Navigation using short-range transmissions
A network system uses Wi-Fi signals or other types of short-range transmissions to determine navigation to pickup locations for users receiving services provided via the network system. In an embodiment, the network system builds a database of reference signatures of short-range transmissions previously detected by client devices of users at a geographical region, where the reference signatures are mapped to corresponding locations of the geographical region. By comparing a signature detected by a particular user's client device to the reference signatures, the network system may check for similarities between the short-range transmissions. Responsive to finding a match, the network system determines a current location of the particular user at the geographical region. Accordingly, by leveraging the database, the network system may determine a route for travel by the particular user from the current location to a pickup location without having to use GPS signals.
1. A method for providing routing using short-range transmissions, the method comprising:
retrieving a signature of short-range transmission detected by a particular client device of a particular user of a network system;
determining, using one or more processors, a current location of the particular client device by comparing the retrieved signature to reference signatures of short-range transmissions received from client devices of a plurality of users of the network system, each reference signature associated with a location;
determining, using the one or more processors, a route for travel by the particular user from the current location to a pickup location via an intermediate location for a start of a service provided via the network system, at least one of the reference signatures associated with the intermediate location; and
providing at least part of the route to the particular client device for presentation.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a subsequent signature of short-range transmission detected by the particular client device after providing the at least part of the route to the particular client device for presentation;
determining that the particular user arrived at the intermediate location by comparing the subsequent signature to the at least one of the reference signatures; and
providing an updated part of the route to the particular client device for presentation.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining that the particular user arrived at the intermediate location comprises determining that the particular client device is located within a threshold distance from the intermediate location based on the comparison.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a request for the service from the particular client device;
receiving another signature of short-range transmission detected by a second client device of a second user of the plurality of users, the second user selected by the network system to provide the service to the particular user in response to receiving the request;
determining that the second user arrived at the pickup location by comparing the other signature to the at least one of the reference signatures; and
providing an indication that the second client device has arrived at the pickup location to the second client device for presentation.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a subsequent signature of short-range transmission detected by the particular client device after providing the at least part of the route to the particular client device for presentation;
determining that the particular client device arrived at a deviated location by comparing the subsequent signature to the reference signatures; and
providing an indication that the particular client device has deviated from the route to the particular client device for presentation.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the current location of the particular client device does not use global positioning system (GPS) data.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving location data from a sensor of the particular client device; and
wherein determining the current location of the particular client device further comprises processing the location data.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a hotspot location of a plurality of candidate hotspot locations as the pickup location, each of the candidate hotspot locations previously selected at least a threshold number of times for services provided via the network system; and
wherein determining the route for travel by the particular user is based on a plurality of routes previously traveled by a subset of the plurality of users to the hotspot location.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the current location of the particular client device further comprises identifying a floor of a plurality of floors of a building in which the particular client device is located.
10. A method for providing routing using short-range transmissions, the method comprising:
retrieving a signature of short-range transmission detected by a particular client device of a particular user of a network system;
determining, using one or more processors, a current location of the particular client device by comparing the retrieved signature to reference signatures of short-range transmissions received from client devices of a plurality of users of the network system;
providing at least part of a route from the current location to a pickup location via an intermediate location to the particular client device for presentation;
receiving a subsequent signature of short-range transmission detected by the particular client device after providing the at least part of the route to the particular client device for presentation;
determining that the particular user arrived at the intermediate location by comparing the subsequent signature to the reference signatures; and
providing an updated part of the route to the particular client device for presentation.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining the current location of the particular client device does not use global positioning system (GPS) data.
12. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
retrieve a signature of short-range transmission detected by a particular client device of a particular user of a network system;
determine a current location of the particular client device by comparing the retrieved signature to reference signatures of short-range transmissions received from client devices of a plurality of users of the network system, each reference signature associated with a location;
determine a route for travel by the particular user from the current location to a pickup location via an intermediate location for a start of a service provided via the network system, at least one of the reference signatures associated with the intermediate location; and
provide at least part of the route to the particular client device for presentation.
13. The computer program product of claim 12 , the non-transitory computer readable storage medium having further instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:
receive a subsequent signature of short-range transmission detected by the particular client device after providing the at least part of the route to the particular client device for presentation;
determine that the particular user arrived at the intermediate location by comparing the subsequent signature to the at least one of the reference signatures; and
provide an updated part of the route to the particular client device for presentation.
14. The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein determining that the particular user arrived at the intermediate location comprises determining that the particular client device is located within a threshold distance from the intermediate location based on the comparison.
15. The computer program product of claim 12 , the non-transitory computer readable storage medium having further instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:
receive a request for the service from the particular client device;
receive another signature of short-range transmission detected by a second client device of a second user of the plurality of users, the second user selected by the network system to provide the service to the particular user in response to receiving the request;
determine that the second user arrived at the pickup location by comparing the other signature to the at least one of the reference signatures; and
provide an indication that the second client device has arrived at the pickup location to the second client device for presentation.
16. The computer program product of claim 12 , the non-transitory computer readable storage medium having further instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:
receive a subsequent signature of short-range transmission detected by the particular client device after providing the at least part of the route to the particular client device for presentation;
determine that the particular client device arrived at a deviated location by comparing the subsequent signature to the reference signatures; and
provide an indication that the particular client device has deviated from the route to the particular client device for presentation.
17. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein determining the current location of the particular client device does not use global positioning system (GPS) data.
18. The computer program product of claim 12 , the non-transitory computer readable storage medium having further instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:
receive location data from a sensor of the particular client device; and
wherein determining the current location of the particular client device further comprises processing the location data.
19. The computer program product of claim 12 , the non-transitory computer readable storage medium having further instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:
determine a hotspot location of a plurality of candidate hotspot locations as the pickup location, each of the candidate hotspot locations previously selected at least a threshold number of times for services provided via the network system; and
wherein determining the route for travel by the particular user is based on a plurality of routes previously traveled by a subset of the plurality of users to the hotspot location.
20. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein determining the current location of the particular client device further comprises identifying a floor of a plurality of floors of a building in which the particular client device is located.