Method and Apparatus for Device Mode Detection

• US 20150071090A1
• Filed: 09/10/2013
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Detter, Craig J, Mohammed, Ghouse Adoni
• Granted Patent: US 9,942,384 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method on an electronic device is described. A first sensor of the electronic device scans for a first movement indication. A set of second sensors of the electronic device are activated based on the first movement indication. The set of second sensors scan for a respective set of second movement indications. The set of second movement indications are weighted based on a respective set of sensor weight values to obtain a weighted set of second movement indications. The weighted set of second movement indications is combined to determine a device mode of the electronic device. The device mode is updated based on the combination of the weighted set.

Claims

1. A method in an electronic device, the method comprising:

scanning with a first sensor of the electronic device for a first movement indication;

activating a set of second sensors of the electronic device based on the first movement indication;

scanning with the set of second sensors for a respective set of second movement indications;

weighting the set of second movement indications based on a respective set of sensor weight values to obtain a weighted set of second movement indications;

combining the weighted set of second movement indications to determine a device mode of the electronic device;

updating the device mode based on the combination of the weighted set.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first movement indication comprises one of a walking mode indication or a vehicle mode indication;

wherein updating the device mode comprises toggling the device mode between a vehicle mode and a walking mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the set of second sensors comprises:

selecting the set of second sensors based on the first movement indication and the device mode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is a low power consumption sensor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the low power consumption sensor is an accelerometer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the set of second sensors comprises:

activating a GPS sensor;

wherein scanning with the set of second sensors comprises;

scanning with the GPS sensor to determine a speed value for the electronic device;

determining a GPS movement indication of the set of second movement indications based on the speed value.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein weighting the set of second movement indications comprises:

weighting the GPS movement indication based on a GPS confidence level associated with the speed value.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the set of second sensors comprises:

activating a WiFi sensor;

wherein scanning with the set of second sensors comprises;

scanning with the WiFi sensor to determine an access point turnover value;

determining a WiFi movement indication of the set of second movement indications based on the access point turnover value.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the set of second sensors comprises:

activating a location sensor;

wherein scanning with the set of second sensors comprises;

scanning with the location sensor to determine a location of the electronic device;

determining a location movement indication of the set of second movement indications based on the location.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein weighting the set of second sensors comprises:

weighting a second movement indication from a sensor of the set of second sensors with a confidence level associated with the sensor.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein updating the confidence level comprises:

updating the confidence level associated with the sensor based on the device mode of the electronic device and the second movement indication.

12. A method on an electronic device, the method comprising:

scanning with an accelerometer of the electronic device for an accelerometer movement indication;

activating a GPS sensor, a WiFi sensor, and a location sensor of the electronic device if the accelerometer movement indication comprises a vehicle mode indication;

scanning with the GPS sensor, the WiFi sensor, and the location sensor for a GPS movement indication, a WiFi movement indication, and a location movement indication, respectively;

weighting the GPS movement indication, the WiFi movement indication, and the location movement indication based on a GPS weight value, a WiFi weight value, and a location weight value, respectively;

combining the weighted GPS movement indication, the weighted WiFi movement indication, and the weighted location movement indication to determine a device mode of the electronic device;

updating the device mode based on the combination of the weighted GPS movement indication, the weighted WiFi movement indication, and the weighted location movement indication.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

scanning with an audio sensor for an audio movement indication;

weighting the audio movement indication based on an audio weight value;

combining the weighted audio movement indication, the weighted GPS movement indication, the weighted WiFi movement indication, and the weighted location movement indication to determine the device mode.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein scanning with the GPS sensor, the WiFi sensor, and the location sensor comprises:

scanning with the GPS sensor to determine whether a speed value for the electronic device exceeds a speed threshold;

scanning with the WiFi sensor to determine whether an access point turnover value exceeds a turnover threshold;

scanning with the location sensor to determine whether the electronic device is located at a preselected location.

15. An electronic device, the electronic device comprising:

a non-transitory memory;

a processor configured to retrieve instructions from the memory;

an accelerometer, a GPS sensor, a WiFi sensor, and a location sensor;

wherein;

the electronic device is configured to scan with the accelerometer for a first movement indication;

the electronic device is configured to activate a set of second sensors based on the first movement indication, wherein the set of second sensors comprises at least one of the GPS sensor, the WiFi sensor, or the location sensor;

the electronic device is configured to scan with the set of second sensors for a respective set of second movement indications;

the electronic device is configured to weight the set of second movement indications based on a respective set of sensor weight values to obtain a weighted set of second movement indications;

the electronic device is configured to combine the weighted set of second movement indications to determine a device mode of the electronic device; and

the electronic device is configured to update the device mode based on the combination of the weighted set.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the electronic device is configured to select the set of second sensors based on the first movement indication and the device mode.

17. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the electronic device is configured to scan with the GPS sensor to determine a speed value for the electronic device;

wherein the electronic device is configured to determine a GPS movement indication of the set of second movement indications based on the speed value;

wherein the electronic device is configured to weight the GPS movement indication based on a GPS confidence level associated with the speed value.

18. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the electronic device is configured to scan with the WiFi sensor to determine an access point turnover value;

wherein the electronic device is configured to determine a WiFi movement indication of the set of second movement indications based on the access point turnover value.

19. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the electronic device is configured to scan with the location sensor to determine a location of the electronic device;

wherein the electronic device is configured to determine a location movement indication of the set of second movement indications based on the location.

20. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the electronic device is configured to weight a second movement indication from a sensor of the set of second sensors with a confidence level associated with the sensor.