SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION IN A HYBRID POSITIONING SYSTEM
This disclosure describes systems and methods for using environmental information in a hybrid positioning system. Some embodiments relate to a method for determining the position of a WLAN and satellite positioning system enabled device using characteristics of the environment in which the device is located, the method can include detecting WLAN APs in range of the device, obtaining environmental characteristics from a reference database based on the WLAN APs detected by the device, and determining whether to use the WLAN or satellite positioning system based on the environmental characteristics.
1 . A method for determining the position of a WLAN and satellite positioning system enabled device using characteristics of the environment in which the device is located, the method comprising:
detecting WLAN APs in range of the device;
obtaining environmental characteristics from a reference database based on the WLAN APs detected by the device; and
determining whether to use the WLAN or satellite positioning system based on the environmental characteristics.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the environmental characteristics are selected from the group consisting of density of buildings near the AP, height of buildings near the AP, and whether the AP is located in an urban canyon, urban location, or suburban location.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein if the device is determined to be in an urban canyon, the device will determine its position based on the WLAN positioning system alone.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein if the device is determined to be in a suburban location, the device will determine its position based on the satellite positioning system alone.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the environmental characteristics are used by the satellite positioning system to select a method to estimate location of the device.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the environmental characteristics are used by the WLAN positioning system to select a method to estimate location of the device.
7 . A user device having a hybrid positioning system for determining the location of a device using characteristics of the environment in which the device is located, the system comprising:
a positioning module comprising:
a WLAN module for receiving information from one or more WLAN access points, including environmental characteristics; and
a satellite positioning module for obtaining satellite information; and
logic located in the positioning module for determining whether to use the WLAN or satellite positioning system based on the environmental characteristics.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the environmental characteristics are selected from the group consisting of density of buildings near the AP, height of buildings near the AP, and whether the AP is located in an urban canyon, urban location, or suburban location.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein if the device is determined to be in an urban canyon, the device will determine its position based on the WLAN positioning system alone.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein if the device is determined to be in a suburban location, the device will determine its position based on the satellite positioning system alone.
11 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the environmental characteristics are used by the satellite positioning system to select a method to estimate location of the device.
12 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the environmental characteristics are used by the WLAN positioning system to select a method to estimate location of the device.