Venue inference using data sensed by mobile devices
View Patent ↗One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for determining venue information associated with a mobile device user. During operation, the system collects contextual information recorded by one or more sensors located on the mobile device and extracts a behavior pattern of the user as a function of time and/or an environmental indicator based on the collected contextual information. The system then compares the behavior pattern and/or the environmental indicator with known behavior patterns and/or environmental indicators associated with a number of venues stored in a database, and determines a venue associated with the user based at least on the comparison.
1. A computer-executable method for determining venue information associated with a mobile device user, the method comprising:
collecting contextual information recorded by plurality of sensors located on the mobile device, wherein the sensors include a global positioning system (GPS) sensor;
extracting a behavior pattern of the user as a function of time and/or an environmental indicator based at least on the collected contextual information;
comparing the behavior pattern and/or the environmental indicator with known behavior patterns and/or environmental indicators associated with a number of venues stored in a database;
determining a venue associated with the user based at least on the comparison; and
determining whether the user enters and/or exits the venue based on a dilution of precision (DOP) value of the GPS sensor.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining an approximate location of the user; and
identifying a number of venues associated with the approximate location, thereby facilitating the determination of the venue associated with the user.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user's behavior pattern as a function of time is extracted based on outputs of the one or more sensors.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the user's behavior pattern comprises the user's physical motion pattern.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the user's physical motion pattern comprises at least one of:
a sequence of physical motions; and
a duration of a physical motion.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a time duration for which the user is expected to stay in the venue.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensors comprise at least one of:
an accelerometer;
a clock;
a microphone;
a light sensor;
a camera;
a gyroscope; and
a magnetometer.
8. A system for determining venue information associated with a mobile device user, comprising:
a plurality of sensors for collecting contextual information, wherein the sensors include a global positioning system (GPS) sensor;
an extraction mechanism configured to extract a behavior pattern of the user as a function of time and/or an environmental indicator based at least on the collected contextual information;
a database storing known user behavior patterns and/or environmental indicators associated with a number of venues; and
a determination mechanism configured to determine a venue associated with the user based at least on a comparison between the extracted behavior pattern and/or environmental indicator and the ones stored in the database,. wherein the determination mechanism is further configured to determine whether the user enters and/or exits the venue based on a dilution of precision (DOP) value of the GPS sensor.
9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a second determining mechanism configured to determine an approximate location of the user; and
an identification mechanism configured to identify a number of venues associated with the approximate location, thereby facilitating the determination of the venue associated with the user.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein while extracting the behavior pattern, the extraction mechanism is configured to extract the user's behavior pattern as a function of time based on outputs of the one or more sensors.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the user's behavior pattern comprises the user's physical motion pattern.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the user's physical motion pattern comprises at least one of:
a sequence of physical motions; and
a duration of a physical motion.
13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the determination mechanism is further configured to determine a time duration for which the user is expected to stay in the venue.
14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise at least one of:
an accelerometer;
a clock;
a microphone;
a light sensor;
a camera;
a gyroscope; and
a magnetometer.
15. A server facilitating determination of venue information associated with a mobile device user, comprising:
a receiving mechanism configured to receive contextual information recorded by a plurality of sensors located on the mobile device wherein the sensors include a global positioning system (GPS) sensor;
an extraction mechanism configured to extract a behavior pattern of the user as a function of time and/or an environmental indicator based at least on the collected contextual information;
a database storing known user behavior patterns and/or environmental indicators associated with a number of venues; and
a determination mechanism configured to determine a venue associated with the user based at least on a comparison between the extracted behavior pattern and/or environmental indicator and the ones stored in the database, wherein the determination mechanism is further configured to determine whether the user enters and/or exits the venue based on a dilution of precision (DOP) value of the GPS sensor.
16. The server of claim 15 , further comprising:
a second determining mechanism configured to determine an approximate location of the user; and
an identification mechanism configured to identify a number of venues associated with the approximate location, thereby facilitating the determination of the venue associated with the user.
17. The server of claim 15 , wherein while extracting the behavior pattern, the extraction mechanism is configured to extract the user's behavior pattern as a function of time based on outputs of the one or more sensors.
18. The server of claim 17 , wherein the user's behavior pattern comprises the user's physical motion pattern.
19. The server of claim 18 , wherein the user's physical motion pattern comprises at least one of:
a sequence of physical motions; and
a duration of a physical motion.
20. The server of claim 15 , wherein the determination mechanism is further configured to determine a time duration for which the user is expected to stay in the venue.