Patents Assigned to Polaris Wireless, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20190313219
    Abstract: A data-processing system that estimates the particular building floors that are present in a particular building based on differences in barometric pressure measurements provided by wireless terminals. A wireless terminal can report one or more barometric pressure measurements at the ground floor of a building and one or more pressure measurements at one or more above- or below-ground floors, or “non-ground” floors. The data-processing system receives the pressure measurements and uses the difference in the pressure measurements to determine a change in height between the ground floor and a non-ground floor. When the system collects enough data from many wireless terminals, it is able to identify the floors that are present in a particular building and their non-ground heights. Then, when an estimate of the vertical location of a wireless terminal is provided to a location application, the system is able to provide the estimate in terms of building floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Jain Zhu, Jonathan Shiao-en Lu
  • Publication number: 20190313361
    Abstract: A technique for the estimation of the location of a wireless terminal. The disclosed technique considers boundaries that are represented in a geographic information system (GIS) database in combination with a first, unenhanced estimate of location, in order to generate a second, enhanced estimate of location. To do so, the technique generates a point cloud based on the first estimate of location. At least some of the data points in the point cloud are then removed, depending on their positions in relation to certain boundaries stored in the GIS database, such as the exterior walls of buildings and other structures. By considering these boundaries, the disclosed technique can increase the probability that the estimated location is within an area that is occupiable by a person, thereby providing a more reasonable result. The technique generates the second, enhanced estimate based on the distribution of the remaining data points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Arthur Blaha, JR., Scot Douglas Gordon, Jonathan Shiao-en Lu, Jeffrey Noel Wu, Jian Jet Zhu
  • Patent number: 10412211
    Abstract: A location engine that estimates the barometric pressure measurement bias of a wireless terminal, resulting in an improved estimate of elevation of the wireless terminal. The location engine generates an estimate of measurement bias by comparing the barometric pressure measured by the wireless terminal while at that elevation and the barometric pressure that corresponds to an estimated elevation of the wireless terminal when it made the pressure measurement (i.e., the expected pressure). The estimated elevation is based on an inferred above-ground height and the local terrain elevation, and the expected pressure is based on the measurement of barometric pressure at the pressure reference and the estimated elevation. The location engine infers the height based on various techniques disclosed herein. The location engine can use the measurement bias to adjust subsequent pressure measurements reported by the wireless terminal, in order to generate an improved estimate of elevation of the wireless terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Zhu, Jerome Arthur Blaha, Jr., Scot Douglas Gordon, Jonathan Shiao-en Lu, Jeffrey Noel Wu
  • Patent number: 10412699
    Abstract: An improved technique for the estimation of the location of a wireless terminal. A disclosed location engine is capable of utilizing a service set identifier (SSID) or a media access control (MAC) address, or both, received from a reporting wireless terminal, in order to improve the estimate of the wireless terminal's location. The location engine generates a first hypothesis for the location of the wireless terminal based on evidence of the location of the wireless terminal, such signal strength measurements, wherein the evidence is independent of the SSID and MAC addresses. The location engine also generates a second hypothesis for the location based on the SSID or a third hypothesis for the location based on the MAC address, or both. An estimate of location of the wireless terminal is based on a combination of the first, second, and third hypotheses. The estimate can then be used in a location-based application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Arthur Blaha, Jr., Scot Douglas Gordon, Jonathan Shiao-en Lu, Jeffrey Noel Wu, Jian Zhu
  • Patent number: 10372835
    Abstract: A technique for simplifying structure data for representing an environment. Polyhedrons can make up structure data used in an application such as modeling, visualization, and navigation. Consequently, the operations that are performed on the data often involve determining, for each polyhedron that defines a structure such as a building, whether the polyhedron obstructs a line-of-sight line between a first point in space being considered in the application and a second point. In order to determine whether a polyhedron obstructs a line-of-sight line, a data-processing system operating on the structure data must determine whether any walls of the polyhedron intersect the line. Thus, the more polyhedrons there are or the more vertices that are in each polyhedron, the more walls there are, and the more intersection checks are required, thereby adding to the computations. The disclosed technique reduces the number of walls by simplifying objects that make up the structure data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Vittorio Degli-Esposti, Jonathan Lu, Enrico Maria Vitucci
  • Patent number: 10372840
    Abstract: A technique for simplifying structure data for representing an environment. Polyhedrons can make up structure data used in an application such as modeling, visualization, and navigation. Consequently, the operations that are performed on the data often involve determining, for each polyhedron that defines a structure such as a building, whether the polyhedron obstructs a line-of-sight line between a first point in space being considered in the application and a second point. In order to determine whether a polyhedron obstructs a line-of-sight line, a data-processing system operating on the structure data must determine whether any walls of the polyhedron intersect the line. Thus, the more polyhedrons there are or the more vertices that are in each polyhedron, the more walls there are, and the more intersection checks are required, thereby adding to the computations. The disclosed technique reduces the number of walls by simplifying objects that make up the structure data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Vittorio Degli-Esposti, Jonathan Lu, Enrico Maria Vitucci
  • Patent number: 10367932
    Abstract: A location engine that estimates the barometric pressure measurement bias of a wireless terminal, resulting in an improved estimate of elevation of the wireless terminal. The location engine generates an estimate of measurement bias by comparing the barometric pressure measured by the wireless terminal while at that elevation and the barometric pressure that corresponds to an estimated elevation of the wireless terminal when it made the pressure measurement (i.e., the expected pressure). The estimated elevation is based on an inferred above-ground height and the local terrain elevation, and the expected pressure is based on the measurement of barometric pressure at the pressure reference and the estimated elevation. The location engine infers the height based on various techniques disclosed herein. The location engine can use the measurement bias to adjust subsequent pressure measurements reported by the wireless terminal, in order to generate an improved estimate of elevation of the wireless terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Zhu, Jerome Arthur Blaha, Jr., Scot Douglas Gordon, Jonathan Shiao-en Lu, Jeffrey Noel Wu
  • Patent number: 10366181
    Abstract: A technique for simplifying structure data for representing an environment. Polyhedrons can make up structure data used in an application such as modeling, visualization, and navigation. Consequently, the operations that are performed on the data often involve determining, for each polyhedron that defines a structure such as a building, whether the polyhedron obstructs a line-of-sight line between a first point in space being considered in the application and a second point. In order to determine whether a polyhedron obstructs a line-of-sight line, a data-processing system operating on the structure data must determine whether any walls of the polyhedron intersect the line. Thus, the more polyhedrons there are or the more vertices that are in each polyhedron, the more walls there are, and the more intersection checks are required, thereby adding to the computations. The disclosed technique reduces the number of walls by simplifying objects that make up the structure data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Vittorio Degli-Esposti, Jonathan Lu, Enrico Maria Vitucci
  • Publication number: 20190120665
    Abstract: A technique for estimating the location of a wireless terminal at an unknown location in a geographic region. The technique is based on a two-part recognition, the first part being that a transient in atmospheric pressure attributed to a particular source, such as an entry door of a building opening and closing, is detectable in some environments while not being present in others. The second part of the recognition is that a correlation exists between i) the presence of a transient in the characterization of a pressure wave in the vicinity of a wireless terminal and ii) whether the wireless terminal is indoors or not. Transients in pressure waves are often present indoors but not outdoors. By accounting for the transients being detected or not being detected in the vicinity of the wireless terminal, the disclosed technique is able to estimate whether the wireless terminal is indoors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerome Arthur Blaha, JR.
  • Publication number: 20190124476
    Abstract: A technique for detecting the occurrence of an event, and for estimating other event-related information, by analyzing the barometric pressure in the vicinity of one or more wireless terminals. The disclosed detection technique is based on the recognition that the barometric sensor on various wireless terminals, such as smartphones, is capable of measuring very subtle changes in the atmospheric pressure. The disclosed detection technique is also based on the additional recognition of how some of the changes in the atmospheric pressure, as measured by a wireless terminal, correlate to various events that occur within a building or other defined area. For example, the disclosed technique can detect an entry door opening or closing by analyzing a resultant pressure wave having a particular transient that is perceptible by one or more wireless terminals in the area and analyzed by a detection engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerome Arthur Blaha, JR.
  • Patent number: 10236945
    Abstract: A wireless telecommunications system that employs a distributed-antenna system is described in which different combinations of radio signals are assigned to antennas so as to facilitate locating a wireless terminal based on the identity and the relative signal strength of the radio signals it receives above a signal-strength threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Vittorio Degli-Esposti
  • Patent number: 10236029
    Abstract: A video editing system that enables replay of activities performed by one or more objects of interest, and displayed on a map. The editing system receives a series of geolocation data points for each object of interest. The system also receives a series of time data points representing when each object was at the respective geolocations. The editing system generates positions in relation to a map of a predetermined geographic region, for the objects. Depending on one or more command inputs that it receives, the editing system then processes and displays markers of the positions of the objects, based on one or more of i) the geolocation data points, ii) the time data points, and iii) the generated map positions. As part of the processing, the editing system is able to stream the displayable data such that the markers appear to move around the map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitul Bhat, Padmadevan Chettiar, Pratik Dhebri, Greg Edwards
  • Publication number: 20190051331
    Abstract: A video editing system that enables replay of activities performed by one or more objects of interest, and displayed on a map. The editing system receives a series of geolocation data points for each object of interest. The system also receives a series of time data points representing when each object was at the respective geolocations. The editing system generates positions in relation to a map of a predetermined geographic region, for the objects. Depending on one or more command inputs that it receives, the editing system then processes and displays markers of the positions of the objects, based on one or more of i) the geolocation data points, ii) the time data points, and iii) the generated map positions. As part of the processing, the editing system is able to stream the displayable data such that the markers appear to move around the map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitul Bhat, Padmadevan Chettiar, Pratik Dhebri, Greg Edwards
  • Publication number: 20190050500
    Abstract: A technique for simplifying structure data for representing an environment. Polyhedrons can make up structure data used in an application such as modeling, visualization, and navigation. Consequently, the operations that are performed on the data often involve determining, for each polyhedron that defines a structure such as a building, whether the polyhedron obstructs a line-of-sight line between a first point in space being considered in the application and a second point. In order to determine whether a polyhedron obstructs a line-of-sight line, a data-processing system operating on the structure data must determine whether any walls of the polyhedron intersect the line. Thus, the more polyhedrons there are or the more vertices that are in each polyhedron, the more walls there are, and the more intersection checks are required, thereby adding to the computations. The disclosed technique reduces the number of walls by simplifying objects that make up the structure data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Vittorio Degli-Esposti, Jonathan Lu, Enrico Maria Vitucci
  • Publication number: 20190042665
    Abstract: A technique for simplifying structure data for representing an environment. Polyhedrons can make up structure data used in an application such as modeling, visualization, and navigation. Consequently, the operations that are performed on the data often involve determining, for each polyhedron that defines a structure such as a building, whether the polyhedron obstructs a line-of-sight line between a first point in space being considered in the application and a second point. In order to determine whether a polyhedron obstructs a line-of-sight line, a data-processing system operating on the structure data must determine whether any walls of the polyhedron intersect the line. Thus, the more polyhedrons there are or the more vertices that are in each polyhedron, the more walls there are, and the more intersection checks are required, thereby adding to the computations. The disclosed technique reduces the number of walls by simplifying objects that make up the structure data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Vittorio Degli-Esposti, Jonathan Lu, Enrico Maria Vitucci
  • Publication number: 20190042670
    Abstract: A technique for simplifying structure data for representing an environment. Polyhedrons can make up structure data used in an application such as modeling, visualization, and navigation. Consequently, the operations that are performed on the data often involve determining, for each polyhedron that defines a structure such as a building, whether the polyhedron obstructs a line-of-sight line between a first point in space being considered in the application and a second point. In order to determine whether a polyhedron obstructs a line-of-sight line, a data-processing system operating on the structure data must determine whether any walls of the polyhedron intersect the line. Thus, the more polyhedrons there are or the more vertices that are in each polyhedron, the more walls there are, and the more intersection checks are required, thereby adding to the computations. The disclosed technique reduces the number of walls by simplifying objects that make up the structure data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Vittorio Degli-Esposti, Jonathan Lu, Enrico Maria Vitucci
  • Publication number: 20190043228
    Abstract: A system and method for graphical representation of spatial data. A disclosed video display system is capable of presenting a layout of graphics objects as part of a displayed image. The system provides in the displayed image i) a first graphical representation in a first display area of a display and ii) a diagrammatic representation in a second display area. The diagrammatic representation features superimposed graphical elements that are dependent on the first graphical representation. The video display system can provide, for example, a pie chart as the first graphical representation and a map of a geographic area as the diagrammatic representation. The pie chart graphically represents, for example, a breakdown of members by organization, wherein each slice in the pie chart corresponds to a different organization. Superimposed on the map are elements of a bar chart, which is another example of a graphical representation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitul Bhat, Pratik Dhebri
  • Publication number: 20190028152
    Abstract: A wireless telecommunications system that employs a distributed-antenna system is described in which different combinations of radio signals are assigned to antennas so as to facilitate locating a wireless terminal based on the identity and the relative signal strength of the radio signals it receives above a signal-strength threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Vittorio Degli-Esposti
  • Publication number: 20180375598
    Abstract: A system and method for ray launching in electromagnetic wave propagation modeling. A data-processing system receives a dataset that is representative of one or more structures within an environment, including a first structure that is defined in the dataset as having at least a first surface. The data-processing system partitions at least the first surface into a first plurality of tiles. The data-processing system then projects a first set of ray tubes from a predetermined first point within the environment, to the tiles in the first plurality. Each ray tube in the first set is defined by the vertices of a corresponding tile in the first plurality. The data-processing system evaluates the incidence of bounced ray tubes at a predetermined receive point within the environment and presents a propagation result that is based on the evaluated incidence of the bounced ray tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicants: Polaris Wireless, Inc., Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna
    Inventors: Jonathan Shiao-en Lu, Vittorio Degli-Esposti, Enrico Maria Vitucci
  • Publication number: 20180375600
    Abstract: A system and method for ray launching in electromagnetic wave propagation modeling. A data-processing system receives a dataset that is representative of one or more structures within an environment. The system partitions at least a first surface of a first structure into a first plurality of tiles. The system then projects a first set of ray tubes from a predetermined first point within the environment, to the tiles in the first plurality. Each ray tube in the first set is projected to a corresponding tile in the first plurality, based on whether the reference point of the corresponding tile in the first plurality is visible from the transmit point. The data-processing system evaluates the incidence of bounced ray tubes at a predetermined receive point within the environment and then presents a propagation result that is based on the evaluated incidence of the bounced ray tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicants: Polaris Wireless, Inc., Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna
    Inventors: Jonathan Shiao-en Lu, Vittorio Degli-Esposti, Enrico Maria Vitucci