METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION OF A USER EQUIPMENT

• US 20100324819A1
• Filed: 06/22/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Niska, Petri Otto Kalevi, Nurminen, Jukka Kalevi
• Granted Patent: US 8,812,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence

Abstract

An approach is provided for energy-efficient location tracking. An energy saving module obtains measured location data of the user equipment, and determines a function to forecast locations of the user equipment based on the measured location data to output forecast location data. The energy saving module further receives movement data from a sensor of the user equipment, and converts the movement data to converted location data. The energy saving module then compares the forecast location data with the converted location data for a deviation, and then it either initiates reporting of the deviation when the deviation exceeds a predetermined range, or disables the reporting of the deviation when the deviation is within the predetermined range.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining measured location data of a user equipment;

determining a function to forecast location of the user equipment based on the measured location data to output forecast location data;

receiving movement data from a sensor of the user equipment;

converting the movement data to converted location data;

comparing the forecast location data with the converted location data for a deviation;

initiating reporting of the deviation when the deviation exceeds a predetermined range; and

disabling the reporting of the deviation when the deviation is within the predetermined range.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the function is a spline or a historical route.

3. A method of claim 2, wherein the spline is interpolated by the user equipment or a platform configured to communicate with the user equipment over a radio network.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the disabling step comprises disabling reporting a present location of the user equipment.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the measured location data are measured with a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, and the sensor is an acceleration sensor.

6. A method of claim 5, wherein the disabling step comprises disabling the GPS receiver.

7. A method of claim 1, wherein altitude or road/path data is used to adjust the forecast location data, and

an elevation sensor and a compass are used to determine altitude and direction changes.

19. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the measured location data are measured with a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, and the sensor is an acceleration sensor.

20. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

disable the GPS receiver.

8. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

obtain measured location data of a user equipment,

determine a function to forecast location of the user equipment based on the measured location data to output forecast location data,

receive movement data from a sensor of the user equipment,

convert the movement data to converted location data,

compare the forecast location data with the converted location data for a deviation,

initiate reporting of the deviation when the deviation exceeds a predetermined range, and

disable the reporting of the deviation when the deviation is within the predetermined range.

9. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the function is a spline or a historical route.

10. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the spline is interpolated by the user equipment or a platform configured to communicate with the user equipment over a radio network.

11. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to disable reporting a present location of the user equipment.

12. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the measured location data are measured with a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, and the sensor is an energy conserving acceleration sensor.

13. An apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to disable the GPS receiver.

14. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein altitude or road/path data is used to adjust the forecast location data, and

an elevation sensor and a compass are used to determine altitude and direction changes.

15. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to perform at least the following:

obtaining measured location data of a user equipment;

determining a function to forecast locations of the user equipment based on the measured location data to output forecast location data;

receiving movement data from a sensor of the user equipment;

converting the movement data to converted location data;

comparing the forecast location data with the converted location data for a deviation;

initiating reporting of the deviation when the deviation exceeds a predetermined range; and

disabling the reporting of the deviation when the deviation is within the predetermined range.

16. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the function is a spline or a historical route.

17. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the spline is interpolated by the user equipment or a platform configured to communicate with the user equipment over a radio network.

18. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

disabling reporting a present location of the user equipment.