Collaborative geo-positioning of electronic devices

Abstract

Methods and systems for determining and tracking electronic devices are provided. One method includes obtaining measurement data from each of at least a subset of a plurality of client devices and determining, by a computer processing device, geolocation estimation data for one or more of the subset of the plurality of client devices based at least in part on the measurement data. The method further determining, by the computer processing device, a geolocation confidence value based at least in part on the geolocation estimation data, wherein the geolocation confidence value indicates a level of confidence of the geolocation estimation data. The method further includes providing the geolocation estimation data and the geolocation confidence value to the one or more of the subset of the plurality of client devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 obtaining measurement data from each of at least a subset of a plurality of client devices;   determining, by a computer processing device, geolocation estimation data for one or more of the subset of the plurality of client devices based at least in part on the measurement data;   determining, by the computer processing device, a geolocation confidence value based at least in part on the geolocation estimation data,
 wherein the geolocation confidence value indicates a level of confidence of the geolocation estimation data; and 
   providing the geolocation estimation data and the geolocation confidence value to the one or more of the subset of the plurality of client devices.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measurement data is generated by each respective client device of the subset of the plurality of client devices. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measurement data comprises at least one of distance data, radio frequency signal intensity data, or latency data. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the geolocation estimation data comprises a longitude coordinate, a latitude coordinate, and an altitude coordinate, and
 wherein the longitude coordinate, the latitude coordinate, and the altitude coordinate indicate an approximate location of at least another one of the subset of the plurality of client devices.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the geolocation estimation data comprises a radial estimation, and
 wherein the radial estimation indicates a radius in which at least another one of the subset of the plurality of client devices resides.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the geolocation estimation data comprises an indication of whether a client device of the plurality of client devices desiring to be located is stationary or in motion. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 obtaining a desired operational parameter from the one or more of the subset of the plurality of client devices; and   determining measurement instructions based at least in part on the desired operational parameter.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , comprising:
 transmitting the measurement instructions to the one or more of the subset of the plurality of client devices.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 determining an approximate physical location of the one or more of the subset of the plurality of client devices based on the geolocation estimation data and the geolocation confidence value.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the geolocation estimation data and the geolocation confidence value are determined with respect to the one or more of the subset of the plurality of client devices based at least in part on one or more geolocation estimation models. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a computer processing device, the computer processing device to:
 obtain measurement data from each of at least a subset of a plurality of client devices; 
 determine geolocation estimation data for one or more of the subset of the plurality of client devices based at least in part on the measurement data; 
 determine a geolocation confidence value based at least in part on the geolocation estimation data,
 wherein the geolocation confidence value indicates a level of confidence of the geolocation estimation data; and 
 
 provide the geolocation estimation data and the geolocation confidence value to the one or more of the subset of the plurality of client devices. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the measurement data is generated by each respective client device of the subset of the plurality of client devices. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the measurement data comprises at least one of distance data, radio frequency signal intensity data, or latency data. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the geolocation estimation data comprises a longitude coordinate, a latitude coordinate, and an altitude coordinate, and
 wherein the longitude coordinate, the latitude coordinate, and the altitude coordinate indicate an approximate location of at least another one of the subset of the plurality of client devices.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the geolocation estimation data comprises a radial estimation, and
 wherein the radial estimation indicates a radius in which at least another one of the subset of the plurality of client devices resides.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the geolocation estimation data comprises an indication of whether a client device of the plurality of client devices desiring to be located is stationary or in motion. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the computer processing device is further to:
 obtain a desired operational parameter from the one or more of the subset of the plurality of client devices; and   determine measurement instructions based at least in part on the desired operational parameter.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the computer processing device is further to:
 transmit the measurement instructions to the one or more of the subset of the plurality of client devices.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the computer processing device is further to:
 determine an approximate physical location of the one or more of the subset of the plurality of client devices based on the geolocation estimation data and the geolocation confidence value.   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instruction stored thereon that, when executed by a computer processing device, cause the computer processing device to:
 obtain measurement data from each of at least a subset of a plurality of client devices;   determine, by the computer processing device, geolocation estimation data for one or more of the subset of the plurality of client devices based at least in part on the measurement data;   determine a geolocation confidence value based at least in part on the geolocation estimation data,
 wherein the geolocation confidence value indicates a level of confidence of the geolocation estimation data; and 
   provide the geolocation estimation data and the geolocation confidence value to the one or more of the subset of the plurality of client devices.