System and method for determining mobile device location

• US 8,229,421 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2010
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith Micro Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wavemarket Incorporated (Gen Digital Inc.)
• Inventors: Hotes, Scott, Polito, Anthony, Roumeliotis, Tasos
• Primary Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US12/813,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20110230201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.11, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/556.1, 455/432, 370/328, 370/331, 370/338, 343/767
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02213 Receivers arranged in a network for determining the position of a transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer

Abstract

A computer-implemented mobile device locating method is provided. The method includes determining a current cell sector of a mobile device and comparing the current cell sector with a cell sector list of previously determined cell sectors. A current location of the mobile device is determined if the current cell sector is not listed in the cell sector list. The current location is compared with a last determined location. The current cell sector is added to the cell sector list if the current location is substantially the same as the last determined location. The cell sector list is cleared if the current location is not substantially the same as the last determined location.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented mobile device locating method comprising:

determining a current location of a mobile device at a first predetermined frequency;

comparing the current location with at least one prior determined location to detect a location change;

determining the current location at a second predetermined frequency greater than the first predetermined frequency for a predetermined period of time in response to the location change; and

determining the current location at the first predetermined frequency after the expiration of the predetermined period of time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a distance between the current location and the at least one prior determined location;

setting a value of the second predetermined frequency based on the distance between the current location and the at least one prior determined location, wherein a greater distance corresponds to a greater second predetermined frequency.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising during the predetermined period of time resetting the value of second predetermined frequency based on a change in the distance between the current location and the at least one prior determined location, wherein a greater distance corresponds to a greater second predetermined frequency.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising during the predetermined period of time, extending the predetermined period of time based on another location change.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an external action; and

determining the current location at a second predetermined frequency greater than the first predetermined frequency for a predetermined period of time in response to the external action.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one prior determined location comprises a last determined location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one prior determined location comprises a plurality of last determined locations.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the current location at a third predetermined frequency greater than the first predetermined frequency for a predetermined period of time in response to a current time being substantially equal to at least one prior day'"'"'s time corresponding to a location change.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the current location at the second predetermined frequency for the predetermined period of time in response to detection of a cell sector change of the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the current location at the second predetermined frequency for the predetermined period of time in response to at least one of a detection of a change in a source of signals corresponding to a predetermined protocol received by the mobile device and detection of a change in a strength of signals corresponding to a predetermined protocol received by the mobile device.

11. A computer-implemented mobile device locating method comprising:

determining a current location of a mobile device at a first predetermined frequency;

detecting an external action;

determining the current location at a second predetermined frequency greater than the first predetermined frequency for a predetermined period of time in response to the external action; and

determining the current location at the first predetermined frequency after the expiration of the predetermined period of time.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising during the predetermined period of time, extending the predetermined period of time based on another external action.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting the external action comprises receiving an indication from a light sensor of a change in a level of incident radiation on the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting the external action comprises receiving an indication from a motion detector of at least one of an acceleration and a movement of the mobile device.

15. A computer-implemented mobile device locating method comprising:

determining a current location of a mobile device at a first predetermined frequency for a plurality of days;

determining the current location at a second predetermined frequency greater than the first predetermined frequency for a predetermined period of time in response to a current time corresponding to at least one prior day'"'"'s time corresponding to a location change; and

determining the current location at the first predetermined frequency after the expiration of the predetermined period of time.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the current time corresponds to the at least one prior day'"'"'s time responsive to at least one of:

the current time being substantially equal to the at least one prior day'"'"'s time;

the current time being a predetermined length of time prior to the at least one prior day'"'"'s time;

the current time being substantially equal to a predetermined range of time including the at least one prior day'"'"'s time; and

the current time being a predetermined length of time prior to a predetermined range of time including the at least one prior day'"'"'s time.

17. A computer-implemented mobile device locating method comprising:

receiving from at least one of a user and an application at least one of an indication of a time period and an indication of a location;

determining a current location of a mobile device at a first predetermined frequency;

determining the current location at a second predetermined frequency greater than the first predetermined frequency for a predetermined period of time in response to at least one of the current time corresponding to the indication of the time period and the current location corresponding to the indication of the location; and

determining the current location at the first predetermined frequency after the expiration of the predetermined period of time.

18. A mobile device comprising at least one computing device including at least one memory comprising instructions operable to enable the computing device to perform a procedure comprising:

determining a current location of a mobile device at a first predetermined frequency;

comparing the current location with a prior determined location to detect a location change;

determining the current location at a second predetermined frequency greater than the first predetermined frequency for a predetermined period of time in response to the location change;

determining the current location at the first predetermined frequency after the expiration of the predetermined period of time.