Disablement of global positioning system transceiver while providing directions

• US 9,829,325 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2015
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Waltermann, Rod D., VanBlon, Russell Speight, Peterson, Nathan J., Weksler, Arnold S., Mese, John Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US14/962,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20170160090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 345156, 701468
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/49 whereby the further system is an inertial position system, e.g. loosely-coupled

Abstract

In one aspect, a device includes a processor, a motion sensor accessible to the processor, a global positioning system (GPS) transceiver accessible to the processor, and storage accessible to the processor. The storage bears instructions executable by the processor to identify at least a first instruction to travel to a location, and determine whether to disable the GPS transceiver based at least in part on one or more of a distance to be traveled before a second instruction is provided and a length of time to pass before the second instruction is provided. The instructions are also executable by the processor to monitor motion of the device based on input from the motion sensor responsive to disabling the GPS receiver.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a processor;

a global positioning system (GPS) transceiver accessible to the processor;

a motion sensor accessible to the processor; and

storage accessible to the processor and bearing instructions executable by the processor to;

identify a route to a location based at least in part on input from the GPS transceiver;

determine whether to disable the GPS transceiver based at least in part on an amount of remaining power of a battery in the device;

disable the GPS transceiver responsive to a determination to disable the GPS transceiver; and

track travel progress along the route based at least in part on input from the motion sensor at least until one or more of a threshold time before conclusion of a first amount of time that is to pass before an instruction to travel to the location is to be provided, and a threshold position before an end point of a first distance that is to be traveled before the instruction is to be provided.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

determine one or more of the first amount of time that is to pass before the instruction to travel to the location is to be provided and the first distance that is to be traveled before the instruction is to be provided.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

responsive to one or more of the threshold time being reached and the threshold position being reached, enable the GPS transceiver and validate, based at least in part on input from the GPS transceiver, that the instruction is a next instruction to be provided.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

responsive to one or more of the threshold time being reached and the threshold position being reached, enable the GPS transceiver and identify the instruction based at least in part on input from the GPS transceiver.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

responsive to one or more of the threshold time being reached and the threshold position being reached, enable the GPS transceiver and wait to provide the instruction until when the instruction is to be provided as identified based at least in part on input from the GPS transceiver.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

responsive to one or more of the threshold time being reached and the threshold position being reached, enable the GPS transceiver and identify, based at least in part on input from the GPS transceiver, a current location of the device.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

responsive to the identification of the current location, determine at least in part based on the current location whether to provide the instruction.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

responsive to one or more of the threshold time being reached and the threshold position being reached, enable the GPS transceiver and determine, based at least in part on input from the GPS transceiver, one or more of that at least a second amount of time is to pass before the instruction is to be provided and that there is at least a second distance that is to be traveled before the instruction is to be provided; and

responsive to the determination one or more of that at least the second amount of time is to pass and that there is at least the second distance that is to be traveled, disable the GPS transceiver.

9. The device of claim 1, comprising a display accessible to the processor, and wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

at least dim the display while tracking travel progress along the route based on input from the motion sensor.

10. The device of claim 2, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

determine at least the first amount of time that is to pass before the instruction is to be provided.

11. The device of claim 2, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

determine at least the first distance to be traveled before the instruction is to be provided.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

track travel progress along the route based at least in part on input from the motion sensor at least until the threshold time.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

track travel progress along the route based at least in part on input from the motion sensor at least until the threshold position is reached.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

track travel progress along the route at least in part by performing inertial navigation calculations based on input from the motion sensor.

15. The device of claim 1, comprising a display accessible to the processor, and wherein the GPS transceiver is disabled responsive to receipt of user input to at least dim the display.

16. A method, comprising:

identifying, using a device, at least a first instruction to travel to a location; and

determining whether to disable a global positioning system (GPS) transceiver on the device based at least in part on an amount of remaining power of a battery in the device and based at least in part on one or more of a distance to be traveled before a second instruction is provided and a length of time to pass before the second instruction is provided; and

disabling the GPS transceiver responsive to determining to disable the GPS transceiver.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein disabling the GPS transceiver comprises one or more of:

ceasing to provide power to the GPS transceiver, ceasing to send control signals to the GPS transceiver.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a first processor;

a network adapter; and

storage bearing instructions executable by a second processor of a device for;

providing a first direction to a location;

determining whether to disable a global positioning system (GPS) receiver on the device based at least in part on an amount of remaining power of a battery coupled to the device;

disabling, responsive to determining to disable the GPS receiver, the receiver subsequent to providing the first direction; and

responsive to disabling the GPS receiver, monitoring motion of the device based on input from a motion sensor on the device;

wherein the first processor transfers the instructions over a network via the network adapter.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the instructions are executable by the second processor for:

disabling the GPS receiver responsive to one or more of user input and a determination that at least a threshold amount of time exists before a second direction to the location is to be provided.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the instructions are executable by the second processor for:

enabling the GPS receiver responsive to one or more of user input and a determination that at least a threshold amount of time has passed.