MAP HANDLING FOR LOCATION BASED SERVICES IN CONJUNCTION WITH LOCALIZED ENVIRONMENTS

• US 20120029817A1
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Khorashadi, Behrooz, Das, Saumitra Mohan, Gupta, Rajarshi
• Granted Patent: US 9,389,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/451
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems, methods, apparatuses, devices, articles, and means for map handling for location based services in conjunction with localized environments. For certain example implementations, a method may comprise storing map information corresponding to a particular localized environment that is associated with a particular location context identifier, with the particular localized environment comprising an indoor environment corresponding to at least a portion of a building structure; receiving update information applicable to the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment, with the update information being associated with the particular location context identifier; updating the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment based at least partly on the update information so as to produce updated map information; and providing the updated map information to one or more mobile devices that are located at the particular localized environment. Other example implementations are described herein.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing map information corresponding to a particular localized environment that is associated with a particular location context identifier, the particular localized environment comprising an indoor environment corresponding to at least a portion of a building structure;

receiving update information applicable to the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment, the update information being associated with the particular location context identifier;

updating the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment based at least partly on the update information so as to produce updated map information; and

providing the updated map information to one or more mobile devices that are located at the particular localized environment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the update information comprises changed localized environment information;

and wherein said receiving further comprises;

receiving the changed localized environment information that is associated with the particular location context identifier from an affiliated entity device, the affiliated entity device associated with an entity that is affiliated with the particular localized environment.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the changed localized environment information comprises modified localized environment information;

and wherein said updating comprises;

modifying the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment based at least partly on the modified localized environment information so as to produce the updated map information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said modifying comprises:

adding the modified localized environment information to the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment so as to produce the updated map information.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said modifying comprises:

substituting the modified localized environment information for at least a portion of the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment so as to produce the updated map information.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the changed localized environment information comprises replacement localized environment information;

and wherein said updating comprises;

recreating map information corresponding to the particular localized environment based at least partly on the replacement localized environment information so as to produce the updated map information.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

contacting the affiliated entity device to determine if localized environment information has changed; and

if the localized environment information is determined to have changed, performing said updating by updating the map information based at least partly on the changed localized environment information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the update information comprises data representative of at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information;

and wherein said receiving further comprises;

receiving the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information that is associated with the particular location context identifier from at least one mobile device, the at least one mobile device located at the particular localized environment.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

analyzing the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information to determine if the at least one incident conflicts with the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said updating comprises:

updating the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment based at least partly on the data representative of the at least one incident and responsive to said analyzing.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information comprises one or more indications that the at least one mobile device is positioned within a zone that is labeled as an infeasible area in the map information;

and wherein said updating further comprises;

updating the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment by labeling the zone as a feasible area in the updated map information.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information comprises one or more indications that point of interest information associated with a zone is incorrect;

and wherein said updating further comprises;

updating the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment by disassociating the point of interest information from the zone in the updated map information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

said receiving the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information further comprises receiving corrected point of interest information for the zone from at least one mobile device; and

said updating further comprises associating the corrected point of interest information with the zone in the updated map information responsive to said receiving of the corrected point of interest information for the zone from the at least one mobile device.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information comprises a tracked trajectory for the at least one mobile device that passes through an apparent obstacle present in the map information;

and wherein said updating further comprises;

updating the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment by altering the apparent obstacle for the updated map information.

15. A method for a mobile device, the method comprising:

detecting at least one incident that apparently conflicts with map information, the map information corresponding to a localized environment at which the mobile device is located; and

transmitting data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving updated map information that reflects the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information, the updated map information corresponding to the localized environment at which the mobile device is located.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said detecting further comprises:

detecting that the mobile device is positioned within a zone that is labeled as an infeasible area by the map information.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said detecting further comprises:

detecting that point of interest information associated with a zone of the map information is incorrect.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information comprises corrected point of interest information for the zone;

and wherein said transmitting further comprises;

transmitting the corrected point of interest information for the zone to at least one map updating server that is capable of updating the map information based at least partly on the corrected point of interest information for the zone.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said detecting further comprises:

detecting that a tracked trajectory for the mobile device passes through an apparent obstacle that is present in the map information.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the map information comprises at least a connectivity graph that indicates traversable paths for the localized environment and feasibility information that identifies feasible/infeasible areas of the localized environment, the localized environment comprising an indoor environment corresponding to at least a portion of a building structure within which the mobile device is located.

22. An apparatus comprising:

at least one memory to store instructions; and

one or more processors to execute said instructions and cause the apparatus to;

store map information corresponding to a particular localized environment that is associated with a particular location context identifier, the particular localized environment comprising an indoor environment corresponding to at least a portion of a building structure;

receive update information applicable to the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment, the update information being associated with the particular location context identifier;

update the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment based at least partly on the update information so as to produce updated map information; and

provide the updated map information to one or more mobile devices that are located at the particular localized environment.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the update information comprises changed localized environment information;

and wherein to receive the update information said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to;

receive the changed localized environment information that is associated with the particular location context identifier from an affiliated entity device, the affiliated entity device associated with an entity that is affiliated with the particular localized environment.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the changed localized environment information comprises modified localized environment information;

and wherein to update the map information said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to;

modify the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment based at least partly on the modified localized environment information so as to produce the updated map information.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein to modify the map information said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to:

add the modified localized environment information to the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment so as to produce the updated map information.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein to modify the map information said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to:

substitute the modified localized environment information for at least a portion of the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment so as to produce the updated map information.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the changed localized environment information comprises replacement localized environment information;

and wherein to update the map information said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to;

recreate map information corresponding to the particular localized environment based at least partly on the replacement localized environment information so as to produce the updated map information.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions and cause the apparatus to:

contact the affiliated entity device to determine if localized environment information has changed; and

update the map information based at least partly on the changed localized environment information if the localized environment information is determined to have changed.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the update information comprises data representative of at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information;

and wherein to receive the update information said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to;

receive the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information that is associated with the particular location context identifier from at least one mobile device, the at least one mobile device located at the particular localized environment.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions and cause the apparatus to:

analyze the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information to determine if the at least one incident conflicts with the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein to update the map information said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to:

update the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment based at least partly on the data representative of the at least one incident and responsive to analysis of the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information comprises one or more indications that the at least one mobile device is positioned within a zone that is labeled as an infeasible area in the map information;

and wherein to update the map information said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to;

update the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment by labeling the zone as a feasible area in the updated map information.

33. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information comprises one or more indications that point of interest information associated with a zone is incorrect;

and wherein to update the map information said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to;

update the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment by disassociating the point of interest information from the zone in the updated map information.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein:

to receive the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to receive corrected point of interest information for the zone from at least one mobile device; and

to update the map information said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to associate the corrected point of interest information with the zone in the updated map information responsive to receipt of the corrected point of interest information for the zone from the at least one mobile device.

35. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information comprises a tracked trajectory for the at least one mobile device that passes through an apparent obstacle present in the map information;

and wherein to update the map information said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to;

update the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment by altering the apparent obstacle for the updated map information.

36. A mobile device, the mobile device comprising:

at least one memory to store instructions; and

one or more processors to execute said instructions and cause the mobile device to;

detect at least one incident that apparently conflicts with map information, the map information corresponding to a localized environment at which the mobile device is located; and

transmit data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information.

37. The mobile device of claim 36, wherein said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions and cause the mobile device to:

receive updated map information that reflects the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information, the updated map information corresponding to the localized environment at which the mobile device is located.

38. The mobile device of claim 36, wherein to detect the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to:

detect that the mobile device is positioned within a zone that is labeled as an infeasible area by the map information.

39. The mobile device of claim 36, wherein to detect the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to:

detect that point of interest information associated with a zone of the map information is incorrect.

40. The mobile device of claim 39, wherein the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information comprises corrected point of interest information for the zone;

and wherein to transmit the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to;

transmit the corrected point of interest information for the zone to at least one map updating server that is capable of updating the map information based at least partly on the corrected point of interest information for the zone.

41. The mobile device of claim 36, wherein to detect the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information said one or more processors are further to execute said instructions to:

detect that a tracked trajectory for the mobile device passes through an apparent obstacle that is present in the map information.

42. The mobile device of claim 36, wherein the map information comprises at least a connectivity graph that indicates traversable paths for the localized environment and feasibility information that identifies feasible/infeasible areas of the localized environment, the localized environment comprising an indoor environment corresponding to at least a portion of a building structure within which the mobile device is located.

43. A system comprising:

means for storing map information corresponding to a particular localized environment that is associated with a particular location context identifier, the particular localized environment comprising an indoor environment corresponding to at least a portion of a building structure;

means for receiving update information applicable to the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment, the update information being associated with the particular location context identifier;

means for updating the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment based at least partly on the update information so as to produce updated map information; and

means for providing the updated map information to one or more mobile devices that are located at the particular localized environment.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the update information comprises changed localized environment information;

and wherein said means for receiving comprises;

means for receiving the changed localized environment information that is associated with the particular location context identifier from an affiliated entity device, the affiliated entity device associated with an entity that is affiliated with the particular localized environment.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the changed localized environment information comprises modified localized environment information;

and wherein said means for updating comprises;

means for modifying the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment based at least partly on the modified localized environment information so as to produce the updated map information.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein said means for modifying comprises:

means for adding the modified localized environment information to the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment so as to produce the updated map information.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein said means for modifying comprises:

means for substituting the modified localized environment information for at least a portion of the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment so as to produce the updated map information.

48. The system of claim 44, wherein the changed localized environment information comprises replacement localized environment information;

and wherein said means for updating comprises;

means for recreating map information corresponding to the particular localized environment based at least partly on the replacement localized environment information so as to produce the updated map information.

49. The system of claim 44, further comprising:

means for contacting the affiliated entity device to determine if localized environment information has changed; and

means for performing map information updating based at least partly on the changed localized environment information if the localized environment information is determined to have changed.

50. The system of claim 43, wherein the update information comprises data representative of at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information;

and wherein said means for receiving comprises;

means for receiving the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information that is associated with the particular location context identifier from at least one mobile device, the at least one mobile device located at the particular localized environment.

51. The system of claim 50, further comprising:

means for analyzing the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information to determine if the at least one incident conflicts with the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein said means for updating comprises:

means for updating the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment based at least partly on the data representative of the at least one incident and responsive to said analyzing.

53. The system of claim 50, wherein the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information comprises one or more indications that the at least one mobile device is positioned within a zone that is labeled as an infeasible area in the map information;

and wherein said means for updating comprises;

means for updating the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment by labeling the zone as a feasible area in the updated map information.

54. The system of claim 50, wherein the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information comprises one or more indications that point of interest information associated with a zone is incorrect;

and wherein said means for updating comprises;

means for updating the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment by disassociating the point of interest information from the zone in the updated map information.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein:

said means for receiving the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information comprises means for receiving corrected point of interest information for the zone from at least one mobile device; and

said means for updating further comprises means for associating the corrected point of interest information with the zone in the updated map information responsive to receipt of the corrected point of interest information for the zone from the at least one mobile device.

56. The system of claim 50, wherein the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information comprises a tracked trajectory for the at least one mobile device that passes through an apparent obstacle present in the map information;

and wherein said means for updating comprises;

means for updating the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment by altering the apparent obstacle for the updated map information.

57. A system comprising:

means for detecting at least one incident that apparently conflicts with map information, the map information corresponding to a localized environment at which the system is located; and

means for transmitting data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information.

58. The system of claim 57, further comprising:

means for receiving updated map information that reflects the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information, the updated map information corresponding to the localized environment at which the system is located.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein said means for detecting comprises:

means for detecting that the system is positioned within a zone that is labeled as an infeasible area by the map information.

60. The system of claim 57, wherein said means for detecting comprises:

means for detecting that point of interest information associated with a zone of the map information is incorrect.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information comprises corrected point of interest information for the zone;

and wherein said means for transmitting comprises;

means for transmitting the corrected point of interest information for the zone to at least one map updating server that is capable of updating the map information based at least partly on the corrected point of interest information for the zone.

62. The system of claim 57, wherein said means for detecting comprises:

means for detecting that a tracked trajectory for the system passes through an apparent obstacle that is present in the map information.

63. The system of claim 57, wherein the map information comprises at least a connectivity graph that indicates traversable paths for the localized environment and feasibility information that identifies feasible/infeasible areas of the localized environment, the localized environment comprising an indoor environment corresponding to at least a portion of a building structure within which the system is located.

64. An article comprising:

at least one storage medium having stored thereon instructions executable by one or more processors to;

store map information corresponding to a particular localized environment that is associated with a particular location context identifier, the particular localized environment comprising an indoor environment corresponding to at least a portion of a building structure;

receive update information applicable to the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment, the update information being associated with the particular location context identifier;

update the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment based at least partly on the update information so as to produce updated map information; and

provide the updated map information to one or more mobile devices that are located at the particular localized environment.

65. The article of claim 64, wherein the update information comprises changed localized environment information;

and wherein to receive the update information said instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to;

receive the changed localized environment information that is associated with the particular location context identifier from an affiliated entity device, the affiliated entity device associated with an entity that is affiliated with the particular localized environment.

66. The article of claim 65, wherein the changed localized environment information comprises modified localized environment information;

and wherein to update the map information said instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to;

modify the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment based at least partly on the modified localized environment information so as to produce the updated map information.

67. The article of claim 66, wherein to modify the map information said instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

add the modified localized environment information to the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment so as to produce the updated map information.

68. The article of claim 66, wherein to modify the map information said instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

substitute the modified localized environment information for at least a portion of the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment so as to produce the updated map information.

69. The article of claim 65, wherein the changed localized environment information comprises replacement localized environment information;

and wherein to update the map information said instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to;

recreate map information corresponding to the particular localized environment based at least partly on the replacement localized environment information so as to produce the updated map information.

70. The article of claim 65, wherein said instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

contact the affiliated entity device to determine if localized environment information has changed; and

if the localized environment information is determined to have changed, update the map information based at least partly on the changed localized environment information.

71. The article of claim 64, wherein the update information comprises data representative of at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information;

and wherein to receive the update information said instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to;

receive the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information that is associated with the particular location context identifier from at least one mobile device, the at least one mobile device located at the particular localized environment.

72. The article of claim 71, wherein said instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

analyze the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information to determine if the at least one incident conflicts with the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment.

73. The article of claim 72, wherein to update the map information said instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

update the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment based at least partly on the data representative of the at least one incident and responsive to analysis of the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information.

74. The article of claim 71, wherein the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information comprises one or more indications that the at least one mobile device is positioned within a zone that is labeled as an infeasible area in the map information;

and wherein to update the map information said instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to;

update the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment by labeling the zone as a feasible area in the updated map information.

75. The article of claim 71, wherein the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information comprises one or more indications that point of interest information associated with a zone is incorrect;

and wherein to update the map information said instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to;

update the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment by disassociating the point of interest information from the zone in the updated map information.

76. The article of claim 75, wherein:

to receive the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information said instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to receive corrected point of interest information for the zone from at least one mobile device; and

to update the map information said instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to associate the corrected point of interest information with the zone in the updated map information responsive to receipt of the corrected point of interest information for the zone from the at least one mobile device.

77. The article of claim 71, wherein the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information comprises a tracked trajectory for the at least one mobile device that passes through an apparent obstacle present in the map information;

and wherein to update the map information said instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to;

update the map information corresponding to the particular localized environment by altering the apparent obstacle for the updated map information.

78. An article comprising:

at least one storage medium having stored thereon instructions executable by one or more processors to;

detect at least one incident that apparently conflicts with map information, the map information corresponding to a localized environment at which a mobile device is located; and

transmit data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information.

79. The article of claim 78, wherein said instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

receive updated map information that reflects the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information, the updated map information corresponding to the localized environment at which the mobile device is located.

80. The article of claim 78, wherein to detect the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information said instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

detect that the mobile device is positioned within a zone that is labeled as an infeasible area by the map information.

81. The article of claim 78, wherein to detect the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information said instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

detect that point of interest information associated with a zone of the map information is incorrect.

82. The article of claim 81, wherein the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information comprises corrected point of interest information for the zone;

and wherein to transmit the data representative of the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information said instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to;

transmit the corrected point of interest information for the zone to at least one map updating server that is capable of updating the map information based at least partly on the corrected point of interest information for the zone.

83. The article of claim 78, wherein to detect the at least one incident that apparently conflicts with the map information said instructions stored on said at least one storage medium are further executable by the one or more processors to:

detect that a tracked trajectory for the mobile device passes through an apparent obstacle that is present in the map information.

84. The article of claim 78, wherein the map information comprises at least a connectivity graph that indicates traversable paths for the localized environment and feasibility information that identifies feasible/infeasible areas of the localized environment, the localized environment comprising an indoor environment corresponding to at least a portion of a building structure within which the mobile device is located.