DETECTING DOCKING STATUS OF A PORTABLE DEVICE USING MOTION SENSOR DATA

• US 20110141006A1
• Filed: 12/15/2009
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rabu, Stanley
• Granted Patent: US 8,682,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/39 the satellite radio beacon positioning system transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/52 Determining velocity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

Methods for operating a portable media device are provided. The method includes determining an orientation angle of the portable media device and a frequency spectrum associated with a motion of the portable media player. Based on the orientation angle and the frequency spectrum, the portable media player can determine a motion status and select a mode of operation based on the motion status. In addition, the method also includes determining whether the portable media player is in a dock, resting on a surface, or being handled by a person. The method further includes determining whether the portable media player is located in a moving vehicle, in a stationary vehicle, being held by a moving person, or being held by a stationary person.

Claims

1. A method for operating a portable media device, the method comprising, by the portable media device:

determining a holder status for the portable media device based on readings from one or more motion sensors disposed within the portable media device;

determining holder motion status;

selecting a mode of operation for the portable media device based at least in part on the holder status and the holder motion status; and

operating the portable media device in the selected mode of operation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the holder status includes determining whether the portable media device is docked, whether the portable device is resting on a surface, or whether the portable media device is being handheld by a user.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the holder status includes determining an orientation angle of the portable media device and comparing the determined orientation angle with one or more stored orientation angles associated with one or more holder statuses.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the one or more stored orientation angles associated with the one or more holder statuses include a first orientation angle associated with the portable media device being docked and a second orientation angle associated with the portable media device resting on a surface.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising;

determining whether the orientation angle fluctuates between two or more values within a given period of time; and

concluding that the portable media device is handled by a user if the orientation angle fluctuates between the two or more values in the given period of time.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the period of time is between 1 minute and 5 minutes.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the holder motion status includes:

determining a frequency spectrum based on readings from the one or more motion sensors; and

comparing the determined frequency spectrum to one or more reference frequency spectra associated with known types of motion.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the one or more reference frequency include a first frequency spectrum corresponding to a stationary vehicle, a second frequency spectrum corresponding to a moving vehicle, a third frequency spectrum corresponding to a moving person, and a fourth frequency spectrum corresponding to a stationary person.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the third frequency spectrum corresponding to a moving person includes information about whether the person is walking, jogging, or running.

10. A computer-readable storage medium storing a plurality of instructions, that when executed by a processor in a portable media device having an accelerometer and a gyroscope, cause the processor to perform a method for operating the portable media device, the method comprising:

determining a current motion status of the portable media device, wherein determining the current motion status includes;

determining a holder status of portable media device, the holder status including information about whether the portable media player is docked, whether the portable media player is resting on a surface, or whether the portable media player is being held by a person; and

determining a holder motion status of the portable media device, the holder motion status including information about whether the portable media device is located in a moving vehicle, whether the portable media device is located in a stationary vehicle, whether the portable media device is being held by a moving person, or whether the portable media device is being held by a stationary person;

selecting a mode of operation based on the current motion status of the portable media device; and

operating the portable media device in the selected mode.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein determining the holder status includes:

determining an orientation angle of the portable media player based on readings from the gyroscope and the accelerometer; and

comparing the determined orientation angle with one or more stored orientation angles corresponding to a docked position, a resting position, and a handheld position of the portable media device.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein determining the holder motion status includes determining a frequency spectrum associated with the portable media device motion and comparing the determined frequency spectrum with frequency spectra associated with a moving vehicle, a stationary vehicle, a moving person, and a stationary person.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein determining the holder motion status includes using a global positioning system (GPS) signal.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein the vehicle includes an automobile, a motorcycle, and a bicycle.

15. A portable media device comprising:

an accelerometer;

a gyroscope;

a memory device; and

a processor coupled to the memory device, the accelerometer, and the gyroscope, wherein the processor is configured to;

determine whether the portable media device is docked, resting on a surface, or being handled by a person based on readings from the accelerometer and the gyroscope;

determine whether the portable media device is in a moving vehicle, in a stationary vehicle, being held by a moving person, or being held by a person who is stationary based on readings from the accelerometer and the gyroscope;

select a mode of operation for the portable media device based on the determination about whether the portable media device is docked, resting on a surface or being handled by a person and the determination about whether the portable media device is in a moving vehicle, in a stationary vehicle, being held by a moving person, or being held by a person who is stationary; and

operate the portable media device in the selected mode.

16. The portable media device of claim 15 further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) device;

and

wherein the processor is further configured to receive a signal from the GPS device and use the signal from the GPS device to determine whether the portable media device is in a moving vehicle, in a stationary vehicle, being held by a moving person, or being held by a person who is stationary.

17. The portable media device of claim 15 wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the portable media device is docked, resting on a surface, or being handled by a person by determining an orientation angle of the portable media device based on information received from the gyroscope and comparing the determined orientation angle to one or more known orientation angles associated with one or more holder statuses.

18. The portable media device of claim 15 wherein the processor determines whether the portable media device is in a moving vehicle, in a stationary vehicle, being held by a moving person, or being held by a person who is stationary, by receiving frequency spectrum information of a current motion of the portable media device from the accelerometer and gyroscope and comparing the frequency spectrum information of the current motion of the portable media device to one or more frequency spectra corresponding to a moving vehicle, a stationary vehicle, a moving person, and a stationary person.

19. The portable media device of claim 15 wherein the processor is further configured to communicate information about the selected mode to an application resident on the portable media device.

20. A method for controlling an application resident on a portable media device, the method comprising, by the portable media device:

determining current motion status of the portable media device, the current motion status being determined based on information received from an accelerometer and a gyroscope included in the portable media device;

selecting a mode for the portable media device based at least in part on the current motion status;

communicating the selected mode to an application resident on the portable media device; and

operating the application according to the selected mode.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the application is a navigation application.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein determining the current motion status of the portable media device includes:

determining an orientation angle of the portable media device;

determining a frequency spectrum associated with a motion of the portable media device;

determining whether the portable media device is docked, resting on a surface, or being held by a person based at least in part on the orientation angle; and

determining whether the portable media device is in a moving vehicle, in a stationary vehicle, being held by a moving person, or being held by a stationary person, based at least in part on the frequency spectrum.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein operating the application according to the selected mode includes setting operation parameters of the application based on the selected mode.