Characterizing an indoor structure based on detected movements and/or position locations of a mobile device

Abstract

Various methods, apparatuses and articles of manufacture are provided which may be implemented in various devices for use in characterizing a signaling environment in an area of location uncertainty within an indoor structure. In an example, a computing device may obtain at least a portion of a travel log indicative measurements gathered by a mobile device within an area of location uncertainty, and a position fix based, at least in part, on one or more signals received at the mobile device within an area of location certainty. The computing device may, for example, determine an estimated trajectory of the mobile device within at least a portion of the area of location uncertainty within an indoor structure, e.g., leading to the position fix, based, at least in part on at least a portion of the plurality of measurements and the position fix.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising, with a computing device:
 obtaining one or more signals representing at least a portion of a travel log from a mobile device, said travel log being indicative of or based at least in part on: a plurality of measurements gathered by said mobile device during a period of time within an area of location uncertainty, and a position fix at or subsequent to an end of said period of time based, at least in part, on one or more signals received at said mobile device within an area of location certainty; and   determining an estimated trajectory of said mobile device within at least a portion of said area of location uncertainty within an indoor structure leading to said position fix based, at least in part on at least a portion of said plurality of measurements and said position fix.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said plurality of measurements comprise time-stamped measurements that are based, at least in part, on at least one of: one or more time-stamped sensor measurements from an inertial sensor in said mobile device; one or more time-stamped signal measurements from a radio in said mobile device; one or more time-stamped environment measurements from an environmental sensor in said mobile device; or one or more time-stamped input measurements from a user input mechanism in said mobile device. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , and further comprising, with said computing device:
 estimating a path of travel of said mobile device with regard to said area of location uncertainty within said indoor structure based, at least in part, on said estimated trajectory.   
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein determining said estimated trajectory of said mobile device further comprises:
 applying at least said portion of said plurality of measurements and said position fix to a filter that is constrained by at least one of: an electronic map for said indoor structure; or a routability graph for said indoor structure.   
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 characterizing an environment at one or more points along said estimated trajectory of said mobile device within said indoor structure leading to said position fix based, at least in part, on at least a portion of said plurality of measurements.   
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of said characterized environment is indicative of at least a portion of a received signal heatmap for at least a portion of said indoor structure. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for use in a computing device, the apparatus comprising:
 means for obtaining at least a portion of a travel log from a mobile device, said travel log being indicative of or based at least in part on: a plurality of measurements gathered by said mobile device during a period of time within an area of location uncertainty, and a position fix at or subsequent to an end of said period of time based, at least in part, on one or more signals received at said mobile device within an area of location certainty; and   means for determining an estimated trajectory of said mobile device within at least a portion of said area of location uncertainty within an indoor structure leading to said position fix based, at least in part on at least a portion of said plurality of measurements and said position fix.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of said plurality of measurements comprise time-stamped measurements that are based, at least in part, on at least one of: one or more time-stamped sensor measurements from an inertial sensor in said mobile device; one or more time-stamped signal measurements from a radio in said mobile device; one or more time-stamped environment measurements from an environmental sensor in said mobile device; or one or more time-stamped input measurements from a user input mechanism in said mobile device. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 7 , and further comprising:
 means for estimating a path of travel of said mobile device with regard to said area of location uncertainty within said indoor structure based, at least in part, on said estimated trajectory.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 7 , and further comprising:
 means for characterizing an environment at one or more points along said estimated trajectory of said mobile device within said indoor structure leading to said position fix based, at least in part, on at least a portion of said plurality of measurements.   
     
     
         11 . A computing device comprising:
 a network interface; and   a processing unit to:
 obtain, via said network interface, at least a portion of a travel log from a mobile device, said travel log being indicative of or based at least in part on: a plurality of measurements gathered by said mobile device during a period of time within an area of location uncertainty, and a position fix at or subsequent to an end of said period of time based, at least in part, on one or more signals received at said mobile device within an area of location certainty; and 
 determine an estimated trajectory of said mobile device within at least a portion of said area of location uncertainty within an indoor structure leading to said position fix based, at least in part on at least a portion of said plurality of measurements and said position fix. 
   
     
     
         12 . The computing device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of said plurality of measurements comprise time-stamped measurements that are based, at least in part, on at least one of: one or more time-stamped sensor measurements from an inertial sensor in said mobile device; one or more time-stamped signal measurements from a radio in said mobile device; one or more time-stamped environment measurements from an environmental sensor in said mobile device; or one or more time-stamped input measurements from a user input mechanism in said mobile device. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device as recited in  claim 11 , said processing unit to further:
 estimate a path of travel of said mobile device with regard to said area of location uncertainty within said indoor structure based, at least in part, on said estimated trajectory.   
     
     
         14 . The computing device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein to determine said estimated trajectory of said mobile device said processing unit to further:
 apply at least said portion of said plurality of measurements and said position fix to a filter that is constrained by at least one of: an electronic map for said indoor structure; or a routability graph for said indoor structure.   
     
     
         15 . The computing device as recited in  claim 11 , said processing unit to further:
 characterize an environment at one or more points along said estimated trajectory of said mobile device within said indoor structure leading to said position fix based, at least in part, on at least a portion of said plurality of measurements.   
     
     
         16 . The computing device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of said characterized environment is indicative of at least a portion of a received signal heatmap for at least a portion of said indoor structure. 
     
     
         17 . An article comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein computer implementable instructions that are executable by a processing unit in a computing device to:
 obtain at least a portion of a travel log from a mobile device, said travel log being indicative of or based at least in part on: a plurality of measurements gathered by said mobile device during a period of time within an area of location uncertainty, and a position fix at or subsequent to an end of said period of time based, at least in part, on one or more signals received at said mobile device within an area of location certainty; and 
 determine an estimated trajectory of said mobile device within at least a portion of said area of location uncertainty within an indoor structure leading to said position fix based, at least in part on at least a portion of said plurality of measurements and said position fix. 
   
     
     
         18 . The article as recited in  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of said plurality of measurements comprise time-stamped measurements that are based, at least in part, on at least one of: one or more time-stamped sensor measurements from an inertial sensor in said mobile device; one or more time-stamped signal measurements from a radio in said mobile device; one or more time-stamped environment measurements from an environmental sensor in said mobile device; or one or more time-stamped input measurements from a user input mechanism in said mobile device. 
     
     
         19 . The article as recited in  claim 17 , said computer implementable instructions being further executable by said processing unit to:
 estimate a path of travel of said mobile device with regard to said area of location uncertainty within said indoor structure based, at least in part, on said estimated trajectory.   
     
     
         20 . The article as recited in  claim 17 , said computer implementable instructions being further executable by said processing unit to:
 characterize an environment at one or more points along said estimated trajectory of said mobile device within said indoor structure leading to said position fix based, at least in part, on at least a portion of said plurality of measurements.