Uber Technologies, Inc.
Navigation using short-range transmissions

Abstract:

A network system uses Wi-Fi signals or other types of short-range transmissions to determine navigation to pickup locations for users receiving services provided via the network system. In an embodiment, the network system builds a database of reference signatures of short-range transmissions previously detected by client devices of users at a geographical region, where the reference signatures are mapped to corresponding locations of the geographical region. By comparing a signature detected by a particular user's client device to the reference signatures, the network system may check for similarities between the short-range transmissions. Responsive to finding a match, the network system determines a current location of the particular user at the geographical region. Accordingly, by leveraging the database, the network system may determine a route for travel by the particular user from the current location to a pickup location without having to use GPS signals.