IP Library Granted Patent US 11,218,839
Granted Patent B1
US 11,218,839 · App. 17/062,701 · Granted Jan 4, 2022

Method and system for zone-based localization of mobile devices

Inventors: Sean Huberman (Guelph, CA); Joshua Karon (Toronto, CA); Vera Miller (Toronto, CA)
Assignee: MAPSTED CORP.
H04W4/027G01D21/02G01S5/0252H04W4/33
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,218,839
App. No.
17/062,701
Granted
Jan 4, 2022
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method and a device for zone-based localization of mobile devices are described. In an example, a zone from amongst a plurality of zones of an indoor space in which a mobile device is present is identified. The identification of the can be based on instantaneous localization information obtained from the mobile device. Further, a localization criterion to be employed for localizing the mobile device is determined based on the identified zone. The localization criterion may be indicative of a selectivity in use of sensor data for localizing the mobile device. Subsequently, the mobile device is localized in the indoor space, based on the localization criterion.

Claims (34)

1. A method comprising:

identifying a zone of an indoor space a mobile device is present in, the indoor space being divided into a plurality of zones, wherein the identifying is based on instantaneous localization information obtained from the mobile device;

determining a localization criterion, from among a plurality of localization criterion, to be employed for localizing the mobile device, based on the identified zone,

wherein each localization criterion, from the plurality of localization criterion, is defined for a corresponding zone in the plurality of zones, based on predetermined behavior of sensor data in each of the plurality of zones of the indoor space; and

wherein the localization criterion is indicative of a weightage of the sensor data for localizing the mobile device; and

localizing the mobile device within the zone, based on the localization criterion.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the localizing comprises generating a signal signature for at least one of a plurality of sensors based on the sensor data received therefrom, wherein the signal signature is indicative of behavior of the sensor data in the identified zone.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the localization criterion comprises the weightage to be associated with the sensor data from each of a plurality of sensors of the mobile device for modularity in usage of the sensor data for localizing the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying comprises performing a preliminary localization of the mobile device, wherein the preliminary localization is based on trajectory estimation techniques configured to identify the zone based on an expected trajectory of the mobile device in the indoor space.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises inertial sensors and signal sensors.

6. A method of calibrating an indoor space for localizing a mobile device, the method comprising:

segregating the indoor space into a plurality of zones, each of the plurality of zones being associated with a set of environmental factors influencing a behavior of sensor data in each of the plurality of zones; and

associating a localization criterion with each of the plurality of zones, wherein the localization criterion is indicative of a selectivity in use weightage of the sensor data for localizing the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the set of environmental factors comprise at least one of a size of a zone, a shape of a zone, sensor signals available in the zone, and predicted movement patterns of the mobile device in the zone.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the segregating comprises dividing the indoor space into a pathway, an open area, and a floor opening, the indoor space being a pedestrian area.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the associating comprises assigning the weightage with the sensor data from each of a plurality of sensors, based on a reliability score linked with the sensor data for each of the plurality of zones.

10. A device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing a set of instructions, the instructions executable in the processor to:

identify a zone of an indoor space a mobile device is present in, the indoor space being divided into a plurality of zones, wherein the identifying is based on instantaneous localization information obtained from the mobile device;

determine a localization criterion, from among a plurality of localization criterion, to be employed for localizing the mobile device, based on the identified zone,

wherein each localization criterion, from the plurality of localization criterion, is defined for a corresponding zone in the plurality of zones, based on predetermined behavior of sensor data in each of the plurality of zones of the indoor space; and

wherein the localization criterion is indicative of a weightage of the sensor data for localizing the mobile device; and

localize the mobile device within the zone, based on the localization criterion.

11. The device of claim 10 further comprising instructions executable in the processor to generate a signal signature for at least one of the plurality of sensors based on the sensor data received therefrom, wherein the signal signature is indicative of behavior of the sensor data in the identified zone.

12. The device of claim 10 , wherein the localization criterion comprises the weightage to be associated with the sensor data from each the plurality of sensors for modularity in usage of the sensor data for localizing the mobile device.

13. The device of claim 10 , further comprising instructions executable in the processor to perform a preliminary localization of the mobile device based on trajectory estimation techniques configured to identify the zone based on an expected trajectory of the mobile device in the indoor space.

14. The device of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises inertial sensors and signal sensors.

15. The device of claim 10 further comprising instructions executable in the processor to determine presence of the mobile device in the indoor space.

16. The device of claim 10 further comprising instructions executable in the processor to:

segregate the indoor space into the plurality of zones, each of the plurality of zones being associated with a set of environmental factors influencing a behavior of the sensor data in each of the plurality of zones; and

associate the localization criterion with each of the plurality of zones, wherein the localization criterion is indicative of a selectivity in use of the sensor data for localizing the mobile device.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the set of environmental factors comprise at least one of a size of a zone, a shape of a zone, sensor signals available in the zone, and predicted movement patterns of the mobile device in the zone.

18. The device of claim 16 , further comprising instructions executable in the processor to divide the indoor space into a pathway, an open area, and a floor opening, the indoor space being a pedestrian area.

Assignments (3)
REQUEST FOR ASSIGNEE ADDRESS CHANGE Recorded Nov 12, 2024
From: MAPSTED CORP.
To: MAPSTED CORP.
Reel/Frame 069357/0381 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2024
From: HUBERMAN, SEAN; KARON, JOSHUA; MILLER, VERA
To: MAPSTED CORP.
Reel/Frame 066327/0747 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2020
From: HUBERMAN, SEAN; KARON, JOSHUA; MILLER, VERA
To: MAPSTED CORP.
Reel/Frame 053971/0453 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,647,938