Navigating an indoor transit system using a mobile device

A method of navigating an indoor transit system, wherein the indoor transit system includes a network of indoor pathways and a plurality of access points for entering/exiting the indoor transit system, the indoor transit system including a plurality of beacons distributed at designated locations throughout the indoor transit system, the indoor transit system is situated in a geographic region, wherein an outdoor map is defined for the geographic region, and wherein the outdoor map identifies the geographic location of at least some of the plurality of access points of the indoor transit system, the method comprising:

• detecting one or more of the beacons of the indoor transit system using a mobile computing device;
• determining when the mobile computing device is inside the indoor transit system or outside of the indoor transit system based on the detected one or more of the beacons;
• when it is determined that the mobile computing device is inside of the indoor transit system:
• identifying the location of the mobile computing device within the indoor transit system based on which of the plurality of beacons are detected by the mobile computing device;
• displaying an indoor map of at least part of the indoor transit system on a user interface of the mobile computing device, including the identified location of the mobile computing device;
• when it is determined that the mobile computing device is outside of the indoor transit system:
• identifying the location of the mobile computing device in the geographic region based on location services of the mobile computing device;
• displaying the outdoor map of at least part of the geographic region on the user interface of the mobile computing device, including the identified location of the mobile computing device;
• receiving a destination accessible using at least part of the indoor transit system via the user interface of the mobile computing device;
• computing a route to the destination that includes at least part of the indoor transit system;
• and
• displaying on the user interface of the mobile computing device the computed route.

A computer readable medium having stored thereon in a non-transitory state a program code for use by a mobile computing device connectable to a network, the program code causing the mobile computing device to execute a method of navigating one or more of a skyway system or a subway system, comprising:

• detecting one or more of a plurality of beacons of the indoor transit system by the mobile computing device;
• determining when the mobile computing device is inside the indoor transit system based on the detected one or more of the beacons;
• identifying the location of the mobile computing device within the indoor transit system based on which of the plurality of beacons are detected by the mobile computing device;
• displaying an indoor map of at least part of the indoor transit system on a user interface of the mobile computing device, including the identified location of the mobile computing device;
• receiving a destination accessible by the indoor transit system via the user interface of the mobile computing device;
• computing a route through the indoor transit system to the destination;
• and
• displaying on the user interface of the mobile computing device the computed route on the indoor map.