Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090149197 | CONTINUOUS DATA OPTIMIZATION OF NEW ACCESS POINTS IN POSITIONING SYSTEMS - Methods and systems of continuously optimizing data in WiFi positioning systems. A location-based services system uses WiFi-enabled devices to monitor WiFi access points in a target area to indicate whether a WiFi access point is newly-observed. A WiFi-enabled device communicates with WiFi access points within range of the WiFi-enabled device so that observed WiFi access points identify themselves. A reference database is accessed to obtain information specifying a recorded location for each observed WiFi access point in the target area. Observed WiFi access points for which the reference database has no information specifying a corresponding recorded location are identified. The recorded location information for each of the observed WiFi access points is used to calculate the position of the WiFi-enabled device. The reference database is informed of the WiFi access points (for which there was no information in the database) and is provided the calculated position in conjunction therewith. | 06-11-2009 |
20110306357 | SYSTEMS FOR AND METHODS OF DETERMINING LIKELIHOOD OF ATYPICAL TRANSMISSION CHARACTERISTICS OF REFERENCE POINTS IN A POSITIONING SYSTEM - Systems for and methods of determining likelihood of atypical transmission characteristics of reference points in a positioning system are disclosed. A method of determining a measure of likelihood that a designated wireless device exhibits signal transmission characteristics atypical of a wireless device of a type matching the designated device includes determining reference points associated with the designated device, which are a geographic position at which signals from the designated device were detected and/or another wireless device from which signals were also detected by a receiver within a selected period of time during which the signals from the designated device were detected. The method also includes determining statistical measures of a spatial distribution of the reference points and determining a measure of likelihood that the designated device exhibits signal transmission characteristics that are atypical of a wireless device of a type matching the designated device based on the statistical measures. | 12-15-2011 |
20110306358 | SYSTEMS FOR AND METHODS OF DETERMINING LIKELIHOOD OF REFERENCE POINT IDENTITY DUPLICATION IN A POSITIONING SYSTEM - Systems for and methods of determining likelihood of reference point identity duplication in a positioning system are disclosed. A method of determining a measure of likelihood that a designated identifier is shared by wireless devices includes determining reference points associated with any wireless device having a designated identifier. The reference points are a geographic position at which signals from any of the wireless devices were detected and/or wireless devices from which signals were also detected within a selected period of time during which the signals from any of the wireless devices having the designated identifier were detected. The method also includes determining statistical information about a temporal distribution of detection of signals of reference points, a spatial distribution of the reference points, and/or a cardinality of the reference points and determining a measure of likelihood that the designated identifier is shared by wireless devices is based on the statistical information. | 12-15-2011 |
20110306359 | SYSTEMS FOR AND METHODS OF DETERMINING LIKELIHOOD OF RELOCATION OF REFERENCE POINTS IN A POSITIONING SYSTEM - Systems for and methods of determining likelihood of relocation of reference points in a positioning system are disclosed. A method of determining a measure of likelihood that an estimated geographic location of a designated wireless device is not its accurate present location includes determining a set of reference points associated with the device, which are a geographic position at which signals from the device were detected and/or other devices having a relationship with the designated device. The existence of the relationship is based on the devices being within signal reception range of a same position within a selected period of time. The method includes retrieving attributes of the reference points and/or of the relationships and determining a measure of likelihood that an estimated geographic location associated with the designated device is not its present location based on the attributes of the reference points of the set and/or of the relationships. | 12-15-2011 |
20110306360 | SYSTEMS FOR AND METHODS OF DETERMINING LIKELIHOOD OF MOBILITY OF REFERENCE POINTS IN A POSITIONING SYSTEM - Systems for and methods of determining likelihood of mobility of reference points in a positioning system are disclosed. A method of determining a measure of likelihood that a designated wireless device is a mobile device includes determining a set of reference points associated with a designated wireless device. The reference points are a geographic position at which signals from the device were detected and/or another wireless device from which signals were also detected by a receiver within a selected period of time during which the signals from the designated device were detected. The method also includes retrieving statistical information about a temporal distribution of detection of signals of reference points, a spatial distribution of the reference points, and/or a cardinality of the reference points. The method includes determining a measure of likelihood that the designated wireless device is a mobile wireless device based on the statistical information. | 12-15-2011 |
20110306361 | METHODS OF AND SYSTEMS FOR MEASURING BEACON STABILITY OF WIRELESS ACCESS POINTS - Methods of and systems for measuring beacon stability of wireless access points are provided. A method of determining a measure of likelihood that a designated wireless device exhibits at least one pathological characteristic includes determining a set of reference points associated with a designated wireless device, and retrieving attributes of the reference points, attributes associated with other wireless devices related to the designated wireless device, and/or statistical information. The statistical information includes a temporal distribution of detection of signals of reference points, a spatial distribution of the reference points, and/or a cardinality of the set or a subset of the reference points. The method further includes determining a measure of likelihood that the designated wireless device exhibits at least one pathological characteristic based on attributes of the reference points, attributes associated with the reception of signals, and/or the statistical information. | 12-15-2011 |
20120178477 | CONTINUOUS DATA OPTIMIZATION OF NEW ACCESS POINTS IN POSITIONING SYSTEMS - Methods and systems of continuously optimizing data in WiFi positioning systems. A location-based services system uses WiFi-enabled devices to monitor WiFi access points in a target area to indicate whether a WiFi access point is newly-observed. A WiFi-enabled device communicates with WiFi access points within range of the WiFi-enabled device so that observed WiFi access points identify themselves. A reference database is accessed to obtain information specifying a recorded location for each observed WiFi access point in the target area. Observed WiFi access points for which the reference database has no information specifying a corresponding recorded location are identified. The recorded location information for each of the observed WiFi access points is used to calculate the position of the WiFi-enabled device. The reference database is informed of the WiFi access points (for which there was no information in the database) and is provided the calculated position in conjunction therewith. | 07-12-2012 |
20120309420 | Continuous Data Optimization of Moved Access Points in Positioning Systems - Methods and systems of continuously optimizing data in WiFi positioning systems. A location-based services system uses WiFi-enabled devices to monitor WiFi access points in a target area to indicate whether a WiFi access point has moved relative to its previously recorded location. A WiFi-enabled device communicates with WiFi access points within range of the WiFi-enabled device so that observed WiFi access points identify themselves; A reference database is accessed to obtain information specifying a recorded location for each observed WiFi access point in the target area. The recorded location information is used for each of the observed WiFi access points in conjunction with predefined rules to infer whether an observed WiFi access point has moved relative to its recorded location. The reference database is informed of the identity of any observed WiFi access point that is inferred to have moved. | 12-06-2012 |
20120331561 | Method of and Systems for Privacy Preserving Mobile Demographic Measurement of Individuals, Groups and Locations Over Time and Space - Disclosed are techniques for privacy preserving mobile demographic measurement of individuals, groups, and locations over time and space. A method of estimating demographic information associated with a user of a mobile device and/or a location while preserving the privacy of the user based at least in part on a location estimate of the mobile device of the user includes receiving an estimated geographical location of the mobile device of the user and receiving a time at which the mobile device was at the estimated geographical location. The method includes assigning substitute identifiers for the geographical location and the time at which the mobile device was at the estimated geographical location. The method includes associating the geographical areas substitute identifiers with demographic information and estimating demographic information associated with the user of the mobile device based on the substitute identifiers and based on the demographic information associated with substitute identifiers. | 12-27-2012 |
20130310064 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SELECTING AND PROVIDING A RELEVANT SUBSET OF WI-FI LOCATION INFORMATION TO A MOBILE CLIENT DEVICE SO THE CLIENT DEVICE MAY ESTIMATE ITS POSITION WITH EFFICIENT UTILIZATION OF RESOURCES - A method of providing a relevant subset of information to a client device is based in part on scanning for Wi-Fi access points within range of the client device, using a Wi-Fi database that covers a large target region to retrieve information about these access points, using this information to estimate the position of the mobile client device, selecting a limited region in the vicinity of the estimated location of the client device, and providing information about Wi-Fi access points within this limited region to the client. For efficient transfer and maintenance of data, the target region may be divided into a hierarchy of fixed geographical tiles. | 11-21-2013 |
20140009339 | METHODS OF AND SYSTEMS FOR EXTRACTING PATTERNS OF HUMAN EXTENT AND DENSITY FROM GEOGRAPHICALLY ANCHORED RADIO SIGNAL SOURCES - A method of and system for estimating at least one of a human development level and a human activity level. A method of estimating at least one of a human development level and a human activity level includes estimating positions of radio broadcast beacons. The positions of the radio broadcast beacons are stored in an electronically readable catalog. Each of the positions is grouped into sets of positions. Each set of positions includes positions of one or more geographically-related radio broadcast beacons. For each of the sets, at least one of a human development level and a human activity level is estimated for an area encompassing the positions of the set. | 01-09-2014 |
20140045525 | METHODS OF AND SYSTEMS FOR MEASURING BEACON STABILITY OF WIRELESS ACCESS POINTS - Methods of and systems for measuring beacon stability of wireless access points are provided. A method of determining a measure of likelihood that a designated wireless device exhibits at least one pathological characteristic includes determining a set of reference points associated with a designated wireless device, and retrieving attributes of the reference points, attributes associated with other wireless devices related to the designated wireless device, and/or statistical information. The statistical information includes a temporal distribution of detection of signals of reference points, a spatial distribution of the reference points, and/or a cardinality of the set or a subset of the reference points. The method further includes determining a measure of likelihood that the designated wireless device exhibits at least one pathological characteristic based on attributes of the reference points, attributes associated with the reception of signals, and/or the statistical information. | 02-13-2014 |
20140248902 | Systems for and Methods of Determining Likelihood of Reference Point Identity Duplication in a Positioning System - Systems for and methods of determining likelihood of reference point identity duplication in a positioning system are disclosed. A method of determining a measure of likelihood that a designated identifier is shared by wireless devices includes determining reference points associated with any wireless device having a designated identifier. The reference points are a geographic position at which signals from any of the wireless devices were detected and/or wireless devices from which signals were also detected within a selected period of time during which the signals from any of the wireless devices having the designated identifier were detected. The method also includes determining statistical information about a temporal distribution of detection of signals of reference points, a spatial distribution of the reference points, and/or a cardinality of the reference points and determining a measure of likelihood that the designated identifier is shared by wireless devices is based on the statistical information. | 09-04-2014 |
20140256349 | Systems for and Methods of Determining Likelihood of Relocation of Reference Points in a Positioning System - Systems for and methods of determining likelihood of relocation of reference points in a positioning system are disclosed. A method of determining a measure of likelihood that an estimated geographic location of a designated wireless device is not its accurate present location includes determining a set of reference points associated with the device, which are a geographic position at which signals from the device were detected and/or other devices having a relationship with the designated device. The existence of the relationship is based on the devices being within signal reception range of a same position within a selected period of time. The method includes retrieving attributes of the reference points and/or of the relationships and determining a measure of likelihood that an estimated geographic location associated with the designated device is not its present location based on the attributes of the reference points of the set and/or of the relationships. | 09-11-2014 |