Sensor auto-calibration

• US 9,581,466 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2012
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Ahuja, Disha, Kulik, Victor, Puig, Carlos M., Desai, Ashish Nagesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Paul D
• Application Number:
  US13/673,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20130124126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 702/85
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 25/00 Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices referred to in the other groups of this subclass testing, calibrating or compensating compasses G01C17/38
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 25/005 initial alignment, calibration or starting-up of inertial devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 15/00 Testing or calibrating of thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 21/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus or devices covered by the preceding groups
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus covered by the other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/329 by task scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/00 Digital computers in general details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00; Data processing equipment in general
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to computing technologies. In particular, aspects of the disclosure relate to mobile computing device technologies, such as systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for scheduling an execution of a task, such as a non-real time, non-latency sensitive background task on a computing device. In one implementation, the technique includes detecting a first state of a device, wherein the first state of the device is associated with a first power level and a first task, wherein the first power level is at least partially based on power consumption of a first task, determining that the first power level associated with the first state is above a threshold, and in response to determining that the first power level associated with the first state is above the threshold, and scheduling an execution of a second task on the device, wherein the second task is associated with automatically collecting of calibration data using at least one sensor.

Claims

1. A method for scheduling an execution of a task on a device, the method comprising:

detecting a first state of the device, wherein the first state of the device is associated with a first power level, and wherein the first power level is at least partially based on power consumption of a first task;

determining that the first power level associated with the first state is above a threshold or that a battery coupled to the device is charging;

in response to determining that the first power level associated with the first state is above the threshold or that the battery coupled to the device is charging;

scheduling an execution of a second task on the device, wherein the second task is associated with automatically collecting of calibration data using at least one sensor; and

delaying a transition of the device to a second power level until the second task is executed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the first power level associated with the first state is above the threshold comprises determining that the first state is one of a plurality of states associated with a power level above the threshold.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of states associated with the power level above the threshold comprises having one or more of a display of the device turned on, an application processor performing activity, emailing, texting, receiving or placing a call, communicating using the device or browsing internet on the device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second task on the device is a non-latency sensitive task.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second task on the device is executed as a background task.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sensor measurements from the at least one sensor are obtained from a passive calibration action.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein sensor measurements from the at least one sensor are obtained without prompting a user to execute a calibration routine and without prompting a user to place the device in a calibration position.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a magnetometer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically collecting calibration data comprises monitoring the device for one or more orientations associated with high quality calibration data at a plurality of orientations for a first period of time, and in response to detecting the device is in one of the orientations associated with high quality calibration data, collecting calibration data for a second period of time.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein collecting calibration data at the orientation associated with high quality calibration data further comprises determining that the device is stationary or substantially stationary at the orientation.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein sensor measurements are collected while the device is at the first power level for determining if the device has transitioned to an orientation associated with high quality calibration data for collecting calibration data using the at least one sensor for a second period of time, wherein the scheduling is based at least in part on the determining if the device has transitioned.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to determining that the first power level associated with the first state is above the threshold or that the battery coupled to the device is charging:

anticipating a transition to a second state of the device based on the first state of the device, wherein the second state is associated with high quality data, and wherein calibration data is collected during the second state;

delaying the transition of the device to the second power level for a first period of time in anticipation of the transition to the second state of the device;

detecting the transition of the device to the second state within the first period of time,

delaying the transition of the device to the second power level for a second period of time, in response to detecting the transition of the device to the second state within the first period of time; and

scheduling the automatic collection of the calibration data during the second period of time.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining insufficiency in the collected calibration data; and

in response to determining insufficiency in the collected calibration data, activating random scheduling of the second task on the device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the insufficiency in the collected calibration data is determined based on a lack of scheduling of the second task for a first period of time.

15. A device for scheduling an execution of a task, comprising a scheduling module configured to:

detect a first state of the device, wherein the first state of the device is associated with a first power level, wherein the first power level is at least partially based on power consumption of a first task;

determine that the first power level associated with the first state is above a threshold or that a battery coupled to the device is charging;

schedule an execution of a second task on the device and delay a transition of the device to a second power level until the second task is executed, in response to determining that the first power level associated with the first state is above the threshold or that the battery coupled to the device is charging, wherein the second task is associated with automatically collecting of calibration data using at least one sensor.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein determining that the first power level associated with the first state is above the threshold comprises determining, by the scheduling module, that the first state is one of a plurality of states associated with a power level above the threshold.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the plurality of states associated with the power level above the threshold comprises having one or more of a display of the device turned on, an application processor performing activity, emailing, texting, receiving or placing a call, communicating using the device or browsing internet on the device.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the second task on the device is a non-latency sensitive task.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the second task on the device is executed as a background task.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein sensor measurements from the at least one sensor are obtained from a passive calibration action.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein sensor measurements from the at least one sensor are obtained without prompting a user to execute a calibration routine and without prompting a user to place the device in a calibration position.

22. The device of claim 15, wherein the at least one sensor is one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a magnetometer.

23. The device of claim 15, wherein automatically collecting calibration data comprises monitoring the device for one or more orientations associated with high quality calibration data at a plurality of orientations for a first period of time, and in response to detecting the device is in one of the orientations associated with high quality calibration data by the scheduling module, collecting calibration data for a second period of time.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein collecting calibration data at the orientation associated with high quality calibration data comprises having the scheduling module further configured to determine that the device is stationary or substantially stationary at the orientation.

25. The device of claim 15, wherein sensor measurements are collected while the device is at the first power level for determining, by the scheduling module, if the device has transitioned to an orientation associated with high quality calibration data for collecting calibration data using the at least one sensor for a second period of time, wherein the scheduling is based at least in part on the determining if the device has transitioned.

26. The device of claim 15, further comprising, in response to determining that the first power level associated with the first state is above the threshold or that the battery coupled to the device is charging, having the scheduling module configured to:

anticipate a transition to a second state of the device based on the first state of the device, wherein the second state is associated with high quality data, and wherein calibration data is collected during the second state;

delay the transition of the device to the second power level for a first period of time in anticipation of the transition to the second state of the device;

detect the transition of the device to the second state within the first period of time,

delay the transition of the device to the second power level for a second period of time, in response to detecting the transition of the device to the second state within the first period of time; and

schedule the automatic collection of the calibration data during the second period of time.

27. The device of claim 15, wherein the scheduling module is further configured to:

determine insufficiency in the collected calibration data; and

activate random scheduling of the second task on the device in response to determining insufficiency in the collected calibration data.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the insufficiency in the collected calibration data is determined based on a lack of scheduling of the second task for a first period of time.

29. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, wherein the non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprises instructions executable by a processor, the instructions comprising instructions to:

detect a first state of a device, wherein the first state of the device is associated with a first power level, wherein the first power level is at least partially based on power consumption of a first task;

determine that the first power level associated with the first state is above a threshold or that a battery coupled to the device is charging;

schedule an execution of a second task on the device and delay a transition of the device to a second power level until the second task is executed, in response to determining that the first power level associated with the first state is above the threshold or that the battery coupled to the device is charging, wherein the second task is associated with automatically collecting of calibration data using at least one sensor.

30. An apparatus, comprising:

means for detecting a first state of a device, wherein the first state of the device is associated with a first power level, wherein the first power level is at least partially based on power consumption of a first task;

means for determining that the first power level associated with the first state is above a threshold or that a battery coupled to the device is charging; and

in response to determining that the first power level associated with the first state is above the threshold or that the battery coupled to the device is charging;

means for scheduling an execution of a second task on the device, wherein the second task is associated with automatically collecting of calibration data using at least one sensor; and

means for delaying a transition of the device to a second power level until the second task is executed.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein determining that the first power level associated with the first state is above the threshold comprises means for determining that the first state is one of a plurality of states associated with a power level above the threshold.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the plurality of states associated with the power level above the threshold comprises having one or more of a display of the device turned on, an application processor performing activity, emailing, texting, receiving or placing a call, communicating using the device or browsing internet on the device.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the second task on the device is a non-latency sensitive background task.

34. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein sensor measurements from the at least one sensor are obtained from a passive calibration action, wherein sensor measurements from the at least one sensor are obtained without prompting a user to execute a calibration routine and without prompting a user to place the device in a calibration position.

35. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the at least one sensor is one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a magnetometer.

36. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein automatically collecting calibration data comprises means for monitoring the device for one or more orientations associated with high quality calibration data at a plurality of orientations for a first period of time, and in response to detecting the device is in one of the orientations associated with high quality calibration data, means for collecting calibration data for a second period of time.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein collecting calibration data at the orientation associated with high quality calibration data further comprises means for determining that the device is stationary or substantially stationary at the orientation.

38. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein sensor measurements are collected while the device is at the first power level for determining if the device has transitioned to an orientation associated with high quality calibration data for collecting calibration data using the at least one sensor for a second period of time, wherein the scheduling is based at least in part on the determining if the device has transitioned.

39. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising, in response to determining that the first power level associated with the first state is above the threshold or that the battery coupled to the device is charging:

means for anticipating a transition to a second state of the device based on the first state of the device, wherein the second state is associated with high quality data, and wherein calibration data is collected during the second state;

means for delaying the transition of the device to the second power level for a first period of time in anticipation of the transition to the second state of the device;

means for detecting the transition of the device to the second state within the first period of time,

means for delaying the transition of the device to the second power level for a second period of time, in response to detecting the transition of the device to the second state within the first period of time; and

means for scheduling the automatic collection of the calibration data during the second period of time.

40. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising:

means for determining insufficiency in the collected calibration data; and

in response to determining insufficiency in the collected calibration data, means for activating random scheduling of the second task on the device.