BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The cellular network is a communication system that interconnects billions of Mobile Devices to one another and, in turn, to the Internet. The Internet is a communication system that provides connectivity to billions of users with laptops, notebooks, desktops, Internet Enabled TV sets, and mobile devices coupled to the Internet either through the cellular network or via other types of wireless connectivity standards such as cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and WiMAX mobile devices. A set of standards for cellular phones includes, for example, 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, 4G, and 5G which are used by mobile devices to send and receive data, video or voice. The G stands for Generation and LTE stands for Long-Term Evolution. Cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and WiMAX standards may be used in cellular phones, smartphones like the iPhone™, Android™, Windows™, and Blackberry™, tablets, and wearable devices.

In recent years, Mobile Devices have been provided with means to determine their position at any given time. The terms position and location are used interchangeably in this document. Once determined, the position of a Mobile Device can be used to enable Location-Based Services, which uses location as the control feature to customize a certain service, and a wide variety of Location-Based Mobile Applications. Examples of Location-Based Mobile Applications include navigation applications, tracking applications, and applications that provide content to the user that is related to the current position of the Mobile Device (e.g., provide a user using a Mobile Application in a certain store with an offer from that store, or provide a user using a Mobile Application in a neighborhood with information on nearby businesses and attractions).

FIG. 1Aillustrates that the position of a Mobile Device1-1can be determined as an absolute position or a relative position.FIG. 1Ashows the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2, which is a geographic position expressed in the geographic coordinates Mobile Device Longitude1-3and Mobile Device Latitude1-4. Mobile Device Longitude1-3specifies the east-west position and Mobile Device Latitude1-4specifies the north-south position of the Mobile Device1-1on the Earth's surface. The Mobile Device Longitude1-3is expressed as an angle east or west from the Prime Meridian, which is the Meridian that passes through the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. The Mobile Device Latitude1-4is expressed as an angle that ranges from 0° at the Equator to 90° North at the North Pole and to 90° South at the South Pole.

A relative position is a position relative to a Reference Point.FIG. 1Billustrates a first method to define a relative position of a Mobile Device1-1using a Relative Cartesian Coordinate System1-5. The Relative Cartesian Coordinate System1-5specifies the Mobile Device Relative Position1-12in a plane by a pair of numerical coordinates Mobile Device Relative X-Coordinate1-13and Mobile Device Relative Y-Coordinate1-14, which are the signed distances from the Mobile Device1-1to two fixed perpendicular reference lines, one called the X Axis1-10and one called the Y Axis1-11. The point where they meet is called the origin. By making the origin coincide with the Reference Point1-6, and making the X Axis1-10parallel to the east-west direction (and therefore the Y axis1-11parallel to the north-south direction), the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2can be computed from the Reference Point Absolute Position1-7, which is defined by the Reference Point Longitude1-8and Reference Point Latitude1-9, using the Mobile Device Relative X-Coordinate1-13and the Mobile Device Relative Y-Coordinate1-14.

FIG. 1Cillustrates a second method to define a relative position of a Mobile Device1-1using a Relative Polar Coordinate System1-15. The Relative Polar Coordinate System1-15specifies the Mobile Device Relative Position1-12in a plane by a pair of coordinates, a first coordinate called Mobile Device Relative Radial Coordinate1-16, which is the distance from the Mobile Device1-1to the Reference Point1-6, and a second coordinate called Mobile Device Relative Angular Coordinate1-17, which is the angle of the radius from the Mobile Device1-1to the Reference Point1-6and the X-Axis1-10. The Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2can be computed from the Reference Point Absolute Position1-7, which is defined by the Reference Point Longitude1-8and Reference Point Latitude1-9, using the Mobile Device Relative Radial Coordinate1-16and Mobile Device Relative Angular Coordinate1-17.

All the examples above illustrate ways to define the absolute and relative positions in a two-dimensional space, but an expert in the art would know how to extend similar concepts to define the absolute and relative position of a Mobile Device1-1in a three-dimensional space, by adding an altitude for the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2, a Z Axis and Z-Coordinate for the Relative Cartesian Coordinate System1-5, and a second Relative Angular Coordinate for the Relative Polar Coordinate System1-15.

The absolute or relative position of a Mobile Device can be determined using a positioning system. We use the terms positioning system, positioning mechanism, and positioning method interchangeably. Examples of positioning systems include the Global Positioning System (GPS), the Differential GPS, the Assisted GPS, several types of Wi-Fi Based Positioning Systems, and other positioning systems. A positioning system determines the position of a Mobile Device by performing a position computation using a variety of different mechanisms. A positioning system determines the position of a Mobile Device with a certain positioning accuracy, meaning that the position computation contains a certain error, which is introduced by a number of factors that play a role in the computation. The accuracy of a positioning system depends on the mechanisms that the positioning system uses to perform the position computation and on the position itself. Certain positions can be computed with lower or higher accuracy than other positions, depending on a variety of factors. The positioning error means that the actual absolute or relative position of a Mobile Device is only known with a certain uncertainty. This uncertainty can be thought as a region surrounding the actual position of the Mobile Device, and the Mobile Device can be positioned anywhere within that region. Several mechanisms are used to minimize the positioning error. A Location-Based Mobile Application may have certain requirements in terms of the positioning accuracy that is needed for the Location-Based Mobile Application to work properly. For example, a navigational Mobile Application may work properly with an accuracy of several meters, while a tracking Mobile Application that needs to determine which exact product in a supermarket aisle a consumer is facing at a given time may work properly only if the accuracy is about one meter.

FIG. 2Aillustrates the Global Positioning System (GPS)2-1, which consists of a plurality of GPS satellites, comprising GPS Satellite12-2to GPS Satellite N2-3. The Global Positioning System (GPS)2-1is a space-based satellite navigation system that provides location and time information in all weather conditions to a Mobile Device1-1containing a GPS receiver2-4anywhere on the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites. As of December 2012, there were 32 GPS satellites in the Global Positioning System2-1. GPS satellites circle the earth twice a day in a very precise orbit and transmit signal information to earth. The GPS receiver2-4uses the messages it receives from the satellites to determine the transit time of each message and computes the distance to each satellite. Then, the computed distances are used to compute the location of the GPS receiver2-4using triangulation. The location of the GPS receiver provides the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2in terms of the Mobile Device Longitude1-3and Mobile Device Latitude1-4. About nine satellites are visible from many locations on the ground at any one time. The additional satellites improve the precision of GPS receiver calculation by providing redundant measurements. However, buildings, vegetation, and other obstructions may make one or more satellites not visible from a certain location. When the GPS receiver2-4is first turned on, it needs to find orbit and clock data for the relevant satellites. The procedure of acquiring the signal may take time, even of the order of a minute or more, before the location can be computed. This time is called Time to First Fix, and depends on the location, since obstructions and other interferences can make more difficult for the GPS receiver2-4to acquire a signal.

The GPS receiver2-4computes the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2with a certain accuracy. Several errors may be introduced in the calculation, which affect the precision of the computed location. For example, the GPS receiver2-4computes the distance to each GPS satellite in the plurality of GPS Satellites2-2to2-3by multiplying a signal's travel time by the speed of light. However, the speed of light is not constant as the signal travels through the ionosphere and the troposphere, and thus this calculation introduces an error. Other examples of errors include the multipath errors, the ephemeris errors, the receiver noise error, and errors in the satellite's clock. The GPS receiver2-4may include means to correct, at least in part, one or more of these errors. The accuracy of the GPS receiver2-4depends on the GPS receiver2-4and on the number and position of GPS satellites visible at any given time from a certain position. The accuracy of the GPS calculation depends therefore on the location and time. On average, most GPS receivers have an accuracy of a few tens of meters. The accuracy of the GPS receiver2-4rapidly decreases (and eventually the GPS location calculation cannot be performed) if the GPS receiver2-4is indoor or if there are any other impediments to its line of sight to the satellites.

A first method to improve the accuracy of the GPS is Differential GPS (DGPS), which is also shown inFIG. 2A. DGPS comprises a network of fixed, ground-based DGPS Reference Stations, comprising DGPS Reference Station12-5to DGPS Reference Station N2-6, which broadcast the difference between the positions indicated by the GPS satellites and the known fixed positions of each DGPS Reference Station. The difference correction signal is broadcast to DGPS-capable GPS receivers using ground-based transmitters to improve the accuracy of the computation. A second method to improve the accuracy of GPS is called Wide-Area Augmentation System (WAAS). WAAS is conceptually similar to DGPS. WAAS is a system of 25 ground WAAS Reference Stations positioned across the United States that monitor GPS satellite data and create GPS correction messages which can be received by WAAS-enabled GPS receivers to improve the accuracy of the computation. On average, the accuracy of WAAS-enabled GPS receivers is about 3 meters.

FIG. 2Billustrates a Mobile Device1-1, such as a cellphone, a smartphone, a tablet, or a wearable device, connected to the Cellular Network2-7, which is in turn connected to the Internet2-8. The Mobile Device1-1connects to the Cellular Network2-7via a plurality of Cell Towers comprising Cell Tower12-9to Cell Tower N2-10via radio signals. Each Cell Tower in the plurality of Cell Towers2-9to2-10includes a Base Station, which receives and transmits the radio signals to communicate with the Mobile Device1-1. Most Mobile Devices such as smartphones and tablets include a GPS receiver2-4capable of receiving messages from the Global Positioning System2-1and compute the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2.

Most Mobile Devices such as cellphones, smartphones, tablets, and other devices that are attached to the Cellular Network2-7use Assisted Global Positioning System (Assisted GPS) rather than the basic GPS described above to compute the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2. Assisted GPS takes advantage of the fact that the Mobile Device1-1is attached to the Cellular Network2-7to improve the performance of the GPS computation. Each Cell Tower in the plurality of Cell Towers2-9to2-10comprises a GPS receiver that collects GPS information from the GPS Satellites, at the known location of the Cell Tower. Assisted GPS uses an Assisted GPS Server2-11, which collects the GPS information collected by the Cell Towers, processes it, and passes it to the Mobile Device1-1through radio signals to assist and improve the GPS computation of the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2. For example, the Assisted GPS Server2-11can compute which are the relevant GPS Satellites that a Mobile Device1-1attached to a specific Cell Tower should acquire, can generate correction messages on the GPS information, and can use additional information to help determine the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2.

Assisted GPS improves the performance of GPS computation in several ways. Assisted GPS improves the Time to First Fix, since the Assisted GPS Server2-11can provide the Mobile Device1-1with the list of relevant GPS Satellites that should be acquired. Part of the GPS computation can be performed in the Assisted GPS Server2-11rather than in the Mobile Device1-1, which requires less processing power in the Mobile Device1-1and saves battery life. The Assisted GPS Server can also use additional positioning methods to improve the accuracy of the GPS computation in non-optimal locations, such as when the Mobile Device1-1is indoors or in a location where the line of sight to the GPS Satellites is obstructed. In certain cases, using the Assisted GPS, the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2may be computed even in locations where there is no line of sight to GPS Satellites, whereby the basic GPS may not be able to compute the location.

A positioning mechanism that the Assisted GPS Server2-11uses to improve the accuracy of the computation of the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2when the location may not be optimal for GPS computation is Cell Tower triangulation. In most cases, a Mobile Device1-1, which is attached to the Cellular Network2-7via the plurality of Cell Towers comprising Cell Tower12-9to Cell Tower N2-10, actually communicates with more than one Cell Tower at any given time. At a given time, a Mobile Device1-1may be attached to a first Cell Tower12-9and a second Cell Tower N2-10. Each Cell Tower can compute the Mobile Device Relative Position1-12, relative to the Cell Tower itself, for example by estimating the distance of the Mobile Device1-1from the Cell Tower based on the travel time of the radio signal through the air, and the angle with which the radio signals from the Mobile Device1-1are received at the Cell Tower. Typically, the Mobile Device Relative Position1-12relative to a first Cell Tower12-9computed in this way is quite inaccurate. However, if the Mobile Device Relative Position1-12of a Mobile Device1-1which is attached to more than one Cell Tower is computed relative to more than one Cell Tower, then the computations can be combined by the Assisted GPS Server2-11using Cell Tower triangulation and the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2can be computed with better accuracy. This information can in turn be combined with the result of GPS computation to further improve the accuracy of the computed Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2.

FIG. 2Cillustrates a similar positioning mechanism to Cell Tower triangulation that can be used to compute the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2when the Mobile Device1-1is attached to the Internet2-8via Wi-Fi. This positioning mechanism is called Wi-Fi-Based Positioning, and is prevalently used indoors or in confined areas, such as in a stadium or a shopping mall. One example of Wi-Fi-based Positioning uses a plurality of Wi-Fi Hotspots comprising Wi-Fi Hotspot12-13to Wi-Fi Hotspot N2-14. The Wi-Fi Hotspots may be connected to a Local Area Network2-15, which in turn is connected to the Internet2-8. The Mobile Device1-1includes a Wi-Fi radio that can connect to these Wi-Fi Hotspots. A Wi-Fi Position Server2-16computes the distance of the Mobile Device1-1to each Wi-Fi Hotspot, and computes the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2or the Mobile Device Relative Position1-12using Wi-Fi Hotspot triangulation. The accuracy of the position computation depends on the number of Wi-Fi Hotspots covering a certain location and on the specific computation method used in the Wi-Fi Position Server2-16.

The Assisted GPS using Cell Tower triangulation and the Wi-Fi-Based Positioning are examples of Hybrid Positioning Systems, illustrated inFIG. 3. A Hybrid Positioning System3-1uses more than one positioning mechanism to compute the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2. By using more than one positioning mechanism, better accuracy in the computation may be achieved, especially in locations where local conditions may be challenging for a specific positioning system. The Hybrid Positioning System3-1may compute a plurality of Position Data comprising a first Position Data13-2and a second Position Data23-3, the first Position Data13-2computed using a first position computation mechanism and the second Position Data23-3computed using a second position computation mechanism. In the Combine3-6step, the Hybrid Positioning System3-1combines the first Position Data13-2and the second Position Data23-3, and in the Compute3-7step it computes the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2. The Hybrid Positioning System3-1may use the first Position Data13-2and the second Position Data23-2in different ways to compute a more accurate Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2.

In a first example, the Hybrid Positioning System3-1uses the plurality of Position Data as redundant measures, which improves the accuracy of the computed Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2. For example, the first Position Data13-2yields a first estimate of the Mobile Device Absolute Position, together with a first Position Accuracy3-4; the second Position Data23-3yields a second estimate of the Mobile Device Absolute Position, together with a second Position Accuracy3-5. By combining the first estimate and the second estimate of the Mobile Device Absolute Position, a Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2is computed with better accuracy. In a second example, the Hybrid Positioning System3-1uses the second Position Data23-3to calibrate the first Position Data13-2and increase the Position Accuracy13-4, which is used to compute the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2. For example, the first Position Data13-2may be a first estimate of the Mobile Device Absolute Position using GPS, with a first Position Accuracy13-4; the second Position Data23-3may be a GPS correction message computed by an Assisted GPS Server taking advantage of a known location of a Cell Tower. The second Position Data23-3is used to correct the first Position Data13-2and compute the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2with increased accuracy. In a third example, the Hybrid Positioning System3-1uses the first Position Data13-2to compute the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2in certain conditions and the second Position Data23-3to compute the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2in other conditions. For example, the first Position Data13-2may be an estimate of the Mobile Device Absolute Position using GPS, which is used to compute the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2when the Mobile Device1-1is outdoor and without obstructions on the line of sight to the GPS satellites, which are the conditions in which GPS measurements are most accurate. The second Position Data23-3may be an estimate of the Mobile Device Absolute Position using Cell Tower or Wi-Fi triangulation, which is used to compute the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2when the Mobile Device1-1is indoor or in conditions where the GPS measurement is inaccurate or not even possible.

A Mobile Device1-1such as a cellphone, a smartphone, a tablet, or a wearable device is illustrated inFIG. 4. The Mobile Device1-1consists of Hardware4-1and Software4-2. The Hardware4-1comprises at least one Processor4-3and at least one Memory4-4. The Hardware4-1also provides the user of the Mobile Device1-1with at least one mode of input and one mode of output. A first mode of input may consist of a Keypad4-4, a first mode of output consist of a Screen4-5. The Screen4-5may be a touch-sensitive screen, which provides a second mode of input. Other modes of input and output, such as voice recognition, may also be provided (not shown). The Hardware4-1may also include a Camera4-6, with which the user can take photos or videos using the Mobile Device1-1. The Hardware4-1also provides Communication Links4-7. A first communication link in the Communication Links4-7is a Cellular Radio4-11, which includes a transmitter and a receiver, which connects the Mobile Device1-1to the Cellular Network2-12. The Communication Links4-7may also include a Wi-Fi Radio4-10, which includes a transmitter and a receiver, and enables the Mobile Device1-1to connect to a Wi-Fi Hotspot. The Communication Links4-7may also include a GPS Receiver2-4capable of receiving GPS signals from GPS Satellites. If the GPS Receiver2-4is present, the Mobile Device1-1is capable of computing its position using GPS. The Communication Links4-7may also include an Assisted GPS Receiver4-8, capable of receiving information from an Assisted GPS Server2-11connected to the Cellular Network or to the Internet2-8. If the Assisted GPS Receiver4-8is present, the Mobile Device1-1is capable of computing its position using Assisted GPS. The Software4-2comprises an Operating System4-12and a plurality of Mobile Applications comprising Mobile Application14-13, Mobile Application24-14, to Mobile Application N4-15. Each Mobile Application in the plurality of Mobile Applications may provide specific functionality to the Mobile Device1-1. One or more Mobile Applications running on the Mobile Device1-1may provide ways to compute the Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2or the Mobile Device Relative Location1-12using different positioning mechanisms, including Hybrid Positioning System. One or more Mobile Applications running on the Mobile Device1-1may be Location-Based Mobile Applications and use the computed Mobile Device Absolute Position1-2or the Mobile Device Relative Position1-12in order to customize their functionality depending on the computed Mobile Device location.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the one of the current inventions uses a plurality of Known Positions that are defined in the area where the accurate position needs to be computed. A first Known Position in the plurality of Known Positions can be defined as an Absolute Position in terms of Latitude and Longitude or as a Relative Position in relation to a Reference Point. When inside a store, a Relative Position is often preferred, since convenient Reference Points are often available, and the distance of any position inside the building from such Reference Points is often easily measurable. A first example of a convenient Reference Point that can be used in a store may be the front door. A second example of a convenient Reference Point that can be used in a store may be a specific corner of the store. A third example of a convenient Reference Point may be the position of a specific cash register. The known position is computed in relation to the position of the shape. The camera may be rather close to the position of the shape, since the camera was able to take an image of the shape. However, an error in position of the portable device can occur with respect to the position of the shape. Where all this makes sense is indoors since GPS may not accurate enough to compute the position of the user when the user is next to a position of a shape while the position computed in relation to the position of the shape provides a more accurate position of the user.

In accordance with another embodiment of the one of the current inventions the Mobile Device includes a Camera that can be used to take an image of the shapes placed with respect to a Reference Point. The Mobile Device also includes a Scanning and Image Recognition Mobile Application, which is capable of controlling the Camera in order to take an image of a shape and includes Image Recognition software capable of recognizing which shape is portrayed in a certain image. For this purpose, the Scanning and Image Recognition Mobile Application compares the shape captured in the image taken by the Camera with shapes in the Shape Database and identifies a specific shape. Then, using the Shape-Position Database, it associates the identified shape with a Known Position in the plurality of Known Positions. It then determines the position of the Mobile Device as the identified Known Position. The Mobile Device also includes an Assisted GPS Receiver, a GPS Receiver, a Wi-Fi Radio, and a Cellular Radio, and may be capable to determine its position using other positioning systems such as Assisted GPS or Wi-Fi-Based Positioning.

In accordance with another embodiment of the one of the current inventions a plurality of Known Positions are defined in the area where the Mobile Device position needs to be determined. The plurality of Known Positions includes a plurality of shapes placed at the polarity of Known Positions. The Shape Database in the Mobile Device is loaded with information describing all the shapes associated with all positions. The Shape-Position Database in the Mobile Device is loaded with information describing the association of each shape with a known position. The Mobile Device captures an image of a shape using the Camera. The Scanning and Image Recognition Mobile Application processes the image and associates it with one of the entries in the Shape Database, defining which shape has been captured by the camera. Then, the known position associated with the recognized shape is determined from the corresponding entry in the Shape-Position Database. The position of the Mobile Device is computed as the determined position.

In accordance with another embodiment of the one of the current inventions includes the operation of the Position Identification Solution, which uses a Mobile Device including a Scanning and Image Recognition Mobile Application running on an Operating System, a Camera, and a Shape Database. The Mobile Device sends data to and receives data from the Wireless Network, which in turn sends data to and receives data from/to the internet. A Positioning Server sends data to and receives data from the Internet. The Mobile Device sends data to and receives data from the Positioning Server. The Positioning Server includes a Shape-Position Database containing a plurality of Shape-Position entries. For each position and each associated shape, there is a corresponding entry in the Shape-Position Database. The Scanning and Image Recognition Mobile Application takes an image of a shape and determines which one of the shapes it possesses. The Mobile Device sends the information of the shape to the Positioning Server. The Positioning Server uses the received information to identify the corresponding entry in the Shape-Position Database and derive an associated position. Then, the Positioning Server determines the position of the Mobile Device as equal to the derived associated position of the captured shape.

In accordance with another embodiment of the one of the current inventions includes using colors instead of shapes and associates a color with each position in the plurality of positions. A plurality of Colors is associated with a plurality of Known Positions wherever the Mobile Device position needs to be determined. The Color Database in the Mobile Device is loaded with information describing all the colors associated with all positions and provides an association of each color with each known position and is loaded in the Color-Position Database in the Mobile Device. The Mobile Device captures an image of a color using the Camera. The software in the Scanning and Image Recognition Mobile Application runs on an Operating System and processes the image and associates it with one of the entries in the Color Database, defining which position has been captured by the camera. The known position associated with the recognized color is determined from the corresponding entry in the Color-Position Database. The position of the Mobile Device is computed as the determined position.

In accordance with another embodiment of the one of the current inventions the combinations of shapes and colors are associated with each known position in the plurality of Known Positions. For example, the Position Identification Solution associates a first shape of a first color with a first known position in the plurality of Known Positions, a first shape of a second color with a second known position in the plurality of Known Positions, a second shape of a first color with a third known position in the plurality of Known Positions, etc. In this embodiment of the one of the current inventions, the Scanning an Image Recognition Mobile Application is capable of recognizing a specific shape of a specific color in the plurality of shape and color combinations that are associated with the known positions in the plurality of Known Position. Once the shape and color combination is recognized, the position of the Mobile Device is determined as equal to the known position associated with the recognized shape and color combination.

In accordance with another embodiment of the one of the current inventions which is used together with other positioning mechanisms as part of a Hybrid Positioning System. The current embodiment of the invention can be used as part of a Hybrid Positioning System in different ways. A first way the current embodiment of the invention can be used as part of a Hybrid Positioning System is by using the current embodiment of the invention to determine a known position and use such a determined position to calibrate a position computed using a second positioning system, such as Assisted GPS or Wi-Fi-Based Positioning from the same position. The Mobile Device includes a Camera and a Scanning Image Recognition Mobile Application running on an Operating System. The Scanning Image Recognition Mobile Application includes software that is capable of recognizing at least one of a shape, a color, or shape-color combination using a Shape Database, a Shape-Position Database, a Color Database, or a Color-Position Database. The Mobile Device also includes a Cellular Radio that sends and receives data to and from the Wireless Network, which is in turn sends and receives data to and from the Internet. The Mobile Device also includes at least one of a GPS Receiver, an Assisted GPS Receiver, and a Wi-Fi Radio. If the Mobile Device includes a GPS Receiver, the Mobile Device receives the data from the GPS and is capable of computing its position using the GPS data, if the Mobile Device includes an Assisted GPS Receiver, the Mobile Device receives the data from the Assisted GPS and is capable of computing its position using the data from the Assisted GPS, and if the Mobile Device includes a Wi-Fi Radio, the Mobile Device receives the data from the Wi-Fi Radio and is capable of computing its position using the data from the Wi-Fi-Based Positioning Systems. The Mobile Device may also include capabilities of computing its position using data received from other positioning systems. A Hybrid Positioning System Server can be attached to the Internet.

An embodiment of the one of the present inventions is a mobile device coupled to a position identification system comprising: an operating system coupled to a camera; a scanning and image recognition unit coupled to the operating system; an attribute database coupled to the scanning and image recognition unit; an attribute-position database coupled to the scanning and image recognition unit; each of a plurality of descriptions in the attribute database describing a corresponding attribute; and each entry in the attribute-position database associating an attribute with a corresponding position, wherein an image obtained by the camera containing a first attribute is coupled to the scanning and image recognition unit which matches the description of the first attribute to one of the plurality of descriptions in the attribute database, wherein the matched description of one of the plurality of descriptions is entered to the attribute-position database to find a position of the first attribute, further comprising: a wireless network coupled to either a hybrid positioning system server or an Internet, wherein the mobile device receives data from and sends data to the wireless network, and the data comprises the description of the attributes, the corresponding positions or both. The mobile device wherein the scanning and image recognition unit comprises a mobile application, wherein another position determined by a second positioning system is enhanced by the position, wherein a device position of the mobile device is defined as equivalent to the position, wherein the attribute database contains descriptions of orientations, objects, shapes, colors, shades, sounds, amplitude, frequencies or any combination therein, wherein the descriptions of the attribute database corresponds to a plurality of descriptions of attributes which is each stored with a known position in a corresponding entry in the attribute-position database.

Another embodiment of the one of the present inventions is a position identification unit apparatus comprising: a mobile device having an operating system coupled to a camera; a scanning and image recognition unit coupled to the operating system, wherein the scanning and image recognition unit receives an image from the camera; an attribute database with a plurality of first descriptions describing each attribute; at least one server with an attribute-position database associating a description of each attribute with a known position; the scanning and image recognition unit extracts a description of an unknown attribute within the image and couples the description to the attribute database matching one of the plurality of first descriptions to provide a description of a known attribute; an internet coupling a cellular network to the at least one server; wherein the description of the known attribute is sent to the server and is matched with the description of one of the attributes in the attribute-position database to provide a known position; wherein the mobile device receives the known position of the attribute from the server. The apparatus wherein a device position of the mobile device defined as equivalent to the known position, further comprising: a second position determined by a second positioning system enhanced by the known position, wherein the descriptions of the attribute database corresponds to a plurality of descriptions of attributes which is each stored with a position in a corresponding entry in the attribute-position database, wherein the attribute database contains descriptions of orientations, objects, shapes, colors, shades, sounds, amplitude, frequencies or any combination therein, wherein the scanning and image recognition unit comprises a mobile application.

Another embodiment of the one of the present inventions is a method of determining a position of an attribute comprising the steps of: taking an image containing an attribute with a camera of a mobile device; receiving data from an attribute database and an attribute-position database in a mobile device; storing the data into the mobile device into a stored attribute database and a corresponding stored attribute-position database, respectively; recognizing a description of the attribute in the image taken by the camera using a scanning and image recognition unit; matching the description of the attribute to a description of a stored attribute in the stored attribute database; and associating the description of the stored attribute in the stored attribute-position database to a position. The process further comprising the steps of: locating a description of another attribute in a different image taken in a different position; matching the description of another attribute to a description of corresponding attribute in the stored attribute database; and associating the description of the corresponding attribute in the stored attribute-position database to another position, further comprising the steps of: coupling a wireless network to either a hybrid positioning system server or an Internet, wherein the mobile device receives data from and sends data to the wireless network. The process wherein a system position determined by a second positioning system is enhanced by either the position or the another position, wherein a device position of the mobile device defined as equivalent to the position, wherein the attribute database contains descriptions of orientations, objects, shapes, colors, shades, sounds, amplitude, frequencies or any combination therein, wherein the descriptions of the attribute database corresponds to a plurality of descriptions of attributes which is each stored with a known position in a corresponding entry in the attribute-position database.

