Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to accelerate the estimation of a radio model of a beamforming access point within a radio environment, such as a beamforming access point that has been newly added to or relocated. In a method, the presence of a first beamforming access point in a radio environment is determined and information is obtained regarding one or more of a plurality of beams that are transmitted by the first access point. The method then estimates the radio model of the first access point based at least upon: (i) at least some of the information regarding the one or more of the beams transmitted by the first access point and (ii) signal propagation characteristics of one or more existing access points in the radio environment as represented by respective radio models of the one or more existing access points.

Abstract: One or more processors obtain a first radio environment signature associated with an aerial vehicle (AV) and a second radio environment signature associated with a computing device. Responsive to determining that the first radio environment signature and the second radio environment signature satisfy a similarity criteria, the one or more processors generate a validation data object verifying one or more of (i) that a location of the AV substantially corresponds to a location of the computing device at a time associated with at least one of the first radio environment signature or the second radio environment signature, (ii) a AV delivery associated with the AV and the computing device, or (iii) a AV pickup associated with the AV and the computing device. The one or more processors store or provide validation information based on the validation data object.

Abstract: In accordance with the disclosed approach, positioning server(s) could receive, from mobile devices, information indicating a plurality of GNSS rescue areas, each respective GNSS rescue area of the plurality of GNSS rescue areas corresponding to a respective geographic area visited by a respective one of the mobile devices in which (i) at least one GNSS-based position estimate is or was unavailable and (ii) the respective mobile device had demand for positioning data of at least a particular quality level. Given this, the server(s) could generate a GNSS rescue map representing radio data for the plurality of GNSS rescue areas. In this way, the server(s) could transmit, to a mobile device, an offline radio map representing a subset of the GNSS rescue map, to provide radio data for at least one of the GNSS rescue areas or portion thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is an approach for automatic detection of entrance(s). In particular, processor(s) could have access to counter data arranged to maintain counters that each respectively represent a count of how many times GNSS service has been obtained or lost in a respective one of a plurality of sub-areas. Given this, the processor(s) could detect a GNSS state change corresponding to an instance of GNSS service being obtained or lost in a particular sub-area and could responsively increment the respective counter associated with the particular sub-area. In turn, the processor(s) could make a determination that the respective counter is representing a count that is greater than other count(s) represented by counter(s) associated with other sub-area(s). And based at least on this determination, the processor(s) could deem the particular sub-area to include an entrance, thereby resulting in detection of the entrance.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are provided for operating one or more drones in a building. In the context of a method, information is determined that includes at least one of real time information or predictive information. The real time information is indicative of a position of at least one individual in the building, while the predictive information is indicative of a predicted location of the at least one individual in the building at a certain time. The method also includes controlling the one or more drones in the building according to the at least one of the real time information or the predictive information to avoid the at least one individual while the drone is performing a task.

Abstract: Disclosed is an approach for automatic detection of entrance(s). In particular, processor(s) could have access to counter data arranged to maintain counters that each respectively represent a count of how many times GNSS service has been obtained or lost in a respective one of a plurality of sub-areas. Given this, the processor(s) could detect a GNSS state change corresponding to an instance of GNSS service being obtained or lost in a particular sub-area and could responsively increment the respective counter associated with the particular sub-area. In turn, the processor(s) could make a determination that the respective counter is representing a count that is greater than other count(s) represented by counter(s) associated with other sub-area(s). And based at least on this determination, the processor(s) could deem the particular sub-area to include an entrance, thereby resulting in detection of the entrance.

Abstract: In accordance with the disclosed approach, positioning server(s) could receive, from mobile devices, information indicating a plurality of GNSS rescue areas, each respective GNSS rescue area of the plurality of GNSS rescue areas corresponding to a respective geographic area visited by a respective one of the mobile devices in which (i) at least one GNSS-based position estimate is or was unavailable and (ii) the respective mobile device had demand for positioning data of at least a particular quality level. Given this, the server(s) could generate a GNSS rescue map representing radio data for the plurality of GNSS rescue areas. In this way, the server(s) could transmit, to a mobile device, an offline radio map representing a subset of the GNSS rescue map, to provide radio data for at least one of the GNSS rescue areas or portion thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is an approach to enable optimized GNSS augmentation via learning at a mobile device. In particular, the mobile device could identify device-specific GNSS rescue area(s), the device-specific GNSS rescue area(s) corresponding to geographic area(s) visited by the mobile device in which (i) at least one GNSS-based position estimate is or was unavailable and (ii) the mobile device had demand for positioning data of at least a particular quality level. The mobile device could then receive, from positioning server(s), an offline radio map representing radio data only for the device-specific GNSS rescue area(s), and could store the offline radio map in a local data storage device. In turn, the mobile device could perform position estimation(s) using the offline radio map representing radio data only for the device-specific GNSS rescue area(s).

Abstract: A computing device obtains an instance of radio observation data and an associated circumstance parameter. The instance of radio observation data indicates an observed signal strength a radio node observed by a mobile device. The circumstance parameter indicates a characteristic of motion of the mobile device and/or a characteristic of the environment about the mobile device when the instance of radio observation data was captured. The computing device determines a context associated with the instance of radio observation data based at least in part on the circumstance parameter; determining a context-specific signal strength correction based at least in part on the context; generates a corrected signal strength of the radio node based on the observed signal strength and the signal strength correction; and generates and/or updates a radio map based at least in part on the corrected signal strength of the at least one radio node.

Abstract: Disclosed is an approach to enable radio map download for Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-denied areas. In particular, processor(s) (e.g., of positioning server(s)) could identify GNSS-denied area(s) in an initial radio map, the GNSS-denied area(s) being (i) one or more areas in which at least one GNSS signal is or was unavailable and (ii) a subset of a plurality of areas represented by the initial radio map. Subsequently, the processor(s) could generate a partial radio map representing radio data only for the GNSS-denied area(s) identified in the initial radio map, and could then transmit the partial radio map to a mobile device for storage at the mobile device. In this way, the mobile device could optimize resource usage and perform radio-based position estimations at least in the GNSS-denied area(s) that were identified.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer readable storage medium are provided for determining the installation positions of radio devices. Signal propagation time parameters are obtained with each signal propagation time parameter associated with an installation position and an observation position. Each signal propagation time parameter represents a respective signal propagation time value of radio signal(s) traveling between the respective installation and observation positions. A signal propagation time parameter is selected for defining a coordinate system. First point coordinates are selected to represent the installation position associated with the selected signal propagation time parameter, and second point coordinates are selected to represent the observation position associated with the selected signal propagation time parameter.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to identify a particular wireless communication node of one or more wireless communication nodes as a beamforming node. The method, apparatus and computer program product also restrict use of the particular wireless communication node for positioning purposes relative to another one of the wireless communication nodes that has not been identified as a beamforming node. In relation to restricting the use of a beamforming node for positioning purpose, the use of a beamforming node may be restricted in relation to the generation or updating of a radio map and/or in relation to the determination of a position of a mobile device.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to accelerate the estimation of a radio model of an access point within a radio environment, such as an access point that has been newly added to or relocated within the radio environment. In the context of a method, the presence of a first access point in a radio environment is determined and the signal propagation characteristics of one or more existing access points in the radio environment are also determined. The signal propagation characteristics are represented by respective radio models of the one or more existing access points. The method also includes estimating the radio model of the first access point based at least upon the signal propagation characteristics of the one or more existing access points in the radio environment as represented by the respective radio models of the one or more existing access points.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to accelerate the estimation of a radio model of a beamforming access point within a radio environment, such as a beamforming access point that has been newly added to or relocated. In a method, the presence of a first beamforming access point in a radio environment is determined and information is obtained regarding one or more of a plurality of beams that are transmitted by the first access point. The method then estimates the radio model of the first access point based at least upon: (i) at least some of the information regarding the one or more of the beams transmitted by the first access point and (ii) signal propagation characteristics of one or more existing access points in the radio environment as represented by respective radio models of the one or more existing access points.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes obtaining or holding available radio positioning support map information and geographic map information. An overlapping geographic area is covered by the radio positioning support map and the geographic map, which is dividable into a plurality of subareas. The method also includes determining, for each subarea of the plurality of subareas, a respective observed radio positioning support device density at least partially based on the radio positioning support map and a respective expected radio positioning support device density at least partially based on the geographic map. The method further includes evaluating, for each subarea of the plurality of subareas, a respective radio positioning performance in a respective subarea at least partially based on the respective observed radio positioning support device density and the respective expected radio positioning support device density. A corresponding apparatus and computer readable storage medium are also provided.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that includes obtaining a request for determining a position estimate of a certain position. With the request, the certain position of a single apparatus is requested. The method also includes obtaining or determining a deviate information indicative of an offset that is added to the position estimate to be determined. The method further includes determining the position estimate based at least partially on the deviate information and the fingerprint information. The position estimate is indicative of a position with an uncertainty radius. It is further disclosed an according apparatus, computer readable storage medium and system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for deciding, for at least one set of geofence related data related to a respective geofence, based at least in part on a storage size of the at least one set of geofence related data, whether or not the at least one set of geofence related data shall be provided to a mobile device to which the respective geofence shall apply. The method and apparatus also provide or cause provision of the at least one set of geofence related data to the mobile device, if it is decided that the at least one set of geofence related data shall be provided to the mobile device.

Abstract: It is inter-alia disclosed a method performed by an apparatus, said method comprising: determining a representative of a size of a geofence based on one or more parameters, wherein at least one parameter of the one or more parameters is indicative of a location update interval associated with a mobile device.

Abstract: One or more processors obtain a first radio environment signature associated with an aerial vehicle (AV) and a second radio environment signature associated with a computing device. Responsive to determining that the first radio environment signature and the second radio environment signature satisfy a similarity criteria, the one or more processors generate a validation data object verifying one or more of (i) that a location of the AV substantially corresponds to a location of the computing device at a time associated with at least one of the first radio environment signature or the second radio environment signature, (ii) a AV delivery associated with the AV and the computing device, or (iii) a AV pickup associated with the AV and the computing device. The one or more processors store or provide validation information based on the validation data object.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to generate or modify information about a navigable area of an indoor space. In the context of a method, location data is received or determined for a plurality of location trace snippets associated with one or more mobile devices. Each location trace snippet of the plurality of location trace snippets respectively represents a plurality of respective locations of a respective mobile device within the indoor space over a respective limited period of time. The respective limited period of time associated with a location trace snippet may be defined based upon satisfaction of a trigger condition. Based on the location data for the plurality of location trace snippets, the method also generates or modifies information about one or more navigable areas of the indoor space.