Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a location based on a direction sign. A method includes receiving a map of a physical area that includes a plurality of nodes connected by a links, where each link represents a travel path between connected nodes and has an associated distance value. The method includes receiving image data that indicates at least a first destination point of interest (POI) associated with a first physical direction and a second destination POI associated with a second physical direction. The method includes associating the first destination POI with a first node and associating the second destination POI with a second node. The method includes determining a location node of the plurality of the nodes according to the distances and directions of shortest paths to the first and second nodes, and returning a physical location corresponding to the determined location node.

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: Disclosed is a radio-visual approach for device localization. In particular, a mobile device may receive, via radio signal(s) emitted by transmitter(s) in a vehicle that is substantially proximate to the mobile device, radio data that represents vehicle information associated with the vehicle, and may then determine or obtain a location of the vehicle in accordance with that vehicle information. Also, the mobile device may capture an image of the vehicle and may use that image as basis for determining a relative location indicating where the mobile device is located relative to the vehicle. Based on the location of the vehicle and on the relative location of the mobile device, the mobile device may then determine a location of the mobile device.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer readable storage medium are provided for determining absolute altitudes of individual floors represented by an indoor map. In the context of a method, location data is obtained representing at least one track of one or more users at least partially in a structure. The location data includes horizontal and vertical location information with the vertical location information representing an absolute altitude. The method also includes obtaining indoor map data representing different floors and indicating structural elements on the floors and determining track sections of the at least one track represented by the location data such that each track section can be assumed to be on a single floor. The method further includes at least partially comparing determined track sections with floors represented by the indoor map data and determining an absolute altitude of at least some of the floors represented by the indoor map data.

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: Disclosed is an approach for detecting that a state of an air-conditioning system in a building has changed and ultimately determining the air-conditioning system's operating pattern, which could help improve collection and/or use of crowdsourced data for an indoor positioning solution and thus lead to more accurate position estimates. According to the disclosed approach, processor(s) may receive sets of altitude data respectively from groups of mobile devices in the building, each set being associated with a respective time period, and could determine floor models of the building respectively based on the sets. Then, processor(s) could make a determination that at least one of the floor models is different from others, and could use this determination to detect that a state of the air-conditioning system has changed during particular time period(s), which are associated with set(s) of altitude data used to determine the at least one floor model.

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: An apparatus is provided that determines, based on a geometrical criterion and at least one map object of plurality of map objects, whether a map element of a first map element type or a second map element type shall be created; wherein elements of the first map element type are intended to be usable for applying a constraint to a user position and wherein elements of the second map element type are intended to be less usable for applying a constraint to a user position compared to the elements of the first map element type; and creates a map element according to the determined map element type, the created map element being associated with the at least one map object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed with the method including obtaining positioning data collection condition information representing positioning data collection condition(s) for collecting positioning data for updating and/or generating a positioning map. The method includes obtaining or holding available historical sensor information representing behavioral and/or environmental pattern(s) that were detected by sensor(s) of a mobile device and determining mapping information representing, for each behavioral and/or environmental pattern, whether or not at least one positioning data collection condition was met. The method also includes obtaining current sensor information representing a behavioral and/or environmental pattern that is currently detected by the sensor(s) and determining, at least partially based on the current sensor information and the mapping information, whether positioning data should be collected.

Abstract: Described is a method that includes taking radio measurements of radio node signals observable at a mobile device; obtaining motion measurement data indicative of motion of the mobile device; determining, based on the motion measurement data, a motion state of the mobile device; and providing the radio measurements taken or information representative thereof and the motion state or information representative thereof. Described is also a method that includes obtaining radio measurements of radio node signals observable at a mobile device or information representative thereof obtaining a motion state of the mobile device, the motion state having been determined based on motion measurement data indicative of motion of the mobile device, or information representative thereof determining a position estimate of the mobile device at least based on at least some radio measurements or information representative thereof and the obtained motion state of the mobile device or the information representative thereof.

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: A method includes receiving an ambient pressure p1 measured at a time t1 by a mobile communication device at a geographic location g1. The method also includes receiving an ambient pressure p2 measured at time t2 within a ground level geographic location g2 near the geographic location g1. The method also includes receiving an indication of ambient pressure change between the time t1 and the time t2 from at least one geographic location within a maximum distance from the geographic location g1. The method also includes estimating an elevation of the mobile communication device at the time t1 using the indication of ambient pressure change between the time t1 and the time t2 to compensate an ambient pressure difference between the ambient pressure p1 and the ambient pressure p2. The method further outputs the estimated mobile device elevation.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to identify the floor of a building. In the context of a method, an image captured by a mobile device is received. The image includes a representation of a floor plan of the floor of the building. The method also includes comparing, with processing circuitry, the representation of the floor plan from the image to one or more predefined indoor maps of respective floors. Based upon the comparing, the method further includes identifying, with the processing circuitry, the floor depicted by the floor plan from the image captured by the mobile device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an approach for detecting that a state of an air-conditioning system in a building has changed and ultimately determining the air-conditioning system's operating pattern, which could help improve collection and/or use of crowdsourced data for an indoor positioning solution and thus lead to more accurate position estimates. According to the disclosed approach, while a mobile device is in the building, processor(s) may detect that the mobile device is stationary and may responsively (i) cause the mobile device to provide pressure data representing air pressure in the building while the mobile device is stationary and (ii) subsequently receive the pressure data from the mobile device. And based on the pressure data indicating a pressure change and representing air pressure in the building while the mobile device is stationary, processor(s) may detect that a state of the air-conditioning system in the building has changed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed including determining an indicator information indicative of one or more indicators of a current usage of an electronic device, determining a condition information indicative of if the electronic device is rigidly positioned with respect to a user, wherein the condition information is determined based, at least in part, on the determined indicator information. It is further disclosed an according apparatus, computer program and system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a location based on a direction sign. A method includes receiving a map of a physical area that includes a plurality of nodes connected by a links, where each link represents a travel path between connected nodes and has an associated distance value. The method includes receiving image data that indicates at least a first destination point of interest (POI) associated with a first physical direction and a second destination POI associated with a second physical direction. The method includes associating the first destination POI with a first node and associating the second destination POI with a second node. The method includes determining a location node of the plurality of the nodes according to the distances and directions of shortest paths to the first and second nodes, and returning a physical location corresponding to the determined location node.

Abstract: One or more processors obtain an indication of user input identifying a position of a mobile device within a vehicle. The processor(s) obtain a location of the mobile device with respect to a coordinate system that is independent of the vehicle. The processor(s) determine a location of the vehicle with respect to the coordinate system based at least in part on the location of the mobile device and the identified position of the mobile device within the vehicle. The location of the vehicle with respect to the coordinate system may be determined to sub-meter accuracy.

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.