Patents by Inventor Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang

Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10681666
    Abstract: Coarse location estimation for mobile devices is disclosed for detecting mobile device presence at general locations of interest and switching operating modes and services for one or more location context aware applications. In some implementations, sensor data is received from a plurality of data sources at a location. For each data source, a first probability is estimated that the mobile device is at the location based on sensor data from the data sources. A second probability is estimated that the mobile device is not at the location based on sensor data from the data sources. The first and second estimated probabilities are statistically combined to generate a third estimated probability that the mobile device is at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Stephen Smith, Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, Ilya K. Veygman, Robert Mayor, David Benjamin Millman, Abhinav R. Patel, Vitali Lovich
  • Patent number: 9936342
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program product for determining a building floor level are described. A mobile device can use wireless signal sources and location fingerprint data to determine a level of a building floor on which the mobile device is located. The location fingerprint data can include or be associated with a list and a count of wireless signal sources previously detected on each floor. The mobile device can compare the list and count with wireless signal sources detected by the mobile device, and use results of the comparison to configure a statistical filter that determines a location of the mobile device. The mobile device can then determine the location, including a building floor level, using the statistical filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, Darin Tay
  • Patent number: 9918203
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for correcting in-venue location estimation using structural information are described. A mobile device can use wireless location technologies and dead reckoning to determine an estimated location of the mobile device in a venue. The mobile device can compare the estimated location with a map of the venue. Upon determining that the estimated location conflicts with a structural constraint, the mobile device can adjust the location estimation using the structural information. Adjusting the location estimation can include adjusting a statistical filter that provides estimation of the location and changing a heading of the mobile device used in the dead reckoning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, Darin Tay, Robert Mayor, David Benjamin Millman
  • Patent number: 9838848
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program product for prefetching location data based on predicted user behavior. A mobile device can request, from a user routine subsystem of the mobile device, a list of locations that a user of the mobile device routinely visits while the user carries the mobile device. The mobile device can determine a cluster of these locations that are within a specified distance between one another. The mobile device can request location data for these locations from a location server, even if the user is not at one of these locations. The location data can include a venue map and a venue location fingerprint. Upon detecting that the user entered a venue at one of these locations, the mobile device can determine a location of the user inside of the venue using the venue location fingerprint. The mobile device can then display the location on a venue map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vitali Lovich, Darin Tay, Robert Mayor, Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang
  • Patent number: 9769622
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program product for generating location fingerprint data for a venue are described. A sampling device surveying a venue can move inside the venue. While the sampling device moves, the sampling device can record environmental readings including, for example, strengths of signals from multiple radio signal sources. The sampling device can take the recording at fixed or various time intervals. Meanwhile, the sampling device can determine, based on a starting point and motion sensor readings, an estimated location of the mobile device for each time the sampling device takes the recordings. The sampling device can display a motion path of the estimated locations and a user interface item for receiving a user input for correcting the estimated locations. The sample device can tag the recorded environmental readings with the corrected locations, and submit the tagged readings to a server for determining a location fingerprint for the venue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Abhinav R. Patel, Darin Tay, David Benjamin Millman, Jessica Noel Tsoong, Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, Robert Mayor, Vitali Lovich, Vojislav Samsalovic, Ashish Agarwal, Mithilesh Kumar
  • Patent number: 9749780
    Abstract: A method of generating a user?s location using a mobile device. The method comprises, determining a signal snapshot on the mobile device, the signal snapshot describing characteristics of unregulated radio frequency (RF) transmissions detectable by the mobile device. Generating the user?s location on the mobile device using the signal snapshot and at least one additional input from the mobile device. The generating and determining are iteratively repeated. The unregulated RF transmission can comprise WiFi signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, David Benjamin Millman
  • Patent number: 9638784
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program product for deduplicating location fingerprint data for a venue are described. A system including a location server, or a mobile device, or both, can deduplicate the location fingerprint data. Deduplicating the location fingerprint data can include identifying correlated signal sources the signals of which are mutually dependent such that measurements of one signal source can be used to predict measurements of another. The system can determine a mutual information entropy value for each pair of signal sources, and identify the correlated signal sources based on high mutual information entropy value. The system can adjust weights of the correlated signal sources in location determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Abhinav R. Patel, Darin Tay, David Benjamin Millman, Jessica Noel Tsoong, Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, Robert Mayor, Vitali Lovich
  • Publication number: 20160360380
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for correcting in-venue location estimation using structural information are described. A mobile device can use wireless location technologies and dead reckoning to determine an estimated location of the mobile device in a venue. The mobile device can compare the estimated location with a map of the venue. Upon determining that the estimated location conflicts with a structural constraint, the mobile device can adjust the location estimation using the structural information. Adjusting the location estimation can include adjusting a statistical filter that provides estimation of the location and changing a heading of the mobile device used in the dead reckoning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, Darin Tay, Robert Mayor, David Benjamin Millman
  • Publication number: 20160360377
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program product for prefetching location data based on predicted user behavior. A mobile device can request, from a user routine subsystem of the mobile device, a list of locations that a user of the mobile device routinely visits while the user carries the mobile device. The mobile device can determine a cluster of these locations that are within a specified distance between one another. The mobile device can request location data for these locations from a location server, even if the user is not at one of these locations. The location data can include a venue map and a venue location fingerprint. Upon detecting that the user entered a venue at one of these locations, the mobile device can determine a location of the user inside of the venue using the venue location fingerprint. The mobile device can then display the location on a venue map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Vitali Lovich, Darin Tay, Robert Mayor, Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang
  • Publication number: 20160356593
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program product for determining a building floor level are described. A mobile device can use wireless signal sources and location fingerprint data to determine a level of a building floor on which the mobile device is located. The location fingerprint data can include or be associated with a list and a count of wireless signal sources previously detected on each floor. The mobile device can compare the list and count with wireless signal sources detected by the mobile device, and use results of the comparison to configure a statistical filter that determines a location of the mobile device. The mobile device can then determine the location, including a building floor level, using the statistical filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, Darin Tay
  • Patent number: 9491585
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program product for location determination using dual statistical filters are described. A mobile device can determine a location of the mobile device using a particle filter and a Kalman filter. The particle filter can filter candidate locations of the mobile device using measurements of environment variables in the venue. The Kalman filter can filter inputs from a sensor of the mobile device for measuring angular movement of the mobile device. The particle filter and the Kalman filter can be linked by heading of the mobile device. Output of the Kalman filter can be used to determine where to place particles, or candidate locations, in a next iteration of the particle filter. Output from the particle filter can be used to determine a center mode of the Kalman filter and to determine a bias of the sensor for measuring angular movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, Abhinav R. Patel, Darin Tay, David Benjamin Millman, Jessica Noel Tsoong, Robert Mayor, Vitali Lovich
  • Patent number: 9304185
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program product for deduplicating location fingerprint data for a venue are described. A system including a location server, or a mobile device, or both, can deduplicate the location fingerprint data. Deduplicating the location fingerprint data can include identifying correlated signal sources the signals of which are mutually dependent such that measurements of one signal source can be used to predict measurements of another. The system can determine a mutual information entropy value for each pair of signal sources, and identify the correlated signal sources based on high mutual information entropy value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Abhinav R. Patel, Darin Tay, David Benjamin Millman, Jessica Noel Tsoong, Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, Robert Mayor, Vitali Lovich
  • Publication number: 20160062949
    Abstract: Coarse location estimation for mobile devices is disclosed for detecting mobile device presence at general locations of interest and switching operating modes and services for one or more location context aware applications. In some implementations, sensor data is received from a plurality of data sources at a location. For each data source, a first probability is estimated that the mobile device is at the location based on sensor data from the data sources. A second probability is estimated that the mobile device is not at the location based on sensor data from the data sources. The first and second estimated probabilities are statistically combined to generate a third estimated probability that the mobile device is at the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Brian Stephen Smith, Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, Ilya K. Veygman, Robert Mayor, David Benjamin Millman, Abhinav R. Patel, Vitali Lovich
  • Publication number: 20160021498
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program product for deduplicating location fingerprint data for a venue are described. A system including a location server, or a mobile device, or both, can deduplicate the location fingerprint data. Deduplicating the location fingerprint data can include identifying correlated signal sources the signals of which are mutually dependent such that measurements of one signal source can be used to predict measurements of another. The system can determine a mutual information entropy value for each pair of signal sources, and identify the correlated signal sources based on high mutual information entropy value. The system can adjust weights of the correlated signal sources in location determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Abhinav R. Patel, Darin Tay, David Benjamin Millman, Jessica Noel Tsoong, Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, Robert Mayor, Vitali Lovich
  • Publication number: 20150350845
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program product for generating location fingerprint data for a venue are described. A sampling device surveying a venue can move inside the venue. While the sampling device moves, the sampling device can record environmental readings including, for example, strengths of signals from multiple radio signal sources. The sampling device can take the recording at fixed or various time intervals. Meanwhile, the sampling device can determine, based on a starting point and motion sensor readings, an estimated location of the mobile device for each time the sampling device takes the recordings. The sampling device can display a motion path of the estimated locations and a user interface item for receiving a user input for correcting the estimated locations. The sample device can tag the recorded environmental readings with the corrected locations, and submit the tagged readings to a server for determining a location fingerprint for the venue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Abhinav R. Patel, Darin Tay, David Benjamin Millman, Jessica Noel Tsoong, Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, Robert Mayor, Vitali Lovich, Vojislav Samsalovic, Ashish Agarwal, Mithilesh Kumar
  • Publication number: 20150346317
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program product for deduplicating location fingerprint data for a venue are described. A system including a location server, or a mobile device, or both, can deduplicate the location fingerprint data. Deduplicating the location fingerprint data can include identifying correlated signal sources the signals of which are mutually dependent such that measurements of one signal source can be used to predict measurements of another. The system can determine a mutual information entropy value for each pair of signal sources, and identify the correlated signal sources based on high mutual information entropy value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Abhinav R. Patel, Darin Tay, David Benjamin Millman, Jessica Noel Tsoong, Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, Robert Mayor, Vitali Lovich
  • Publication number: 20150350849
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program product for location determination using dual statistical filters are described. A mobile device can determine a location of the mobile device using a particle filter and a Kalman filter. The particle filter can filter candidate locations of the mobile device using measurements of environment variables in the venue. The Kalman filter can filter inputs from a sensor of the mobile device for measuring angular movement of the mobile device. The particle filter and the Kalman filter can be linked by heading of the mobile device. Output of the Kalman filter can be used to determine where to place particles, or candidate locations, in a next iteration of the particle filter. Output from the particle filter can be used to determine a center mode of the Kalman filter and to determine a bias of the sensor for measuring angular movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, Abhinav R. Patel, Darin Tay, David Benjamin Millman, Jessica Noel Tsoong, Robert Mayor, Vitali Lovich
  • Publication number: 20150181372
    Abstract: Survey data for an environment is used to predict the accuracy of a position estimate in the environment and whether or not more survey data may improve that accuracy. In some implementations, a user performs a site survey of an environment by observing the strengths of radio frequency signals at various survey points in the environment. An expected positioning accuracy of the surveyed environment can be determined using the new survey data collected and optionally historical survey data for the environment. The user can be informed about the usefulness of collecting additional survey data and/or the expected positioning accuracy in the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, Ronald K. Huang, Robert Mayor, David Benjamin Millman
  • Publication number: 20130317944
    Abstract: A method of generating a user?s location using a mobile device. The method comprises, determining a signal snapshot on the mobile device, the signal snapshot describing characteristics of unregulated radio frequency (RF) transmissions detectable by the mobile device. Generating the user?s location on the mobile device using the signal snapshot and at least one additional input from the mobile device. The generating and determining are iteratively repeated. The unregulated RF transmission can comprise WiFi signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, David Benjamin Millman