Method and apparatus for determining a geo-location correction-offset

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9426769-B2
Application number	US-201314093254-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2013
Priority date	Nov 29, 2013
Publication date	Aug 23, 2016
Grant date	Aug 23, 2016

Abstract

An approach is provided to process communication information for determining a possible correction-offset to location information of a user. A location verification platform may process and/or facilitate a processing of communication information associated with at least one user device. The location verification platform may also determine a current geo-location of the at least one user device based, at least in part, on the communication information. Further, the location verification platform may determine an accuracy of the current geo-location based, at least in part, on a comparison of the current geo-location with contextual location information associated with the current geo-location. Furthermore, the location verification platform may determine a correction-offset to the current geo-location based, at least in part, on an accuracy threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
processing via a processor communication information associated with at least one user device;
determining via the processor a current geo-location of the at least one user device based on the communication information;
determining via the processor an accuracy error of the current geo-location based on a comparison of the current geo-location with contextual location information associated with the current geo-location;
determining via the processor a correction-offset to the current geo-location based on an indication that the accuracy error in the determined current geo-location of the user device is greater than a predetermined accuracy threshold;
transmitting the correction-offset to the at least one user device based on the current geo-location; and
determining a probability factor for the correction-offset based on communication information associated with a plurality of other user,
wherein the contextual location information includes one or more validated information items associated with one or more points of interest associated with the current geo-location, a corrected current geo-location, or a combination thereof,
wherein the communication information associated with the plurality of other users comprises communication information from a database including location information from the plurality of user devices indicating a high error rate in location information at a certain geo-location,
wherein the predetermined accuracy threshold is provided in a user profile at the user device, and
wherein the correction-offset is at least a parameter or a correction-offset function for determining a corrected geo-location.

2. A method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:
transmitting the correction-offset to one or more databases.

3. A method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:
updating the current geo-location based on one or more correction-offsets in one or more data lists.

4. A method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:
presenting a corrected current geo-location at the at least one user device.

5. A method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining the current geo-location of the at least one user device based on the current geo-location, a service provider configuration, or a combination thereof.

6. A method of claim 1 , wherein the communication information includes active, passive, direct, indirect, or a combination thereof communication information originating from the at least one user device.

7. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one non-transitory memory including computer program code for one or more programs,
the at least one non-transitory memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:
process and/or facilitate a processing of communication information associated with at least one user device;
determine a current geo-location of the at least one user device based on the communication information;
determine an accuracy error of the current geo-location based on a comparison of the current geo-location with contextual location information associated with the current geo-location;
determine a correction-offset to the current geo-location based on an indication that the accuracy error in the determined current geo-location of the user device is greater than a predetermined accuracy threshold;
transmit the correction-offset to the at least one user device based on the current geo-location; and
determine a probability factor for the correction-offset based on communication information associated with a plurality of other user devices,
wherein the contextual location information includes one or more validated information items associated with one or more points of interest associated with the current geo-location, a corrected current geo-location, or a combination thereof,
wherein the communication information associated with the plurality of other users comprises communication information from a database including location information from the plurality of user devices indicating a high error rate in location information at a certain geo-location,
wherein the predetermined accuracy threshold is provided in a user profile at the user device, and
wherein the correction-offset is at least a parameter or a correction-offset function for determining a corrected geo-location.

8. An apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
cause a transmission of the correction-offset to one or more databases, or a combination thereof.

9. An apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
cause an update to the current geo-location based on one or more correction-offsets in one or more data lists.

10. An apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
cause a presentation of a corrected current geo-location at the at least one user device.

11. An apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
determine the current geo-location of the at least one user device based on the current geo-location, a service provider configuration, or a combination thereof.

12. An apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the communication information includes active, passive, direct, indirect, or a combination thereof communication information originating from the at least one user device.

Assignees

• Here Global Bv

Inventors

• Haro Antonio

Classifications

• H04W64/00 Primary

  Locating users or terminals {or network equipment} for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management · CPC title

• H04W4/021

  Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences · CPC title