Apple has patented a new mapping technology that could bring seamless indoor/outdoor location determination to iPhone and other mobile devices. Using GPS and other internal sensors, the system can even establish state of motion.
Entitled “Managing states of location determination,” and published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office this week, the patent outlines the way in which sensors inside the iPhone work together to determine the current state of a user’s location.
While outdoors, for instance, the iPhone can use GPS to establish location and even state of motion; while inside where GPS signals might be hard to obtain, it might use RF signals. Apple’s Bluetooth-equipped iBeacons would be ideal for these situations.Other sensors — such as the barometer — could then be used to determine which floor the user is on.
“Switching from a venue-independent state to a venue-specific state, the mobile device pull data for a venue map like an indoor map,” AppleInsider explains. “In such situations, specialized venue maps are provided for pathing through hallways, rooms, walls, offices and other identifiable features.”
Not only could this allow us to navigate new buildings or malls with ease, but it could also make it easy for you to provide turn-by-turn directions to someone for a meeting or interview in a large office building.
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