Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer readable storage medium are provided for determining the installation positions of radio devices. Signal propagation time parameters are obtained with each signal propagation time parameter associated with an installation position and an observation position. Each signal propagation time parameter represents a respective signal propagation time value of radio signal(s) traveling between the respective installation and observation positions. A signal propagation time parameter is selected for defining a coordinate system. First point coordinates are selected to represent the installation position associated with the selected signal propagation time parameter, and second point coordinates are selected to represent the observation position associated with the selected signal propagation time parameter.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to identify a particular wireless communication node of one or more wireless communication nodes as a beamforming node. The method, apparatus and computer program product also restrict use of the particular wireless communication node for positioning purposes relative to another one of the wireless communication nodes that has not been identified as a beamforming node. In relation to restricting the use of a beamforming node for positioning purpose, the use of a beamforming node may be restricted in relation to the generation or updating of a radio map and/or in relation to the determination of a position of a mobile device.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to accelerate the estimation of a radio model of an access point within a radio environment, such as an access point that has been newly added to or relocated within the radio environment. In the context of a method, the presence of a first access point in a radio environment is determined and the signal propagation characteristics of one or more existing access points in the radio environment are also determined. The signal propagation characteristics are represented by respective radio models of the one or more existing access points. The method also includes estimating the radio model of the first access point based at least upon the signal propagation characteristics of the one or more existing access points in the radio environment as represented by the respective radio models of the one or more existing access points.

Abstract: A mobile device generates a series of instances of space learning data. The series comprises instances of radio data captured as the device traverses a path through at least a portion of a space. Each instance of radio data describes a radio environment observed by the device at a respective location along the path. The device determines a position estimate based at least on motion of the device determined based on signals generated by motion sensors. The position estimate is associated with a respective instance of radio data. The device receives an message indicating the device is located proximate a particular landmark within the space. The landmark is a location within the space that is associated with a user-provided or sensor-defined landmark description. Responsive to receiving the message, the device updates the series to include an indication that a particular location along the path is proximate the particular landmark.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining or causing obtaining a reference position of the at least one apparatus based on at least one reference tag located at a predefined position of a map represented by map data of at least part of a structure. The method also includes obtaining or causing obtaining identification information of at least one first wireless access point based on a radio signal of the at least one first wireless access point. The method further includes associating or causing associating a first position determined based on the reference position with at least one of: a position estimate determined based on the identification information of the at least one first wireless access point and a radiomap represented by radiomap data of at least part of a structure; of the identification information of the at least one first wireless access point. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed.

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: A processor obtains a plurality of instances of access point observation information. Each instance of access point observation information comprises (a) radio observation information corresponding to observation of one or more access points by a respective mobile device and (b) location information comprising an indication of a location of the respective mobile device when the respective mobile device observed the one or more access points. For one or more instances of access point observation information, based at least on the location information of the instance and a digital map that is accessible to the at least one processor, the process identifies a respective (TME) of the digital map that represents a portion of a traversable network where the mobile device was located when the mobile device observed the one or more access points; and associates at least a portion of the radio observation information with the respective TME.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods, apparatus, and products for updating a positioning map and a position estimate based on the detection of delivery events. An example method comprises obtaining a delivery address corresponding to a delivery to be made by an entity associated with a mobile device; obtaining sensor data captured by the mobile device; based on processing the sensor data, determining occurrence of one or more events indicating a moment in time that the delivery took place at the delivery address; obtaining (a) a position estimate for the mobile device substantially corresponding to the moment the delivery occurred and/or (b) delivery moment data captured by one or more sensors of the mobile device substantially at the moment the delivery took place; and updating a positioning map and/or the position estimate for the mobile device.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to estimate the reference position associated with fingerprint data by selectively utilizing an online positioning system. In the context of a method and in an instance in which a global navigation satellite system is available for location determination, the method determines the location of a data collection device in conjunction with the collection of fingerprint data. In this instance, the location is determined based upon information provided by the global navigation satellite system. However, in an instance in which the global navigation satellite system is unavailable for location determination, the method provides, via a computer network, an online positioning system with at least some fingerprint data collected by the data collection device. In this instance, the method also determines the location of the data collection device in conjunction with the fingerprint data based upon information provided by the online positioning system.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes obtaining or holding available radio positioning support map information and geographic map information. An overlapping geographic area is covered by the radio positioning support map and the geographic map, which is dividable into a plurality of subareas. The method also includes determining, for each subarea of the plurality of subareas, a respective observed radio positioning support device density at least partially based on the radio positioning support map and a respective expected radio positioning support device density at least partially based on the geographic map. The method further includes evaluating, for each subarea of the plurality of subareas, a respective radio positioning performance in a respective subarea at least partially based on the respective observed radio positioning support device density and the respective expected radio positioning support device density. A corresponding apparatus and computer readable storage medium are also provided.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods, apparatus, and products for evaluating trustworthiness of GNSS-based location estimates. In one aspect, a method comprises obtaining observation information corresponding to one or more access points observed by a computing device during a time period; obtaining a GNSS-based location estimate indicating an estimated location of the computing device during at least a portion of the time period; determining an access points count corresponding to a number of the one or more observed access points that satisfy a distance criteria relative to the GNSS-based location estimate; comparing the determined access point count to a pre-defined threshold access points count; and based on results of the comparison, providing, by the processor, an indication of whether or not the GNSS-based location estimate is trustworthy. The method may be performed by one or more processors in a cloud-based computing system in response to an API call from the computing device.

Abstract: A processor obtains an audio sample captured by an audio sensor of a mobile device. The processor determines a context categorization for the mobile device based at least one the audio sample. The context categorization comprises at least one motion state and a vehicle indicator corresponding to a context experienced by the mobile device when the audio sample was captured. Determining the context categorization comprises analyzing the audio sample using a classification engine. The processor provides the context categorization for the mobile device as input to a crowd-sourcing or positioning process.

Abstract: Inter-alia, a method is disclosed comprising: generating a proximity geofence at least partially based on at least one stored radio map, wherein the proximity geofence is indicative of an area, wherein a limited memory capacity device is enabled to determine whether or not it is located within the area, wherein a geofence borders the area, wherein the proximity geofence is limited to comprising identifying information of one or more radio nodes which one or more respective coverage areas, in which radio signals sent by a respective radio node of the one or more radio nodes are observable, at least partially overlap with the coverage of the area of the proximity geofence, and wherein the at least one stored radio map is indicative of information identifying one or more radio nodes located in a geographical area that comprises the area of the proximity geofence; and providing the proximity geofence. It is further disclosed an according apparatus, computer program and system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for deciding, for at least one set of geofence related data related to a respective geofence, based at least in part on a storage size of the at least one set of geofence related data, whether or not the at least one set of geofence related data shall be provided to a mobile device to which the respective geofence shall apply. The method and apparatus also provide or cause provision of the at least one set of geofence related data to the mobile device, if it is decided that the at least one set of geofence related data shall be provided to the mobile device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an approach for improving positioning quality via a feedback loop between a radio-based positioning system and a client device, such as a tracking system. In particular, the tracking system or other client device may request and then receive a position estimate from the positioning system. The tracking system could then make a determination that the position estimate is incorrect, such as by determining that it is an outlier relative to a location trace, for instance. Responsive to this determination, the tracking system may transmit, to the position system, an indication of radio node(s) associated with the incorrect position estimate. Based on this indication, the positioning system could then exclude one or more of those radio node(s) from a radio map, thereby improving quality of the radio map and in turn quality of future position estimates, among other advantages.

Abstract: It is inter-alia disclosed a method performed by an apparatus, said method comprising: determining a representative of a size of a geofence based on one or more parameters, wherein at least one parameter of the one or more parameters is indicative of a location update interval associated with a mobile device.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to efficiently determine the location of a mobile device based upon radio signals received by the mobile device. In the context of a method implemented by or on behalf of a mobile device, location information is received relating to a mobile device. The method also includes determining availability of one or more radio models in relation to a location estimate for the mobile device based upon the location information. The method further includes providing information to the mobile device regarding the availability of the one or more radio models in relation to the location estimate.

Abstract: Disclosed is an approach to enable radio map download for Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-denied areas. In particular, processor(s) (e.g., of positioning server(s)) could identify GNSS-denied area(s) in an initial radio map, the GNSS-denied area(s) being (i) one or more areas in which at least one GNSS signal is or was unavailable and (ii) a subset of a plurality of areas represented by the initial radio map. Subsequently, the processor(s) could generate a partial radio map representing radio data only for the GNSS-denied area(s) identified in the initial radio map, and could then transmit the partial radio map to a mobile device for storage at the mobile device. In this way, the mobile device could optimize resource usage and perform radio-based position estimations at least in the GNSS-denied area(s) that were identified.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to estimate the reference position associated with fingerprint data by selectively utilizing an online positioning system. In the context of a method and in an instance in which a global navigation satellite system is available for location determination, the method determines the location of a data collection device in conjunction with the collection of fingerprint data. In this instance, the location is determined based upon information provided by the global navigation satellite system. However, in an instance in which the global navigation satellite system is unavailable for location determination, the method provides, via a computer network, an online positioning system with at least some fingerprint data collected by the data collection device. In this instance, the method also determines the location of the data collection device in conjunction with the fingerprint data based upon information provided by the online positioning system.

Abstract: A network device receives a positioning request associated with a computing device; determines a position estimate of the computing device responsive to the positioning request and based at least in part on at least a portion of a positioning map; and determines whether an offline positioning enablement trigger has been identified. Responsive to determining that the offline positioning enablement trigger has been identified, the network device generates a positioning response that comprises the position estimate and information enabling offline positioning of the computing device at least at a location of the position estimate and provides the positioning response such that the computing device receives the positioning response.