Utilization of the approximate location of a device determined from ambient signals
US7202816B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 2003 |
| Grant date | Apr 10, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 26, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG08G1/096775
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention employs approximate device locations determined from changes in the sensed strength of radio signals at different locations. In one instance of the invention, the approximate device locations are based on inference procedures that are used to process ambient commercial radio signals, to estimate a location or a probability distribution over the locations of a device. In another instance of the invention, approximate device locations derived from learning and inference methods that are applied to rank vector of signal strength vectors are utilized. Moving to such rank orderings leads to methods that bypass consideration of absolute signal strengths in location calculations. The invention utilizes approximations for a device location that is based on a method that does not require a substantial number of available ambient signal strengths while still providing useful location inferences in determining locations. Several location-centric services are supported, including receipt of location-specific information such as traffic reports, emergency information, transmission about device location, and time-sensitive promotions such as discounts offered by businesses …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.