Location tagging
A method and system for verifying an indoor position using Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), access points (AP), and Assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS). The goal of this method is to determine if a user is in the place where he claims to be by using a mobile device. When a user wants his location to be verified he activates a scanning process on his mobile device that reads all the requested signals (WLAN, A-GPS). When the recording process is complete the information is sent to a server where it is processed and the user location is either confirmed to be true or false.
1. A method comprising:
using a mobile terminal to send approximate location information to a check-in service;
receiving at the mobile terminal, a list of locations from the check in service based on the approximate location information;
sending, via the mobile terminal, location specific check-in information and Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information to the check-in service; and
receiving at the mobile terminal, a notification of successful check-in from the check-in service if the approximate location information, the location specific check-in information, and the Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information are verified by a verification service,
wherein sending Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information to the check-in service further comprises:
receiving Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint signal strength information from a plurality of access points;
ordering and scaling the signal strength information from the plurality of access points according to a pre-defined scale; and
sending the ordered and scaled Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information to the check-in service.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the notification of successful check-in from the check-in service comprises receiving a coupon for a merchant associated with the location specific check-in information.
3. An apparatus comprising:
a positioning device for determining an approximate location of the apparatus;
a Wi-Fi scanner for receiving Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information;
a transmitter configured for sending location specific check-in information, the approximate location data, and Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information to a check-in service; and
a receiver configured for receiving from the check-in service a list of locations based on the approximate location information and a notification of successful check-in from the check-in service if the approximate location information, the location specific check-in information, and the Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information are verified by a verification service,
wherein the Wi-Fi scanner is configured to receive Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint strength information from a plurality of access points, the apparatus further comprising:
a controller having a memory in communication with a processor, the memory including program instructions for execution by the processor to:
order and scale the signal strength information from the plurality of access points according to a pre-defined scale; and
send the ordered and scaled Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information to the check-in service.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the receiver is further configured for receiving the notification of successful check-in with a coupon for a merchant associated with the location specific check-in information.
5. A method comprising:
receiving at a verification server, approximate location information of a terminal;
sending from a verification server, a list of locations to the terminal based on the approximate location information;
receiving at the verification server, location specific check-in information and Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information from the terminal; and
using the verification server to send a notification of successful check-in to the terminal if the approximate location information, the location specific check in information, and the location specific Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information are verified by a verification service;
wherein receiving Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information from the terminal comprises receiving WI-FI RSSI fingerprint signal strength information from a plurality of access points that has been ordered and scaled according the a pre-defined scale.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising sending the notification of successful check-in to a merchant associated with the location specific check-in information.
7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
storing the location specific Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information in a database;
comparing the location specific Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information with previously received Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information for the same location;
grouping similar Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information; and
discarding outlying Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving and storing additional location specific Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information from a merchant associated with the location check-in information.
9. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
storing the location specific Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information in a database;
determining that no other Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information has been previously stored for the location; and
accepting the location specific Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information as valid upon receiving the location specific Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information from a predetermined number of other terminals.
10. A verification server comprising:
a communications interface;
a controller having a memory in communication with a processor, the memory including program instructions for execution by the processor to cause the verification server to:
receive, via the communications interface, approximate location information of a terminal;
determine a list of locations to send to the terminal based on the approximate location information;
receive, via the communications interface, location specific check-in information and Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information from the terminal;
verify the approximate location information, the location specific check in information, and the location specific Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information; and
send, via the communications interface, a notification of successful check-in to the terminal,
wherein receiving, via the communications interface, Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information from the terminal comprises receiving Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint signal strength information from a plurality of access points that has been ordered and scaled according to a pre-defined scale.
11. The verification server of claim 10 , wherein the memory includes program instructions for execution by the processor to cause the verification server to send the notification of successful check-in to a merchant associated with the location specific check-in information.
12. The verification server of claim 10 , wherein the memory includes program instructions for execution by the processor to cause the verification server to:
store the location specific Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information in a database;
compare the location specific Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information with previously received Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information for the same location;
group similar Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information; and
discard outlying Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information.
13. The verification server of claim 12 , wherein the memory includes program instructions for execution by the processor to cause the verification server to receive and store additional location specific Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information from a merchant associated with the location check-in information.
14. The verification server of claim 10 , wherein the memory includes program instructions for execution by the processor to cause the verification server to:
store the location specific Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information in a database;
determine that no other Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information has been previously stored for the location; and
accept the location specific Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information as valid upon receiving the location specific Wi-Fi RSSI fingerprint information from a predetermined number of other terminals.