System and method for estimating positioning error within a WLAN-based positioning system

摘要

In one embodiment, a technique is provided for estimating and using an expected error of a position estimate of a wireless local area network (WLAN)-enabled mobile device. The WLAN-enabled mobile device received signals transmitted by a plurality of WLAN access points that are in range. A position of the WLAN-enabled mobile device is estimated based on the signals from one or more of the plurality of WLAN access points. An expected error of the position estimate is estimated based on a combination of correlated parameters, such as a spatial spread of geographic positions of the one or more WLAN access points, the signal coverage areas of the one or more WLAN access points, and a number of the one or more WLAN access points. Based on the expected error, the position estimate may be weighted or excluded from use in deriving a position, speed, or direction of travel.

主权项

1. A method of estimating and using an expected error of a position estimate of a wireless local area network (WLAN)-enabled mobile device, the method comprising:
receiving, by the WLAN-enabled mobile device, signals transmitted by a plurality of WLAN access points in range of the WLAN-enabled mobile device, wherein each of the WLAN access points has an associated signal coverage area; estimating a position of the WLAN-enabled mobile device based on the signals from one or more of the plurality of WLAN access points in range of the WLAN-enabled mobile device; estimating the expected error of the position estimate of the WLAN-enabled mobile device based on a combination of correlated parameters, the correlated parameters including two or more parameters selected from the group consisting of: a spatial spread associated with geographic positions of the one or more WLAN access points, a signal coverage areas of the one or more WLAN access points, and a number of the one or more WLAN access points, wherein the expected error predicts a relative accuracy of the position estimate of the WLAN-enabled mobile device; and based on the expected error, weighting the position estimate or excluding the position estimate from use in deriving a position, speed, or direction of travel of the WLAN-enabled mobile device.