User localization using friend location information
AssigneeSprint Communications Company L.P.
InventorsHui Zang, Phyllis Joan Reuther, Soshant Bali
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method, system, and medium are provided for estimating a location of a user using location information of the user's friends. The user's friends are identified, and a social-interaction strength between the user and each of the friends is determined. This results in a set of weights of social ties that respectively indicate a level of social interaction between the user and the user's friends. The location of the friends is determined. The user's location is estimated based on the set of weights of social ties and the friend locations.
Claims16
One of more computer storage devices having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, enable a computing device to perform a method of estimating a location of a user of a mobile device using locations of one or more friends of the user, the method comprising:
- identifying the one or more friends of the user;
- determining a social-interaction strength between the user and each of the one or more friends, resulting in a set of weights of social ties that respectively indicate a level of social interaction between the user and each of the one or more friends;
- determining a location of each of the one or more friends, resulting in a set of friend locations;
- and
- estimating the location of the user based on the set of friend locations and the set of weights.
A computerized method carried out by at least one server having at least one processor for performing a method of estimating a location of a user of a mobile device using locations associated with one or more friends of the user, the method comprising:
- identifying the one or more friends of the user;
- determining, using the at least one processor, a location of each of the one or more friends, resulting in a set of friend locations;
- determining mutual information that is shared between the user and the one or more friends, resulting in a set of weights of mutual information that respectively indicate a level of shared information between the user and each of the one or more friends;
- and
- estimating the location of the user based on the set of friend locations and the set of weights.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.