Tracking a mobile computer indoors using Wi-Fi, motion, and environmental sensors

• US 9,176,230 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2015
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: HJ Laboratories, LLC
• Inventors: Vartanian, Harry, Jurikson-Rhodes, Jaron
• Primary Examiner(s): PIHULIC, DANIEL T
• Application Number:
  US14/628,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20150168561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/00 Measuring arrangements or details thereof, where the measuring technique is not covered by the other groups of this subclass, unspecified or not relevant
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/06 Systems determining the position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/08 Systems for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S15/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/06 Systems determining position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/06 employing an initial estimate of the location of the receiver as aiding data or in generating aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/11 wherein the cooperating elements are pseudolites or satellite radio beacon positioning system signal repeaters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/466 by Trilateration, i.e. two antennas or two sensors determine separately the distance to a target, whereby with the knowledge of the baseline length, i.e. the distance between the antennas or sensors, the position data of the target is determined
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/468 by Triangulation, i.e. two antennas or two sensors determine separately the bearing, direction or angle to a target, whereby with the knowledge of the baseline length, the position data of the target is determined
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2015/465 by Trilateration, i.e. two transducers determine separately the distance to a target, whereby with the knowledge of the baseline length, i.e. the distance between the transducers, the position data of the target is determined
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/012 Identifying whether indoors or outdoors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/013 Identifying areas in a building
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/015 between indoor and outdoor environments
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0294 Trajectory determination or predictive filtering, e.g. target tracking or Kalman filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0266 based on the position of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/30 : Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 : for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/907 : Coordinate determination

Abstract

A mobile computer determines its initial indoor location in a building. The initial indoor location may be associated with probability related accuracy and selectively determined with satellite related positioning information. The mobile computer may track, by utilization of the initial indoor location, data, and estimated accelerometer based motion information, location on a floor of the building. The data may be a combination of Wi-Fi information and sensor information.

Claims

1. A mobile computer comprising:

a processor, of the mobile computer, is configured to determine an initial indoor location of the mobile computer in a building, wherein the initial indoor location is associated with probability related accuracy and determined with satellite related positioning information;

the processor further configured to track, with the initial indoor location, data, and estimated motion information from an accelerometer, location in a room in the building;

wherein the data is a combination of Wi-Fi related position information received via a transceiver and environmental sensor information utilized to determine a floor of the room; and

wherein the location is tracked substantially without satellite related positioning information.

2. The mobile computer of claim 1 further comprising:

the processor further configured to analyze gyroscope related data to determine an orientation of the mobile computer.

3. A method performed by a mobile computer, the method comprising:

determining, by a processor of the mobile computer, an initial indoor location of the mobile computer in a building, wherein the initial indoor location is associated with probability related accuracy and determined with satellite related positioning information;

tracking, by the mobile computer with the initial indoor location, data, and estimated motion information from an accelerometer, location in a room in the building;

wherein the data is a combination of Wi-Fi related position information received via a transceiver and environmental sensor information utilized to determine a floor of the room; and

wherein the location is tracked substantially without satellite related positioning information.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

analyzing, by the mobile computer, gyroscope related data to determine an orientation of the mobile computer.