This week the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Google that reveals an overview of a Beacon technology system for future indoor location services for Android. Google provides an example of a future Android user being able to use an indoor location service to find information about a painting as they approach it in the museum. The service will also one day extend to providing Android users with detailed indoor maps for malls, office buildings and beyond. This is likely the first of many patent applications to follow on this area of technology.
Google's Patent Background
There are devices that use global positioning systems (GPS) to determine their current geographic location. However, GPS receivers typically rely on signals that are transmitted from satellites that orbit the Earth. Any obstruction in the line of sight to these satellites may prevent the GPS device from providing reliable location information. Accordingly, GPS is often not suitable for many environments, including indoor locations. In addition, many of the other existing solutions for localization within an obstructed environment do not provide accurate position and orientation information.
Google Invention Covers Indoor Location System
Google's invention generally relates to systems and methods for determining a position of a mobile device within various environments, including indoor environments.
In particular, the mobile device may detect a magnetic signal having a signal bearing and a signal strength. The mobile device may also access a database containing magnetic survey data for the general area in which the mobile device is currently located; the magnetic survey data having been previously recorded by a mobile survey device. The accessed magnetic survey data may identify the strength and bearing of the magnetic field at a plurality of points throughout the general area of the mobile device.
The mobile device may then compare the magnetic survey data with the received magnetic signal, so as to determine the mobile device's precise position and orientation within the general area.
In one embodiment, the magnetic signal is generated by a signal source, such as a magnetic beacon. The generated magnetic signal may be constant or may have a predetermined modulation frequency. The modulation may be of a low frequency so as to allow the signal to travel through structures, such as walls. The location of the signal source may be unknown to the mobile device.
In another embodiment, the magnetic survey data may include a two-dimensional or three-dimensional model of the magnetic field throughout a general area, such as within a specific building.
In comparing a magnetic signal to the accessed survey data, the mobile device may determine whether the strength and bearing of the magnetic signal matches the strength and bearing of the magnetic field model at a particular location and orientation within the general area. If a match exists, position and orientation information corresponding to the location of the match may be used in connection with an application running on the mobile device.
In Google's patent FIG. 2 noted above we're able to see a signal source #180 on a ceiling of a room, though technically it may be located anywhere else such as a wall of a room or building.
The magnetic signal generated by signal source may extend beyond the confines of room #202, as it may be detected in surrounding areas, such as room #204 noted above in FIG. 2.
For example, the magnetic signal generated by signal source may be detected by mobile device #170 as it is used in room #204 by user #270. When multiple signal sources (#180, from beacons) are present in a building or room, they may be dispersed within the building so as to maximize the area in which the generated magnetic signals may be detected.
Further to patent FIG. 2, the mobile device (#160 for FIG. 2) may localize itself. This localization of the mobile device may be performed automatically in connection with one or more applications currently running on the mobile device.
For example, the building (#200 for FIG. 2) may be an art museum, and the user (#260) may access an application on their mobile device that provides information about the works of art in the vicinity of user. As the user approaches the painting (#210 above), the mobile device may use the localization methods to determine that the mobile device is at predetermined distance and orientation with respect to the painting.
The Mobile device may then automatically display information about the painting as shown in Google's FIG. 5 below. In accordance with the application, the mobile device may display an icon #510 that identifies the room in which user is currently located in.
In addition, the mobile device may display selectable icons 520, 530, and 540, each of which provides additional information about the painting 210. The mobile device may also perform a similar identifying function in connection with rooms or establishments in proximity to the mobile device.
Google's patent application which came to light this week at the US Patent and Trademark Office was originally filed back in Q1 2013. Considering that this is a patent application, the timing of such a product to market is unknown at this time.
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