Method for Updating Location Information on a Wireless Device

• US 20080207224A1
• Filed: 02/23/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Fahmy, Samer, Wormald, Chris, Klassen, Gerhard
• Granted Patent: US 8,509,677 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method is provided for updating a position of a mobile device coupled to a wireless communication network via one of a plurality of base stations. The method comprising the following steps. A position of the mobile device is determined. The mobile device then waits for a predefined trigger notification before determining an updated position of the mobile device. The predefined trigger notification is generated in response to a motion trigger. A device configured to implement the method as well as a computer readable medium comprising instructions to implement the method are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for updating a position of a mobile device coupled to a wireless communication network via one of a plurality of base stations, the method comprising the steps of:

determining the position of the mobile device; and

waiting for a predefined trigger notification before determining an updated position of the mobile device, the predefined trigger notification being generated in response to a motion trigger.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined trigger notification is generated in response to a time trigger as well as the motion trigger, and the time trigger is generated in response to an expiration of a predefined time period

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the motion trigger comprises a change in base station with which the mobile device communicates.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the predefined time period is reset upon detection of the motion trigger.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of dynamically changing the predefined time period in accordance with one or more predefined parameters.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the predefined time period is increased if no motion trigger is detected after a predefined number of detected time triggers.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the predefined time period is reduced if the motion trigger is detected in a predefined number of detected time triggers.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the predefined time period is reduced only if the motion trigger is detected in a predefined number of consecutive detected time triggers.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the predefined time period is changed in small segments.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the predefined time period is changed in large segments.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the predefined time period is changed in accordance with time-of-day settings.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the time-of-day settings are determined from a calendar application executing on the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the time-of-day settings are set by a user of the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the time-of-day settings are set by a system administrator of the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of detecting a pattern of a plurality of generated motion triggers for further determining a likelihood that the mobile device is in motion.

16. A mobile device coupled to a wireless communication network via one of a plurality of base stations, the mobile device comprising:

a positioning device configured to retrieve a position of the mobile device; and

a microprocessor configured to enable the positioning device to retrieve the position in response to a predefined trigger notification, the predefined trigger notification being generated in response to a motion trigger.

17. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein the trigger notification is generated in response to a time trigger as well as the motion trigger, the time trigger being generated in response to an expiration of a predefined time period.

18. The mobile device of claim 17, further comprising a communication subsystem for generating the motion trigger in response to a change of base station.

19. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein the predefined time period is reset upon detection of the motion trigger.

20. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to dynamically change the predefined time period in accordance with one or more predefined parameters.

21. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the predefined time period is increased if no motion trigger is detected after a predefined number of detected time triggers.

22. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the predefined time period is reduced if the motion trigger is detected in a predefined number of detected time triggers.

23. The mobile device of claim 22, wherein the predefined time period is reduced only if the motion trigger is detected in a predefined number of consecutive detected time triggers.

24. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the predefined time period is changed in small segments.

25. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the predefined time period is changed in large segments.

26. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the predefined time period is changed in accordance with time-of-day settings.

27. The mobile device of claim 26, further comprising a calendar application, wherein the time-of-day settings are determined from the calendar application.

28. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to detect a pattern of a plurality of generated motion triggers for further determining a likelihood that the mobile device is in motion.

29. A computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed on a mobile device coupled to a wireless communication network via one of a plurality of base stations, cause the mobile device to implement the steps of:

determining a position of the mobile device; and

waiting for a predefined trigger notification before determining an updated position of the mobile device, the predefined trigger notification being generated in response to a motion trigger.