GPS power savings using low power sensors
First Claim
1. A method of reducing power consumption in a mobile device having a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver, the method comprising:
- detecting the availability of positioning signals with the SPS receiver;
determining a power source of the mobile device and when the power source is an external power source;
processing the positioning signals to determine a position of the mobile device, the processing comprising;
updating the position of the mobile device at a first frequency when a current position of the mobile device is over a predetermined distance from a previously determined position; and
updating the position of the mobile device at a second frequency that is less than the first frequency when the current position of the mobile device is less than the predetermined distance from the previously determined position; and
when the power source is a battery included as part of the mobile device;
suspending processing of the positioning signals in response to a power saving event when the positioning signals are detected as being available;
updating the position of the mobile device based upon data from at least one sensor while processing of the positioning signals is suspended; and
resuming processing of the positioning signals following the power saving event.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A position location system, apparatus, and method are disclosed. A wireless device includes a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver and position location processor. The SPS receiver detects the availability of positioning signals and the position location processor determines an initial position of the wireless device based upon the positioning signals. A controller generates power saving events when the positioning signals are detected as being available. The controller determines the timing and duration of the power saving events. During a power saving event, the SPS receiver is deactivated and/or processing of the positioning signals is suspended to reduce power consumption of the wireless device. The initial position is updated based upon relative positioning information from one or more sensors during the power saving event. The controller activates the SPS receiver and resumes processing of the positioning signals following the power saving event.
51 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method of reducing power consumption in a mobile device having a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver, the method comprising:
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detecting the availability of positioning signals with the SPS receiver; determining a power source of the mobile device and when the power source is an external power source; processing the positioning signals to determine a position of the mobile device, the processing comprising; updating the position of the mobile device at a first frequency when a current position of the mobile device is over a predetermined distance from a previously determined position; and updating the position of the mobile device at a second frequency that is less than the first frequency when the current position of the mobile device is less than the predetermined distance from the previously determined position; and when the power source is a battery included as part of the mobile device; suspending processing of the positioning signals in response to a power saving event when the positioning signals are detected as being available; updating the position of the mobile device based upon data from at least one sensor while processing of the positioning signals is suspended; and resuming processing of the positioning signals following the power saving event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A wireless device, comprising:
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a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver configured to detect an availability of one or more positioning signals; one or more sensors configured to generate data for determining a relative change in a position of the wireless device and to determine a power source of the wireless device; a position location processor coupled to the SPS receiver and to the one or more sensors and configured to determine a current position of the wireless device using the positioning signals, the position location processor being further configured to; respond to the wireless device being powered by an external power source and the positioning signals being available by processing the positioning signals to determine a position of the mobile device, the processing comprising updating the position of the wireless device at a first frequency when a current position of the wireless device is over a predetermined distance from a previously determined position, and updating the position of the wireless device at a second frequency that is less than the first frequency when the current position of the wireless device is less than the predetermined distance from the previously determined position; and a controller configured to deactivate the SPS receiver when the power source is a battery included as part of the wireless device and the positioning signals are detected as being available and to cause position location processor to update the position of the wireless device based upon the data from the one or more sensors while the SPS receiver is deactivated, the controller being further configured to reactivate the SPS receiver and to cause the position location processor to determine a current position of the wireless device following a sleep interval. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of reducing power consumption in a wireless device having a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver, the method comprising:
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detecting an availability of positioning signals with the SPS receiver; determining a power source of the wireless device; determining a current position of the wireless device based upon the positioning signals, the determining of the current position comprising; when the power source is an external power source, processing the detected positioning signals by; updating a position of the mobile device at a first frequency when the current position of the mobile device is over a predetermined distance from a previously determined position; and updating the position of the mobile device at a second frequency that is less than the first frequency when the current position of the mobile device is less than a predetermined distance from the previously determined position; and when the power source is a battery included as part of the mobile device, deactivating the SPS receiver; while the SPS receiver is deactivated, adjusting the current position based upon data from at least one analog sensor to obtain an updated position; and estimating a cumulative positioning error based upon the updated position; and activating the SPS receiver when the estimated cumulative positioning error of the updated position exceeds a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A wireless device comprising:
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means for determining a power source of the wireless device; means for detecting an availability of positioning signals with the SPS receiver; means for processing the positioning signals to determine a position of the wireless device in response to the wireless device being powered by an external power source, comprising; means for updating the position of the wireless device at a first frequency when a current position of the wireless device is over a predetermined distance from a previously determined position; and means for updating the position of the wireless device at a second frequency that is less than the first frequency when the current position of the wireless device is less than the predetermined distance from the previously determined position; and means for processing the positioning signals to determine a position of the wireless device in response to the wireless device being powered by a battery included as part of the wireless device, comprising; means for suspending processing of the positioning signals in response to a power saving event when the positioning signals are detected as being available; means for updating the position of the mobile device based upon data from at least one sensor while processing of the positioning signals is suspended; and means for resuming processing of the positioning signals following the power saving event. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
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43. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for determining the position of a wireless device, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform steps of:
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detecting an availability of one or more positioning signals; determining a power source of the wireless device; responding to the wireless device being powered by an external power source by determining a current position of the wireless device based upon the positioning signals by; updating the position of the mobile device at a first frequency when a current position of the mobile device is over a predetermined distance from a previously determined position; and updating the position of the mobile device at a second frequency that is less than the first frequency when the current position of the mobile device is less than the predetermined distance from the previously determined position; and responding to the wireless device being powered by a battery included as part of the wireless device by; determining a timing and duration of a power saving event; deactivating an SPS receiver and suspending processing of the positioning signals in response to the power saving event if the positioning signals are detected as being available and the current position is obtained; obtaining sensor data representative of a relative change in the position of the wireless device; updating the position of the wireless device based upon the sensor data during the power saving event; and activating the SPS receiver and resuming processing of the positioning signals after the power saving event.
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Specification