Location Analytics Profiling From Time-Series Movement Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current location-based services primarily utilize time-independent location information, neglecting the rich contextual information embedded in the path traveled by mobile devices over time, limiting their ability to provide personalized and adaptive services.

Innovation Solution

A location information analytics mechanism that analyzes time-series of location data points to determine attributes and profiles of target entities, using session and cluster segmentation, annotation information, and machine learning techniques to predict future behaviors and provide personalized services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If service providers use only time-independent location information, then the system complexity is low, but the service personalization capability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice personalization capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments time-independent location information into multiple time-points and further divides the time-series data into sessions and clusters. This segmentation enables extraction of movement patterns and contextual information while maintaining manageable system complexity through structured data organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds the time dimension to traditional location information by analyzing time-series of location data points. This transforms static location data into dynamic movement trajectories, enabling service providers to understand user behavior patterns without proportionally increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of information

If service providers analyze time-series location data to extract contextual information, then service personalization improves, but data processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontextual information extractionVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments time-series location data into sessions (continuous movement sequences) and clusters (grouped sessions with similar characteristics). This segmentation reduces processing complexity by organizing raw data into meaningful units that can be analyzed for contextual information such as user habits and preferences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary processing of location data by pre-segmenting it into sessions and clusters before detailed analysis. This preliminary action prepares the data structure in advance, reducing the computational complexity of subsequent contextual information extraction and attribute determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If service providers ignore movement paths, then the processing speed is high, but the service adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice adaptabilityVSAvoidprocessing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts essential movement pattern information from complete time-series location data by identifying key sessions and clusters. This extraction approach captures the necessary contextual information for service adaptability while discarding redundant data, thereby maintaining processing speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by analyzing only the most significant movement patterns (key sessions and clusters) rather than processing every single location data point in detail. This selective analysis maintains processing speed while providing sufficient contextual information for service adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11762818B2Apparatus, systems, and methods for analyzing movements of target entities
Publication Date: 2023.09.19 FOURSQUARE LABS INC
  • US11762818B2 patent drawing
  • US11762818B2 patent drawing
  • US11762818B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to apparatus, systems, and methods for providing a location information analytics mechanism. The location information analytics mechanism is configured to analyze location information to extract contextual information (e.g., profile) about a mobile device or a user of a mobile device, collectively referred to as a target entity. The location information analytics mechanism can include analyzing location data points associated with a target entity to determine features associated with the target entity, and using the features to predict attributes associated with the target entity. The set of predicted attributes can form a profile of the target entity.