Scalable geofences

• US 8,577,590 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2009
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Doyle, Thomas Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P
• Assistant Examiner(s): MELTON, TODD M
• Application Number:
  US12/615,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20110112768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,457 Days
• Field of Search: 701/300, 701/409, 701/450, 701/461, 340/286.14, 340/539.1, 340/539.2, 342/450, 342/451, 342/458
• US Class Current: 701/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to location-based tracking using geofences.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

processing a first data record on a special purpose computing device to maintain electronic records representative of information regarding a plurality of geophysical entity categories in a memory;

processing a second data record on said special purpose computing device to approximate one or more physical features of a geophysical entity among said geophysical entity categories;

processing said first and second data records on said special purpose computing device to determine boundaries of a geo-fence based, at least in part, on said physical features of said geophysical entity when marked at a location to be maintained by the special purpose computing device; and

processing said first and second data records on said special purpose computing device to select a particular category from among said geophysical entity categories associated with said geophysical entity, wherein said approximating is based, at least in part, on said particular category, and further wherein selecting the particular category is based on at least one map attribute; and

processing said first and second data records on said special purpose computing device to refine a geo-fence to exclude from the geo-fence areas overlapping an extended feature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing said first and second data records on said special purpose computing device to select said particular category is based, at least in part, on one or more attributes of a map.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said geophysical entity categories are associated with at least one of a single family home, grade school, hospital, and/or construction zone.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining electronic records in a memory representative of map information regarding spatial objects proximate to said geophysical entity;

processing the electronic records on said special purpose computing device to approximate boundaries of said geophysical entity based, at least in part, on said map information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said map information comprises location and/or direction of an extended feature, an alley, a road, a highway, a freeway, and/or a body of water.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining electronic records in a memory representative of information regarding locations of a plurality of geophysical entities that are along a geophysical extended feature that includes said geophysical entity;

processing said electronic records on said special purpose computing device to approximate relative positions of adjacent addresses based, at least in part, on said locations.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more physical features of said geophysical entity comprise one or more boundaries of said geophysical entity.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information regarding at least one geophysical entity category among said plurality of geophysical entity categories from a user.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

structuring and/or validating said information from said user.

10. An apparatus comprising:

means for approximating one or more physical features of a geophysical entity marked at a location, wherein the location is embodied in an electronic record maintained by a special purpose computing device, and wherein a data record is processed by said special purpose computing device to approximate said physical features;

means for maintaining information regarding a plurality of geophysical entity categories;

means for determining boundaries of a geo-fence based, at least in part, on said physical features of said geophysical entity at said location, wherein the means for determining boundaries of the geo-fence excludes from the geo-fence areas overlapping an extended feature; and

means for selecting a particular category from among said geophysical entity categories associated with said geophysical entity, wherein said approximating is based, at least in part, on said particular category, and further wherein selecting the particular category is based on at least one map attribute.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said selecting said particular category is based, at least in part, on one or more attributes of a map.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said geophysical entity categories are associated with at least one of a single family home, grade school, hospital, and/or construction zone.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said map information comprises location and/or direction of an extended feature, an alley, a road, a highway, a freeway, and/or a body of water.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said approximating one or more physical features further comprises:

means for maintaining a map of information regarding spatial objects proximate to said geophysical entity;

means for approximating boundaries of said geophysical entity based, at least in part, on said map information.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said approximating said one or more physical features further comprises:

means for maintaining information regarding locations of a plurality of geophysical entities that are along a geophysical extended feature that includes said geophysical entity;

means for approximating relative positions of adjacent addresses based, at least in part, on said locations.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said one or more physical features of said geophysical entity comprise one or more boundaries of said geophysical entity at said location.

17. An article comprising a storage medium comprising machine-readable instructions stored thereon which, if executed by a special purpose computing device, are adapted to enable said computing device to:

approximate one or more physical features of a geophysical entity;

maintain electronic records representative of information regarding a plurality of geophysical entity categories in a memory;

determine boundaries of a geo-fence based, at least in part, on said physical features of said geophysical entity when marked at a location, wherein the location is embodied in a data record maintained by the special purpose computing device, wherein the boundaries of the geo-fence exclude from the geo-fence areas overlapping an extended feature; and

select a particular category from among said geophysical entity categories associated with said geophysical entity, wherein said approximating is based, at least in part, on said particular category, and further wherein selecting the particular category is based on at least one map attribute.

18. The article of claim 17, wherein said machine-readable instructions, if executed by the computing platform, are further adapted to enable said special purpose computing device to select said particular category based, at least in part, on one or more attributes of a map of information.

19. The article of claim 17, wherein said geophysical entity categories are associated with at least one of a single family home, grade school, hospital, and/or construction zone.

20. The article of claim 19, wherein said map information comprises location and/or direction of an extended feature, an alley, a road, a highway, a freeway, and/or a body of water.

21. The article of claim 17, wherein said machine-readable instructions, if executed by a computing platform, are further adapted to enable said special purpose computing device to:

maintain in a memory a map of information regarding spatial objects proximate to said geophysical entity;

approximate boundaries of said geophysical entity based, at least in part, on said map information.

22. The article of claim 17, wherein said machine-readable instructions, if executed by a computing platform, are further adapted to enable said special purpose computing device to:

maintain in a memory information regarding locations of a plurality of geophysical entities that are along a geophysical extended feature that includes said geophysical entity;

approximate relative positions of adjacent addresses based, at least in part, on said locations.

23. The article of claim 17, wherein said one or more physical features of said geophysical entity comprise one or more boundaries of said geophysical entity.

24. A mobile device comprising:

a receiver to receive RF signals; and

a special purpose computing device coupled to the receiver adapted to operate in an RF environment to;

approximate one or more physical features by maintaining information regarding a plurality of geophysical entity categories in a memory;

selecting a particular category from among said geophysical entity categories associated with said geophysical entity, wherein said approximating is based, at least in part, on said particular category, and further wherein selecting the particular category is based on at least one map attribute;

approximate one or more physical features of a geophysical entity marked at a location, wherein the location is embodied in an electronic record maintained by the special purpose computing device, and wherein a data record is processed by said special purpose computing device to approximate said physical features; and

determine boundaries of a geo-fence based, at least in part, on said physical features of said geophysical entity at said location, wherein the boundaries of the geo-fence exclude areas overlapping an extended feature.

25. The mobile device of claim 24, wherein said selecting said particular category is based, at least in part, on one or more attributes of a map.

26. The mobile device of claim 24, wherein said geophysical entity categories are associated with at least one of a single family home, grade school, hospital, and/or construction zone.

27. The mobile device of claim 24, wherein said special purpose computing device is further adapted to operate in an RF environment to:

approximate one or more physical features by maintaining a map of information in a memory regarding spatial objects proximate to said geophysical entity, and by approximating boundaries of said geophysical entity based, at least in part, on said map information.

28. The mobile device of claim 27, wherein said map information comprises location and/or direction of an extended feature, an alley, a road, a highway, a freeway, and/or a body of water.

29. The mobile device of claim 24, wherein said special purpose computing device is further adapted to operate in an RF environment to:

approximate said one or more physical features by maintaining in a memory information regarding locations of a plurality of geophysical entities that are along a geophysical extended feature that includes said geophysical entity, and by approximating relative positions of adjacent addresses based, at least in part, on said locations.

30. The mobile device of claim 24, wherein said one or more physical features of said geophysical entity comprise one or more boundaries of said geophysical entity.

31. A device comprising:

a receiver to receive location information regarding a mobile device; and

a special purpose computing device adapted to;

approximate one or more physical features by maintaining information regarding a plurality of geophysical entity categories in a memory, and by selecting a particular category from among said geophysical entity categories associated with said geophysical entity, wherein said approximating is based, at least in part, on said particular category, and further wherein selecting the particular category is based on at least one map attribute;

approximate one or more physical features of a geophysical entity marked at a location, wherein the location is embodied in an electronic record maintained by said special purpose computing device, and wherein a data record is processed by said special purpose computing device to approximate said physical features; and

determine boundaries of a geo-fence based, at least in part, on said physical features of said geophysical entity at said location, wherein the boundaries of the geo-fence exclude areas overlapping an extended feature.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein said selecting said particular category is based, at least in part, on one or more attributes of a map.

33. The device of claim 31, wherein said geophysical entity categories are associated with at least one of a single family home, grade school, hospital, and/or construction zone.

34. The device of claim 31, wherein said special purpose computing device is further adapted to:

approximate one or more physical features by maintaining a map including information in a memory regarding spatial objects proximate to said geophysical entity, and by approximating boundaries of said geophysical entity based, at least in part, on said map information.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein said map information comprises location and/or direction of an extended feature, an alley, a road, a highway, a freeway, and/or a body of water.

36. The device of claim 31, wherein said special purpose computing device is further adapted to:

approximate said one or more physical features by maintaining in a memory information regarding locations of a plurality of geophysical entities that are along a geophysical extended feature that includes said geophysical entity, and by approximating relative positions of adjacent addresses based, at least in part, on said locations.

37. The device of claim 31, wherein said one or more physical features of said geophysical entity comprise one or more boundaries of said geophysical entity.