Systems and methods for tracking a user's location

• US 9,562,964 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2015
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Thaker, Nikhil Vijay
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner, Mark
• Application Number:
  US14/986,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20160109552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 367/118
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/45 by combining measurements of signals from the satellite radio beacon positioning system with a supplementary measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/18 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Techniques for tracking a current location of a user are described. According to various embodiments, an ambient noise signal proximate to a user device is detected using a microphone. Audio sample information may be accessed, where the audio sample information identifies various audio samples and, for each of the audio samples, a source of the corresponding audio sample. Thereafter, a specific audio sample corresponding to the ambient noise signal may be identified. Moreover, a current location of the user device may be determined, based on the source of the specific audio sample.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting an ambient noise signal proximate to a user device;

accessing audio sample information identifying a plurality of audio samples and, for each of the audio samples, a source of the corresponding audio sample;

identifying, from the audio sample information, a specific one of the audio samples that corresponds to the ambient noise signal;

determining, using one or more hardware processors, a current location of the user device based on the source of the specific audio sample;

detecting, using a temperature sensor of the user device, an ambient temperature proximate to the user device;

estimating, based at least in part on global positioning system information, a position of the user device;

accessing weather information indicating a current outdoor temperature for the estimated position of the user device;

comparing the detected ambient temperature to the current outdoor temperature;

inferring, based on the determined current location of the user device and the ambient temperature proximate to the user device, an activity being performed by a user of the user device; and

transmitting a communication associated with the inferred activity to a predetermined address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the communication associated with the inferred activity comprises transmitting a notification identifying the inferred activity to the predetermined address.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the current location of the user device comprises:

accessing point of interest information identifying one or more points of interest at or proximate to the estimated position,

wherein the current location of the user device is determined by identifying a specific one of the points of interest that corresponds to the source of the specific audio sample.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing point of interest information identifying one or more points of interest at or proximate to the estimated position; and

identifying, from the audio sample information, a subset of audio samples having sources corresponding to the points of interest, wherein the specific audio sample is identified from the subset of audio samples.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio sample information identifies the source of each of the audio samples as being at an indoor location or an outdoor location.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the determining the current location comprises:

determining that the current location of the user device is at the indoor location or the outdoor location based at least in part on the audio sample information.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the user device is currently located indoors or outdoors based on the comparison of the detected ambient temperature to the current outdoor temperature.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a notification identifying the current location of the user device to the predetermined address.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the notification is any one of an email, a text message, or an instant message.

10. An system comprising:

a microphone configured to detect an ambient noise signal proximate to a user device;

a temperature sensor configured to detect an ambient temperature proximate to the user device; and

a determination module implemented by one or more hardware processors and configured to;

access audio sample information identifying a plurality of audio samples and, for each of the audio samples, a source of the corresponding audio sample;

identify, from the audio sample information, a specific one of the audio samples that corresponds to the ambient noise signal;

determine a current location of the user device based on the source of the specific audio sample;

estimate, based at least in part on global positioning system information, a position of the user device;

access weather information indicating a current outdoor temperature for the estimated position of the user device;

compare the detected ambient temperature to the current outdoor temperature;

infer, based on the determined current location of the user device and the ambient temperature proximate to the user device, an activity being performed by a user of the user device; and

transmit a communication associated with the inferred activity to a predetermined address.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the communication associated with the inferred activity includes a notification identifying the inferred activity to the predetermined address.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the determination module is further configured to:

access point of interest information identifying one or more points of interest at or proximate to the estimated position,

wherein the current location of the user device is determined by identifying a specific one of the points of interest that corresponds to the source of the specific audio sample.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the determination module is further configured to:

access point of interest information identifying one or more points of interest at or proximate to the estimated position; and

identify, from the audio sample information, a subset of audio samples having sources corresponding to the points of interest, wherein the specific audio sample is identified from the subset of audio samples.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the audio sample information identifies the source of the audio sample as being at an indoor location or an outdoor location.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the determination module is further configured to:

determine that the current location of the user device is at the indoor location or the outdoor location based at least in part on the audio sample information.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the determination module is further configured to:

determine that the user device is currently located indoors or outdoors based on the comparison of the detected ambient temperature to the current outdoor temperature.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the determination module is further configured to:

transmit a notification identifying the current location of the user device to the predetermined address.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the notification is any one of an email, a text message, or an instant message.

19. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having embodied thereon instructions that when executed by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

detecting an ambient noise signal proximate to a user device;

accessing audio sample information identifying a plurality of audio samples and, for each of the audio samples, a source of the corresponding audio sample;

identifying, from the audio sample information, a specific one of the audio samples that corresponds to the ambient noise signal;

determining a current location of the user device, based on the source of the specific audio sample;

detecting, using a temperature sensor of the user device, an ambient temperature proximate to the user device;

estimating, based at least in part on global positioning system information, a position of the user device;

accessing weather information indicating a current outdoor temperature for the estimated position of the user device;

comparing the detected ambient temperature to the current outdoor temperature;

inferring, based on the determined current location of the user device and the ambient temperature proximate to the user device, an activity being performed by a user of the user device; and

transmitting a communication associated with the inferred activity to a predetermined address.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the communication associated with the inferred activity includes a notification identifying the inferred activity to the predetermined address.