ALTITUDE-DEPENDENT POWER MANAGEMENT

• US 20100248662A1
• Filed: 03/25/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sheynblat, Leonid, Seibert, Cristina A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,195,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/127.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to changing at least one power state of a mobile station at least in part in response to information indicating a change in altitude from one or more sensors.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting a change in altitude of a mobile station based, at least in part, on one or more signals provided by one or more sensors of the mobile station; and

changing at least one power state of the mobile station at least in part in response to said detecting the change in altitude.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting the change in altitude comprises detecting a level of acceleration exceeding a specified threshold over a specified period of time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting the change in altitude comprises detecting a level of change of acceleration exceeding a specified threshold over a specified period of time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting the change in altitude comprises detecting a change in atmospheric pressure exceeding a specified threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said changing said at least one power state comprises directing a position estimation unit to cease position location operations.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said changing said at least one power state comprises directing a modem of the mobile station to enter a low-power state.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said changing at least one power state comprises directing the mobile station to enter an airplane mode of communication.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting an ascent of an airplane based, at least in part, on said detecting the change in altitude.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said changing said at least one power state comprises directing a searcher unit of the mobile station to cease searching for terrestrial base stations.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising enabling a modem to communicate with an air interface provided by the airplane at least in part in response to a detection of the ascent of the airplane.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a decent of an airplane based at least in part on said detecting the change in altitude.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said changing said at least one power state comprises directing a searcher unit of the mobile station to recommence searching for terrestrial base stations at least in part in response to said detecting the decent of the airplane.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said changing at least one power state comprises directing the mobile station to recommence an online communicate mode.

14. A mobile station, comprising:

one or more sensors;

an altitude monitor unit to detect a change in altitude of the mobile station based, at least in part, on one or more signals provided by the one or more sensors; and

a power management unit to change at least one power state of the mobile station at least in part in response to said detecting the change in altitude.

15. The mobile station of claim 14, said altitude monitor unit to detect the change in altitude by detecting a level of acceleration exceeding a specified threshold over a specified period of time.

16. The mobile station of claim 14, said altitude monitor unit to detect the change in altitude by detecting a level of change of acceleration exceeding a specified threshold over a specified period of time.

17. The mobile station of claim 14, said altitude monitor unit to detect the change in altitude by detecting a change in atmospheric pressure exceeding a specified threshold.

18. The mobile station of claim 14, said power management unit to change said at least one power state by directing a position estimation unit to cease position location operations.

19. The mobile station of claim 14, further comprising a modem, said power management unit to change said at least one power state by directing the modem to enter a low-power state.

20. The mobile station of claim 14, wherein said changing at least one power state comprises directing the mobile station to enter an airplane mode of communication.

21. The mobile station of claim 14, said altitude monitor unit to detect an ascent of an airplane based, at least in part, on said detecting the change in altitude.

22. The mobile station of claim 21, further comprising a searcher unit, said power management unit to change said at least one power state by directing the searcher unit to cease searching for terrestrial base stations.

23. The mobile station of claim 22, further comprising a modem to communicate with an air interface provided by the airplane at least in part in response to the detection of the ascent of the airplane.

24. The mobile station of claim 14, the altitude monitor unit further to detect a decent of an airplane based at least in part on said detecting the change in altitude.

25. The mobile station of claim 24, further comprising a searcher unit, the power management unit to change said at least one power state by directing the searcher unit to recommence searching for terrestrial base stations at least in part in response to said detection of the decent of the airplane.

26. The mobile station of claim 25, the power management unit to change at least one power state by directing the mobile station to recommence an online communicate mode.

27. An apparatus, comprising:

means for detecting a change in altitude of a mobile station based, at least in part, on signals provided by one or more sensors; and

means for changing at least one power state of the mobile station at least in part in response to said detecting the change in altitude.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said means for detecting the change in altitude comprises means for detecting a level of acceleration exceeding a specified threshold over a specified period of time.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said means for detecting the change in altitude comprises means for detecting a level of change of acceleration exceeding a specified threshold over a specified period of time.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said means for detecting the change in altitude comprises means for detecting a change in atmospheric pressure exceeding a specified threshold.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said means for changing said at least one power state comprises means for directing a means for estimating a position to cease position location operations.

32. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said means for changing said at least one power state comprises means for directing a means for wireless communication of the mobile station to enter a low-power state.

33. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said means for changing at least one power state comprises means for directing the mobile station to enter an airplane mode of communication.

34. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising means for detecting an ascent of an airplane based, at least in part, on information provided by said means for detecting the change in altitude.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said means for changing said at least one power state comprises means for directing a searcher unit of the mobile station to cease searching for terrestrial base stations.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising means for enabling a modem to communicate with an air interface provided by the airplane at least in part in response to a detection of the ascent of the airplane.

37. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising means for detecting a decent of an airplane based at least in part on information provided by said means for detecting the change in altitude.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said means for changing said at least one power state comprises means for directing a searcher unit of the mobile station to recommence searching for terrestrial base stations at least in part in response to said detection of the decent of the airplane.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said means for changing at least one power state comprises means for directing the mobile station to recommence an online communicate mode.

40. An article, comprising:

a storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, if executed, enable a processor of a mobile station to;

detect a change in altitude of a mobile station based, at least in part, on one or more signals provided by one or more sensors of the mobile station; and

change at least one power state of the mobile station at least in part in response to said detecting the change in altitude.

41. The article of claim 40, wherein the storage medium has stored thereon further instructions that, if executed, further enable the processor to detect the change in altitude by detecting a level of acceleration exceeding a specified threshold over a specified period of time.

42. The article of claim 40, wherein the storage medium has stored thereon further instructions that, if executed, further enable the processor to detect the change in altitude by detecting a level of change of acceleration exceeding a specified threshold over a specified period of time.

43. The article of claim 40, wherein the storage medium has stored thereon further instructions that, if executed, further enable the processor to detect the change in altitude by detecting a change in atmospheric pressure exceeding a specified threshold.

44. The article of claim 40, wherein the storage medium has stored thereon further instructions that, if executed, further enable the processor to change said at least one power state by directing a position estimation unit to cease position location operations.

45. The article of claim 40, wherein the storage medium has stored thereon further instructions that, if executed, further enable the processor to change said at least one power state by directing a modem of the mobile station to enter a low-power state.

46. The article of claim 40, wherein the storage medium has stored thereon further instructions that, if executed, further enable the processor to change at least one power state by directing the mobile station to enter an airplane mode of communication.

47. The article of claim 40, wherein the storage medium has stored thereon further instructions that, if executed, further enable the processor to detect an ascent of an airplane based, at least in part, on said detecting the change in altitude.

48. The article of claim 47, wherein the storage medium has stored thereon further instructions that, if executed, further enable the processor to change said at least one power state by directing a searcher unit of the mobile station to cease searching for terrestrial base stations.

49. The article of claim 48, wherein the storage medium has stored thereon further instructions that, if executed, further enable the processor to enable a modem to communicate with an air interface provided by the airplane at least in part in response to a detection of the ascent of the airplane.

50. The article of claim 40, further comprising detecting a decent of an airplane based at least in part on said detecting the change in altitude.

51. The article of claim 50, wherein the storage medium has stored thereon further instructions that, if executed, further direct the processor to change said at least one power state by directing a searcher unit of the mobile station to recommence searching for terrestrial base stations at least in part in response to said detecting the decent of the airplane.

52. The article of claim 51, wherein the storage medium has stored thereon further instructions that, if executed, further direct the processor to change at least one power state by directing the mobile station to recommence an online communicate mode.

53. A method, comprising:

detecting an airplane landing event based, at least in part, on one or more signals provided by one or more sensors of a mobile station; and

changing at least one power state of the mobile station at least in part in response to said detecting the airplane landing event.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein said detecting the landing event comprises detecting a level of deceleration exceeding a specified threshold over a specified period of time.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein said detecting the airplane landing event comprises detecting a level of change in acceleration exceeding a specified threshold over a specified period of time.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein said one or more sensors comprises an accelerometer, and wherein said detecting the airplane landing event comprises performing spectral frequency analysis on accelerometer data.

57. The method of claim 53, wherein said one or more sensors comprises one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a barometer.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein said detecting the airplane landing event comprises matching a pattern of sensor data with a data pattern stored in an a priori database of landing patterns.

59. A method, comprising:

detecting an airplane takeoff event based, at least in part, on one or more signals provided by one or more sensors of a mobile station; and

changing at least one power state of the mobile station at least in part in response to said detecting the airplane takeoff event.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein said detecting the airplane takeoff event comprises detecting a level of change in acceleration exceeding a specified threshold over a specified period of time.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein said one or more sensors comprises an accelerometer, and wherein said detecting the airplane takeoff event comprises performing spectral frequency analysis on accelerometer data.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the airplane takeoff event is indicated by the accelerometer data if said spectral frequency analysis reveals low frequency, high acceleration peaks.

63. The method of claim 59, wherein said one or more sensors comprises one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a barometer.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein said detecting the airplane takeoff event comprises matching a pattern of sensor data with a data pattern stored in an a priori database of takeoff patterns.