Method and system for localization-based data connectivity transitioning

Abstract

A method and a system of maintaining data connectivity between a mobile device during traversal of a pedestrian facility and a server computing device via a set of intermediary communication devices. The method, executed in a processor of the server device, comprises receiving, while the mobile device is in data connectivity via a first intermediary communication device of the set, a request for transitioning the data connectivity to a second intermediary communication device of the set, the request including a first position of the mobile device as localized, based on fingerprint data of the pedestrian facility, at a first distance from the first position to the first intermediary communication device, and a second distance from the first position to a second intermediary communication device of the set, and maintaining the data connectivity with the mobile device by switching, based on the first and the second distances, from the first intermediary communication device to the second intermediary communication device.

In the claims: 
     
         1 . A method of maintaining data connectivity between a mobile device in traversal of a pedestrian facility and a server computing device via a set of intermediary communication devices in a communication network associated with the pedestrian facility, the method executed in a processor of the server computing device and comprising:
 receiving, while the mobile device is in data connectivity via a first intermediary communication device of the set, a request for transitioning the data connectivity to a second intermediary communication device of the set, the request including a first position of the mobile device as localized, based on fingerprint data of the pedestrian facility, at a first distance from the first position to the first intermediary communication device, and a second distance from the first position to a second intermediary communication device of the set, wherein the mobile device includes a position of the first and second intermediary communication devices in the pedestrian facility to determine a distance from the first and second intermediary communication devices, each of the first and second intermediary communication devices in the set representing a respective intermediate node of the communication network through which the mobile device and the server computing device accomplish bi-directional data communication with each other; and   maintaining the data connectivity with the mobile device by switching from the first intermediary communication device to the second intermediary communication device when the first distance is greater than the second distance, the data connectivity defined by availability of wireless signals for the bi-directional data communication between the mobile device and the server computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pedestrian facility is one of a shopping mall, an airport facility, a warehouse, a college building, an office building, a sports arena and an at least partially enclosed building. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the localizing is based on at least one of a mobile device orientation, a magnetic field strength and direction, a received wireless communication signal strength, a wireless connectivity indication and a barometric pressure in accordance with the fingerprint data of the pedestrian facility. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the fingerprint data includes respective time-stamps whereby the mobile device orientation, the magnetic field strength and direction, the received wireless signal strength, the wireless connectivity indication and the barometric pressure are correlated in accordance with the respective time-stamps. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein coordinate placement information of respective intermediary devices of the set of intermediary devices is accessed by at least one of the processor of the server computing device and a processor of the mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method of maintaining data connectivity between a mobile device in traversal of a pedestrian facility and a server computing device via a set of intermediary communication devices, the method executed in a processor of the server computing device and comprising:
 while the mobile device is in data connectivity via a first intermediary communication device, receiving an indication that the mobile device is localized to a position between a first and a second intermediary communication devices of the set of intermediary communication devices;   based on an inertial sensor device including at least one of a gyroscope, an accelerometer and the magnetometer, determining a directional heading of the mobile device;   inferring, based on the directional heading, at least one of an unobstructed line of sight wireless signal transmission path to the second intermediary communication device, and a more obstructed line of sight wireless signal transmission path to the first intermediary communication device; and   based on the inferring, maintaining the data connectivity with the mobile device by switching from the first intermediary communication device to the second intermediary communication device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device is localized to a position closer to the first intermediary communication device than to the second intermediary communication device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein coordinate placement information of the set of intermediary communication devices within the pedestrian facility is accessed by at least one of a processor of the mobile device and the processor of the server computing device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pedestrian facility is one of a shopping mall, an airport facility, a warehouse, a college building, an office building, a sports arena and an at least partially enclosed building. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device is localized based on at least one of a mobile device orientation, a magnetic field strength and direction, a received wireless communication signal strength, a wireless connectivity indication and a barometric pressure in accordance with fingerprint data of the pedestrian facility. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the fingerprint data includes respective time-stamps whereby the mobile device orientation, the magnetic field strength and direction, the received wireless signal strength, the wireless connectivity indication and the barometric pressure are correlated in accordance with the respective time-stamps. 
     
     
         13 . A server computing system for maintaining data connectivity between a mobile device in traversal of a pedestrian facility and a server computing device via a set of intermediary communication devices in a communication network associated with the pedestrian facility, the server computing system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory storing a set of instructions, the instructions executable in the processor to:   receive, while the mobile device is in data connectivity via a first intermediary communication device of the set, a request for transitioning the data connectivity to a second intermediary communication device of the set, the request including a first position of the mobile device as localized, based on fingerprint data of the pedestrian facility, at a first distance from the first position to the first intermediary communication device, and a second distance from the first position to a second intermediary communication device of the set, wherein the mobile device includes a position of the first and second intermediary communication devices in the pedestrian facility to determine a distance from the first and second intermediary communication devices, each of the first and second intermediary communication devices in the set representing a respective intermediate node of the communication network through which the mobile device and the server computing device accomplish bi-directional data communication with each other; and   maintain the data connectivity with the mobile device by switching from the first intermediary communication device to the second intermediary communication device when the first distance is greater than the second distance, the data connectivity defined by availability of wireless signals for the bi-directional data communication between the mobile device and the server computing device.   
     
     
         14 . The server computing system of  claim 13  wherein the localizing is based on at least one of a mobile device orientation, a magnetic field strength and direction, a received wireless communication signal strength, a wireless connectivity indication and a barometric pressure in accordance with the fingerprint data of the pedestrian facility. 
     
     
         15 . The server computing system of  claim 13  wherein the fingerprint data includes respective time-stamps whereby the mobile device orientation, the magnetic field strength and direction, the received wireless signal strength, the wireless connectivity indication and the barometric pressure are correlated in accordance with the respective time-stamps. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The server computing system of  claim 13  wherein coordinate placement information of respective intermediary devices in the set of intermediary devices is accessed by a processor of the mobile device. 
     
     
         18 . The server computing system of  claim 13  wherein the pedestrian facility is one of a shopping mall, an airport facility, a warehouse, a college building, an office building, a sports arena and an at least partially enclosed building. 
     
     
         19 . The server computing system of  claim 13  wherein maintaining the data connectivity includes establishing bi-directional data transmission between the network server device and the second intermediary communication device. 
     
     
         20 . The server computing system of  claim 19  wherein the second intermediary communication device comprises a wireless access point device.