Techniques for computing location of a mobile device using calculated locations of Wi-Fi access points from a reference database
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- determining characteristics of signals of a plurality of Wi-Fi access points within a target area at least in part by observing the signals during a traversal of a programmatic route through the target area by a scanning device;
calculating a location of each of the plurality of Wi-Fi access points in the target area based on the characteristics of the signals of the Wi-Fi access point;
storing the calculated location of each of the plurality of Wi-Fi access points in records of a reference database;
receiving a request from an application or service executing on a mobile device for a current location of the mobile device;
obtaining, by positioning software, characteristics of signals of one or more Wi-Fi access points observed by the mobile device from the current location; and
computing, by the positioning software, the current location of the mobile device using at least the characteristics of signals observed by the mobile device and the location of Wi-Fi access points stored in the reference database, and providing the computed current location to the application or service.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, characteristics of signals of a plurality of Wi-Fi access points within a target area are determined at least in part from observing the signals during a traversal of a programmatic route through the target area by a scanning device. A location is calculated for each of the plurality of Wi-Fi access points based on the characteristics of the signals of the Wi-Fi access point, and stored in records of a reference database. A request from an application or service executing on a mobile device is received for a current location of the mobile device. Positioning software obtains characteristics of signals of one or more Wi-Fi access points observed by the mobile device from the current location. The positioning software computes the current location of the mobile device using at least the characteristics of signals observed by the mobile device and the location of Wi-Fi access points stored in the reference database, and provides the computed current location to the application or service.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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determining characteristics of signals of a plurality of Wi-Fi access points within a target area at least in part by observing the signals during a traversal of a programmatic route through the target area by a scanning device; calculating a location of each of the plurality of Wi-Fi access points in the target area based on the characteristics of the signals of the Wi-Fi access point; storing the calculated location of each of the plurality of Wi-Fi access points in records of a reference database; receiving a request from an application or service executing on a mobile device for a current location of the mobile device; obtaining, by positioning software, characteristics of signals of one or more Wi-Fi access points observed by the mobile device from the current location; and computing, by the positioning software, the current location of the mobile device using at least the characteristics of signals observed by the mobile device and the location of Wi-Fi access points stored in the reference database, and providing the computed current location to the application or service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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3. A method comprising:
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determining characteristics of signals of a plurality of Wi-Fi access points within a target area at least in part by observing the signals during a traversal of a programmatic route through the target area by a scanning device mounted in a scanning vehicle, the traversal of the programmatic route comprising traversal of a number of drivable streets within the target area; calculating a location of each of the plurality of Wi-Fi access points in the target area based on the characteristics of the signals of the Wi-Fi access point; storing the calculated location of each of the plurality of Wi-Fi access points in records of a reference database; receiving a request from an application or service executing on a mobile device for a current location of the mobile device; obtaining, by positioning software, characteristics of signals of one or more Wi-Fi access points observed by the mobile device from the current location; and computing, by the positioning software, the current location of the mobile device using at least the characteristics of signals observed by the mobile device and the location of Wi-Fi access points stored in the reference database, and providing the computed current location to the application or service. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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10. A method comprising:
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determining characteristics of signals of a plurality of Wi-Fi access points within a target area at least in part by observing signals during a traversal of a programmatic route through the target area by a scanning device; calculating a power profile of each of the plurality of Wi-Fi access points in the target area based on the characteristics of the signals from the Wi-Fi access point; storing the power profile for each of the Wi-Fi access points in records of a reference database; maintaining the reference database on a non-transitory computer readable medium; receiving a request from an application or service executing on a mobile device for a current location of the mobile device; obtaining, by positioning software, characteristics of signals of one or more Wi-Fi access points observed by the mobile device from the current location; and computing, by the positioning software, the current location of the mobile device using at least the characteristics of signals observed by the mobile device and the power profiles of Wi-Fi access points stored in the reference database, and providing the computed current location to the application or service. - View Dependent Claims (11, 17, 18, 19)
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12. A method comprising:
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determining characteristics of signals of a plurality of Wi-Fi access points within a target area at least in part by observing signals during a traversal of a programmatic route through the target area by a scanning device mounted in a scanning vehicle, the traversal of a programmatic route comprising traversal of a number of drivable streets within the target area; calculating a power profile of each of the plurality of Wi-Fi access points in the target area based on the characteristics of the signals from the Wi-Fi access point; storing the power profile for each of the Wi-Fi access points in records of a reference database; maintaining the reference database on a non-transitory computer readable medium; receiving a request from an application or service executing on a mobile device for a current location of the mobile device; obtaining, by positioning software, characteristics of signals of one or more Wi-Fi access points observed by the mobile device from the current location; and computing, by the positioning software, the current location of the mobile device using at least the characteristics of signals observed by the mobile device and the power profiles of Wi-Fi access points stored in the reference database, and providing the computed current location to the application or service.
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13. A system comprising:
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a central network server configured to build records descriptive of Wi-Fi access points in a target area based on signals received from Wi-Fi access points during a traversal of a programmatic route through the target area by a scanning device; a reference database configured to maintain the records; and positioning software that when executed on a mobile device is operable to receive a request from an application or service executing on the mobile device for a current location of the mobile device, obtain characteristics of signals of one or more Wi-Fi access points observed by the mobile device from the current location, compute the current location of the mobile device using at least the characteristics of the signals observed by the mobile device and the location of Wi-Fi access points stored in the reference database, and provide the computed current location to the application or service. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 20)
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Specification