Location determination utilizing environmental factors
AssigneeSymbol Technologies, Inc.
InventorThomas Roslak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining the geographic location of a user incorporates the sensing of a plurality of physical environmental parameters at the user's location. The parameter values are compared to corresponding parameter values associated with known locations, and a best-fit correlation is established. The identity of the determined location may be displayed to the user, or may be used to control a location-based operation, such as the unlocking of a safe, the transmission of an entry password, or the disabling of a piece of equipment. Persistence weighting values for different environmental parameters may be applied to improve the reliability of the correlation.
Claims22
An apparatus for controlling an operation based upon the determined location of a user, comprising:
- a receiver associated with the user for sensing and measuring a plurality of physical parameters present at the location of the receiver;
- a database associating a plurality of known locations with corresponding reference data sets of physical parameters;
- means for correlating the measured physical parameters with the data sets to identify at least one best match therebetween;
- and
- means for controlling an operation based upon the identity of the at least one best match.
An apparatus for determining the location of a user, comprising:
- a receiver associated with the user for sensing and measuring a plurality of physical parameters present at the location of the receiver;
- a database associating a plurality of known locations with corresponding reference data sets of physical parameters;
- means for correlating the measured physical parameters with the data sets to identify at least one best match therebetween;
- and
- a display for presenting to the user the know locations associated with the at least one best match as a prediction of the location of the receiver and hence the user.
A method of determining a predicted location of a user, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining values for selected physical parameters at the user's location;
- and
- comparing and correlating the values of the physical parameters to corresponding reference values associated with known locations to determine a location associated with a best fit between the sensed and reference values location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.