IP Library Granted Patent US 10,582,337
Granted Patent B1
US 10,582,337 · App. 16/535,516 · Granted Mar 3, 2020

Robotics for indoor data curation

Inventors: Xuelian Long (Lexington, MA); Weiyi Wu (Malden, MA)
Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
H04W4/023H04W4/025H04W4/029
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,582,337
App. No.
16/535,516
Granted
Mar 3, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

Particular embodiments of a mobile device periodically detect signals transmitted by multiple fixed-location signal sources within a bounded area. A signal-location mapping is created based on the detected signals and their signal strength levels at the relative positions of the mobile computing device within the bounded area. The signal-location mapping may be created by generating a spatial distribution of signal strengths throughout the bounded area. Once the signal-location mapping has been created, particular embodiments may identify a relative position of a second mobile computing device with respect to the environment using the map of spatial distribution of signal strengths in accordance with a detected second spatial distribution of signal strengths.

Claims (37)

1. A method comprising:

by a computer server machine, receiving a location request from a mobile device, the location request comprising a list of detected signals at a particular location within a bounded area and signal strength values for each of the detected signals, the location request further comprising image data captured by the mobile device at the particular location;

by the computer server machine, identifying the particular location of the mobile device by comparing the list of detected signals and the signal strength values to a mapping of signals to locations;

by the computer server machine, calibrating the particular location of the mobile device based on a movement of the mobile device, wherein the movement of the mobile device is determined by analyzing the image data captured by the mobile device; and

by the computer server machine, providing, to the mobile device, a response to the location request, wherein the response comprises information associated with the particular location.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location request further comprises motion data detected by the mobile device, and wherein the motion data is detected by various motion sensors including one or more of a compass, an accelerometer, an altimeter, a camera sensor, and a gyroscope.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the identifying the particular location of the mobile device further comprises analyzing the motion data from the location request.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising updating the mapping based on the list of detected signals at the particular location and a spatial distribution of signal strength values for each of the detected signals.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the spatial distribution of signal strength values is weighted in accordance with physical attributes of the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, expiring a detected signal from the mapping when the signal is not detected by the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising, restoring the expired signal in the mapping when the signal is subsequently detected by the mobile device.

8. A computer server machine comprising: one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to:

receive a location request from a mobile device, the location request comprising a list of detected signals at a particular location within a bounded area and signal strength values for each of the detected signals, the location request further comprising image data captured by the mobile device at the particular location;

identify the particular location of the mobile device by comparing the list of detected signals and the signal strength values to a mapping of signals to locations;

calibrate the particular location of the mobile device based on a movement of the mobile device, wherein the movement of the mobile device is determined by analyzing the image data captured by the mobile device; and

provide, to the mobile device, a response to the location request, wherein the response comprises information associated with the particular location.

9. The computer server machine of claim 8 , wherein the location request further comprises motion data detected by the mobile device, and wherein the motion data is detected by various motion sensors including one or more of a compass, an accelerometer, an altimeter, a camera sensor, and a gyroscope.

10. The computer server machine of claim 9 , wherein the identifying the particular location of the mobile device further comprises analyzing the motion data from the location request.

11. The computer server machine of claim 8 , the processors being further operable when executing the instructions to:

update the mapping based on the list of detected signals at the particular location and a spatial distribution of signal strength values for each of the detected signals.

12. The computer server machine of claim 11 , wherein the spatial distribution of signal strength values is weighted in accordance with physical attributes of the mobile device.

13. The computer server machine of claim 8 , the processors being further operable when executing the instructions to:

expire a detected signal from the mapping when the signal is not detected by the mobile device.

14. The computer server machine of claim 13 , the processors being further operable when executing the instructions to:

restore the expired signal in the mapping when the signal is subsequently detected by the mobile device.

15. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software that is operable when executed to:

receive a location request from a mobile device, the location request comprising a list of detected signals at a particular location within a bounded area and signal strength values for each of the detected signals, the location request further comprising image data captured by the mobile device at the particular location;

identify the particular location of the mobile device by comparing the list of detected signals and the signal strength values to a mapping of signals to locations;

calibrate the particular location of the mobile device based on a movement of the mobile device, wherein the movement of the mobile device is determined by analyzing the image data captured by the mobile device; and

provide, to the mobile device, a response to the location request, wherein the response comprises information associated with the particular location.

16. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 15 , wherein the location request further comprises motion data detected by the mobile device, and wherein the motion data is detected by various motion sensors including one or more of a compass, an accelerometer, an altimeter, a camera sensor, and a gyroscope.

17. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 16 , wherein the identifying the particular location of the mobile device further comprises analyzing the motion data from the location request.

18. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 15 , the software being further operable when executed to:

update the mapping based on the list of detected signals at the particular location and a spatial distribution of signal strength values for each of the detected signals.

19. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 18 , wherein the spatial distribution of signal strength values is weighted in accordance with physical attributes of the mobile device.

20. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 15 , the software being further operable when executed to:

expire a detected signal from the mapping when the signal is not detected by the mobile device.

Assignments (1)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 20, 2021
From: FACEBOOK, INC.
To: META PLATFORMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 058553/0802 →
Continuity (1)
Continuation 16109541 · Aug 22, 2018