Systems and methods for image-based location determination

A system for location determination in an urban area, the system comprising:

• at least one camera, wherein the at least one camera is positioned to capture images of the urban area while the at least one camera is moving in the urban area;
• a computing device moving with the at least one camera and in communication with the at least one camera to receive the captured images;
• the computing device comprising at least one processor and a memory accessible to the at least one processor;
• wherein the memory comprises a library of reference background images and metadata for each reference background image, wherein the metadata comprises location information;
• wherein the memory stores program code executable by the at least one processor to configure the at least one processor to:
• receive GPS data corresponding to the captured image from the computing device, wherein the GPS data comprises a low data quality indicator;
• determine a subset of images from the library of background images based on the GPS data;
• process the captured image using a background matching module to identify a matching reference background image from the subset of images from the library of background images based on the GPS data;
• determine a location of the at least one camera and the computing device based on the metadata of the matching reference background image.

A computer implemented method for location determination, the method performed by a computing device comprising at least one processor in communication with a memory, the method comprising:

• receiving an input image by the computing device from a remote computing device, wherein the input image corresponds to a location to be determined;
• receiving GPS data corresponding to the input image from the remote computing device, wherein the GPS data comprises a low data quality indicator;
• processing the received input image using a background matching module provided in the memory of the computing device to identify a matching reference background image from among a subset of images from a library of reference background images stored in the memory, wherein the subset of images is determined based on the GPS data;
• determining location information corresponding to the input image based on the metadata of the matching reference background image;
• and
• transmitting the determined location information to the remote computing device.

A tangible computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform operations comprising:

• receiving an input image by the computing device from a remote computing device wherein the input image corresponds to a location to be determined;
• receiving GPS data corresponding to the input image from the remote computing device, wherein the GPS data comprises a low data quality indicator;
• processing the received input image using a background matching module provided in the memory of the computing device to identify a matching reference background image from among a subset of images from a library of reference background images stored in the memory, wherein the subset of images is determined based on the GPS data;
• determining location information corresponding to the input image based on the metadata of the matching reference background image;
• and
• transmitting the determined location information to the remote computing device.