Methods and apparatus for altitude-based geofencing

1. A method of three-dimensional geofencing performed utilizing a user-carried mobile device including a processor, at least one sensor, and a memory containing software instructions executed by the processor, the method comprising:

receiving, via the user-carried mobile device, user input defining a virtual boundary in a three-dimensional geographical space, the virtual boundary including lateral position parameters and an altitude parameter;

further receiving, via the user-carried mobile device, user input defining a boundary-related event and an action to be triggered based on the position of the user-carried mobile device with respect to the virtual boundary;

estimating the position of the user-carried mobile device based on lateral position values and an altitude value associated with the user-carried mobile device, as estimated utilizing the at least one sensor; and

performing the action or causing the action to be performed, via user-carried the mobile device, if it is determined that the position of the user-carried mobile device triggers the boundary-related event;

wherein performing comprises causing an environmental aspect of a user residence, which is located in a multistory building, to be modified based at least in part on when the user-carried mobile device is located on a particular floor of the multistory building; and

wherein causing an environmental aspect of the user residence to be modified comprises at least one of: (i) causing a door of the user residence to automatically lock, (ii) causing an appliance located in the user's residence to be turned on or off, and (iii) causing a thermostat located in the user residence to change setting.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein estimating the position of the user-carried mobile device comprises determining at least one of the velocity and acceleration of the user-carried mobile device within the three-dimensional geographical space utilizing the at least one sensor;

wherein further receiving comprises further receiving, via the user-carried mobile device, user input defining the boundary-related event based on the velocity and/or acceleration of the user-carried mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual boundary is a geosphere defined by a central point and a radius value.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual boundary is defined by a substantially planar closed curve extending a predetermined height.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the altitude value is estimated by the processor of the user-carried mobile device based on a received signal strength indicator value derived from a wireless connection between the user-carried mobile device and an access point associated therewith, as estimated utilizing the at least one sensor.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a barometer, an altimeter, and an accelerometer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processor of the user-carried mobile device estimates the altitude value based, at least in part, on radio frequency identification signals received by the at least one sensor.

8. A three-dimensional geofencing system, the system comprising:

a trackable object; and

a computing device including a processor and a memory, the memory including software instructions configured to cause the processor to:

receive, via the computing device, user input defining a virtual boundary in a three-dimensional geographical space, the virtual boundary having a center, lateral position parameters, and an altitude parameter;

further receive, via the computing device, user input defining a boundary-related event and an action to be triggered based on the position of a trackable object with respect to the virtual boundary;

estimate the position of the trackable object based on lateral position values and an altitude value associated with the trackable object; and

perform the action when the computing device determines that the position of the trackable object triggers the boundary-related event;

wherein performing comprises causing an environmental aspect of a user residence, which is located in a multistory building, to be modified based at least in part on when the user-carried mobile device is located on a particular floor of the multistory building; and

wherein causing an environmental aspect of the user residence to be modified comprises at least one of: (i) causing a door of the user residence to automatically lock, (ii) causing an appliance located in the user's residence to be turned on or off, and (iii) causing a thermostat located in the user residence to change setting.

9. The three-dimensional geofencing system of claim 8 , wherein the computing device is configured to determine at least one of the velocity and acceleration of the trackable object within the three-dimensional geographical space and to define the boundary-related event based on the velocity and/or acceleration of the trackable object.

10. The three-dimensional geofencing system of claim 8 , wherein the virtual boundary is defined by a substantially planar closed curve extending a predetermined height.

11. The three-dimensional geofencing system of claim 8 , wherein the altitude value is determined by the trackable object and transmitted to the computing device.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the altitude value is estimated based at least one of a WiFi received signal strength indicator value and a radio frequency identification signal.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the altitude value is estimated via at least one of a barometer, an altimeter, and an accelerometer located within the trackable object.

14. Non-transitory computer-readable media including software instructions that cause a processor to perform the steps of:

defining a virtual boundary in a three-dimensional geographical space, the virtual boundary having a center lateral position parameters, and an altitude parameter;

defining a boundary-related event and an action to be triggered based on the position of a trackable object with respect to the virtual boundary;

estimating the position of the trackable object based on lateral position values and an altitude value associated with the trackable object; and

performing the action if it is determined that the position of the trackable object triggers the boundary-related event;

wherein performing comprises causing an environmental aspect of a user residence, which is located in a multistory building, to be modified based at least in part on when the user-carried mobile device is located on a particular floor of the multistory building; and

wherein causing an environmental aspect of the user residence to be modified comprises at least one of: (i) causing a door of the user residence to automatically lock, (ii) causing an appliance located in the user's residence to be turned on or off, and (iii) causing a thermostat located in the user residence to change setting.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

when defining the virtual boundary in the three-dimensional geographical space, determining a present location of the user-carried mobile device utilizing the at least one sensor; and

utilizing the present location of the user-carried mobile device to define the center of the virtual boundary.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

when defining the virtual boundary in the three-dimensional geographical space, determining a present location of the user-carried mobile device utilizing the at least one sensor; and

utilizing the present location of the user-carried mobile device to define a vertex on a polygon defining the virtual boundary.