Beacon-based geofencing

• US 8,396,485 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2010
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Grainger, Morgan, Mayor, Robert, Huang, Ronald K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOHLMAN, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US12/942,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20120115512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4566
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0295 Proximity-based methods, e.g. position inferred from reception of particular signals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile device can monitor a current location using a multi-tier approach. A baseband subsystem can monitor a coarse location of the mobile device using various course location parameters, such as a mobile country code (MCC), a location area code (LAC), or a cell identifier (cell ID), as the mobile device moves closer to the geographic region. Upon determining that the mobile device is in a cell that intersects the geographic region, the baseband subsystem can transfer the monitoring to the application subsystem. The task can be performed when the application subsystem determines that the mobile device is currently located in the geographic region. A beacon network can provide more accurate estimates of mobile device location and advertise location based services available to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method performed by a mobile device, comprising:

monitoring a current location of the mobile device using an application subsystem, including causing the application subsystem of the mobile device to receive a first location estimate of the mobile device in a geographic area, the first location estimate having a first accuracy, wherein the application subsystem comprises an application processor;

upon receiving the first location estimate, transferring, by the application subsystem, monitoring the current location from the application subsystem to a baseband subsystem, wherein the baseband subsystem comprises a baseband processor and consumes less power than the application subsystem;

detecting, by the baseband subsystem, a broadcast signal transmitted by a beacon located in the geographic area;

processing, by the baseband subsystem, the broadcast signal to determine a second location estimate of the mobile device in the geographic area that is more accurate than the first location estimate; and

processing the broadcast signal to determine services available to the mobile device in the geographic area.

2. The method of claim 1, where the beacon is a short range radio frequency beacon.

3. The method of claim 1, where processing the broadcast signal to determine services further comprises:

receiving a web address for communicating with a web site providing or advertising the services for the geographic area.

4. The method of claim 1, where the first location estimate is determined using two or more radio frequency signals transmitted from two or more radio frequency transmitters.

5. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors and configured to store instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

monitoring a current location of a mobile device using an application subsystem, including causing the application subsystem of the mobile device to receive a first location estimate of the mobile device in a geographic area, the first location estimate having a first accuracy;

upon receiving the first location estimate, transferring, by the application subsystem, monitoring the current location from the application subsystem to a baseband subsystem, wherein the baseband subsystem consumes less power than the application subsystem

detecting, by the baseband subsystem, a broadcast signal transmitted by a beacon located in the geographic area;

processing, by the baseband subsystem, the broadcast signal to determine a second location estimate of the mobile device in the geographic area that is more accurate than the first location estimate; and

processing the broadcast signal to determine services available to the mobile device in the geographic area.

6. The system of claim 5, where the beacon is a short range radio frequency beacon.

7. The system of claim 5, where the one or more processors perform an operation comprising:

receiving a web address for communicating with a web site providing or advertising the services for the geographic area.

8. The system of claim 5, where the one or more processors perform an operation comprising:

determining the first location estimate using two or more radio frequency signals transmitted from two or more radio frequency transmitters.

9. A non-transitory storage device storing computer instructions, which, when executed when executed by one or more processors, cause one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

monitoring a current location of a mobile device using an application subsystem, including causing the application subsystem of the mobile device to receive a first location estimate of the mobile device in a geographic area, the first location estimate having a first accuracy;

upon receiving the first location estimate, transferring, by the application subsystem, monitoring the current location from the application subsystem to a baseband subsystem, wherein the baseband subsystem consumes less power than the application subsystem;

detecting, by the baseband subsystem, a broadcast signal transmitted by a beacon located in the geographic area;

processing, by the baseband subsystem, the broadcast signal to determine a second location estimate of the mobile device in the geographic area that is more accurate than the first location estimate; and

processing the broadcast signal to determine services available to the mobile device in the geographic area.

10. The storage device of claim 9, where the beacon is a short range radio frequency beacon.

11. The storage device of claim 9, where processing the broadcast signal to determine services further comprises:

receiving a web address for communicating with a web site providing or advertising the services for the geographic area.

12. The storage device of claim 9, where the first location estimate is determined using two or more radio frequency signals transmitted from two or more radio frequency transmitters.