Cooperative power savings among mobile computing devices

• US 9,282,516 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2014
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Swaminathan, Arvind, Sen, Anandamoy
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Application Number:
  US14/321,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20160007287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/417, 455/418, 455/419, 455/421, 455/426.2, 455/444, 455/552.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a technique for enabling mobile computing devices to share observation information using low-energy communication protocols. This observation information can include network connectivity information and GPS location information that is either known to or being sought out by a mobile computing device. When observation information (if any) maintained by a mobile computing device does not satisfy a threshold level of confidence, the mobile computing device can query neighboring mobile computing devices for corresponding observation information that satisfies the threshold level of confidence. Conversely, the mobile computing device can be configured to advertise observation information to the neighboring mobile computing devices when the observation information satisfies the threshold level of confidence. In this manner, the mobile computing devices can collaboratively share information in an attempt to reduce the significant workload that is otherwise required when working in isolation to establish network connectivity and determine GPS location information.

Claims

1. A method for collaborating with a plurality of nearby computing devices to identify an approach for establishing a type of connectivity, comprising:

at a mobile computing device, and in response to receiving a request to establish the type of connectivity;

transmitting, to the plurality of nearby computing devices, a request for observation information associated with the type of connectivity;

receiving, from at least one nearby computing device of the plurality of nearby computing devices, a response that includes observation information associated with the type of connectivity, wherein the observation information comprises a confidence level and parameters that can be utilized to establish the type of connectivity; and

based on a determination that the confidence level satisfies a threshold;

establishing the type of connectivity based on the parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, when two or more responses are received that include observation information associated with the type of connectivity, the method further comprises:

comparing the observation information included in each response of the two or more responses to identify an optimal manner by which to establish the type of connectivity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for observation information is transmitted when observation information associated with the type of connectivity is not possessed by the mobile computing device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the response is passively received at the mobile computing device independently from the transmitted request.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the request and the response is transmitted using a low-energy communication protocol.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the low-energy communication protocol is implemented using Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) or Near Field Communication (NFC).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of connectivity comprises a WIFI connection, a cellular network registration connection, a cellular uplink transmission, or a Global Positioning System (GPS) connection.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, when the type of connectivity comprises a Global Positioning System connection, the approach for establishing the type of connectivity involves utilizing the observation information to identify a GPS location in lieu of attempting to obtain a GPS satellite fix.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one nearby computing device provides the response when an activity level at the at least one nearby computing device satisfies a threshold level of activity.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one nearby computing device receives observation information from other nearby computing devices over at least one hop.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one nearby computing device provides the response upon identifying that the at least one nearby computing device satisfies a particular software capability threshold or hardware capability threshold, and periodically provides subsequent responses until a particular exit event occurs.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising, subsequent to carrying out the approach for establishing the type of connectivity:

storing the observation information; and

periodically advertising the observation information to the plurality of nearby computing devices.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by a processor included in a mobile computing device, cause the mobile computing device to collaborate with a plurality of nearby computing devices to identify an approach for establishing a type of connectivity, by carrying out steps that include:

in response to receiving a request to establish the type of connectivity;

identifying that observation information associated with the type of connectivity is not known to the mobile computing device;

listening for at least one advertisement transmitted by a nearby computing device, wherein the at least one advertisement comprises observation information that is associated with the type of connectivity, and includes a confidence level and parameters that can be utilized to establish the type of connectivity; and

upon determining that the confidence level satisfies a threshold;

establishing the type of connectivity based on the parameters.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the request is generated by an application or a kernel executing on the mobile computing device.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the at least one advertisement is transmitted using a low-energy communication protocol.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the low-energy communication protocol is implemented using Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) or Near Field Communication (NFC).

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the type of connectivity comprises a WIFI connection, a cellular network registration connection, a cellular uplink transmission, or a Global Positioning System connection.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising, subsequent to carrying out the approach for establishing the type of connectivity:

storing the observation information; and

periodically advertising the observation information to other nearby computing devices.

19. A mobile device, comprising:

a processor;

at least one low-energy wireless interface;

at least one high-energy wireless interface; and

a memory configured to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the mobile device to carry out steps that include;

identifying a request to establish a connection using the at least one high-energy wireless interface;

using the at least one low-energy wireless interface;

querying nearby mobile computing devices for observation information that is associated with the connection, and

receiving, from at least one of the nearby mobile computing devices, observation information that is associated with the connection, wherein the observation information includes a confidence level and parameters that can be utilized to establish the connection; and

upon determining that the confidence level satisfies a threshold, using the at least one high-energy wireless interface to establish the connection based on the parameters.

20. The mobile device of claim 19, wherein the at least one low-energy wireless interface is configured to implement Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) or Near Field Communication (NFC).

21. The mobile device of claim 19, wherein the connection comprises a WIFI connection, a cellular network.