Position identification server and position identification method

A position identification method causing a computer to execute steps of:

• storing in a memory:
• (i) coefficients of parameters of a discriminant function for each of a plurality of floors, and (ii) a maximum value of pre-measured radio wave strength of each base station on each floor, the discriminant function indicating a probability that a terminal device is located on each floor;
• receiving an actual measurement value of radio wave strength of radio waves received by the terminal device from the base station;
• calculating the parameters of the discriminant function for each floor based on the received actual measurement value of radio wave strength and the maximum value of radio wave strength stored in the memory;
• calculating a solution of the discriminant function for each floor based on the calculated parameters and the coefficients of the stored parameters;
• and
• when more than one of the calculated solutions of the discriminant function is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, discriminating that a floor where the solution of the discriminant function is the greatest is a floor where the terminal device is located, the solution indicating:
• (i) a lower probability when a maximum value stored in the memory is lower than the actual measurement value, and (ii) a higher probability when the maximum value stored in the memory is higher than the actual measurement value.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executable position identification program stored on the stored medium, the position identification program causing a computer to execute:

• storing in a memory:
• (i) coefficients of parameters of a discriminant function for each of a plurality of floors, and (ii) a maximum value of pre-measured radio wave strength of each base station on each floor, the discriminant function indicating a probability that a terminal device is located on each floor;
• receiving an actual measurement value of radio wave strength of radio waves received by the terminal device from the base station;
• calculating the parameters of the discriminant function for each floor based on the received actual measurement value of radio wave strength and the maximum value of radio wave strength stored in the memory;
• calculating a solution of the discriminant function for each floor based on the calculated parameters and the coefficients of the stored parameters;
• and
• when more than one of the calculated solutions of the discriminant function is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, discriminating that a floor where the solution of the discriminant function is the greatest is a floor where the terminal device is located, the solution indicating:
• (i) a lower probability when a maximum value stored in the memory is lower than the actual measurement value, and (ii) a higher probability when the maximum value stored in the memory is higher than the actual measurement value.

A terminal device comprising:

• a memory storing:
• (i) coefficients of parameters of a discriminant function for each of a plurality of floors, and (ii) a maximum value of pre-measured radio wave strength of each base station on each floor, the discriminant function indicating a probability that a terminal device is located on each floor;
• and
• a processor operatively coupled to the memory, the processor being programmed to:
• measure an actual measurement value of radio wave strength of radio waves received from the base station;
• calculate the parameters of the discriminant function for each floor based on the measured actual measurement value of radio wave strength and the maximum value of radio wave strength stored in the memory;
• calculate a solution of the discriminant function for each floor based on the calculated parameters and the coefficients of the stored parameters;
• and
• when more than one of the calculated solutions of the discriminant function is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, discriminates that a floor where the solution of the discriminant function is the greatest is a floor where the terminal device is located, the solution indicating:
• (i) a lower probability when a maximum value stored in the memory is lower than the actual measurement value, and (ii) a higher probability when the maximum value stored in the memory is higher than the actual measurement value.

A position identification method causing a terminal device to execute steps of:

• storing in a memory:
• (i) coefficients of parameters of a discriminant function for each of a plurality of floors, and (ii) a maximum value of pre-measured radio wave strength of each base station on each floor, the discriminant function indicating a probability that a terminal device is located on each floor;
• measuring an actual measurement value of radio wave strength of radio waves received from the base station;
• calculating the parameters of the discriminant function for each floor based on the measured actual measurement value of radio wave strength and the maximum value of radio wave strength stored in the memory;
• calculating a solution of the discriminant function for each floor based on the calculated parameters and the coefficients of the stored parameters;
• and
• when more than one of the calculated solutions of the discriminant function is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, discriminating that a floor where the solution of the discriminant function is the greatest is a floor where the terminal device is located, the solution indicating:
• (i) a lower probability when a maximum value stored in the memory is lower than the actual measurement value, and (ii) a higher probability when the maximum value stored in the memory is higher than the actual measurement value.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executable position identification program stored on the stored medium, the position identification program causing a terminal device to execute:

• storing in a memory:
• (i) coefficients of parameters of a discriminant function for each of a plurality of floors, and (ii) a maximum value of pre-measured radio wave strength of each base station on each floor, the discriminant function indicating a probability that a terminal device is located on each floor;
• measuring an actual measurement value of radio wave strength of radio waves received from the base station;
• calculating the parameters of the discriminant function for each floor based on the measured actual measurement value of radio wave strength and the maximum value of radio wave strength stored in the memory;
• calculating a solution of the discriminant function for each floor based on the calculated parameters and the coefficients of the stored parameters;
• and
• when more than one of the calculated solutions of the discriminant function is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, discriminating that a floor where the solution of the discriminant function is the greatest is a floor where the terminal device is located, the solution indicating:
• (i) a lower probability when a maximum value stored in the memory is lower than the actual measurement value, and (ii) a higher probability when the maximum value stored in the memory is higher than the actual measurement value.

A position identification server comprising:

• a memory storing:
• (i) coefficients of parameters of a discriminant function that indicates whether or not a terminal device is located on each floor, (ii) a maximum value of pre-measured radio wave strength of each base station on each floor, and (iii) a base station identifier received on a certain floor among a plurality of floors in association with the floor;
• and
• a processor operatively coupled to the memory, the processor being programmed to:
• receive an actual measurement value of radio wave strength of radio waves received by the terminal device from the each base station together with a base station identifier of the each base station;
• determine whether the received base station identifier is stored in the memory as the base station identifier that is received on a certain floor;
• identify the certain floor as a floor on which the terminal device is located when the received base station identifier is stored in the memory;
• when more than one floor is identified as the floor on which the terminal device is located, calculate parameters of the discriminant function for each identified floor based on a difference between:
• (i) the actual measurement value of radio wave strength, and (ii) the maximum value of radio wave strength stored in the memory;
• calculate a solution of the discriminant function for each identified floor based on the calculated parameters and the stored coefficients of the calculated parameters;
• and
• when more than one of the calculated solutions of the discriminant function is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, discriminate that a floor where the solution of the discriminant function is the greatest is a floor where the terminal device is located.