Methods and systems for driver identification

1. A method of determining a position of a mobile device in a vehicle, the method comprising:

obtaining accelerometer data collected using an accelerometer in the mobile device;

obtaining angular orientation data collected using a gyroscope in the mobile device;

determining a first time span associated with a user of the mobile device entering the vehicle;

determining an entry side for the mobile device based on angular orientation data collected during the first time span, wherein determining the entry side of the mobile device comprises:

providing acceleration data and yaw data, wherein a y-axis of the mobile device is aligned to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and an x-axis of the mobile device is aligned to a transverse axis that is perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and acceleration due to gravity;

selecting a subset of the provided acceleration data and yaw data, wherein the subset is associated with the first time span;

predicting the entry side for the mobile device using the subset and an integral method, wherein the integrated method comprises:

determining a sign of an integral of the subset projected onto the x-axis of the mobile device and calculated over the first time span;

predicting that the mobile device enters on the right side of the vehicle if the sign of the integral of the subset is positive;

predicting that the mobile device enters on the left side of the vehicle if the sign of the integral of the subset is negative;

selecting a second subset of the provided acceleration data and yaw data, wherein the second subset is associated with the second time span;

determining a sign of an integral of the second subset projected onto the x-axis of the mobile device and calculated over the second time span;

predicting that the mobile device exits on the left side of the vehicle if the sign of the integral of the second subset is positive; and

predicting that the mobile device exits on the right side of the vehicle if the sign of the integral of the second subset is negative;

selecting a second subset of the provided acceleration data and yaw data, wherein the second subset is associated with a driving time of the driving event; and

predicting a transverse position of the mobile device in the vehicle during the driving tine using a centripetal acceleration method;

detecting an acceleration event;

aligning the mobile device to a reference frame of the vehicle;

determining a front/back location of the mobile device;

detecting a braking event;

determining a second time span associated with the user of the mobile device exiting the vehicle;

determining an exit side for the mobile device based on angular orientation data collected during the

second time span; and

determining the position of the mobile device during at least a portion of a driving event occurring between the first time span and the second time span.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining at least one of the entry side for the mobile device or the exit side for the mobile device comprises measuring a yaw value for the mobile device associated with the first time span or the second time span.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein measuring the yaw value comprises:

obtaining rotation data collected using the gyroscope in the mobile device, wherein the rotation data is with respect to a vector aligned with acceleration due to gravity; and

detecting a rotation in an x-y plane orthogonal to the vector aligned with acceleration due to gravity, wherein the rotation is greater than a predetermined threshold.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein measuring the yaw value comprises:

obtaining rotation data collected using the gyroscope in the mobile device, wherein the rotation data is with respect to a vector aligned with acceleration due to gravity; and

detecting a rotation in an x-y plane orthogonal to the vector aligned with acceleration due to gravity, wherein the rotation is characterized by a pattern associated with user entry.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein predicting at least one of the entry side or the exit side comprises computing a weighted combination of predictions resulting from a plurality of a vector-product-based method, an integral method, or a seatbelt-based method.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein predicting the transverse position of the mobile device comprises computing a weighted combination of at least a plurality of a yaw method, a centripetal acceleration method, a vector product method, or an integral method.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the front/back location of the vehicle comprises:

obtaining acceleration data associated with a driving time of the driving event, the driving event being characterized by an initial entry signal and a terminal exit signal; and

determining a longitudinal position of the mobile device in the vehicle based on at least one of a bump detection method and a paired Y,Z acceleration method.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein determining the longitudinal position of the mobile device in the vehicle comprises computing a weighted combination of the bump detection method and the paired Y,Z acceleration method.