Altitude detection by smartphone without using GPS information
Systems and methods are provided for determining that the device is not reporting precise location information, based on output from one or more sensors determining that the device is located indoors and determining the altitude of the device. Based on the determination that the device is located indoors, suspending precise location services until it is determined that the device is back outdoors.
1 . A method for determining an altitude of a user device, the method comprising:
determining that the user device is not reporting precise location information to a wireless communications network;
receiving sensor data from one or more sensors associated with the user device;
determining, using the sensor data, the altitude of the user device;
determining, using the sensor data from the one or more sensors, that the user device is located indoors; and
based on determining that the user device is located indoors, suspending precise location services by ceasing transmission of precise location information.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising communicating the altitude of the user device to emergency responders to locate the user device in an emergency.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising communicating the altitude of the user device to a mobile network operator for modification of service.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising based on the altitude of the user device, determining that a new cell tower is needed at a location corresponding to the user device.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise an air pressure sensor.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the air pressure sensor is configured to determine that an air pressure is within a predetermined range over a predetermined amount of time.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the air pressure sensor takes multiple measurements over a predetermined amount of time, and based on a change of air pressure, determines the altitude of the user device.
8 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-usable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the processors to:
determine that a user device is not receiving precise location information from a wireless communications network;
send sensor data to the wireless communications network, the sensor data from one or more sensors associated with the user device;
determine, using the sensor data, an altitude of the user device;
determine, using the sensor data from the one or more sensors, that the user device is located indoors; and
based on determining that the user device is located indoors, suspending precise location services at the user device.
9 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the one or more sensors are communicatively coupled to the user device.
10 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein upon detecting the user device is indoors, the sensor data uses an air pressure sensor and determines the user device is on a ground floor.
11 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the air pressure sensor takes multiple readings while the user device is indoors to detect a change in air pressure.
12 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , further comprising communicating the altitude of the user device to a mobile network operator for modification of service.
13 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , further comprising determining that a new cell tower is needed at a location corresponding to the user device.
14 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , further comprising based on the altitude of the user device, determining that a new cell tower is needed at a location corresponding to the user device.
15 . A system for determining a location of a user device, the system comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more non-transitory computer storage hardware devices storing computer-usable instructions that, when used by the one of more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
using data from one or more sensors associated with the user device to determine that the user device is located indoors;
based on the determination that the user device is located indoors, using the data from the one or more sensors associated with the user device to determine an altitude of the user device; and
based on determining that the user device is located indoors, suspending precise location services at the user device.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors are further caused to communicate the altitude of the user device to emergency responders to locate the user device in an emergency.
17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors are further caused to communicate the altitude of the user device to a mobile network operator for modification of service.
18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors are further caused to, based on the altitude of the user device, determine whether a new cell tower is needed at a location corresponding to the user device.
19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein, the one or more sensors comprise an air pressure sensor.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the air pressure sensor takes multiple measurements over a predetermined amount of time, and based on a change of air pressure, determines the altitude of the user device.