Binning Venues Into Categories Based On Propagation Characteristics

Abstract

Example methods, apparatuses, or articles of manufacture are disclosed herein that may be utilized to facilitate or otherwise support one or more processes or operations in connection with binning venues into categories based, at least in part, on signal propagation characteristics associated with such venues.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 at a mobile device coupled to a memory, receiving assistance information indicating an observed signal parameter model applicable to a selected one of a plurality of venue types; and   estimating a location based, at least in part, on an application of said observed signal parameter model to one or more first signals received at said mobile device while positioned in a present venue of said selected one of said plurality of venue types.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein estimating said location further comprises:
 performing a categorization of said present venue based at least in part, on at least one of: venue information obtained from a server; venue information inputted into said mobile device; or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said categorization is performed in response to at least one of the following: one or more second signals generated by a user interface associated with said mobile device; one or more third signals generated by said server; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said assistance information comprises information to enable said mobile device to estimate said location while positioned in said present venue of said selected one of said plurality of venue types by performing at least one of the following: a trilateration operation; a heat map signature matching operation; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said observed signal parameter model defines a first relationship between one or more signaling characteristics of said one or more first signals received at said mobile device and a range from said mobile device to at least one wireless transmitter in said present venue. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said first relationship between said one or more signaling characteristics of said one or more first signals received at said mobile device and said range comprises a second relationship between received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and said range in said selected one of said plurality of venue types. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one wireless transmitter comprises at least one terrestrial wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one terrestrial wireless transmitter comprises at least one of the following: an access point; a femtocell; a location beacon; a base station; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said observed signal parameter model defines a first relationship between one or more timing characteristics of said one or more first signals received at said mobile device and a range from said mobile device to at least one wireless transmitter in said present venue. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said first relationship between said one or more timing characteristics of said one or more first signals received at said mobile device and said range comprises a second relationship between round-trip delay (RTD) time and said range in said selected one of said plurality of venue types. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one wireless transmitter comprises at least one terrestrial wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one terrestrial wireless transmitter comprises at least one of the following: an access point; a femtocell; a location beacon; a base station; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . A mobile device comprising:
 a receiver to receive one or more first signals; and   one or more processors to:
 process assistance information received via said one or more wireless signals, wherein said assistance information indicates an observed signal parameter model applicable to a selected one a plurality of venue types, and 
 estimate a location based, at least in part, on an application of said observed signal parameter model to said one or more first signals received at said mobile device while positioned in a present venue of said selected one of said plurality of venue types. 
   
     
     
         14 . The mobile device of  claim 13 , said one or more processors to further perform a categorization of said present venue based, at least in part, on one or more of: venue information obtained from a server; venue information inputted into said mobile device; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile device of  claim 14 , wherein said one or more processors is capable of performing said categorization in response to at least one of: one or more second signals generated by a user interface associated with said mobile device; one or more third signals generated by said server; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile device of  claim 13 , wherein said assistance information comprises information to enable said mobile device to estimate said location while positioned in said present venue of said selected one of said plurality of venue types by performing at least one of: a trilateration operation; a heat map signature matching operation; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile device of  claim 13 , wherein said observed signal parameter model defines a first relationship between one or more signaling characteristics of said one or more first signals received at said mobile device and a range from said mobile device to at least one wireless transmitter in said present venue. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile device of  claim 17 , wherein said first relationship between said one or more signaling characteristics of said one or more first signals received at said mobile device and said range comprises a second relationship between received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and said range in said selected one of said plurality of venue types. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile device of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one wireless transmitter comprises at least one terrestrial wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile device of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one terrestrial wireless transmitter comprises at least one of: an access point; a femtocell; a location beacon; a base station; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The mobile device of  claim 13 , wherein said observed signal parameter model defines a first relationship between one or more timing characteristics of said one or more first signals received at said mobile device and a range from said mobile device to at least one wireless transmitter in said present venue. 
     
     
         22 . The mobile device of  claim 21 , wherein said first relationship between said one or more timing characteristics of said one or more first signals received at said mobile device and said range comprises a second relationship between round-trip delay (RTD) time and said range in said selected one of said plurality of venue types. 
     
     
         23 . The mobile device of  claim 21 , wherein said at least one wireless transmitter comprises at least one terrestrial wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         24 . The mobile device of  claim 23 , wherein said at least one terrestrial wireless transmitter comprises at least one of: an access point; a femtocell; a location beacon; a base station; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         25 . A mobile device comprising:
 means for receiving one or more first signals;   means for processing assistance information received via said one or more wireless signals, wherein said assistance information indicates an observed signal parameter model applicable to a selected one a plurality of venue types; and   means for estimating a location based, at least in part, on an application of said observed signal parameter model to said one or more first signals received at said mobile device while positioned in a present venue of said selected one of said plurality of venue types.   
     
     
         26 . The mobile device of  claim 25 , further comprising means for performing a categorization of said present venue based, at least in part, on one or more of: venue information obtained from a server; venue information inputted into said mobile device; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The mobile device of  claim 26 , further wherein said means for performing said categorization is capable of performing said categorization in response to at least one of: one or more second signals generated by a user interface associated with said mobile device; one or more third signals generated by said server; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The mobile device of  claim 25 , wherein said assistance information comprises information to enable said mobile device to estimate said location while positioned in said present venue of said selected one of said plurality of venue types by performing at least one of: a trilateration operation; a heat map signature matching operation; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The mobile device of  claim 25 , wherein said observed signal parameter model defines a first relationship between one or more signaling characteristics of said one or more first signals received at said mobile device and a range from said mobile device to at least one wireless transmitter in said present venue. 
     
     
         30 . The mobile device of  claim 29 , wherein said first relationship between said one or more signaling characteristics of said one or more first signals received at said mobile device and said range comprises a second relationship between received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and said range in said selected one of said plurality of venue types. 
     
     
         31 . The mobile device of  claim 29 , wherein said at least one wireless transmitter comprises at least one terrestrial wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         32 . The mobile device of  claim 31 , wherein said at least one terrestrial wireless transmitter comprises at least one of: an access point; a femtocell; a location beacon; a base station; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         33 . The mobile device of  claim 25 , wherein said observed signal parameter model defines a first relationship between one or more timing characteristics of said one or more first signals received at said mobile device and a range from said mobile device to at least one wireless transmitter in said present venue. 
     
     
         34 . The mobile device of  claim 33 , wherein said first relationship between said one or more timing characteristics of said one or more first signals received at said mobile device and said range comprises a second relationship between round-trip delay (RTD) time and said range in said selected one of said plurality of venue types. 
     
     
         35 . The mobile device of  claim 33 , wherein said at least one wireless transmitter comprises at least one terrestrial wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         36 . The mobile device of  claim 35 , wherein said at least one terrestrial wireless transmitter comprises at least one of: an access point; a femtocell; a location beacon; a base station; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         37 . An article comprising:
 a storage medium having instructions stored thereon executable by a special purpose computing platform to:   process received assistance information indicating an observed signal parameter model applicable to a selected one of a plurality of venue types; and   estimate a location based, at least in part, on an application of said observed signal parameter model to one or more first signals received at a mobile device while positioned in a present venue of said selected one of said plurality of venue types.   
     
     
         38 . The article of  claim 37 , wherein said instructions are further executable by said special purpose computing platform to perform a categorization of said present venue based at least in part, on at least one of: venue information obtained from a server; venue information inputted into said mobile device; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         39 . The article of  claim 38 , wherein said instructions are further executable by said special purpose computing platform to perform said categorization in response to at least one of the following: one or more second signals generated by a user interface associated with said mobile device; one or more third signals generated by said server; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said assistance information comprises information to enable said mobile device to estimate said location while positioned in said present venue of said selected one of said plurality of venue types by performing at least one of the following: a trilateration operation; a heat map signature matching operation; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         41 . The article of  claim 37 , wherein said observed signal parameter model defines a first relationship between one or more signaling characteristics of said one or more first signals received at said mobile device and a range from said mobile device to at least one wireless transmitter in said present venue. 
     
     
         42 . The article of  claim 41 , wherein said first relationship between said one or more signaling characteristics of said one or more first signals received at said mobile device and said range comprises a second relationship between received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and said range in said selected one of said plurality of venue types. 
     
     
         43 . The article of  claim 37 , wherein said observed signal parameter model defines a first relationship between one or more timing characteristics of said one or more first signals received at said mobile device and a range from said mobile device to at least one wireless transmitter in said present venue. 
     
     
         44 . The article of  claim 43 , wherein said first relationship between said one or more timing characteristics of said one or more first signals received at said mobile device and said range comprises a second relationship between round-trip delay (RTD) time and said range in said selected one of said plurality of venue types. 
     
     
         45 . A method, comprising:
 accessing assistance information generated based, at least in part, on RF measurements obtained at one or more locations in a venue consistent with a venue type of a plurality of venue types; and   providing said assistance information for use by at least one mobile device to estimate its location while in a present venue, wherein said present venue is of said venue type.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said assistance information comprises information for performing a heat map signature matching operation. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said assistance information comprises information for performing at least one of the following: a trilateration operation; a triangulation operation; a multilateration operation; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said assistance information comprises information obtained based, at least in part, on an application of an observed signal parameter model. 
     
     
         49 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more processors to:
 access assistance information generated based, at least in part, on RF measurements obtained at one or more locations in a venue consistent with a venue type of a plurality of venue types; and 
 initiate transmission of said assistance information for use by at least one mobile device to estimate its location while in a present venue, wherein said present venue is of said venue type. 
   
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein said assistance information comprises information for performing a heat map signature matching operation. 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein said assistance information comprises information for performing at least one of: a trilateration operation; a triangulation operation; a multilateration operation; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein said assistance information comprises information obtained based, at least in part, on an application of an observed signal parameter model. 
     
     
         53 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for accessing assistance information generated based, at least in part, on RF measurements obtained at one or more locations in a venue consistent with a venue type of a plurality of venue types; and   means for initiating transmission of said assistance information for use by at least one mobile device to estimate its location while in a present venue, wherein said present venue is of said venue type.   
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein said assistance information comprises information for performing a heat map signature matching operation. 
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein said assistance information comprises information for performing at least one of: a trilateration operation; a triangulation operation; a multilateration operation; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein said assistance information comprises information obtained based, at least in part, on an application of an observed signal parameter model. 
     
     
         57 . An article comprising:
 a storage medium having instructions stored thereon executable by a special purpose computing platform to:   access assistance information generated based, at least in part, on RF measurements obtained at one or more locations in a venue consistent with a venue type of a plurality of venue types; and   initiate transmission of said assistance information for use by at least one mobile device to estimate its location while in a present venue, wherein said present venue is of said venue type.   
     
     
         58 . The article of  claim 57 , wherein said assistance information comprises information for performing a heat map signature matching operation. 
     
     
         59 . The article of  claim 57 , wherein said assistance information comprises information for performing at least one of: a trilateration operation; a triangulation operation; a multilateration operation; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         60 . The article of  claim 57 , wherein said assistance information comprises information obtained based, at least in part, on an application of an observed signal parameter model.