“Back in late March Apple acquired indoor-GPS Company called WifiSLAM signaling that Apple could be entering the indoor mobile location services business sometime in the future,” Jack Purcher reports for Patently Apple. “WifiSLAM’s software allows a user’s smartphone to pinpoint its location (and the location of friends) in real-time to 2.5m accuracy using only ambient WiFi signals that are already present in buildings.”
“Today, a key patent application from Apple titled ‘3D Position Tracking for Panoramic Imagery Navigation’ was published by the US Patent and Trademark Office,” Purcher reports. “On one hand, the patent is about bringing detailed street-views to Apple’s Map application. On the other hand, we get a smidgen of understanding as to why Apple acquired WifiSLAM.”
Purcher reports, “Apple’s patent filing is very stingy in providing us with details about the second half of their invention. Apple states that ‘In some implementations, forward and backward translation enables the user to enter an indoor panorama of a structure (e.g., a commercial venue),’like a store for making a purchase. Although Apple has recently taken a bruising over their Map application’s turn-by-turn navigation inaccuracies, it’s crystal clear that they’re charging ahead with determination to bring newly advanced services to Maps in the future.
Read more in the full article here.
Related articles:
Understanding Apple’s WiFiSLAM acquistion and what’s next – April 4, 2013
Apple acquires indoor location company WifiSLAM for $20 million – March 23, 2013
Apple Maps turning a corner – March 26, 2013
How indoor location could find its way into Apple services – March 25, 2013
Apple wants to map your favorite malls and airports – March 25, 2013
Apple acquires indoor location company WifiSLAM for $20 million – March 23, 2013