Fine grain position data collection

• US 9,143,920 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2013
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Do, Ju-Yong, Das, Saumitra Mohan, Venkatraman, Sai Pradeep, Gao, Weihua
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US13/912,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20140364101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/404.2, 455/418, 455/411, 455/414.1, 455/550.1, 455/556.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02525 Gathering the radio frequency fingerprints
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02526 using non-dedicated equipment, e.g. user equipment or crowd-sourcing
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02527 Detecting or resolving anomalies in the radio frequency fingerprints of the radio-map
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0258 by combining or switching between measurements derived from different systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

Method, mobile device, computer program product, and apparatus for performing Fine Grain Position Data Collection are described. In one embodiment, a server can receive position data collected by a mobile device with a first positioning configuration. In one embodiment, the server can determine, from the position data received at the server, a mobile device position and create a second positioning configuration according to at least the mobile device position. In one embodiment, the server can send the second positioning configuration to the mobile device. In one embodiment, a mobile device can collect position data according to a first positioning configuration and send the position data to a server. In one embodiment, the mobile device can receive a second positioning configuration from the server created according to at least the mobile device position.

Claims

1. A method for position data collection by a server, the method comprising:

receiving, at the server, first position data collected by a mobile device using a first set of one or more mobile device sensors of a plurality of mobile device sensors;

determining, from the first position data received at the server, a mobile device position;

creating, by the server, a positioning configuration created according to at least the mobile device position, the positioning configuration including a request for the mobile device to activate a second set of one or more mobile device sensors of the plurality of mobile device sensors to use to collect second position data, the second set of one or more mobile device sensors including at least one different mobile device sensor than the first set of one or more mobile device sensors used to collect the first position data;

sending, by the server, the positioning configuration to the mobile device; and

receiving, at the server, the second position data collected by the mobile device using the second set of one or more mobile device sensors according to the positioning configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating the positioning configuration according to prior position data received at the server, the prior position data associated with the mobile device position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the positioning configuration further comprises determining available mobile device sensors.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the positioning configuration further comprises comparing previously stored position data collected at the server to the first position data received from the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device position comprises a predetermined section within an indoor location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the positioning configuration is triggered by one or more of:

a change in the received first position data from previous position data,

a request associated with a location,

a change in positioning performance of the mobile device, or

an amount of time elapsed since a previous position data collection by the server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning configuration comprises parameters including a type or frequency of data collection by the mobile device, and wherein the type or frequency of data collection is based on one or more of:

time of day, day of a week, date, currently available position data collection, or time elapsed since a previous data collection.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein upon determining the mobile device position, the server sends data related to a next likely mobile device position, wherein the next likely mobile device position is an adjacent or nearby location accessible from the mobile device position.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning configuration is a subsequent positioning configuration sent by the server after a previous positioning configuration.

10. The method of claim 9, the subsequent positioning configuration indicating at least one mobile device sensor excluded from the previous positioning configuration.

11. The method of claim 1, the positioning configuration further including a request for the mobile device to deactivate at least one of the first set of one or more mobile device sensors.

12. A method for position data collection by a mobile device, the method comprising:

collecting, by the mobile device using a first set of one or more mobile device sensors of a plurality of mobile device sensors, first position data;

sending, by the mobile device, the first position data to a server;

receiving, at the mobile device, a positioning configuration from the server, the positioning configuration created according to at least a mobile device position based on the first position data and the positioning configuration including a request for the mobile device to activate a second set of one or more mobile device sensors of the plurality of mobile device sensors to use to collect second position data, the second set of one or more mobile device sensors including at least one different mobile device sensor than the first set of one or more mobile device sensors used to collect the first position data; and

sending, by the mobile device, the second position data to the server, the second position data collected by the mobile device using the second set of one or more mobile device sensors according to the positioning configuration.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile device independently determines whether to apply all or some of the positioning configuration received from the server.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the positioning configuration is created based at least in part on prior position data received at the server.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the positioning configuration causes the mobile device to perform one or more of:

deactivating one or more of the first set of one or more mobile device sensors,

increasing or decreasing an amount of position data collected by the mobile device,

increasing or decreasing a position data collection frequency of the mobile device, or

increasing or decreasing an amount of position data sent from the mobile device to the server.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the positioning configuration comprises parameters including a type or frequency of data collection by the mobile device, and wherein the type or frequency of data collection is based on one or more of:

time of day, day of a week, date, currently available position data collection, or time elapsed since a previous data collection.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of mobile device sensors includes a Global Positioning Sensor, accelerometer, camera sensor, WiFi, Bluetooth sensor, cellular network, or Near Field Communication sensor, or any combination thereof.

18. A machine readable non-transitory storage medium containing executable program instructions which cause a data processing device to perform a method, the data processing device comprising a server and the method comprising:

receiving, at the server, first position data collected by a mobile device using a first set of one or more mobile device sensors of a plurality of mobile device sensors;

determining, from the first position data received at the server, a mobile device position;

creating, by the server, a positioning configuration created according to at least the mobile device position, the positioning configuration including a request for the mobile device to activate a second set of one or more mobile device sensors of the plurality of mobile device sensors to use to collect second position data, the second set of one or more mobile device sensors including at least one different mobile device sensor than the first set of one or more mobile device sensors used to collect the first position data;

sending, by the server, the positioning configuration to the mobile device; and

receiving, at the server, the second position data collected by the mobile device using the second set of one or more mobile device sensors according to the positioning configuration.

19. The medium of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:

creating the positioning configuration according to prior position data received at the server, the prior position data associated with the mobile device position.

20. The medium of claim 18, wherein creating the positioning configuration further comprises determining available mobile device sensors.

21. The medium of claim 18, wherein creating the positioning configuration further comprises comparing previously stored position data collected at the server to the first position data received from the mobile device.

22. The medium of claim 18, wherein the mobile device position comprises a predetermined section within an indoor location.

23. The medium of claim 18, wherein creating the positioning configuration is triggered by one or more of:

a change in the received first position data from previous position data,

a request associated with a location,

a change in positioning performance of the mobile device, or

an amount of time elapsed since a previous position data collection by the server.

24. The medium of claim 18, wherein the positioning configuration comprises parameters including a type or frequency of data collection by the mobile device, and wherein the type or frequency of data collection is based on one or more of:

time of day, day of a week, date, currently available position data collection, or time elapsed since a previous data collection.

25. The medium of claim 18, wherein upon determining the mobile device position, the server sends data related to a next likely mobile device position, wherein the next likely mobile device position is an adjacent or nearby location accessible from the mobile device position.

26. A machine readable non-transitory storage medium containing executable program instructions which cause a data processing device to perform a method, the data processing device comprising a mobile device and the method comprising:

collecting, by the mobile device using a first set of one or more mobile device sensors of a plurality of mobile device sensors, first position data;

sending, by the mobile device, the first position data to a server;

receiving, at the mobile device, a positioning configuration from the server, the positioning configuration created according to at least a mobile device position based on the first position data and the positioning configuration including a request for the mobile device to activate a second set of one or more mobile device sensors of the plurality of mobile device sensors to use to collect second position data, the second set of one or more mobile device sensors including at least one different mobile device sensor than the first set of one or more mobile device sensors used to collect the first position data; and

sending, by the mobile device, the second position data to the server, the second position data collected by the mobile device using the second set of one or more mobile device sensors according to the positioning configuration.

27. The medium of claim 26, wherein the mobile device independently determines whether to apply all or some of the positioning configuration received from the server.

28. The medium of claim 26, wherein the positioning configuration is created based at least in part on prior position data received at the server.

29. The medium of claim 26, wherein the positioning configuration causes the mobile device to perform one or more of:

deactivating one or more of the first set of one or more mobile device sensors,

increasing or decreasing an amount of position data collected by the mobile device,

increasing or decreasing a position data collection frequency of the mobile device, or

increasing or decreasing an amount of position data sent from the mobile device to the server.

30. The medium of claim 26, wherein the positioning configuration comprises parameters including a type or frequency of data collection by the mobile device, and wherein the type or frequency of data collection is based on one or more of:

time of day, day of a week, date, currently available position data collection, or time elapsed since a previous data collection.

31. The medium of claim 26, wherein the plurality of mobile device sensors includes a Global Positioning Sensor, accelerometer, camera sensor, WiFi, Bluetooth sensor, cellular network, or Near Field Communication sensor, or any combination thereof.

32. A server for remote data collection, the server comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device coupled to the processor and storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor cause the processor to;

receive first position data collected by a mobile device using a first set of one or more mobile device sensors of a plurality of mobile device sensors;

determine, from the first position data received at the server, a mobile device position;

create a positioning configuration according to at least the mobile device position, the positioning configuration including a request for the mobile device to activate a second set of one or more mobile device sensors of the plurality of mobile device sensors to use to collect second position data, the second set of one or more mobile device sensors including at least one different mobile device sensor than the first set of one or more mobile device sensors used to collect the first position data;

send the positioning configuration to the mobile device; and

receive the second position data collected by the mobile device using the second set of one or more mobile device sensors according to the positioning configuration.

33. The server of claim 32, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

create the positioning configuration according to prior position data received at the server, the prior position data associated with the mobile device position.

34. The server of claim 32, wherein to create the positioning configuration the instructions cause the processor to determine available mobile device sensors.

35. The server of claim 32, wherein to create the positioning configuration the instructions cause the processor to compare previously stored position data collected at the server to the first position data received from the mobile device.

36. The server of claim 32, wherein the mobile device position comprises a predetermined section within an indoor location.

37. The server of claim 32, wherein the instructions cause the processor to create the positioning configuration in response to one or more of:

a change in the received first position data from previous position data,

a request associated with a location,

a change in positioning performance of the mobile device, or

an amount of time elapsed since a previous position data collection by the server.

38. The server of claim 32, wherein the positioning configuration comprises parameters including a type or frequency of data collection by the mobile device, and wherein the type or frequency of data collection is based on one or more of:

time of day, day of a week, date, currently available position data collection, or time elapsed since a previous data collection.

39. The server of claim 32, wherein upon determining the mobile device position, the server sends data related to a next likely mobile device position, wherein the next likely mobile device position is an adjacent or nearby location accessible from the mobile device position.

40. A mobile device comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device coupled to the processor and configurable for storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor cause the processor to;

collect first position data using a first set of one or more mobile device sensors of a plurality of mobile device sensors;

send the first position data to a server;

receive a positioning configuration from the server, the positioning configuration created according to at least a mobile device position based on the first position data and the positioning configuration including a request for the mobile device to activate a second set of one or more mobile device sensors of the plurality of mobile device sensors to use to collect second position data, the second set of one or more mobile device sensors including at least one different mobile device sensor than the first set of one or more mobile device sensors used to collect the first position data; and

send the second position data to the server, the second position data collected by the mobile device using the second set of one or more mobile device sensors according to the positioning configuration.

41. The mobile device of claim 40, wherein the mobile device independently determines whether to apply all or some of the positioning configuration received from the server.

42. The mobile device of claim 40, wherein the positioning configuration is created based at least in part on prior position data received at the server.

43. The mobile device of claim 40, wherein the positioning configuration causes the mobile device to perform one or more of:

deactivating one or more of the first set of one or more mobile device sensors,

increasing or decreasing an amount of position data collected by the mobile device,

increasing or decreasing a position data collection frequency of the mobile device, or increasing or decreasing an amount of position data sent from the mobile device to the server.

44. The mobile device of claim 40, wherein the positioning configuration comprises parameters including a type or frequency of data collection by the mobile device, and wherein the type or frequency of data collection is based on one or more of:

time of day, day of a week, date, currently available position data collection, or time elapsed since a previous data collection.

45. The mobile device of claim 40, wherein the plurality of mobile device sensors includes a Global Positioning Sensor, accelerometer, camera sensor, WiFi, Bluetooth sensor, cellular network, or Near Field Communication sensor, or any combination thereof.

46. A server comprising:

means for receiving first position data collected by a mobile device using a first set of one or more mobile device sensors of a plurality of mobile device sensors;

means for determining, from the first position data, a mobile device position;

means for creating a positioning configuration according to at least the mobile device position, the positioning configuration including a request for the mobile device to activate a second set of one or more mobile device sensors of the plurality of mobile device sensors to use to collect second position data, the second set of one or more mobile device sensors including at least one different mobile device sensor than the first set of one or more mobile device sensors used to collect the first position data;

means for sending the positioning configuration to the mobile device; and

means for receiving the second position data collected by the mobile device using the second set of one or more mobile device sensors according to the positioning configuration.

47. The server of claim 46, further comprising:

means for creating the positioning configuration according to prior position data received by the means for receiving, the prior position data associated with the mobile device position.

48. The server of claim 46, wherein the means for creating the positioning configuration comprises means for determining available mobile device sensors.

49. The server of claim 46, wherein the means for creating the positioning configuration comprises means for comparing previously stored position data collected at the server to the first position data received from the mobile device.

50. The server of claim 46, wherein the mobile device position comprises a predetermined section within an indoor location.

51. The server of claim 46, wherein the means for creating the positioning configuration is triggered by one or more of:

a change in the received first position data from previous position data,

a request associated with a location,

a change in positioning performance of the mobile device, or

an amount of time elapsed since a previous position data collection by the server.

52. The server of claim 46, wherein the positioning configuration comprises parameters including a type or frequency of data collection by the mobile device, and wherein the type or frequency of data collection is based on one or more of:

time of day, day of a week, date, currently available position data collection, or time elapsed since a previous data collection.

53. The server of claim 46, wherein upon determining the mobile device position, the server sends data related to a next likely mobile device position, wherein the next likely mobile device position is an adjacent or nearby location accessible from the mobile device position.

54. A mobile device comprising:

means for collecting first position data using a first set of one or more mobile device sensors of a plurality of mobile device sensors;

means for sending the first position data to a server;

means for receiving a positioning configuration from the server, the positioning configuration created according to at least a mobile device position based on the first position data and the positioning configuration including a request for the mobile device to activate a second set of one or more mobile device sensors of the plurality of mobile device sensors to use to collect second position data, the second set of one or more mobile device sensors including at least one different mobile device sensor than the first set of one or more mobile device sensors used to collect the first position data; and

means for sending the second position data to the server, the second position data collected by the mobile device using the second set of one or more mobile device sensors according to the positioning configuration.

55. The mobile device of claim 54, wherein the mobile device independently determines whether to apply all or some of the positioning configuration received from the server.

56. The mobile device of claim 54, wherein the positioning configuration is created based at least in part on prior position data received at the server.

57. The mobile device of claim 54, wherein the positioning configuration causes the mobile device to perform one or more of:

deactivating one or more of the first set of one or more mobile device sensors,

increasing or decreasing an amount of position data collected by the mobile device,

increasing or decreasing a position data collection frequency of the mobile device, or

increasing or decreasing an amount of position data sent from the mobile device to the server.

58. The mobile device of claim 54, wherein the positioning configuration comprises parameters including a type or frequency of data collection by the mobile device, and wherein the type or frequency of data collection is based on one or more of:

time of day, day of a week, date, currently available position data collection, or time elapsed since a previous data collection.

59. The mobile device of claim 54, wherein the plurality of mobile device sensors includes a Global Positioning Sensor, accelerometer, camera sensor, WiFi, Bluetooth sensor, cellular network, or Near Field Communication sensor, or any combination thereof.