Method and apparatus for power saving scheme in a location sensor

• US 9,769,760 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2013
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Shen, Hongrui, Lan, Peng, Wu, Jing, Cui, Naichen
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, David Q
• Application Number:
  US14/651,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20150312863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,687 Days
• Field of Search: 455574, 342357, 701420, 701 99, 34053913
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/325 Power saving in peripheral device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An approach is provided for providing efficient power saving schemes for a device and any associated sensors thereon while allowing for various levels of functionalities. A device determines a distance from a location of a device on a route to a checkpoint location on the route based, at least in part, on mapping data associated with the route. Then the device causes an initiation of a sleep mode of operation for at least one location sensor associated with the device. Further, the device causes an initiation of an active mode of operation for the at least one location sensor based, at least one in part, on a determination that the device has substantially traveled the distance, a portion of the distance, or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a distance from a location of a device to a location of a checkpoint, the device travelling along a route, the determining of the distance based, at least, on mapping data associated with the route;

causing an initiation of a sleep mode of operation for at least one location sensor associated with the device;

determining a likelihood that the device has deviated from the route; and

causing an initiation of an active mode of operation for the at least one location sensor, the causing of the initiation of the active mode of operation based, at least, on the determining of the likelihood that the device has deviated from the route.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing of the initiation of the sleep mode of operation is based at least on a determination that the distance is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether to enable the sleep mode of operation based at least on a user input.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing of the initiation of the sleep mode of operation is based at least on a power level associated with the device, a configuration of the device, or a combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the likelihood that the device has deviated from the route is based at least on odometer data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the likelihood that the device has deviated from the route is based at least on speedometer data and a duration of travel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the location sensor includes a satellite-based navigation system, a network-assisted navigation system, or a combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing a monitoring of a current location of the device on the route based at least on a direction and a distance traveled by the device.

9. The method of claim 8,

wherein the determining of the likelihood that the device has deviated from the route is based at least on the direction of travel, a duration of travel, or a combination thereof;

and the method further comprising;

updating the current location in response to the initiation of the active mode of operation for the at least one location sensor.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the mapping data is available on the device, via one or more service providers, via one or more content providers, or a combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the likelihood that the device has deviated from the route is based at least on a motion of the device and/or a duration of travel of the device.

12. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

determine a distance from a location of a device to a location of a checkpoint, the device travelling along a route, the determining of the distance based, at least, on mapping data associated with the route;

cause an initiation of a sleep mode of operation for at least one location sensor associated with the device;

determine a likelihood that the device has deviated from the route; and

cause an initiation of an active mode of operation for the at least one location sensor, the causing of the initiation of the active mode of operation based, at least in part, on the determining of the likelihood that the device has deviated from the route.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the initiation of the sleep mode of operation is based at least on a determination that the distance is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine whether to enable the sleep mode of operation based at least on a user input.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the initiation of the sleep mode of operation is based, at least, on a power level associated with the device, a configuration of the device, or a combination thereof.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the determining of a likelihood that the device has deviated from the route is based at least on odometer data.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the determining of a likelihood that the device has deviated from the route is based at least on speedometer data and a duration of travel.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the location sensor includes, at least, a satellite-based navigation system, a network-assisted navigation system, or a combination thereof.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause a monitoring of a current location of the device on the route based at least on a direction and a distance traveled by the device.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the

determining of a likelihood that the device has deviated from the route is based at least on the direction of travel, a duration of travel, or a combination thereof;

and wherein the apparatus is further configured to;

update the current location in response to the initiation of the active mode of operation for the at least one location sensor.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the likelihood that the device has deviated from the route is determined based at least on a motion of the device and/or a duration of travel of the device.

22. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

cause an initiation of a sleep mode of operation for at least one location sensor associated with the device;

determine a likelihood that the device has deviated from a predetermined route; and

cause an initiation of an active mode of operation for the at least one location sensor based, at least, on the determining of a likelihood that the device has deviated from the route.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the likelihood that the device has deviated from the route is determined based at least on mapping data associated with the route.