Method for determining the location of a mobile device within a building, and apparatuses for performing same

• US 10,488,489 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2014
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: MacWilliams, Asa, Schindhelm, Corina Kim
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chuong P
• Application Number:
  US14/780,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20160047882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,091 Days
• Field of Search: 342450, 701434, 34053913, 340541
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0263 by combining or switching between positions derived from two or more separate positioning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19 using infrared-radiation detection systems G08B13/194 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/194 using image scanning and comparing systems

Abstract

When an optical motion detector of a room device detects movement in a room in which it is installed, the room device transmits a radio message including its position. Upon receiving the radio message, a mobile device measures the signal strength to determine whether it is high. If the movement detected by the optical motion detector correlates chronologically with movement detected by an inertial movement sensor of the mobile device, the mobile device concludes that the mobile device is located in the room or in proximity of the position of the room device. The identity of the mobile device is protected, as no server or other device is required for positioning to which the mobile device would have to disclose the identity, position or sensor information thereof.

Claims

1. A method for a mobile device to determine its position within a building, the method comprising:

receiving a radio message with a receiver of the mobile device from a radio transmitter, the radio message containing position information of a motion detector installed in a room in the building based on object movement in the room detected by the motion detected;

determining a signal strength of the radio message using a processor of the mobile device;

comparing a time at which the radio message was sent by the radio transmitter to a time of a movement sensed by an inertial motion sensor in the mobile device for a temporal correlation using the processor; and

if the comparison shows a temporal correlation, determining whether the signal strength of the radio message is higher than a threshold to conclude that the mobile device is situated in the room in proximity to the room device using the processor.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radio message includes a label identifying the room and an indication that the object movement has been identified.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radio message is sent by the room device whenever the object movement has been detected.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radio message is sent periodically by the room device with at least one of a time stamp for a largest movement and a time profile for movements detected since a previous radio message was sent.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radio message is encrypted and can be decrypted only by mobile devices having a radio key stipulated for the building.

6. An apparatus for determining location of a mobile device within a building, the apparatus comprising:

an optical motion detector configured to detect movement in a respective room of the building;

a radio transmitter configured to send a radio message in response to detecting movement, the radio message containing position information of a respective room device when movement is detected in the respective room; and

a mobile device having an inertial motion sensor;

wherein the mobile device is configured to compare a time at which the radio message was sent to a time of a movement sensed by the inertial motion sensor and, if the comparison shows a temporal correlation, to determine whether a signal strength of the radio message is higher than a threshold to conclude that the mobile device is situated in the respective room.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the room device is a Wi-Fi access point having an integrated motion detector, and

wherein the Wi-Fi access point is configured to send the radio message as part of normal access point radio beacons.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a Wi-Fi access point, and

wherein the room device is a motion detector configured to communicate with the Wi-Fi access point by wire.

9. A mobile device comprising:

an inertial motion sensor configured to detect movement of the mobile device;

a radio receiver configured to receive a radio message from a room device, the radio message containing position information of the room device when a motion detector of the room device detects object motion in the room; and

a hardware processor configured to compare a time at which the radio message was sent by the room device to a time of a movement detected by the inertial motion sensor and, if the comparison shows a temporal correlation, to determine whether a signal strength of the radio message detected by the radio receiver is higher than a threshold to conclude that the mobile device is situated in a room in proximity to the room device.