Location Inference Engine Using Historical Scoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for determining a user's location on mobile computing devices are often imprecise or unavailable, leading to frustration and loss of optimal functionality in providing location-enhanced services, as traditional geolocation methods like GPS or Wi-Fi positioning are not always operational, and IP address geolocation is less informative for mobile devices.
Innovation Solution
A method that analyzes a user's location history by scoring historical location entries based on parameters such as age, location consistency, and device co-location factor to infer the current location, allowing location-enhanced services to be provided even when traditional geolocation techniques fail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS or Wi-Fi positioning systems are used to determine location, then location precision is improved, but availability deteriorates because these systems are not always operational
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously collecting and storing location history data in advance using multiple positioning methods (GPS, Wi-Fi, IP address). When primary positioning systems fail, this pre-collected historical data is immediately utilized to infer current location, ensuring service continuity without requiring real-time repositioning
Solution Approach 2:
Location history data serves as an intermediary element between failed primary positioning systems and the need for location information. The system uses historical location records as a fallback mechanism, scoring and selecting the most relevant historical location when GPS or Wi-Fi positioning is unavailable, thus bridging the gap between positioning system failure and service requirement
2Reliability
If IP address geolocation is used for mobile devices, then availability is improved, but location precision deteriorates because carrier IPs are less informative
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects positioning methods based on availability and context. When IP address geolocation is the only available method, it is used despite lower precision. The system adapts by combining IP address data with location history scoring mechanisms to improve accuracy over time, adjusting the weighting of different positioning sources based on their current operational status and historical reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by implementing a scoring mechanism that evaluates historical location entries based on multiple factors including age, location consistency, and device co-location patterns. This transforms the static IP address geolocation result into a dynamic inference process that improves precision by considering temporal and spatial patterns in the location history data
3Measurement precision
If manual location correction by user is required, then location precision can be improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to being slow and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically inferring current location from historical data without requiring user intervention. The location inference engine autonomously scores historical location entries, selects the most probable current location, and provides location-enhanced services, eliminating the need for users to manually correct or input location information while maintaining service accuracy
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for inferring a current location of a user or device based on an analysis of a user location history are provided. In particular, when the current location of a device requesting a location-enhanced service cannot be determined with sufficient precision, a plurality of historical locations provided by the user location history can be scored according to a variety of parameters. The historical location receiving the highest score can be inferred to be the current location of the user, permitting the requested location-enhanced service to be performed.