Magnetic landmark method and system for detecting in-building (local venue) threshold

Abstract

A method and system for detecting an indoor threshold transition in a positioning state. The method may be executable using one or more processors and comprises, upon detecting a pattern of magnetic anomaly characteristics associated with a sequence of position changes of the mobile device, extracting the pattern, comparing the extracted pattern with a stored magnetic signature associated with the indoor threshold, and based on the comparing, inferring that the mobile device is one of transitioning in position and has transitioned in position across the indoor threshold.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 15 / 861,902 filed 4 Jan. 2018.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The disclosure herein relates to the field of mobile device indoor navigation and positioning.BACKGROUND[0003]Users of mobile devices are increasingly using and depending upon indoor positioning and navigation applications and features. Seamless, accurate and dependable indoor positioning of a mobile device carried or worn by a user can be difficult to achieve using satellite-based navigation systems when the latter becomes unavailable, or only sporadically available and therefore unreliable, such as within enclosed or partially enclosed urban infrastructure and buildings, including hospitals, shopping malls, airports, universities and industrial warehouses. Wireless communication signal data and magnetic field data may be acquired and measured to aid in localizing a mobile device along a route or trajectory being ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a system for accurately detecting the position of a mobile device in indoor environments. The system uses magnetic sensors on the mobile device to measure magnetic characteristics, such as field strength and orientation, and compares them with a stored magnetic signature of the indoor environment to determine the device's position. The system can detect the transition of the device across indoor thresholds, such as entryways of stores or buildings, and can also use magnetic landmarks to localize the device. The system can also trigger notifications or prefetch data based on the device's position. Overall, the system provides a reliable and effective way to navigate and position mobile devices in indoor environments.

Problems solved by technology

Seamless, accurate and dependable indoor positioning of a mobile device carried or worn by a user can be difficult to achieve using satellite-based navigation systems when the latter becomes unavailable, or only sporadically available and therefore unreliable, such as within enclosed or partially enclosed urban infrastructure and buildings, including hospitals, shopping malls, airports, universities and industrial warehouses.

Images