System and method for determining smartphone location

Abstract

A device is provided for use with a database having stored therein, a plurality of signatures corresponding to a plurality of fields, respectively, wherein the plurality of fields correspond to a plurality of locations, respectively. The device includes an accessing component, a field-detecting component, a comparing component and an identifying component. The accessing component can access one of the plurality of signatures from the database. The field-detecting component can detect a first field based on a first location and can generate a detected field signature based on the detected first field. The comparing component can generate a comparison signal based on a comparison of the detected field signature and one of the plurality of signatures. The identifying component can identify the first location based on the comparison signal.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 accessing a first signature from a plurality of signatures stored in a data store, wherein the first signature is associated with a first location;   detecting a detected field at a location;   generating a detected field signature based on the detected field;   generating a comparison signal based on a comparison of the detected field signature and the first signature;   determining, based on the comparison signal, a difference between the detected field signature and the first signature;   providing a request for verification that the location is the first location;   receiving a verification based on the request for verification; and   based on the received verification, identifying the first location associated with the first signature as the location and updating the data store based on the difference between the detected field signature and the first signature.   
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , and further comprising:
 determining, based on the comparison signal, that a difference between the detected field signature and the first signature is within a predetermined threshold;   based on the determination, providing a request for verification that the location is the first location.   
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein updating the data store comprises updating the data store to include a variation of the first signature. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , and further comprising:
 detecting the detected field as a function over a period of time.   
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , and further comprising:
 detecting the detected field as a magnetic field; and   identifying the location as a driver's position corresponding to a vehicle.   
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , and further comprising:
 detecting, by a parameter detector, a parameter;   generating, by the parameter detector, a parameter signal based on the detected parameter; and   identifying the location based on the parameter signal.   
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 26 , wherein detecting the parameter comprises detecting, as the parameter, at least one of:
 a geodetic location, a time, a sound, an acceleration, or a velocity.   
     
     
         28 . A device comprising:
 at least one processor; and   memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the device to:
 access a first signature from a plurality of signatures stored in a data store, wherein the first signature is associated with a first location; 
 detect a detected field at a device location; 
 generate a detected field signature based on the detected field; 
 generate a comparison signal based on a comparison of the detected field signature and the first signature; 
 determine, based on the comparison signal, that a difference between the detected field signature and the first signature is within a predetermined threshold; and 
 based on the determination, update the data store to include a variation of the first signature based on the difference between the detected field signature and the first signature. 
   
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein
 the detected field comprises a first detected field at the device location,   the detected field signature comprises a first detected field signature, and   the instructions, when executed, cause the device to:
 detect a second detected field corresponding to the device location; 
 generate a second detected field signature based on the second detected field; 
 generate a second comparison signal based on a comparison of the second detected field signature and the first signature; and 
 determine, based on the second comparison signal, that a difference between the second detected field signature and the first signature is within the predetermined threshold. 
   
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the device to:
 based on the determination that the difference between the second detected field signature and the first signature is within the predetermined threshold, update the data store based on an average of the first and second detected field signatures.   
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the device to:
 detect the detected field as a function over a period of time.   
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the device to:
 detect the detected field as a magnetic field; and   identify the location as a driver's position corresponding to a vehicle.   
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the device to:
 detect, by a parameter detector, a parameter;   generate, by the parameter detector, a parameter signal based on the detected parameter; and   identify the location based on the parameter signal.   
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the device to:
 detect, as the parameter, at least one of:
 a geodetic location, a time, a sound, an acceleration, or a velocity. 
   
     
     
         35 . A device comprising:
 at least one processor; and   memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the device to:
 access a data store that stores a plurality of field signatures corresponding to a plurality of fields, the plurality of fields corresponding to a plurality of locations; 
 obtain an indication of a given field signature representing a detected field detected by a field-detecting component; 
 generate a user interface that indicates the detected field and includes a location selection user input mechanism; 
 based on detected actuation of the location selection user input mechanism, select a location that is associated with the given field signature; and 
 store, in the data store, the given field signature and association data that associates the given field signature with the selected location. 
   
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the location selection user input mechanism is configured to enable user selection of the location from a predetermined number of locations within a vehicle. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the device to:
 detect the detected field as a function over a period of time.   
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the device to:
 detect the detected field as a magnetic field; and   identify the location as a driver's position corresponding to a vehicle.   
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the device to:
 detect, by a parameter detector, a parameter;   generate, by the parameter detector, a parameter signal based on the detected parameter; and   identify the location based on the parameter signal.   
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the device to:
 detect, as the parameter, at least one of:
 a geodetic location, a time, a sound, an acceleration, or a velocity.