System and method for snapping a user location to a landmark of known location

1. A computer-implemented method for determining the location of a mobile electronic device, comprising:

obtaining an initial estimated location of the mobile electronic device determined using a location determination method (LDM);

determining an existence of a cluster of multiple previously visited landmarks, the cluster of previously visited landmarks being located proximate to the initial estimated location, the cluster of previously visited landmarks including more than a threshold number of previously visited landmarks;

calculating a distance to the cluster;

selecting a landmark associated with the cluster based, at least in part, on the existence of the cluster of previously visited landmarks; and

providing a known location of the selected landmark associated with the cluster as the location of the mobile electronic device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining an accuracy of the LDM; and

basing the determination of the cluster of previously visited landmarks on the determined accuracy of the LDM.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein the cluster of previously visited landmarks is located at least partially within an accuracy perimeter associated with the LDM.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining an initial set of landmarks based on the initial estimated location;

for each landmark in the initial set of landmarks, determining a first likelihood that the mobile electronic device is located about that landmark according to a first algorithm that involves existence of a cluster of previously visited landmarks;

for each landmark in the initial set of landmarks, determining a second likelihood that the mobile electronic device is located about that landmark according to a different second algorithm;

for each landmark in the initial set of landmarks, aggregating the first likelihood and the second likelihood in calculating an aggregated corresponding likelihood that the mobile electronic device is located about that landmark; and

selecting the selected landmark from the initial set of landmarks based on the is aggregated corresponding likelihoods.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the step of aggregating further comprises:

computing a weighted average of the first likelihood and the second likelihood.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein selecting a landmark from the initial set of landmarks further comprises:

determining a confidence in the selected landmark; and

in response to the confidence, either automatically using the selected landmark or prompting a user for input.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein determining a second likelihood that the mobile electronic device is located about that landmark according to a different second algorithm further comprises:

calculating a distance from the initial estimated location to that landmark; and

basing the corresponding second likelihood of that landmark, at least in part, on the calculated distance from the initial estimated location to that landmark.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein determining a second likelihood that the mobile electronic device is located about that landmark according to a different second algorithm further comprises:

determining a landmark type for that landmark;

identifying a cluster of previously visited landmarks of the landmark type;

comparing a time associated with that landmark to a time associated with a cluster center of the cluster; and

basing the corresponding second likelihood of that landmark, at least in part, on the comparison.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein determining the second likelihood that the mobile electronic device is located about that landmark according to the different second algorithm further comprises:

determining a landmark type for that landmark;

identifying previously visited landmarks of the landmark type;

comparing a time associated with that landmark to times associated with the previously visited landmarks; and

basing the corresponding second likelihood of that landmark, at least in part, on the comparison.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein determining the second likelihood that the mobile electronic device is located about that landmark according to the different second algorithm further comprises:

determining a landmark type for that landmark;

associating that landmark with business hours;

comparing a time associated with the initial estimated location to the business hours; and

basing the corresponding second likelihood of that landmark, at least in part, on the comparison.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the mobile electronic device was within a same vicinity for at least a certain period of time; and

in response thereto, preempting use of the landmark associated with the cluster as the selected landmark, and providing a last known location of the mobile electronic device as the location of the mobile electronic device.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the mobile electronic device was within a same vicinity and at least a particular number of last known user-selected locations are identical; and

in response thereto, preempting use of the landmark associated with the cluster as the selected landmark, and providing a last known location of the mobile electronic device as the location of the mobile electronic device.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the LDM is the Assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS).

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the mobile electronic device is a cellular telephone.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the location of the mobile electronic device is provided to a location based service (LBS) that provides at least one of location-specific information, location-specific notifications and location-specific interactive capabilities to a user.

16. An apparatus for determining the location of a mobile electronic device, comprising:

a server capable of communicating with the mobile electronic device, the server executing a location determination application operable to,

determine an existence of a cluster of multiple previously visited landmarks, the cluster of previously visited landmarks being located proximate to an initial estimated location of the mobile electronic device, the cluster of previously visited landmarks including more than a threshold number of previously visited landmarks,

calculate a distance to the cluster,

select a landmark associated with the cluster based, at least in part, on the existence of the cluster of previously visited landmarks, and

provide a location of the selected landmark associated with the cluster as the location of the mobile electronic device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the location determination application is configured to determine an initial set of landmarks based on the initial estimated location, and the location determination application further comprises a modular likelihood engine having,

a first module configured to determine a first likelihood that the mobile electronic device is located about a particular landmark by using a first algorithm that involves existence of a cluster of previously visited landmarks,

a second module configured to determine a second likelihood that the mobile electronic device is located about the particular landmark by using a to second different algorithm, and

an aggregation engine configured to combine the first likelihood and the second likelihood to calculate an aggregated corresponding likelihood that the mobile electronic device is located about the particular landmark.

18. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for execution on a processor for determining the location of a mobile electronic device, the instructions operable to:

receive an initial estimated location of the mobile electronic device determined by a location determination method (LDM);

calculate a cluster of multiple previously visited landmarks, the cluster of previously visited landmarks being located proximate to the initial estimated location, the cluster of previously visited landmarks including more than a threshold number of previously visited landmarks;

calculate a distance to the cluster;

select a landmark associated with the cluster based, at least in part, on the existence of the cluster of previously visited landmarks;

associate the selected landmark with the mobile electronic device; and

provide the location of the associated landmark.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 further comprising instructions operable to:

determine an accuracy of the LDM; and

base the calculation of the cluster of previously visited landmarks on the determined accuracy of the LDM.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 further comprising instructions operable to:

determine an initial set of landmarks based on the initial estimated location;

determine a first likelihood that the mobile electronic device is located about a particular landmark according to a first algorithm that involves existence of a cluster of previously visited landmarks;

determine a second likelihood that the mobile electronic device is located about the particular landmark according to a second different algorithm;

aggregate the first likelihood and the second likelihood in calculating an aggregated corresponding likelihood that the mobile electronic device is located about the particular landmark; and

select the selected landmark from the initial set of landmarks based on the aggregated corresponding likelihoods.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20 wherein the instructions operable to determine the second likelihood that the mobile electronic device is located about the particular landmark according to the different second algorithm further comprise instructions operable to:

calculate a distance from the initial estimated location to the particular landmark; and

base the corresponding second likelihood for the particular landmark, at least in part, on the calculated distance from the initial estimated location to the particular landmark.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20 wherein the instructions operable to determine the second likelihood that the mobile electronic device is located about the particular landmark according to the different second algorithm further comprise instructions operable to:

determine a landmark type for the particular landmark;

identify a cluster of previously visited landmarks of the landmark type;

compare a time associated with the particular landmark to a time associated with a cluster center of the cluster; and

basing the corresponding second likelihood for the particular landmark, at least in part, on the comparison.

23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20 wherein the instructions operable to determine the second likelihood that the mobile electronic device is located about the particular landmark according to the different second algorithm further comprise instructions operable to:

determine a landmark type for the particular landmark;

identify previously visited landmarks of the landmark type;

compare a time associated with the particular landmark to times associated with the previously visited landmarks; and

base the corresponding second likelihood for the particular landmark, at least in part, on the comparison.

24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20 wherein the instructions operable to determine the second likelihood that the mobile electronic device is located about the particular landmark according to the different second algorithm further comprise instructions operable to:

determine a landmark type for the particular landmark;

associate the particular landmark with business hours;

compare a time associated with the initial estimated location to the business hours; and

base the corresponding second likelihood for the particular landmark, at least in part, on the comparison.

25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 further comprising instructions operable to:

determine the mobile electronic device was within a same vicinity for at least a certain period of time; and

in response thereto, preempt use of the landmark associated with the cluster as the selected landmark, and provide a last known location of the mobile electronic device as the location of the mobile electronic device.

26. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 further comprising instructions operable to:

determine the mobile electronic device was within a same vicinity and at least a particular number of last known user-selected locations are identical; and

in response thereto, preempt use of the landmark associated with the cluster as the selected landmark, and provide a last known location of the mobile electronic device as the location of the mobile electronic device.