Dynamic Localization Using Geographical Information Systems

• US 20090247186A1
• Filed: 03/19/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of South Carolina
• Original Assignee: University of South Carolina
• Inventors: Sproul, Gordon D., Ji, Yiming
• Application Number:
  US12/407,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20090247186A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0226 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/12 by co-ordinating position lines of different shape, e.g. hyperbolic, circular, elliptical or radial

Abstract

In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a system to determine the geographic location of a mobile device is described. The system comprises a mobile device. The mobile device comprises a measurement module, the measurement module being capable of detecting information including the direction and acceleration of the mobile device, the mobile device further being capable of determining the received signal strength from at least one access point. The system further comprises at least one access point being in communication with the mobile device. The at least one access point comprises a database module and a location determination module, the database module including data from a geographic information system, the data relating to the potential geographic locations adjacent to the at least one access point, the location determination module being capable of determining the geographic location of the mobile device based on information from the measurement module, received signal strength by the mobile device, and data from the database module.

Claims

1. A system to determine the geographic location of a mobile device comprising:

a mobile device comprising a measurement module, the measurement module being capable of detecting information including the direction and acceleration of the mobile device, the mobile device further being capable of determining the received signal strength from at least one access point; and

at least one access point being in communication with the mobile device, the at least one access point comprising a database module and a location determination module, the database module including data from a geographic information system, the data relating to the potential geographic locations adjacent to the at least one access point, the location determination module being capable of determining the geographic location of the mobile device based on information from the measurement module, received signal strength by the mobile device, and data from the database module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the measurement module comprises an accelerometer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the measurement module comprises a compass.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the database module further comprises road geometries and corresponding location attributes.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a cellular phone.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a laptop computer.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the access point is a cellular tower.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the acceleration of the mobile device is used to determine the speed of the mobile device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the data from a geographic information system is vector data.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the geographic location of the mobile device as determined by the location determination module is capable of being transmitted to the mobile device.

11. A method to determine the geographic location of a mobile device comprising:

utilizing a mobile device and at least one access point to determine the geographic location of the mobile device, the mobile device comprising a measurement module, the measurement module being capable of detecting information including the direction and acceleration of the mobile device, the mobile device further being capable of determining the received signal strength from the at least one access point, the at least one access point being in communication with the mobile device, the at least one access point comprising a database module and a location determination module, the database module including data from a geographic information system, the data relating to the potential geographic locations adjacent to the at least one access point, the location determination module being capable of determining the geographic location of the mobile device based on information from the measurement module, received signal strength by the mobile device, and data from the database module.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the measurement module comprises an accelerometer.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the measurement module comprises a compass.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the database module further comprises road geometries and corresponding location attributes.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the mobile device is a cellular phone.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the mobile device is a laptop computer.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the access point is a cellular tower.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the acceleration of the mobile device is used to determine the speed of the mobile device.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the data from a geographic information system is vector data.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the geographic location of the mobile device as determined by the location determination module is transmitted to the mobile device.