Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for assistance data generation based on raster images, such as raster images of floor plans. A method provided herein for generating positioning assistance data includes obtaining a first raster image including a floor plan of an area; obtaining geographic reference information corresponding to the area, the geographic reference information including a location of the area; extracting structural features of the area from the floor plan of the area via the first raster image; and generating assistance data for the area based on the extracted structural features and the geographic reference information.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for improving relevancy and accuracy of assistance data (AD) generation from a set of floor plan map data based on contextualizing parameters in the set of floor plan map data to other related floor plan maps. The relevancy and accuracy of assistance data derived from a floor plan map may be improved by contextualizing or matching the floor plan map to other related floor plan maps where associated assistance data is already recorded. In some embodiments, floor plan maps may be identified which are closely related to the new floor plan map to be analyzed, and then the measurements of the closely related floor plan map as assistance data for the new floor plan map may be reused. In some embodiments, a relationship tree graph may be used to organize the floor plan maps into a logical relationship between each other.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for detecting a boundary of a building from an indoor map includes providing an electronic raster image of the indoor map. A floor plan included in the map is a first color and a background of the image is a second color. The method includes scanning the image a first time in a plurality of directions and coloring pixels of the image a third color as they are scanned the first time until a pixel is detected that is not the second color. Then the image is scanned a second time in at least two directions. The second scan includes marking a pixel a fourth color for each third color to non-third color and each non-third color to third color transition. The resultant pixels of the fourth color represent the boundary of the building.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods for converting an architectural diagram to structural elements (e.g., such as walls, hallways and open areas) for forming assistance data are presented. An architectural diagram may contain too many layers to manually review each layer. Some examples disclosed herein sort layers of an architectural diagram based on if the layer probably contains structural elements useful for forming assistance data. The sorted list of layers may be user selectable or automatically incorporated into a floor plan containing only structural elements. Once a floor plan is created from an architectural diagram, assistance data may be created and sent to a mobile device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for converting a raster image map to a vector image map includes receiving an electronic raster image that shows an indoor map of a building structure. The method also includes determining whether the indoor map is a line map. If not, the indoor map is converted into a line map. Next, the electronic raster image is processed to generate a processed raster image of the indoor map. The method then extracts vector lines from the processed raster image to generate an electronic vector image that includes the indoor map of the building structure.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of auto-scaling an indoor map includes receiving an unsealed electronic map that shows a floor plan of a building and creating control points on the unsealed electronic map. Each of control points includes an absolute coordinate pair and a corresponding local coordinate pair. The method also includes calculating a primary scaling factor based on the control points. The electronic map is then auto-scaled using the primary scaling factor to generate a scaled electronic map that shows the floor plan of the building.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of marking regions of an electronic map that shows a floor plan of a building includes receiving the electronic map and displaying a user interface on a display device. The user interface includes displaying the electronic map. The method also includes receiving user input demarcating a closed region of the electronic map and receiving user input indicating an element type of the closed region. A tag is then added to the electronic map to indicate the element type of the closed region.

Abstract: Embodiments may automatically place access points (APs) on floor plans by incorporating a number of conventions for identifying types and locations of APs. These conventions may include the name of APs, MAC addresses, lat/lon information, and feature analysis or image recognition techniques for matching visual cues if the AP locations are marked on images. Some embodiment may conduct several other operations to optimize placement of APs. These optimization operations may reduce the number of steps needed to place APs on floor plans, and/or may reduce extraneous and superfluous information from the floor plans that may clutter the annotated floor plan map.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods for merging maps used by a positioning server are presented. Original maps are overlaid, concatenated or inset to create a more detailed map. The original maps are from different sources and/or in different formats. By merging or fusing maps together, a positioning server may create a better structural map, which is in turn used to create improved positioning assistance data.

Abstract: A system and method for manpower planning for operating vehicles such as, for example, airplanes, according to which, in several exemplary embodiments, the availability of adequate manpower to operate the vehicles over a period of time is ensured; in several exemplary embodiments, the operation of the vehicles over the period of time includes the flying of airplanes in accordance with an airline flight schedule.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for scheduling resources. In one respect, embodiments of the invention allow workers to indicate preferences for specific shifts during a planning horizon, within limitations imposed by the scheduling system. Embodiments of the system and method seek to meet all hard constraints, and utilize a flexible scoring technique to minimize the violation of soft constraints. Embodiments also consider the substitution of higher skilled workers in cases where there is an unmet demand for lower skilled workers.