Utilizing location-based data to manipulate power states of embedded devices

• US 8,064,924 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Minier, Brian V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro; Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US12/112,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20090131074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 700/79, 716/105, 716/133, 429/210, 428/472, 455/456
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

One or more media is provided for performing a method of utilizing location-based data to manipulate power states of one or more embedded devices on a mobile device. Initially, location-based data from a positioning system (GPS satellite) is received. Generally, the location-based data relates to a global position of the mobile device. The location-based data may then be applied to a set of positional rules, which includes comparing the position-based data against the one or more predefined positional coordinates. Accordingly, the appropriate power level of one or more embedded devices may be determined. Further, if the determination indicates that a present power level of the embedded devices conflicts with the determined appropriate power state, the power state of the conflicting embedded devices is manipulated consistent with the positional rule. As such, this configuration provides for a useful power-management scheme that preserves battery life.

Claims

1. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of utilizing location-based data to manipulate power states of one or more embedded devices, the method comprising:

receiving, at a computing device having a processor and memory, location-based data from a positioning system, the location-based data describing a geographic positioning of a mobile device;

monitoring, at the computing device, a status of a power source that supplies power to the one or more embedded devices;

applying a set of positional rules to the location-based data to determine an appropriate power level of the one or more embedded devices within the mobile device, wherein determining the appropriate power level is based at least in part on the status of the power source, and further wherein the set of positional rules references one or more predefined positional coordinates associated with a power level, and determining whether one or more rules in the set of positional rules was satisfied by the location-based data comprises;

comparing the location-based data against the one or more predefined positional coordinates; and

if the location-based data corresponds with the one or more predefined positional coordinates, indicating that the positional rule is satisfied;

providing for manipulating the power states of the one or more embedded devices based on the determined appropriate power level; and

at least temporarily storing the power states consistent with the manipulation at a mobile device.

2. The media of claim 1, further comprising generating an output upon determining the appropriate power level of the one or more embedded devices within the mobile device, wherein the output triggers the manipulation of the power states of the one or more embedded devices.

3. The media of claim 2, wherein the output comprises:

an identification of the one or more embedded devices; and

an indication of a power state associated with each of the one or more embedded devices.

4. The media of claim 1, wherein the positioning system is a global positioning system (GPS) satellite.

5. The media of claim 4, wherein the location-based data is received at a GPS transceiver on the mobile device.

6. The media of claim 1, wherein the one or more embedded devices comprise at least one of a wireless radio, a wide area network (WAN) radio, a global positioning system (GPS) antenna, or a telecommunications device.

7. A mobile device having one or more components thereon for performing a method for utilizing location-based data to manipulate power states, the method comprising:

receiving location-based data from a positioning system, the location-based data describing a global position of the mobile device;

applying a positional rule to the location-based data, wherein the positional rule maps the global position of the mobile device to one of the power states of an embedded device, and further wherein the positional rule references one or more predefined positional coordinates associated with a power level;

receiving a status of a power supply that supplies power to the embedded device, wherein the status of the power supply is monitored;

determining whether the positional rule is satisfied by the location-based data, wherein determining whether the positional rule was satisfied by the location-based data comprises;

comparing the location-based data against the one or more predefined positional coordinates; and

if the location-based data corresponds with the one or more predefined positional coordinates, indicating that the positional rule is satisfied; and

when the determination indicates that the positional rule is satisfied, then manipulating the power state of the embedded device consistent with the positional rule, wherein manipulating the power state of the embedded device comprises determining an appropriate power level of the embedded device based at least in part on the status of the power supply.

8. The mobile device of claim 7, further comprising alerting a user of the mobile device upon manipulating the power state of the embedded device.

9. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the location-based data is received periodically over a time frame to track a movement of the mobile device.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein a timer object is queried to retrieve timestamps corresponding with the periodically received location-based data.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, further comprising:

calculating a speed-of-travel of the mobile device based on the tracked movement of the mobile device and the timestamps;

determining whether the positional rule is satisfied by the speed-of-travel of the mobile device; and

if the determination indicates that the positional rule was satisfied, manipulating the power state of the embedded device consistent with the positional rule.

12. The mobile device of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a transmission from a short-range wireless broadcasting device;

determining whether the short-range wireless broadcasting device is recognized by utilizing the positional rule; and

if the short-range wireless broadcasting device is recognized, manipulating the power state of the embedded device.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the embedded device is a wide area network (WAN) radio, wherein manipulating the power state of the embedded device comprises decreasing the power state of the WAN radio.

14. A computerized method for utilizing location-based data to manipulate a power state of an embedded device, the method comprising:

receiving, at a computing device having a processor and a memory, location-based data from a global positioning system (GPS) transmitting device, the location-based data relating to a global position of a mobile device;

receiving, at the computing device, a status of a power source that supplies power to the embedded device, wherein the status of the power source is monitored;

applying a set of positional rules to the location-based data, thereby determining an appropriate power level of the embedded device within the mobile device, wherein determining the appropriate power level is based at least in part on the status of the power source, and further wherein the set of positional rules references one or more predefined positional coordinates associated with a power level, and determining whether one or more rules in the set of positional rules was satisfied by the location-based data comprises;

comparing the location-based data against the one or more predefined positional coordinates; and

if the location-based data corresponds with the one or more predefined positional coordinates, indicating that the positional rule is satisfied; and

manipulating the power state of the embedded device based on the determined appropriate power level.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein manipulating the power state of the embedded device comprises increasing a flow of power from a power source to the embedded device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein manipulating the power state of the embedded device comprises alternating the power state of the embedded device between an active mode and a suspended mode.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

applying a set of positional rules to the location-based data, thereby determining whether to close an application running the device; and

providing for closing the application if the determination so indicates.