Altitude estimation using a probability density function

摘要

Methods, program products, and systems of location estimation using a probability density function are disclosed. In general, in one aspect, a server can estimate an effective altitude of a wireless access gateway using harvested data. The server can harvest location data from multiple mobile devices. The harvested data can include a location of each mobile device and an identifier of a wireless access gateway that is located within a communication range of the mobile device. The server can calculate an effective altitude of the wireless access gateway using a probability density function of the harvested data. The probability density function can be a sufficient statistic of the received set of location coordinates for calculating an effective altitude of the wireless access gateway. The server can send the effective altitude of the wireless access gateway to other mobile devices for estimating altitudes of the other mobile devices.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by one or more computers and from a plurality of mobile devices, harvested data about a wireless access gateway, the harvested data including respective locations of the mobile devices recorded by the mobile devices when the respective mobile devices were in communication range of the wireless access gateway, each location being represented using respective latitude and longitude coordinates; determining, by the one or more computers, a value of a function, the function weighting a first difference between latitude coordinates of two locations in the harvested data and a second difference between longitude coordinates of two locations in the harvested data; and in response to determining that the value exceeds a distance threshold, designating, in determining a location of a mobile device using locations of one or more wireless access gateways, the wireless access gateway as a moving wireless access gateway.