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AmazonGranted patentNetworks & wirelessInterest 6/10

Amazon patents indoor map building using Wi-Fi signals

Amazon describes a system that figures out where Wi-Fi routers are inside a building by analyzing which routers different devices can see. It uses the signal strength and overlap of these connections to calculate the distance and relative position of each router. This creates a map of the building's layout without needing pre-installed sensors or GPS.

Why it mattersThis could improve indoor navigation for delivery drivers or shoppers by creating accurate maps of complex buildings like warehouses or malls using existing Wi-Fi infrastructure.

In the filing’s own words

Radio frequency fingerprints may be received, for a plurality of computing devices, comprising indications of detected wireless access points and signal strengths of the detected wireless access points. Access point distances between a plurality of wireless access points may be computed based on the radio frequency fingerprints. One or more neighboring wireless access point pairs may be detected, based on the radio frequency fingerprints, each including two wireless access points that are detected by a same computing device. One or more relative positions may be determined of one or more of the plurality of wireless access points relative to one or more other of the plurality of wireless access points based on the access point distances and the one or more neighboring wireless access point pairs. A location-based operation may be performed based at least in part on the one or more relative positions.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A computing system comprising: one or more processors; and one or more memories having stored therein instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform computing operations comprising: receiving, for a plurality of computing devices that are at least temporarily located inside of a building, radio frequency fingerprints comprising indications of detected wireless access points and signal strengths of the detected wireless access points; receiving group information associated with a plurality of computing device groups corresponding to the plurality of computing devices; computing, based on the radio frequency fingerprints, access point distances between a plurality of wireless access points included within the detected wireless access points, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are also at least temporarily located inside of the building; detecting, based on the radio frequency fingerprints, one or more neighboring wireless access point pairs each including two wireless access points that are detected by a same computing device of the plurality of computing devices; determining, based on the access point distances and the one or more neighboring wireless access point pairs, one or more relative positions of one or more of the plurality of wireless access points relative to one or more other of the plurality of wireless access points; and performing, based at least in part on the one or more relative positions, a location-based operation associated with at least a first computing device group of the plurality of computing device groups.

Facts

Company
Amazon (Amazon Technologies, Inc.)
Official title
In-building localization using device radio frequency fingerprints
Patent number
US12750813B1
Application number
18374938
Filed
Sep 29, 2023
Granted
Sep 29, 2026
Inventors
1
Claims
20

Classified under

H04W 64/003 Electricity & electronicsG01S 5/02525 Physics & computingH04B 17/318 Electricity & electronicsH04W 4/023 Electricity & electronicsH04W 4/33 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.