Method and apparatus for determining a geo-location correction-offset

• US 9,426,769 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2013
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Haro, Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Agosta, Steve D
• Application Number:
  US14/093,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20150156744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310.2, 370/338, 455/404.1, 455/414.1, 4554561-4566, 455/457, 455/414.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

An approach is provided to process communication information for determining a possible correction-offset to location information of a user. A location verification platform may process and/or facilitate a processing of communication information associated with at least one user device. The location verification platform may also determine a current geo-location of the at least one user device based, at least in part, on the communication information. Further, the location verification platform may determine an accuracy of the current geo-location based, at least in part, on a comparison of the current geo-location with contextual location information associated with the current geo-location. Furthermore, the location verification platform may determine a correction-offset to the current geo-location based, at least in part, on an accuracy threshold.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

processing via a processor communication information associated with at least one user device;

determining via the processor a current geo-location of the at least one user device based on the communication information;

determining via the processor an accuracy error of the current geo-location based on a comparison of the current geo-location with contextual location information associated with the current geo-location;

determining via the processor a correction-offset to the current geo-location based on an indication that the accuracy error in the determined current geo-location of the user device is greater than a predetermined accuracy threshold;

transmitting the correction-offset to the at least one user device based on the current geo-location; and

determining a probability factor for the correction-offset based on communication information associated with a plurality of other user,

wherein the contextual location information includes one or more validated information items associated with one or more points of interest associated with the current geo-location, a corrected current geo-location, or a combination thereof,

wherein the communication information associated with the plurality of other users comprises communication information from a database including location information from the plurality of user devices indicating a high error rate in location information at a certain geo-location,

wherein the predetermined accuracy threshold is provided in a user profile at the user device, and

wherein the correction-offset is at least a parameter or a correction-offset function for determining a corrected geo-location.

2. A method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

transmitting the correction-offset to one or more databases.

3. A method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

updating the current geo-location based on one or more correction-offsets in one or more data lists.

4. A method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

presenting a corrected current geo-location at the at least one user device.

5. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the current geo-location of the at least one user device based on the current geo-location, a service provider configuration, or a combination thereof.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the communication information includes active, passive, direct, indirect, or a combination thereof communication information originating from the at least one user device.

7. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one non-transitory memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

process and/or facilitate a processing of communication information associated with at least one user device;

determine a current geo-location of the at least one user device based on the communication information;

determine an accuracy error of the current geo-location based on a comparison of the current geo-location with contextual location information associated with the current geo-location;

determine a correction-offset to the current geo-location based on an indication that the accuracy error in the determined current geo-location of the user device is greater than a predetermined accuracy threshold;

transmit the correction-offset to the at least one user device based on the current geo-location; and

determine a probability factor for the correction-offset based on communication information associated with a plurality of other user devices,

wherein the contextual location information includes one or more validated information items associated with one or more points of interest associated with the current geo-location, a corrected current geo-location, or a combination thereof,

wherein the communication information associated with the plurality of other users comprises communication information from a database including location information from the plurality of user devices indicating a high error rate in location information at a certain geo-location,

wherein the predetermined accuracy threshold is provided in a user profile at the user device, and

wherein the correction-offset is at least a parameter or a correction-offset function for determining a corrected geo-location.

8. An apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause a transmission of the correction-offset to one or more databases, or a combination thereof.

9. An apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause an update to the current geo-location based on one or more correction-offsets in one or more data lists.

10. An apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause a presentation of a corrected current geo-location at the at least one user device.

11. An apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine the current geo-location of the at least one user device based on the current geo-location, a service provider configuration, or a combination thereof.

12. An apparatus of claim 7, wherein the communication information includes active, passive, direct, indirect, or a combination thereof communication information originating from the at least one user device.