Client-server approach for indoor-outdoor detection of an electronic device, and associated systems and methods
This document describes a client-server approach for indoor-outdoor detection of an electronic device, and associated systems and methods. A server ( 104 ) collects crowdsourced information ( 140 ) from devices that detected a plurality of access points. An electronic device ( 102 ), performing a wire-less-network scan, detects access points ( 122 ) within range and detects sensor data ( 126 ) from other sensors ( 124 ). The electronic device ( 102 ) transmits such information to the server ( 104 ). The server accesses the crowdsourced information ( 140 ) to determine, per access point ( 122 ) detected in the scan, a percentage of total detections of the access point that are accompanied by a GPS signal of a device that detected the access point and an RSS value below which no such GPS signal accompanies the detections. The percentage and the RSS value enable a determination of a probability indicating whether the electronic device ( 102 ) is located outdoors, lightly indoors, or deep indoors, which enables the electronic device to trigger a corresponding function.
1. A method, performed by a server, for indoor-outdoor detection of an electronic device, the method comprising:
receiving a request from an electronic device for location information corresponding to access points detected in range of the electronic device and identified in the request, the request including sensor data detected by the electronic device at a location of the electronic device;
accessing, in response to receiving the request, stored crowdsourced signals, including access-point detections and corresponding sensor data previously received from a plurality of electronic devices that observed a plurality of access points, the accessing to locate a subset of the stored crowdsourced signals that correspond to the access points identified in the request;
determining, based on the stored crowdsourced signals and per access point identified in the request, a percentage of detections of the access point that are accompanied by a global positioning system, GPS, signal of a device that detected the access point;
determining, based on the stored crowdsourced signals and per access point identified in the request, a received signal strength, RSS, value below which no GPS signal accompanies the detections of the access point; and
transmitting the percentage and the RSS value, per access point identified in the request, to the electronic device to enable the electronic device to determine if the location of the electronic device is an outdoor location or an indoor location and trigger a corresponding function.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the transmitting includes transmitting the subset of the crowdsourced signals in raw form to the electronic device to enable the electronic device to use application-specific parameters or system-specific parameters for distinguishing whether the location of the electronic device is the outdoor location or the indoor location.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sensor data includes at least one of a GPS position corresponding to the location of the electronic device, barometric pressure, inertial signals corresponding to the electronic device, ambient light, ambient temperature, or Wi-Fi signals.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising aggregating the sensor data with the stored crowdsourced signals.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the percentage indicates how many times other devices detected a GPS signal when observing the access point relative to a total number of detections of the access point in the stored crowdsourced signals, and wherein:
a high percentage indicates that the access point is likely outdoors;
a low percentage indicates that the access point is likely deep indoors; and
a moderate percentage indicates that the access point is likely lightly indoors.
6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the RSS value represents a minimum RSS value that is accompanied by a GPS signal of a device that detected the access point, the minimum RSS value relative to a total number of detections of the access point in the stored crowdsourced signals with corresponding RSS values.
7. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
calculating, for a respective access point identified in the request, a probability indicating a likelihood that the respective access point is deep indoors; and
transmitting the probability of the respective access point to the electronic device.
8. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the indoor location includes a light-indoor location and a deep-indoor location, the method further comprising:
determining, based on a combination of computed probabilities for the identified access points, an additional probability indicating a likelihood that the location of the electronic device is the deep-indoor location; and
determining that the location of the electronic device is:
the outdoor location if the additional probability is less than a first threshold value;
the light-indoor location if the additional probability is between the first threshold value and a second threshold value that is greater than the first threshold value; or
the deep-indoor location if the additional probability is greater than the second threshold value.
9. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
calculating, for a respective access point identified in the request, a probability indicating a likelihood that the respective access point is outdoors; and
transmitting the probability of the respective access point to the electronic device.
10. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the indoor location includes a light-indoor location and a deep-indoor location, the method further comprising:
determining, based on a combination of computed probabilities for the identified access points, an additional probability indicating a likelihood that the location of the electronic device is the outdoor location; and
determining that the location of the electronic device is:
the deep-indoor location if the additional probability is less than a first threshold value;
the light-indoor location if the additional probability is between the first threshold value and a second threshold value that is greater than the first threshold value; or
the outdoor location if the additional probability is greater than the second threshold value.
11. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein transmitting the probability of the respective access point to the electronic device enables the electronic device to trigger a function responsive to a determination of which of the deep-indoor location, the light-indoor location, or the outdoor location corresponds to the location of the electronic device.
12. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the outdoor location is outside of a building or structure.
13. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the light-indoor location is proximate to a perimeter of a building or structure that interferes with the GPS signal such that a signal strength of the GPS signal is low.
14. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the deep-indoor location includes an area inside a building or structure, distal from a perimeter of the building or structure, that interferes with the GPS signal such that no GPS signal is detectable.
15. A system comprising:
a memory; and
a processor configured to execute instructions in the memory to:
receive a request from an electronic device for location information corresponding to access points detected in range of the electronic device and identified in the request, the request including sensor data detected by the electronic device at a location of the electronic device;
access, in response to receiving the request, stored crowdsourced signals, including access-point detections and corresponding sensor data previously received from a plurality of electronic devices that observed a plurality of access points, the accessing to locate a subset of the stored crowdsourced signals that correspond to the access points identified in the request;
determine, based on the stored crowdsourced signals and per access point identified in the request, a percentage of detections of the access point that are accompanied by a global positioning system, GPS, signal of a device that detected the access point;
determine, based on the stored crowdsourced signals and per access point identified in the request, a received signal strength, RSS, value below which no GPS signal accompanies the detections of the access point; and
transmit the percentage and the RSS value, per access point identified in the request, to the electronic device to enable the electronic device to determine if the location of the electronic device is an outdoor location or an indoor location and trigger a corresponding function.