METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CROWD- SOURCED MAP FEATURE UPDATING

1 . A method, executed in a processor of a server computing device, of updating a map feature, the method comprising:

receiving, from a mobile device, a request for update of a map feature of a map of an indoor area, the map feature specifying at least one of an image and a text name associated with an entity in the indoor area, the request relating to an inaccuracy associated with the map feature;

in response to the receiving, generating a request for a location estimate of the mobile device in the indoor area;

receiving the location estimate from the mobile device requesting for update of the map feature;

comparing, using the processor, a location corresponding to the map feature in the map with the location estimate of the mobile device that requests the update;

using the processor, validating the request for update based on a threshold confidence level associated with the location estimate and the based on the comparing, the threshold confidence level being associated with a degree of accuracy of the location estimate of the mobile device; and

when a threshold number of requests for update from a plurality of mobile devices including the mobile device are validated, updating the map feature in a memory of the server computing device.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is a first mobile device, and further comprising deploying the updated map to the first mobile device and at least a second mobile device.

3 . (canceled)

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the updating further includes a time-decay based system whereby the validated requests that are more recent in time are accorded a higher weighting than earlier validated requests.

5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the localizing comprises location coordinate information and floor number information for the mobile device within a multi-floor building.

6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the request for update specifies at least one of the image and the text name associated with at least one of a business entity and a landmark within the multi-floor building.

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the localizing is based on at least one of a magnetic field strength and direction, a received wireless communication signal strength, a wireless connectivity indication and a barometric pressure in accordance with fingerprint data of the multi-floor building.

8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the fingerprint data includes respective time-stamps whereby the magnetic field strength and direction, the received wireless signal strength, the wireless connectivity indication and the barometric pressure are time-correlated in accordance with the respective time-stamps.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the localizing comprises a coordinate location having a probabilistic estimate expressed as a confidence level.

10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the threshold confidence level ranges from 80 percent to 95 percent.

11 . A server computing device for updating a map feature, the server computing device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory including instructions executable in the processor to:

receive, from a mobile device, a request for update of a map feature of a map of an indoor area, the map feature specifying at least one of an image and a text name associated with an entity in the indoor area, the request relating to an inaccuracy associated with the map feature;

in response to generating a request for a location estimate of the mobile device in the indoor area, receive the location estimate from the mobile device requesting for update of the map feature;

compare a location corresponding to the map feature in the map with the location estimate of the mobile device that requests the update;

validate the request for update based on a threshold confidence level associated with the location estimate and based on the comparing, the threshold confidence level being associated with a degree of accuracy of the location estimate of the mobile device; and

when a threshold number of requests for update from a plurality of mobile devices including the mobile device are validated, update the map feature in the memory of the server computing device.

12 . The server computing device of claim 11 wherein the mobile device is a first mobile device, and further comprising deploying the updated map to the first mobile device and at least a second mobile device.

13 . (canceled)

14 . The server computing device of claim 11 wherein the update of the map feature further includes a time-decay based system whereby the validated requests that are more recent in time are accorded a higher weighting than earlier validated requests.

15 . The server computing device of claim 11 wherein the localization comprises location coordinate information and floor number information for the mobile device within a multi-floor building.

16 . The server computing device of claim 15 wherein the request for update specifies at least one of the image and the text name associated with at least one of a business entity and a landmark within the multi-floor building.

17 . The server computing device of claim 11 wherein the localizing is based on at least one of a magnetic field strength and direction, a received wireless communication signal strength, a wireless connectivity indication and a barometric pressure in accordance with fingerprint data of the multi-floor building.

18 . The server computing device of claim 17 wherein the fingerprint data includes respective time-stamps whereby the magnetic field strength and direction, the received wireless signal strength, the wireless connectivity indication and the barometric pressure are time-correlated in accordance with the respective time-stamps.

19 . The server computing device of claim 11 wherein the localizing comprises a coordinate location having a probabilistic estimate expressed as a confidence level.

20 . The server computing device of claim 19 wherein the threshold confidence level ranges from 80 percent to 95 percent.