Determination of time zone and DST participation

• US 9,134,427 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2010
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: McIntosh, Andrew Tyler
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Application Number:
  US12/684,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20110163873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,077 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/995.1, 340/905, 340/573.1, 340/527, 368/14, 368/21, 455/503, 455/456.1, 455/433, 455/435.1, 455/404.2, 455/456.6, 701/409, 701/446, 701/455, 701/454
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 5/00 Setting, i.e. correcting or changing, the time-indication radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/06 Decoding time data; Circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• 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 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers

Abstract

A local time zone setting for a device is automatically provided based on a location and a date and time. Location information is obtained for a present location of the device within a geographical area and the date and time. An association is established between the present location and a geopolitical portion of the geographical area, the geopolitical portion including time zone application rules. The local time zone setting is automatically provided based on the time zone application rules, which can include daylight savings time (DST) participation, and the present date and time.

Claims

1. A method for automatically providing a local time zone setting for a device comprising:

obtaining a location estimate of a present location of the device within a geographical area and a present date and time;

identifying a cell of a grid depicting a graphical area comprising the location estimate, wherein the cell is subject to first time zone application rules, wherein in response to determining that the cell is subject to two or more time zones, identifying a first sub-cell, within the cell, comprising the location estimate, the first sub-cell being subject to second time zone application rules; and

automatically providing the local time zone setting and the present date and time at least partially based on;

the first time zone application rules at least partially in response to the determining that the cell is subject to a single time zone, or

the second time zone application rules at least partially in response to the determining that the cell is subject to the two or more time zones.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location estimate is determined from satellite positioning system (SPS) signals, and wherein the date and time include a universal date and time.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the time zone application rules include a daylight savings time (DST) participation in a geopolitical portion.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising updating the time zone application rules at least partially in response to changes to a predetermined geopolitical portion.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying the geographical area and the time zone application rules on a color map.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the automatically providing the local time zone setting includes directly setting a present time zone in the device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the automatically providing the local time zone setting includes providing a recommended local time zone setting.

8. A method for automatically providing a local time zone setting for a device comprising:

obtaining location information for a present location of the device within a geographical area and a present date and time;

establishing an association between the present location and a geopolitical portion of the geographical area, the geopolitical portion including time zone application rules, wherein the establishing the association further includes establishing cells associated with the geographical area at a first resolution such that one of the cells is associated with at least part of the geopolitical portion of the geographical area; and

automatically providing the local time zone setting based on the time zone application rules and the present date and time.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising associating at least some of the cells with the time zone application rules for the geopolitical portion;

mapping the present location of the device to one of the cells based on the location information for the present location; and

automatically providing the local time zone setting based on the time zone application rules and the date and time.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising maintaining a table of the associations between the cells and the time zone application rules and updating the table of the associations when changes occur in the time zone application rules.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the establishing the cells further include further establishing the cells at a second resolution if the one of the cells includes more than one of the geopolitical portion, the cells established at the second resolution such that the present location can be associated with only one of the more than one of the geopolitical portion.

12. An apparatus for automatically providing a local time zone setting for a device, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver in the device, the receiver obtaining a location estimate of a present location of the device within a geographical area and a present date and time;

a processor coupled to the receiver, the processor to;

identify a cell of a grid depicting a graphical area comprising the location estimate, wherein the cell is subject to first time zone application rules, wherein in response to determining that the cell is subject to two or more time zones, identifying a first sub-cell, within the cell, comprising the location estimate, the first sub-cell being subject to second time zone application rules; and

automatically provide the local time zone setting and the present date and time at least partially based on;

the first time zone application rules at least partially in response to the determining that the cell is subject to a single time zone, or

the second time zone application rules at least partially in response to the determining that the cell is subject to the two or more time zones.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a memory coupled to the receiver and the processor, the memory to store a mapping of the time zone application rules for a corresponding plurality of geopolitical portions of the geographical area,

wherein the processor is further configured to update the mapping when changes occur in the time zone application rules.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a display unit coupled to the receiver and the processor, the display unit configured to display a mapping of the plurality of cells, and to display the automatically provided local time zone setting as a proposed time zone setting; and

an input device coupled to the receiver and the processor, the input device accepting an input to confirm the local time zone setting is accepted.

15. An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a display unit coupled to the receiver and the processor, the display unit configured to;

display a mapping of the plurality of cells as a color map; and

display the local time zone setting as a proposed time zone setting; and

an input device coupled to the receiver and the processor, the input device accepting an input to confirm whether the local time zone setting is accepted.

16. An apparatus for automatically providing a local time zone setting for a device, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver in the device, the receiver obtaining location information for a present location of the device within a geographical area and a present date and time;

a processor coupled to the receiver, the processor configured to;

establish an association between the present location and a geopolitical portion of the geographical area, the geopolitical portion including time zone application rules;

map the present location of the device to one of a plurality of cells associated with the geographical area, the one of the plurality of cells associated with the geopolitical portion; and

automatically provide the local time zone setting for the present time zone based on the time zone application rules and the present date and time for the geopolitical portion associated with the one of the plurality of cells and the date and time.

17. An apparatus for automatically providing a local time zone setting for a device, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver in the device, the receiver obtaining location information for a present location of the device within a geographical area and a present date and time;

a processor coupled to the receiver, the processor configured to;

establish an association between the present location and a geopolitical portion of the geographical area, the geopolitical portion including time zone application rules; and

automatically provide the local time zone setting based on the time zone application rules and the present date and time; and

a memory coupled to the receiver and the processor, the memory configured to store a mapping of the plurality of cells and corresponding ones of the time zone application rules for a corresponding plurality of geopolitical portions of the geographical area,

wherein the processor is further configured to update the mapping when new geopolitical portions are added to the geographical area.

18. An apparatus for automatically providing a local time zone setting for a device, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver in the device, the receiver obtaining location information for a present location of the device within a geographical area and a present date and time;

a processor coupled to the receiver, the processor configured to;

establish an association between the present location and a geopolitical portion of the geographical area, the geopolitical portion including time zone application rules; and

automatically provide the local time zone setting based on the time zone application rules and the present date and time;

a display unit coupled to the receiver and the processor, the display unit configured to;

display the mapping of the plurality of cells as a color map; and

display the local time zone setting as a proposed time zone setting; and

an input device coupled to the receiver and the processor, the input device accepting an input to confirm whether the local time zone setting is accepted, wherein, if the local time zone setting is confirmed as accepted, the processor is further configured to automatically provide the local time zone setting for the present time zone by updating the present time zone setting with the local time zone setting.

19. An apparatus for automatically providing a local time zone setting for a device comprising:

means for obtaining a location estimate of a present location of the device within a geographical area and a present date and time;

means for identifying a cell of a grid depicting a graphical area comprising the location estimate, wherein the cell is subject to first time zone application rules, wherein in response to determining that the cell is subject to two or more time zones, identifying a first sub-cell, within the cell, comprising the location estimate, the first sub-cell being subject to second time zone application rules; and

means for automatically providing the local time zone setting and the present date and time at least partially based on;

the first time zone application rules at least partially in response to the determining that the cell is subject to a single time zone, or

the second time zone application rules at least partially in response to the determining that the cell is subject to the two or more time zones.

20. An apparatus for automatically providing a local time zone setting for a device comprising:

means for obtaining location information for a present location of the device within a geographical area and a present date and time;

means for establishing an association between the present location and a geopolitical portion of the geographical area, the geopolitical portion including time zone application rules;

means for automatically providing the local time zone setting based on the time zone application rules and the present date and time;

means for mapping the present location of the device to one of a plurality of cells, the one of the plurality of cells associated with the geographical portion; and

memory means for storing a mapping of the plurality of cells and corresponding ones of the time zone application rules for a corresponding plurality of geopolitical portions of the geographical area.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the memory means is further for updating the stored mapping when changes occur in the time zone application rules.

22. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the memory means is further for updating the stored mapping when new geopolitical portions are added to the geographical area.

23. An apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for displaying the mapping of the plurality of cells and automatically providing the local time zone setting as a proposed time zone setting.

24. An apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for displaying the mapping of the plurality of cells as a color map and automatically providing the local time zone setting.

25. An apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising input means for accepting an input to confirm whether the local time zone setting is accepted.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising means for updating the present time zone setting with the local time zone setting if the local time zone setting is confirmed as accepted.

27. An apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for displaying the mapping of the plurality of cells as a color map and automatically providing the local time zone setting.

28. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions to automatically provide a local time zone setting for a device, the instructions being executable by a computer to:

obtain a location estimate of a present location of the device within a geographical area and a present date and time;

identify a cell of a grid depicting a graphical area comprising the location estimate, wherein the cell is subject to first time zone application rules, wherein in response to determining that the cell is subject to two or more time zones, identifying a first sub-cell, within the cell, comprising the location estimate, the first sub-cell being subject to second time zone application rules; and

automatically the local time zone setting and the present date and time at least partially based on;

the first time zone application rules at least partially in response to the determining that the cell is subject to a single time zone, or

the second time zone application rules at least partially in response to the determining that the cell is subject to the two or more time zones.

29. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions to automatically provide a local time zone setting for a device, the instructions being executable by a computer to:

obtain location information for a present location of the device within a geographical area and a present date and time;

establish an association between the present location and a geopolitical portion of the geographical area, the geopolitical portion including time zone application rules;

automatically provide the local time zone setting based on the time zone application rules and the present date and time; and

map the present location of the device to one of a plurality of cells, the one of the plurality of cells associated with the geographical portion; and

store a mapping of the plurality of cells and corresponding ones of the time zone application rules for a corresponding plurality of geopolitical portions of the geographical area.