Abstract: Inter-alia, methods are disclosed for decoding an optimized message format utilizable for positioning. The methods may include obtaining at least one encoded sample measurement comprising: at a maximum two full identifier information of respective radio nodes; at a maximum three partial identifier information of respective radio nodes, wherein a part of a respective full identifier information of the respective radio nodes is comprised; and at least one signal strength information of the respective radio nodes; and resolving a respective partial identifier information of the maximum of three partial identifier information of respective radio nodes to determine their respective full identifier information. Corresponding apparatus(es), computer program(s) and system(s) are disclosed.

Abstract: Inter-alia, a method is disclosed comprising: gathering at least one sample measurement comprising at least one of an identifier information or signal strength information of a plurality of radio nodes, wherein one or more signals sent by the respective radio nodes are observable at a location where the apparatus performs the gather of the at least one sample measurement; encoding the at least one sample measurement based on the following conditions: allowing the encoded at least one sample measurement to comprise at a maximum two full identifier information of the respective radio nodes; allowing the encoded at least one sample measurement to comprise at a maximum three partial identifier information, wherein a part of a respective full identifier information of the respective radio nodes is allowed to be comprised; and allowing the encoded at least one sample measurement to comprise at least one signal strength information of the respective radio nodes; and providing the encoded at least one sample measurem

Abstract: Disclosed is an approach for mapping a user location, comprising receiving, by one or more processors, location data of a vehicle; receiving, by one or more processors, a first location data for one or more end users, wherein the first location data is relative to the vehicle; making a determination, by the one or more processors, a second location data of one or more end users, wherein the second location data is determined at least in part based on the location of a vehicle, the first location data, and data from one or more inertial sensors; and based at least on the determination, generating, by the one or more processors, a feedback which is transmitted to one or more end user devices or servers.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program product are provided for radio model generation, mobile device positioning, and/or hash key generation for a radio model. In this regard, a presence of a first radio node in a radio environment is determined. Additionally, at least one hash of the first radio node is determined based at least in part on radio node data for a second radio node in the radio environment. At least a portion of a radio model for the first radio node is then configured based on the at least one hash.

Abstract: Disclosed is an approach for obtaining fingerprints that have been collected by at least one mobile device for supporting a positioning of other mobile devices, each fingerprint comprising at least results of measurements on radio signals of at least one communication node at a particular location, communication node names proximate to the particular location, and an area identifier for the particular location; receiving a positioning request that contains at least a multiset of communication node names; selecting a radio model, wherein the radio model selected is based at least in part on the fingerprint and/or the number of communication node names proximate to a fingerprint which match the node names in the positioning request that contains at least a multiset of communication node names; and generating data for a feedback for a user of the at least one computing device based on the selected radio model.

Abstract: A computing device, method and computer program product are provided to generate or update a radio map based on a plurality of fingerprint data that each respectively includes an obfuscated location reference. The radio map may be provided to another computing device for use in conjunction with positioning services. A computing device is provided that is configured to determine a position based upon a radio map. A computing device, method and computer program product are also provided to determine a position based upon a radio map for which the obfuscated location references are deobfuscated based on the one or more parameters, such as one or more translation and/or rotation parameters.

Abstract: A computing device, method and computer program product are provided to generate fingerprint data having an obfuscated location reference, thereby maintaining the privacy of the location information provided by fingerprint data and represented by a radio map. For a computing device configured to generate fingerprint data having an obfuscated location reference, the computing device is caused to receive fingerprint data comprising a location reference and measurement(s) of one or more communications nodes. The computing device is caused to determine translation and/or rotation parameter(s) based on a respective identifier of at least one of the one or more communications nodes and to apply one or more of the parameters at least to the location reference, thereby generating an obfuscated location reference. The computing device is also caused to provide the fingerprint data including the obfuscated location reference to another computing device for generation or updating of a radio map.

Abstract: Disclosed is an approach to improve data collection for a radio-based positioning system. The disclosed approach may involve processor(s) (e.g., of positioning server(s) and/or of a mobile device) obtaining radio data associated with the mobile device, where the radio data is collected while the mobile device is located within a particular vehicle during a time of commute. The processor(s) may determine a particular location of the particular vehicle representing where the particular vehicle is or was located during the time of commute. And the processor(s) may then use the particular location of the particular vehicle to geo-reference the radio data collected while the mobile device is located within the particular vehicle during the time of commute.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program product are provided for communication node localization. For example, a digital fingerprint associated with a communication node in a communication environment is received. The digital fingerprint includes at least location data associated with a location estimate of the communication node and timestamp data associated with one or more measurements with respect to the communication node. Based at least in part on the timestamp data associated with the digital fingerprint, a frequency distribution data structure for the communication node is configured. Additionally, the location data is refined to generate refined location data for the communication node based on a comparison of one or more characteristics between the frequency distribution data structure and respective timetable data structures for respective scheduled events associated with an event location deemed to be at least proximate to the location data.

Abstract: Disclosed is an approach for detecting LIDAR blind spots in parking garages comprising receiving, by one or more processors, floor layout data for at least a first floor of a parking garage, based on the received floor layout data for at least a first floor of a parking garage, detecting, by the one or more processors, at least one additional floor layout data for a floor of the parking garage, wherein the at least one additional floor has a substantially similar layout to the first floor of the parking garage, in response to detecting the at least one additional floor layout data for a floor of the parking garage, group by the one or more processors, the floors with substantially similar floor layout data into at least one cluster, making a determination, by the one or more processors, that at least one of the floor layout data in the cluster contains at least one LIDAR blind spot, and based at least on the determination, generating, by the one or more processors, LIDAR data for the at least one blind spot.

Abstract: A computing device, method and computer program product are provided to update the model of a building. In the context of a method, an image of a building and information regarding a location from which the image was captured are obtained. The method also includes causing a model of the building and the image of the building to be presented. Based on feedback from presentation of the model of the building and the image of the building, the method includes updating the model of the building by adjusting one or more parameters, including one or more vertical parameters, defining the model of the building. The method further includes causing the updated model of the building and the image of the building to be presented.

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: Disclosed is an approach for improved radio and/or altitude data collection in the context of a positioning system. In particular, processor(s) could execute a first phase of the collection process, which may involve collection of data only in seed area(s) associated with generation of an initial map as well as setting forth guidance, via a user interface of a mobile device, to collect data only in the seed area(s). And when the processor(s) detect a trigger to end the first phase, the processor(s) could responsively execute a second phase of the process, which may involve collection of data in secondary area(s) associated with generation of an updated map as well as setting forth guidance, via the user interface, (i) to collect data in the secondary area(s) and (ii) to visit seed area(s) and/or other area(s) that are deemed to be ready.

Abstract: A method is provided that is performed by at least one first apparatus with the method including obtaining or causing obtaining information indicative of a variation in intensity of light emitted from at least two light sources positioned along a segment of a road; and obtaining or causing obtaining information indicative of a velocity of the at least one first apparatus based at least on the information indicative of the variation in intensity. A corresponding apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: An approach is provided for generating and leveraging map layer(s) representing information associated with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) usage on mobile devices. The approach, for instance, involves determining LiDAR usage data generated by one or more mobile devices. The approach also involves generating a map layer of a geographic database based on the LiDAR usage data. The map layer indicates one or more locations where a LiDAR device was used by the one or more mobile devices based on the LiDAR usage data. The approach further involves providing the map layer as an output.

Abstract: A method is provided that is performed by a mobile device at least partially under control of a positioning program. The method includes establishing or initiating establishing a secure communication path to a remote device for receiving one or more signature parameter data sets and receiving said signature parameter data set(s) via said secure communication path. The method also includes estimating a position of said mobile device at least partially based on radio signal parameter(s) obtained by said mobile device. The position data are obtained as a result of said estimating. The method further includes determining a digital signature of said position data at least partially based on at least one of said signature parameter data set(s). The method also includes providing said position data and said signature data to one or more application programs. A corresponding device and computer-readable storage medium are also provided.

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: 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: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for improving localization of a device. In this regard, a coarse location of the device is determined and a neural network is utilized to determine one or more image-based vectors from the device to respective features in an image captured by an image capture device associated with the device. At one or more location points defined relative to the coarse location of the device, (a) one or more map-based vectors extending from a respective location point to respective features as defined by map data are compared to (b) the one or more image-based vectors. Based on the comparison, a refined location of the device is determined. A method, apparatus and computer program are also provided for training the neural network to determine an image-based vector from the device to a feature in an image captured by the device.