Position location aided by chemical characteristic

• US 9,823,332 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2012
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Fales, Mary A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Paul D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crohn, Mark
• Application Number:
  US13/645,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20140100793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,874 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0009 General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment G01N1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0075 for multiple spatially distributed sensors, e.g. for environmental monitoring transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/25 involving aiding data received from a cooperating element, e.g. assisted GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

A mobile device includes a chemical sensor to detect chemicals in the environment in which the mobile device is present. The detected chemicals are analyzed and used to generate a chemical characteristic of the environment. The chemical characteristic of the environment is used to determine location related data for the mobile device. For example, an implemented within or remote chemical characteristic database that stores chemical characteristics associated with location related data may be searched based on the chemical characteristic of the environment to determine the location of the mobile device. The location related data may be a location of the mobile device or assistance data that may be used to assist in generating a more accurate position fix, e.g., using a satellite positioning system. The location related data may simply whether the mobile device is inside or outside or the floor of a multi-floor building.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

using a chemical sensor in a mobile device to detect chemicals in an environment in which the mobile device is present;

analyzing the chemicals detected by the chemical sensor to determine a chemical characteristic of the environment;

determining location related data for the mobile device based on the chemical characteristic of the environment and a database that stores chemical characteristics associated with location related data, wherein the location related data comprises a general or specific location of the mobile device or assistance data for the mobile device to determine its location; and

controlling the mobile device based on the location related data for the mobile device determined using the chemical characteristic of the environment, wherein controlling the mobile device comprises switching the mobile device between a first position determination technique using terrestrial wireless signals and a second position determination technique using a satellite positioning system based on whether the location related data indicates that the mobile device is inside of a building or outside of the building.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location related data for the mobile device using the chemical characteristic of the environment comprises transmitting the chemical characteristic to a remote server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location related data for the mobile device using the chemical characteristic of the environment comprises receiving the location related data from a remote server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is implemented within the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the mobile device further comprises determining whether a position fix is required based on the location related data for the mobile device determined using the chemical characteristic of the environment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the chemical characteristic of the environment is a unique chemical signature.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location related data for the mobile device comprises:

determining an approximate position of the mobile device using the chemical characteristic of the environment; and

using the approximate position to assist in producing a position fix for the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location related data for the mobile device comprises determining whether the mobile device is inside or outside of the building.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first position determination technique comprises an indoor position determination technique used if the mobile device is inside the building and the second position determination technique comprises an outdoor position determination technique used if the mobile device is outside of the building.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location related data for the mobile device comprises determining a floor of a building that the mobile device is on.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the chemical characteristic of the environment for geofencing.

12. A mobile device comprising:

a chemical sensor that detects chemicals in an environment in which the mobile device is present; and

a processor coupled to the chemical sensor, the processor receives data from the chemical sensor, the processor configured to analyze the data from the chemical sensor to determine a chemical characteristic of the environment and use the chemical characteristic to determine location related data for the mobile device, based on the chemical characteristic of the environment and a database that stores chemical characteristics associated with location related data, wherein the location related data comprises a general or specific location of the mobile device or assistance data for the mobile device to determine its location;

wherein the processor is configured to control a position determination for the mobile device based on the location related data for the mobile device determined using the chemical characteristic of the environment, wherein the processor is configured to control the position determination by being configured to switch the mobile device between a first position determination technique using terrestrial wireless signals and a second position determination technique using a satellite positioning system based on whether the location related data indicates that the remote mobile device is inside of a building and outside of the building.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, further comprising a wireless interface capable of transmitting and receiving wireless signals, wherein the processor is configured to use the chemical characteristic to determine the location related data for the mobile device by being configured to transmit the chemical characteristic to a remote server with the wireless interface.

14. The mobile device of claim 12, further comprising a wireless interface capable of transmitting and receiving wireless signals, wherein the processor is configured to use the chemical characteristic to determine the location related data for the mobile device by being configured to receive the location related data for the mobile device from a remote server with the wireless interface.

15. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to control the position determination by being configured to determine whether a position fix is required based on the location related data for the mobile device determined using the chemical characteristic of the environment.

16. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to use the chemical characteristic to determine the location related data for the mobile device by being configured to search the database for the location related data associated with the chemical characteristic of the environment.

17. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the chemical characteristic of the environment is a unique chemical signature.

18. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to determine the location related data for the mobile device by being configured to determine an approximate position of the mobile device using the chemical characteristic of the environment, and use the approximate position to assist in producing a position fix for the mobile device.

19. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to determine the location related data for the mobile device by being configured to determine whether the mobile device is inside or outside of the building.

20. The mobile device of claim 19, wherein the first position determination technique comprises an indoor position determination technique used if the mobile device is inside the building and the second position determination technique comprises an outdoor position determination technique used if the mobile device is outside of the building.

21. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to determine the location related data for the mobile device by being configured to determine a floor of a building that the mobile device is on.

22. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to use the chemical characteristic of the environment for geofencing.

23. A mobile device comprising:

means for detecting chemicals in an environment in which the mobile device is present;

means for analyzing detected chemicals to determine a chemical characteristic of the environment;

means for determining location related data for the mobile device based on the chemical characteristic of the environment and a database that stores chemical characteristics associated with location related data, wherein the location related data comprises a general or specific location of the mobile device or assistance data for the mobile device to determine its location; and

means for controlling the mobile device based on the location related data for the mobile device determined using the chemical characteristic of the environment, wherein the means for controlling the mobile device comprises means for switching the mobile device between a first position determination technique using terrestrial wireless signals and a second position determination technique using a satellite positioning system based on whether the location related data indicates that the mobile device is inside of a building and outside of the building.

24. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the means for determining the location related data for the mobile device using the chemical characteristic of the environment transmits the chemical characteristic to a remote server.

25. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the means for determining the location related data for the mobile device using the chemical characteristic of the environment receives the location related data for the mobile device from a remote server.

26. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the means for determining the location related data for the mobile device using the chemical characteristic of the environment searches the database for the location related data associated with the chemical characteristic of the environment.

27. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the means for determining the location related data for the mobile device determines an approximate position of the mobile device using the chemical characteristic of the environment and uses the approximate position to assist in producing a position fix for the mobile device.

28. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the means for determining the location related data for the mobile device determines whether the mobile device is inside or outside of a building or a floor of the building that the mobile device is on.

29. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code stored thereon, comprising:

program code to use a chemical sensor to detect chemicals in an environment in which a mobile device is present;

program code to analyze the chemicals detected by the chemical sensor to determine a chemical characteristic of the environment;

program code to determine a location related data for the mobile device based on the chemical characteristic of the environment and a database that stores chemical characteristics associated with location related data, wherein the location related data comprises a general or specific location of the mobile device or assistance data for the mobile device to determine its location; and

program code to control the mobile device based on the location related data for the mobile device determined using the chemical characteristic of the environment, wherein the program code to control the mobile device comprises program code to switch the mobile device between a first position determination technique using terrestrial wireless signals and a second position determination technique using a satellite positioning system based on whether the location related data indicates that the remote mobile device is inside of a building and outside of the building.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the program code to determine the location related data for the mobile device using the chemical characteristic of the environment comprises program code to transmit the chemical characteristic to a remote server.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the program code to determine the location related data for the mobile device using the chemical characteristic of the environment comprises program code to receive the location related data for the mobile device from a remote server.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the program code to determine the location related data for the mobile device using the chemical characteristic of the environment comprises program code to search the database for the location related data associated with the chemical characteristic of the environment.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the program code to determine the location related data for the mobile device using the chemical characteristic of the environment comprises:

program code to determine an approximate position of the mobile device using the chemical characteristic of the environment; and

program code to use the approximate position to assist in producing a position fix for the mobile device.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the program code to determine the location related data for the mobile device determines whether the mobile device is inside or outside of a building or a floor of the building that the mobile device is on.

35. A method comprising:

receiving data from a remote mobile device related to a chemical characteristic of an environment in which the remote mobile device is present;

determining location related data for the remote mobile device based on the chemical characteristic and a database that stores chemical characteristics associated with location related data, wherein the location related data comprises a general or specific location of the remote mobile device or assistance data for the remote mobile device to determine its location;

transmitting the location related data to the remote mobile device; and

wherein the remote mobile device is controlled based on the location related data to switch the remote mobile device between a first position determination technique using terrestrial wireless signals and a second position determination technique using a satellite positioning system based on whether the location related data indicates that the remote mobile device is inside of a building and outside of the building.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the data related to the chemical characteristic of the environment comprises chemical sensor data, the method further comprising analyzing the chemical sensor data to determine the chemical characteristic.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the data related to the chemical characteristic of the environment comprises the chemical characteristic determined by the remote mobile device from chemical sensor data.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein determining the location related data for the remote mobile device based on the chemical characteristic comprises searching the database for the location related data associated with the chemical characteristic of the environment.

39. An apparatus comprising:

an external interface for communicating with a remote mobile device; and

a processor coupled to the external interface to receive data related to a chemical characteristic of an environment in which the remote mobile device is present, the processor being configured to determine location related data for the remote mobile device based on the chemical characteristic and a database that stores chemical characteristics associated with location related data, wherein the location related data comprises a general or specific location of the remote mobile device or assistance data for the remote mobile device to determine its location; and

to cause the external interface to transmit the location related data to the remote mobile device, and wherein the remote mobile device is controlled based on the location related data to switch the remote mobile device between a first position determination technique using terrestrial wireless signals and a second position determination technique using a satellite positioning system based on whether the location related data indicates that the remote mobile device is inside of a building and outside of the building.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the data related to the chemical characteristic of the environment comprises chemical sensor data, the processor being further configured to analyze the chemical sensor data to determine the chemical characteristic related.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the data related to the chemical characteristic of the environment comprises the chemical characteristic determined by the remote mobile device from chemical sensor data.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the processor is configured to determine the location related data for the remote mobile device based on the chemical characteristic by being configured to search the database for the location related data associated with the chemical characteristic of the environment.

43. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving data from a remote mobile device related to a chemical characteristic of an environment in which the remote mobile device is present;

means for determining location related data for the remote mobile device based on the chemical characteristic and a database that stores chemical characteristics associated with location related data, wherein the location related data comprises a general or specific location of the remote mobile device or assistance data for the remote mobile device to determine its location;

means for transmitting the location related data to the remote mobile device; and

wherein the remote mobile device is controlled based on the location related data to switch the remote mobile device between a first position determination technique using terrestrial wireless signals and a second position determination technique using a satellite positioning system based on whether the location related data indicates that the remote mobile device is inside of a building and outside of the building.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the data related to the chemical characteristic of the environment comprises chemical sensor data, the apparatus further comprising means for analyzing the chemical sensor data to determine the chemical characteristic.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the data related to the chemical characteristic of the environment comprises the chemical characteristic determined by the remote mobile device from chemical sensor data.

46. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the means for determining the location related data of the remote mobile device based on the chemical characteristic searches the database for the location related data associated with the chemical characteristic of the environment.

47. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code stored thereon, comprising:

program code to receive data from a remote mobile device related to a chemical characteristic of an environment in which the remote mobile device is present;

program code to determine location related data for the remote mobile device based on the chemical characteristic and a database that stores chemical characteristics associated with location related data, wherein the location related data comprises a general or specific location of the remote mobile device or assistance data for the remote mobile device to determine its location; and

program code to transmit the location related data to the remote mobile device; and

wherein the remote mobile device is controlled based on the location related data to switch the remote mobile device between a first position determination technique using terrestrial wireless signals and a second position determination technique using a satellite positioning system based on whether the location related data indicates that the remote mobile device is inside of a building and outside of the building.

48. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 47, wherein the data related to the chemical characteristic of the environment comprises chemical sensor data, the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprising program code to analyze the chemical sensor data to determine the chemical characteristic.

49. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 47, wherein the data related to the chemical characteristic of the environment comprises the chemical characteristic determined by the remote mobile device from chemical sensor data.

50. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 47, wherein the program code to determine the location related data of the remote mobile device based on the chemical characteristic comprises program code to search the database for the location related data associated with the chemical characteristic of the environment.