated location of a pedestrian located at a venue, the venue comprising a space accessible by the pedestrian and one or more constraints of movements of the pedestrian;

determining, based on the received device location, a calculated location of the signal source;

determining that a distance between the calculated location of the signal source and the signal source location stored in the location fingerprint database exceeds a reliability threshold;

upon determining that the distance exceeds the reliability threshold, modifying the location fingerprint database, including modifying the signal source location stored in the location fingerprint database;

determining, by the server, that a distance between the updated signal source location and a second venue satisfies a fingerprint threshold where the signal source is usable for determining an estimated location of a second pedestrian located at the second venue; and

in response, submitting, by the server and to one or more sampling devices, a request for conducting a fingerprint survey at the second venue to generate one or more measurements of the second venue, the one or more measurements usable by the server to determine a location fingerprint of the second venue.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the signal source comprises a wireless access point, where a signal of the signal source is detectable by the mobile device when the mobile device is located within a reach of the wireless access point, the reach comprising a detected or estimated communication range of the wireless access point.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the reliability threshold corresponds to the reach of the wireless access point.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein determining the calculated location of the signal source comprises at least one of:

designating the device location as the calculated location, or

receiving a second device location from another mobile device, and determining the calculated location based on the received device locations using a probability density function.

12. The system claim 8, wherein:

changing the procedure of using the signal source for determining the estimated location comprises preventing the signal source from being used for determining the estimated location of the pedestrian, and

changing the data stored in the location fingerprint database comprises labeling the signal source, removing information on the signal source, or adjusting a weight of the signal source in determining the estimated location of the pedestrian.

13. The system of claim 8,

wherein conducing the fingerprint survey comprises:

determining a measurement of a signal from the signal source detected by each sampling device at each of a plurality of locations at the second venue; and

submitting, by the sampling device and to the server, each measurement and each corresponding location.

14. The system of claim 13, the operations comprising, determining, by the server, the location fingerprint of the second venue based on the measurements and corresponding locations received from the one or more sampling devices, wherein the measurements comprise at least one of a received signal strength indication (RSSI), a round-trip time, a magnetic field strength, a temperature, a sound level, or an air pressure level.

15. A non-transitory storage device storing computer instructions operable to cause one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving, by a server and from a mobile device, an identifier of a signal source and a device location, the device location being a location at which the mobile device detected a signal of the signal source, the device location being determined independently of the signal source;

determining, by the server, that the identifier of the signal source is stored in a location fingerprint database and in association with a signal source location, the signal source and the signal source location usable for determining an estimated location of a pedestrian located at a venue, the venue comprising a space accessible by the pedestrian and one or more constraints of movements of the pedestrian;

determining, by the server and based on the received device location, a calculated location of the signal source;

determining, by the server, that a distance between the calculated location of the signal source and the signal source location stored in the location fingerprint database exceeds a reliability threshold;

upon determining that the distance exceeds the reliability threshold, modifying the location fingerprint database, including modifying the signal source location stored in the location fingerprint database;

determining, by the server, that a distance between the updated signal source location and a second venue satisfies a fingerprint threshold where the signal source is usable for determining an estimated location of a second pedestrian located at the second venue; and

in response, submitting, by the server and to one or more sampling devices, a request for conducting a fingerprint survey at the second venue to generate one or more measurements of the second venue, the one or more measurements usable by the server to determine a location fingerprint of the second venue.

16. The non-transitory storage device of claim 15, wherein the signal source comprises a wireless access point, where a signal of the signal source is detectable by the mobile device when the mobile device is located within a reach of the wireless access point, the reach comprising a detected or estimated communication range of the wireless access point.

17. The non-transitory storage device of claim 16, wherein the reliability threshold corresponds to the reach of the wireless access point.

18. The non-transitory storage device of claim 15, wherein determining the calculated location of the signal source comprises at least one of:

designating the device location as the calculated location, or

receiving a second device location from another mobile device, and determining the calculated location based on the received device locations using a probability density function.

19. The non-transitory storage device claim 15, wherein:

changing the procedure of using the signal source for determining the estimated location comprises preventing the signal source from being used for determining the estimated location of the pedestrian, and

changing the data stored in the location fingerprint database comprises labeling the signal source, removing information on the signal source, or adjusting a weight of the signal source in determining the estimated location of the pedestrian.

20. The non-transitory storage device of claim 15,

wherein conducing the fingerprint survey comprises:

determining a measurement of a signal from the signal source detected by each sampling device at each of a plurality of locations at the second venue; and

submitting, by the sampling device and to the server, each measurement and each corresponding location.

21. The non-transitory storage device of claim 20, comprising, determining, by the server, the location fingerprint of the second venue based on the measurements and corresponding locations received from the one or more sampling devices, wherein the measurements comprise at least one of a received signal strength indication (RSSI), a round-trip time, a magnetic field strength, a temperature, a sound level, or an air pressure level.