Systems and methods for direction estimation in indoor and outdoor locations

1. A computer-implemented method of transitioning from a first navigation domain to a second navigation domain, the method comprising:

calculating, by a processor of a mobile device, speed and heading of the mobile device within the first navigation domain based on signals from at least one lodestar device associated with the first navigation domain, wherein calculating the speed and the heading further comprises:

spawning a plurality of clone processes, each clone process given an identical location and speed, and each clone process given a unique direction;

calculating, by each clone process, a respective position at the end of a frame period;

terminating clone processes whose position at the end of the frame period is outside a predetermined threshold, the terminating results in remaining clone processes; and

determining the heading of the mobile device from the remaining clone processes;

determining, by the processor of the mobile device, that the mobile device is approaching a portal between the first navigation domain and the second navigation domain, wherein determining that the mobile device is approaching the portal further comprises finding that the heading is toward the portal and the speed is above a predetermined speed threshold;

displaying, on a display device of the mobile device, a merged map concatenating a map of the first navigation domain with a map of the second navigation domain;

showing location of the mobile device on the map of the first navigation domain prior to the mobile device transiting through the portal; and then

showing location of the mobile device on the map of the second navigation domain.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the first navigation domain is indoor and the second navigation domain is outdoor.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein displaying the merged map further comprises shading the map of the first navigation domain to distinguish the map of the first navigation domain from the map of the second navigation domain.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein determining that the mobile device is approaching the portal further comprises:

receiving, by the mobile device, first location data from a lodestar device associated with the first navigation domain; and

determining from the first location data that the mobile device is approaching the portal from the first navigation domain into the second navigation domain.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 :

wherein receiving the first location data further comprises receiving the first location data from the lodestar device in the form of a beacon, the first location data indicating location of the portal; and

wherein determining that the mobile device is approaching the portal further comprises utilizing the first location data from the beacon.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein showing location of the mobile device on the map of the second navigation domain further comprises:

receiving, by the mobile device, signals from lodestar devices associated with the second navigation domain; and

calculating location of the mobile device within the second navigation domain based on the signals.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 :

wherein receiving signals from the lodestar devices associated with the second navigation domain further comprises receiving signals from the lodestar devices being Global Positioning Systems (GPS) satellites; and

wherein calculating location of the mobile device within the second navigation domain further comprises calculating based on the signals from the GPS satellites.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein determining that the mobile device is approaching an exit further comprises:

receiving, by the mobile device, signals from lodestar devices associated with the first navigation domain; and

determining that the mobile device is approaching the portal from the signals from the lodestar devices associated with the first navigation domain.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 :

receiving signals from the lodestar devices associated with the first navigation domain further comprises receiving the signals from the lodestar devices in the form of beacons; and

wherein determining that the mobile device is approaching the portal further comprises utilizing the signals from the beacons.

10. A hand-held computing device comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a display device electrically coupled to the processor;

a wireless communication system electrically coupled to the processor, the wireless communication system configured to receive location information wirelessly from lodestar devices external to the hand-held computing device;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver coupled to the processor, the GPS receiver configured to receive signals from GPS satellites and determine location of the hand-held computing device;

the memory stores a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:

calculate speed and heading of the hand-held computing device within a first indoor area based on signals from at least one beacon disposed within the first indoor area, the calculation by causing the processor to:

spawn a plurality of clone processes, each clone process given an identical location and speed, and each clone process given a unique direction;

calculate, by each clone process, a respective position at the end of a frame period;

terminate clone processes whose position at the end of the frame period is outside a predetermined threshold, the terminating results in remaining clone processes; and

determine the heading of the hand-held computing device from the remaining clone processes;

determine that the hand-held computing device is approaching a first portal between the first indoor area and a first outdoor area, the determination based on signals received by the wireless communication system, the determination by causing the processor to ascertain that the hand-held computing device is moving toward the first portal and the speed of the hand-held computing device is above a predetermined speed threshold;

display on the display device a first merged map concatenating a map of the first indoor area with a map of the first outdoor area;

show location of the hand-held computing device on the map of the first indoor area prior to the hand-held computing device transiting through the first portal; and then

show the location of the hand-held computing device on the map of the first outdoor area.

11. The hand-held computing device of claim 10 wherein when the program shows the first merged map, the program further causes the processor to shade the map of the first indoor area.

12. The hand-held computing device of claim 10 wherein the program further causes the processor to:

determine that the hand-held computing device is approaching a second portal between a second outdoor area and a second indoor area, the determination based on signals received by the GPS receiver;

display on the display device a second merged map concatenating a map of the second outdoor area with a map of the second indoor area;

show location of the hand-held computing device on the map of the second outdoor area prior to the hand-held computing device transiting through the second portal; and then

show location of the hand-held computing device on the map of the second indoor area.

13. The hand-held computing device of claim 10 wherein when the program determines that the hand-held computing device is approaching the first portal, the program further causes the processor to:

receive first location data from a beacon disposed with the first indoor area; and

determine from the first location data that the hand-held computing device is approaching the first portal.

14. The hand-held computing device of claim 10 wherein when the program shows location of the hand-held computing device on the map of the first outdoor area, the program further causes the processor to:

receive signals from GPS satellites by way of the GPS receiver; and

calculate location of the hand-held computing device within the first outdoor area.

15. The hand-held computing device of claim 10 wherein when the program determines that the hand-held computing device is approaching the first portal, the program further causes the processor to:

receive signals from beacons disposed within the first indoor area; and

determine that the hand-held computing device is approaching the first portal from the signals from the beacons.

16. The hand-held computing device of claim 10 wherein the program further causes the processor to:

receive first data associated with first beacon devices associated with the first indoor area;

receive second data associated with GPS signals associated with the first outdoor area; and

deduce that the hand-held computing device resides within the first indoor area.

17. The hand-held computing device of claim 16 wherein when the processor deduces that the hand-held computing device resides within the first indoor area, the program causes the processor to:

download map data associated with the first indoor area;

calculate a location relative to at least one of the beacon devices; and

analyze the location in reference to the map data to deduce that the hand-held computing device is within the first indoor area.

18. A hand-held computing device comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a display device electrically coupled to the processor;

a wireless communication system electrically coupled to the processor, the wireless communication system configured to receive location information wirelessly from lodestar devices external to the hand-held computing device;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver coupled to the processor, the GPS receiver configured to receive signals from GPS satellites and determine location of the hand-held computing device;

the memory stores a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:

receive first data associated with first beacon devices associated with a first indoor area;

receive second data associated with GPS signals associated with a first outdoor area;

deduce that the hand-held computing device resides within the first indoor area, the deduction by causing the processor to deduce based on exception data within the first data;

causing the processor to deduce based on exception data within the first data;

determine that the hand-held computing device is approaching a first portal between the first indoor area and the first outdoor area, the determination based on signals received by the wireless communication system;

display on the display device a first merged map concatenating a map of the first indoor area with a map of the first outdoor area;

show location of the hand-held computing device on the map of the first indoor area prior to the hand-held computing device transiting through the first portal; and then

show location of the hand-held computing device on the map of the first outdoor area.

19. A hand-held computing device comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a display device electrically coupled to the processor;

a wireless communication system electrically coupled to the processor, the wireless communication system configured to receive location information wirelessly from lodestar devices external to the hand-held computing device;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver coupled to the processor, the GPS receiver configured to receive signals from GPS satellites and determine location of the hand-held computing device;

the memory stores a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:

receive first data associated with first beacon devices associated with a first indoor area;

receive second data associated with GPS signals associated with a first outdoor area;

deduce that the hand-held computing device resides within the first indoor area;

determine that the hand-held computing device is approaching a first portal between the first indoor area and the first outdoor area, the determination based on signals received by the wireless communication system;

display on the display device a first merged map concatenating a map of the first indoor area with a map of the first outdoor area;

show location of the hand-held computing device on the map of the first indoor area prior to the hand-held computing device transiting through the first portal;

show location of the hand-held computing device on the map of the first outdoor area; and

provide navigation information using only the first data associated with the first indoor area.

20. A hand-held computing device comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a display device electrically coupled to the processor;

a wireless communication system electrically coupled to the processor, the wireless communication system configured to receive location information wirelessly from lodestar devices external to the hand-held computing device;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver coupled to the processor, the GPS receiver configured to receive signals from GPS satellites and determine location of the hand-held computing device;

the memory stores a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:

receive first data associated with first beacon devices associated with a first indoor area;

receive second data associated with GPS signals associated with a first outdoor area;

deduce that the hand-held computing device resides within the first indoor area;

determine that the hand-held computing device is approaching a first portal between the first indoor area and the first outdoor area, the determination based on signals received by the wireless communication system;

display on a display device a first merged map concatenating a map of the first indoor area with a map of the first outdoor area;

show location of the hand-held computing device on the map of the first indoor area prior to the hand-held computing device transiting through the first portal;

show location of the hand-held computing device on the map of the first outdoor area; and

refrain from providing navigation information.

21. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processor of a mobile device, first data associated with first lodestar devices associated with a first navigation domain;

receiving, by the processor of the mobile device, second data associated with second lodestar devices associated with a second navigation domain;

deducing, by the processor of the mobile device, that the mobile device resides within the first navigation domain based on exception data within the first data; and

providing, by the processor of the mobile device, navigation information using only the first data associated with the first lodestar devices.

22. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processor of a mobile device, first data associated with first lodestar devices associated with a first navigation domain;

receiving, by the processor of the mobile device, second data associated with second lodestar devices associated with a second navigation domain;

deducing, by the processor of the mobile device, that the mobile device resides within the first navigation domain based on exception data within the first data; and

refraining from providing navigation information.

23. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by a processor of a mobile device, first data associated with first lodestar devices associated with a first navigation domain;

receiving, by the processor of the mobile device, second data associated with second lodestar devices associated with a second navigation domain; and

deducing, by the processor of the mobile device, that the mobile device resides within the first navigation domain by:

downloading, by the processor of the mobile device, map data associated with the first navigation domain;

calculating, by the processor of the mobile device, a location relative to at least one of the first lodestar devices;

analyzing the location in reference to the map data to deduce that the mobile device is within the first navigation domain; and

providing, by the processor of the mobile device, navigation information using only the first data associated with the first lodestar devices.

24. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by a processor of a mobile device, first data associated with first lodestar devices associated with a first navigation domain;

receiving, by the processor of the mobile device, second data associated with second lodestar devices associated with a second navigation domain; and

deducing, by the processor of the mobile device, that the mobile device resides within the first navigation domain by:

downloading, by the processor of the mobile device, map data associated with the first navigation domain;

calculating, by the processor of the mobile device, a location relative to at least one of the first lodestar devices;

analyzing the location in reference to the map data to deduce that the mobile device is within the first navigation domain; and

refraining from providing navigation information.