Method of estimating position of a device using geographical descriptive data

Abstract

The invention provides a method of estimating the position of a device, the method comprising: providing a database of location specific geographical descriptive data; obtaining location data relating to the position of the device; retrieving geographical descriptive data specific to an indoor region from the said database, the indoor region being selected dependent on the location data; and subsequently estimating the position of the device taking into account the retrieved data. The method can be used with existing or new positioning systems to improve the execution of the said positioning systems, particularly when the positioning system is being used indoors.

1 . A method of estimating the position of a device, the method comprising:
 providing a database of location specific geographical descriptive data;   obtaining location data relating to the position of the device;   retrieving geographical descriptive data specific to an indoor region from the database, the indoor region being selected dependent on the location data;   subsequently estimating the position of the device taking into account the retrieved data;   predicting one or more possible future positions of the device using the retrieved data;   comparing the one or more predicted future positions of the device with a provisional estimated position of the device to determine whether the provisional estimated position of the device matches one of the predicted possible future positions; and   adjusting the provisional estimated position of the device to match one of the predicted possible future positions.   
     
     
         2 . A method of estimating the position of a device according to  claim 1 , wherein the location data comprises a provisional estimated position of the device. 
     
     
         3 . A method of estimating the position of a device according to  claim 1  wherein the retrieved data comprises layout data describing the spatial relationship between two or more physical features within the indoor region. 
     
     
         4 . A method of estimating the position of a device according to  claim 3  wherein the layout data comprises at least part of a floorplan of the indoor region or data derived therefrom. 
     
     
         5 . A method of estimating the position of a device according to  claim 1 , wherein the retrieved data comprises topological information identifying passable and impassable sections within the indoor region. 
     
     
         6 . A method of estimating the position of a device according to  claim 1 , wherein the retrieved data comprises one or more constraints defining possible and impossible positions of the device within the indoor region. 
     
     
         7 . A method of estimating the position of a device according to  claim 1 , wherein the retrieved data comprises one or more paths, each path defining a range of possible positions of the device along a respective route within the indoor region. 
     
     
         8 . A method of estimating the position of a device according to  claim 1  wherein the retrieved data comprises positions of one or more topological features and one or more predefined zones, each zone being associated with a respective one of the topological features. 
     
     
         9 . A method of estimating the position of a device according to  claim 8  further comprising: determining whether an estimated position of the device is within one of the predefined zones; and, in response to a determination that the estimated position of the device is within one of the predefined zones, activating the execution of a pattern recognition algorithm associated with the topological feature associated with the predefined zone. 
     
     
         10 . A method of estimating the position of a device according to  claim 9  further comprising: in response to a determination that the estimated position of the device is within said one of the predefined zones providing one or more reference patterns associated with the topological feature associated with said one of the predefined zones to a positioning system module. 
     
     
         11 . A method of estimating the position of a device according to  claim 9 , wherein the pattern recognition algorithm comprises: comparing movement of the device to one or more reference movement patterns to determine whether the device has passed through or interacted with the topological feature associated with the predefined zone; and adjusting the provisional estimated position of the device in response to a determination that the device has passed through or interacted with the topological feature. 
     
     
         12 . A method of estimating the position of a device according to  claim 9 , wherein the pattern recognition algorithm is a turning point detection algorithm. 
     
     
         13 . A method of estimating the position of a device according to  claim 9 , wherein the pattern recognition algorithm is a floor-change detection algorithm. 
     
     
         14 . A method of estimating the position of a device according to  claim 9 , further comprising deactivating an execution of the pattern recognition algorithm in response to a determination that the estimated position of the device is outside of the predefined zone. 
     
     
         15 . A method of estimating the position of a device according to  claim 8  further comprising activating and/or deactivating one or more positioning algorithms and/or positioning systems or part thereof in response to a determination that the device has entered and/or left one of the predefined zones. 
     
     
         16 . A method of estimating the position of a device according to  claim 1 , wherein the retrieved data defines a plurality of subregions within the indoor region. 
     
     
         17 . A method of estimating the position of a device according to  claim 1 , wherein the indoor region comprises the interior of a building. 
     
     
         18 . A method of estimating the position of a device according to  claim 1  further comprising: obtaining second location data relating to an updated position of the device; retrieving geographical descriptive data specific to a second indoor region from the database, the second indoor region being selected dependent on the second location data; and subsequently estimating the position of the device taking into account the retrieved data concerning the second indoor region. 
     
     
         19 . Data processing apparatus comprising:
 a geographical descriptive data processing module in communication with a database of location specific geographical descriptive data, the geographical descriptive data processing module being configured to:
 select an indoor region dependent on location data relating to the position of a device; 
 retrieve geographical descriptive data specific to the indoor region from the database; 
 subsequently estimate a position of the device taking into account the retrieved data and/or to output data from the retrieved data or data derived from the retrieved data which is usable for estimating a position of the device; 
 predict one or more possible future positions of the device using the retrieved data; 
 compare the one or more predicted future positions of the device with a provisional estimated position of the device to determine whether the provisional estimated position of the device matches one of the predicted possible future positions; and 
 adjust the provisional estimated position of the device to match one of the predicted possible future positions. 
   
     
     
         20 . Data processing apparatus according to  claim 19  further comprising a computer readable storage medium storing the database.