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 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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, 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.   
     
     
         2 . 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. 
     
     
         3 . 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. 
     
     
         4 . 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. 
     
     
         5 . 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. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  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. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising maintaining the data connectivity by switching from the first intermediary device to the second intermediary device while the mobile device is closer in proximity to the first intermediary device than to the second intermediary device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein maintaining the data connectivity includes establishing bi-directional data transmission between the network server device and the second intermediary communication device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second intermediary communication device comprises a wireless access point device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the directional heading comprises a direction generally towards the second intermediary communication device and away from the first intermediary communication device. 
     
     
         11 . 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, the server computing system comprising:
 a processor;   a memory storing a set of instructions, the instructions executable in the processor to:   while the mobile device is in data connectivity via a first intermediary communication device of the set, receive an indication that the mobile device is localized to a position between the 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, determine a directional heading of the mobile device;   infer, 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   maintain the data connectivity with the mobile device by switching from the first intermediary communication device to the second intermediary communication device.   
     
     
         12 . The server computing system of  claim 11  wherein the indication that the mobile device is localized 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. 
     
     
         13 . The server computing system of  claim 11  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. 
     
     
         14 . The server computing system of  claim 11  further comprising instructions executable in the processor to maintain the data connectivity by switching from the first intermediary device to the second intermediary device while the mobile device is closer in proximity to the first intermediary device than to the second intermediary device. 
     
     
         15 . The server computing system of  claim 11  wherein coordinate placement information of respective intermediary devices in the set of intermediary devices is accessed by a processor of the mobile device. 
     
     
         16 . The server computing system of  claim 11  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. 
     
     
         17 . The server computing system of  claim 11  wherein maintaining the data connectivity includes establishing bi-directional data transmission between the network server device and the second intermediary communication device. 
     
     
         18 . The server computing system of  claim 17  wherein the second intermediary communication device comprises a wireless access point device. 
     
     
         19 . The server computing system of  claim 11  wherein the directional heading comprises a direction generally towards the second intermediary communication device and away from the first intermediary communication device 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer readable memory storing instructions, the instructions executable in a processor to:
 while a mobile device in traversal of a pedestrian facility is in data connectivity with a server computing device via a first intermediary communication device of a set of intermediary communication devices, receive, at the server computing device, an indication that the mobile device is localized to a position between the 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, determine a directional heading of the mobile device;   infer, 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   maintain the data connectivity with the mobile device by switching from the first intermediary communication device to the second intermediary communication device.