Abstract: A method for graphically guiding visitors of a building to a shortest path using an integrated reader and access control is provided. The method includes receiving a user's identification code, receiving a user's destination location, uploading a current floor plan of a location, determining non-accessible areas in the location based on the user's identification code, and computing a shortest path from a present location to the destination location, wherein the shortest path circumvents the non-accessible areas.

Abstract: One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for providing navigation-related functions, such as map display, are disclosed. For example, a method may include receiving input corresponding to a location. Photo image data associated with the location are retrieved. The photo image data are based on at least one image captured by a video camera or a photo camera. The photo image data are provided to display at least a portion of a photo image view representing at least a portion of the location. Map data corresponding to the location are retrieved. The map data are provided to display at least a portion of a digital map in the portion of the photo image view, and the digital map is integrated within the photo image view.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system to provide optimum guidance for an individual seeking the destination point in a complex building. The system can be used for a range of individuals from firemen seeking an optimized and accurately mapped path from an access point at the entrance to the building to a destination point where a fire alarm has gone off or for a visitor in the museum who is seeking a path to a particular desired display destination. The system can provide multiple sequential simplified floor configuration maps. These maps are designed to show foreshortened walls so as to provide a three-dimensional maze-like format with the pathways visible and with a track mark illustrating an optimal path for the user to follow within the area shown on the map.

Abstract: A system for exchanging data. A first mobile device configured to generate a first set of data related to a plurality of geographic positions where the first mobile device has been located and configured to exchange the first set of data with a second mobile device wherein the first mobile device receives a second set of data related to a plurality of geographic positions where the second mobile device has been located. A mapping system configured to receive the first set of data and the second set of data and to generate a map based on the first set of data and the second set of data.

Abstract: A security and tracking apparatus includes at least a first signaling unit and a second signaling unit, wherein the apparatus is adapted for transmitting the location of each signaling unit when the first and second signaling units are separated by more than a preselected distance. A method to locate a person, animal, or object, includes providing in contact with or at least in close proximity to the person, the animal, or the object, at least a first signaling unit and a second signaling unit, wherein each respective signaling unit is adapted for identifying the location of the signaling units and for transmitting the location of the signaling units when the first and second signaling units are separated more than a preselected distance; and activating the signaling units to transmit the location of the signaling units.

Abstract: A method for enhanced location sensing based on topology constraints. A potential position value and a corresponding probability value with respect to an observed position data of an object within a structure can be calculated utilizing a normal probability distribution function. Thereafter, an optimal route between adjacent observed time periods may be calculated utilizing a heuristic search algorithm. The potential position value and the optimal route can be calculated by accessing a pre-installed topology data associated with the structure. An optimization problem can then be solved to refine the observed position data. The position between a pair of observed time periods can be interpolated and the position of the object before a next observed time can be predicted by interpolation based on the spatial constraints.

Abstract: Systems and methods for collecting and recording video data and inertial motion unit (IMU) data associated with the video data representative of a path of traversal, transmitting the video data and IMU data associated with the video data to a rescue device that includes a display, and subsequently replaying the video data on the display of the rescue device along with viewable indicia, based on the IMU data associated with the video data, that is indicative of the motion of a user when the video data was collected and recorded.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, and a system to perform the method, comprising receiving venue infrastructure information at an entity hosted on a mobile station, and selectively providing a portion of the venue infrastructure information to one or more other entities hosted on the mobile station based, at least in part, on a privilege level attributed to the mobile station or a user associated with the mobile station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying access points using a positioning device and a map having a plurality of segments; determining that the positioning device is near a first location; detecting that the positioning device is off-route at a second location; and storing the second location as a first access point associated with the first location on the map.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recording activities of an avatar in a virtual world by means of a computer including: means for dividing the virtual world into a plurality of blocks each provided with a unique ID; means for recording a movement history in a storage area of the computer, the movement history including the ID of each block which an avatar acting in the virtual world enters and a time point at which the avatar enters the block; means for deleting the movement history between the first and the last blocks of a plurality of blocks which the avatar enters if the plurality of blocks are continuous in a straight line in one direction; and activity record DB recording means for recording, as an activity dataset in an activity record DB, an event content, the movement history and a repetition count of an event.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of detecting information transmitted by a light source in a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor by detecting a frequency of light pulses produced by the light source. In some embodiments, the method includes capturing on the CMOS image sensor with a rolling shutter an image in which different portions of the CMOS image sensor are exposed at different points in time; detecting visible distortions that include alternating stripes in the image; measuring a width of the alternating stripes present in the image; and selecting a symbol based on the width of the alternating stripes present in the image to recover information encoded in the frequency of light pulses produced by the light source captured in the image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for positioning a user inside a building, wherein the user has a user carried device (100) and the user carried device (100) is provided with a direction sensor (110) and a movement sensor (110). The method comprises the steps of providing the user carried device with a vector map (220) of the building, wherein the vector map (220) comprises vectors and nodes representing possible movement paths for the user in the building; determining a starting point in the vector map representing a first position of the user; receiving movement information from the movement sensor (110) regarding movement of the user in the building; receiving direction information from the direction sensor (110) regarding the direction of the movement of the user; and estimating a new position of the user based on the vector map, the movement information and the direction information.

Abstract: Navigation instructions using low-bandwidth signaling are supported in an alternative user interface that may be utilized as either a full replacement or as an enhancement to conventional visual/audio navigation interfaces. In one illustrative example, the alternative interface makes use of the more constrained, but generally broadly available low-bandwidth signaling capability of mobile devices to encode navigation instructions in the form of varying patterns of tactile vibrations that may be imparted from the device to a user as haptic feedback. The user can sense the vibrations and readily translate them into the navigation instructions without needing any kind of special decoding equipment or using any special techniques. The vibrations may be encoded using easy to remember patterns so that a full and rich navigation feature set may be accessed with minimal training on the user's part.

Abstract: An approach is provided for retrieving mapping information of a premise for use by a mobile device upon the mobile device reaching the premise. A prompt is generated for presentation by the mobile device for a destination point within the premise. A determination is made of the position information of the mobile device. Navigation information for guidance to the destination point is generated using the mapping information and the determined position information. Presentation of the navigation information is initiated via the mobile device.

Abstract: A method for operating a navigation system computes a pedestrian route for travel by a pedestrian. A request for the pedestrian route between a first location inside a building and a second location inside the building is obtained. A geographic database associated with the navigation system is accessed for data representing a plurality of pedestrian paths. A solution pedestrian route from the origin to the destination comprising a series of connected pedestrian paths between the first location and the second location is determined. A guidance message that identifies a feature visible from at least one of the pedestrian paths is provided.

Abstract: A pressure sensor can be implemented on a network device to minimize vertical positioning errors of the network device in an indoor environment. A reference altitude and a reference pressure associated with an access point in the indoor environment are received at the network device via a communication network. A pressure is determined at the network device in the indoor environment. An altitude of the network device associated with the pressure at the network device in the indoor environment is calculated based, at least in part, on the pressure at the network device, the reference pressure, and the reference altitude. A position of the network device in the indoor environment is determined based, at least in part, on the altitude of the navigation device and location information received from at least the access point.