Method and apparatus for intelligent acquisition of position information

• US 10,761,214 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2017
• Issued: 09/01/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Lau, Chung, Thomas, C. Douglass
• Primary Examiner(s): Paige, Tyler D
• Application Number:
  US15/700,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20180011201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 701526
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3212 Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/329 by task scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Improved methods and systems for position acquisition and/or monitoring are disclosed. The position acquisition and/or monitoring can be performed with improved intelligence so that data acquisition, transmission and/or processing is reduced. As a result, the position acquisition and/or monitoring is able to be performed in a power efficient manner.

Claims

1. A portable, battery-powered position acquisition apparatus, comprising:

a position detection unit that acquires position data pertaining to said position acquisition apparatus;

a motion sensor;

a communication interface for data communication over a wireless network; and

a controller operatively connected to said position detection unit, said motion sensor and said communication interface, said controller being configured to receive a remote request, via the communication interface, requesting that position updates be provided in accordance with a specified position update rate, and said controller being configured to subsequently operate to periodically produce a position update in accordance with the specified position update rate by determining position information of said position acquisition apparatus using at least the position data acquired by the position detection unit, the position update being produced in accordance with the specified position update rate, the position update including the position information,

wherein the remote request received via the communication interface is initiated by an interested person interacting with a web-based interface to denote the specified position update rate to be utilized by said position acquisition apparatus, and

wherein the communication interface is configured to transmit the position updates.

2. A portable, battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said controller operates to stop position updates in accordance with the specified position update rate based on a determination that data from the motion sensor indicates that said position acquisition apparatus is not moving.

3. A portable, battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said controller operates to subsequently resume position updates in accordance with the specified position update rate when data from the motion sensor indicates that said position acquisition apparatus is again moving.

4. A portable, battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said controller operates to reduce rate of position updates to a rate lower than the specified position update rate based on a determination that data from the motion sensor indicates that said position acquisition apparatus is not moving.

5. A portable, battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said controller operates to alter rate of position updates up or down depending on a determination based on data from the motion sensor.

6. A portable, battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the determination based on data from the motion sensor is a determination whether said position acquisition apparatus is stationary.

7. A portable, battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the determination is based on an amount of movement of said position acquisition apparatus.

8. A portable, battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said controller operates to determine an amount of movement of said position acquisition apparatus, and wherein said controller operates to scale rate of position updates up or down based on the amount of movement.

9. A battery-powered position acquisition apparatus, comprising:

a position detection unit that acquires position data pertaining to said position acquisition apparatus;

a communication interface for data communication over a wireless network; and

a controller operatively connected to said position detection unit and said communication interface, said controller being configured to receive a configuration request, via the communication interface, requesting that position updates via said position detection unit be provided in accordance with a specified position update rate, and said controller subsequently operates to produce a position update in accordance with the specified position update rate by determining position information of the position acquisition apparatus using at least the position data acquired by said position detection unit, the position update including the position information,

wherein the configuration request received via the communication interface is initiated by an interested person interacting with a web-based interface to denote the specified position update rate to be utilized by said position acquisition apparatus, and

wherein the communication interface is used to transmit the position update.

19. A battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein an update rate by which the communication interface operates to transmit the at least one position update is dependent on the specified position update rate.

20. A battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein content of the at least one position update is based at least in part on at least position data acquired by said position detection unit in accordance with a rate that is dependent on the specified position update rate.

21. A battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein content of the at least one position update is based at least in part on at least position data acquired by said position detection unit.

22. A battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein the position acquisition apparatus operates to periodically transmit successive position updates in accordance with a rate that is dependent on the specified position update rate.

23. A battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein the position acquisition apparatus includes a motion sensor, and wherein the position acquisition apparatus operates to stop the successive position updates based on a determination that data from the motion sensor indicates that the position acquisition apparatus is not moving.

24. A battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein the position acquisition apparatus includes a motion monitoring unit, and

wherein the position acquisition apparatus operates to reduce rate of the successive position updates to a minimum rate lower than the specified position update rate based on a determination that data from the motion monitoring unit indicates that the position acquisition apparatus is not moving.

25. A battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the position acquisition apparatus includes a motion sensor, and

wherein the position acquisition apparatus operates to reduce rate of the position updates based on data from the motion sensor.

26. A battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the position acquisition apparatus includes a motion sensor, and

wherein the position acquisition apparatus operates to:

determine an amount of movement of the position acquisition apparatus based on data from the motion sensor; and

alter a rate of the position updates up or down depending on the amount of movement.

27. A battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the position acquisition apparatus includes a motion monitoring unit, and

wherein the position acquisition apparatus operates to:

determine an amount of movement of the position acquisition apparatus based on data from the motion monitoring unit;

alter a rate of the position updates up or down depending on the amount of movement; and

ensure that, notwithstanding amount of movement, the rate of the position updates is at least at a minimum rate, the minimum rate being greater than zero.

28. A battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the position acquisition apparatus includes a motion monitoring unit, and

wherein the position acquisition apparatus operates to:

acquire data via the motion monitoring unit; and

transmit, via the communication interface, the data acquired via the motion monitoring unit.

29. A battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 28, wherein the transmission of the data acquired via the motion monitoring unit is transmitted with the position update.

30. A battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 28, wherein data acquired via the motion monitoring unit includes data pertaining to speed or direction of movement of the position acquisition apparatus.

31. A battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 28, wherein the data acquired via the motion monitoring unit includes data pertaining to vibration or force.

10. A portable, battery-powered position acquisition apparatus, comprising:

a satellite-based position detection unit that acquires position data pertaining to said position acquisition apparatus;

a communication interface for data communication over a wireless network; and

a controller operatively connected to said satellite-based position detection unit and said communication interface, said controller being configured to receive a configuration request, via the communication interface, requesting that position updates be provided in accordance with a specified position update rate, and said controller being configured to subsequently operate to periodically provide at least one position update in accordance with the specified position update rate, the at least one position update including or being based on at least position data previously acquired by said satellite-based position detection unit,

wherein the configuration request received via the communication interface is initiated by an interested person interacting with a web-based interface to denote the specified position update rate to be utilized by said position acquisition apparatus, and

wherein the communication interface is configured to transmit the at least one position update.

11. A portable, battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the configuration request is made by a user of said position acquisition apparatus.

12. A portable, battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the configuration request is made by a user of said position acquisition apparatus after said position acquisition apparatus has been coupled to or within a portable object and has been activated.

13. A portable, battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said satellite-based position detection unit is a GPS-based position detection unit.

14. A portable, battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the communication interface is configured to periodically transmit the at least one position update.

15. A portable, battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein an update rate by which the communication interface operates to periodically transmit the at least one position update is dependent on the specified position update rate.

16. A portable, battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein an update rate by which the communication interface operates to periodically transmit the at least one position update is dependent on the specified position update rate.

17. A portable, battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein content of the at least one position update is based at least in part on at least position data periodically acquired by said satellite-based position detection unit in accordance with a rate that is dependent on the specified position update rate.

18. A portable, battery-powered position acquisition apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein content of the at least one position update is based at least in part on at least position data periodically acquired by said satellite-based position detection unit.

32. A method for acquiring a position update from a portable, battery-powered position acquisition apparatus, the position acquisition apparatus including a position detection unit for acquiring position data and a communication interface for data communication over a wireless network, the method comprising:

receiving a configuration request via the communication interface, the configuration request requesting that position updates from the position acquisition apparatus be provided in accordance with a specified position update rate, the configuration request being initiated by an interested person interacting with a web-based interface to denote the specified position update rate to be utilized by the position acquisition apparatus;

acquiring position data via the position detection unit;

producing a position update in accordance with the specified position update rate, the position update including or being based on at least the position data previously acquired by the position detection unit; and

transmitting, via the communication interface, the position update in accordance with the specified position update rate.

33. A method as recited in claim 32, wherein the method comprises:

repeating the acquiring, the producing and the transmitting for a plurality of successive position updates.

34. A method as recited in claim 33, wherein the transmitting of each of the plurality of successive position updates are periodically performed in accordance with the specified position update rate.

35. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein the position acquisition apparatus includes a motion sensor, and

wherein the method comprises:

stopping the successive position updates in accordance with the specified position update rate based on a determination that data from the motion sensor indicates that the position acquisition apparatus is not moving.

36. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein the method comprises:

subsequently providing another position update as per a time limit even though data from the motion sensor indicates that the position acquisition apparatus is still not moving.

37. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein the method comprises:

subsequently resuming the successive position updates in accordance with the specified position update rate when data from the motion sensor indicates that the position acquisition apparatus is again moving.

38. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein the position acquisition apparatus includes a motion sensor, and

wherein the method comprises:

reducing rate of the successive position updates to a rate lower than the specified position update rate based on a determination that data from the motion sensor indicates that the position acquisition apparatus is not moving.

39. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein the position acquisition apparatus includes a motion monitoring unit, and

wherein the method comprises:

reducing rate of the successive position updates to a minimum rate lower than the specified position update rate based on a determination that data from the motion monitoring unit indicates that the position acquisition apparatus is not moving.

40. A method as recited in claim 32, wherein the position acquisition apparatus includes a motion sensor, and

wherein the method comprises:

reducing rate of the position updates based on data from the motion sensor.

41. A method as recited in claim 32, wherein the position acquisition apparatus includes a motion sensor, and

wherein the method comprises:

determining an amount of movement of the position acquisition apparatus based on data from the motion sensor; and

altering a rate of the position updates up or down depending on the amount of movement.

42. A method as recited in claim 32, wherein the position acquisition apparatus includes a motion monitoring unit, and

wherein the method comprises:

determining an amount of movement of the position acquisition apparatus based on data from the motion monitoring unit;

altering a rate of the position updates up or down depending on the amount of movement; and

ensuring that, notwithstanding amount of movement, the rate of the position updates is at least at a minimum rate, the minimum rate being greater than zero.

43. A method as recited in claim 32, wherein the position acquisition apparatus includes a motion monitoring unit, and

wherein the method comprises:

acquiring data via the motion monitoring unit; and

transmitting, via the communication interface, the data acquired via the motion monitoring unit.

44. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein the transmitting of the data acquired via the motion monitoring unit is transmitted with the position update.

45. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein the transmitting of the data acquired via the motion monitoring unit includes speed data or direction of movement data of the position acquisition apparatus.

46. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein the transmitting of the data acquired via the motion monitoring unit includes vibration data or force data of the position acquisition apparatus.

47. A method for acquiring a position update from a battery-powered, mobile device, the mobile device including a position detection unit for acquiring position data and a communication interface for data communication over a wireless network, the method comprising:

receiving a configuration request via the communication interface, the configuration request requesting that position updates from the mobile device be provided in accordance with a specified position update rate, the configuration request being initiated by an interested person interacting with a web-based interface to denote the specified position update rate to be utilized by the mobile device;

acquiring position data via the position detection unit;

producing a position update in accordance with the specified position update rate, the position update including or being based on at least the position data previously acquired by the position detection unit; and

transmitting, via the communication interface, the position update in accordance with the specified position update rate.

48. A method as recited in claim 47, wherein the method comprises:

repeating the acquiring, the producing and the transmitting for a plurality of successive position updates.

49. A method as recited in claim 48, wherein the transmitting of each of the plurality of successive position updates are periodically performed in accordance with the specified position update rate.

50. A method as recited in claim 49, wherein the mobile device includes a motion sensor, and

wherein the method comprises:

stopping the successive position updates in accordance with the specified position update rate based on a determination that data from the motion sensor indicates that the mobile device is not moving.

51. A method as recited in claim 50, wherein the method comprises:

subsequently providing another position update as per a time limit even though data from the motion sensor indicates that the mobile device is still not moving.

52. A method as recited in claim 50, wherein the method comprises:

subsequently resuming the successive position updates in accordance with the specified position update rate when data from the motion sensor indicates that the mobile device is again moving.

53. A method as recited in claim 49, wherein the mobile device includes a motion sensor, and

wherein the method comprises:

reducing rate of the successive position updates to a rate lower than the specified position update rate based on a determination that data from the motion sensor indicates that the mobile device is not moving.

54. A method as recited in claim 47, wherein the mobile device includes a motion sensor, and

wherein the method comprises:

reducing rate of the position updates based on data from the motion sensor.

55. A method as recited in claim 47, wherein the mobile device includes a motion sensor, and

wherein the method comprises:

determining an amount of movement of the mobile device based on data from the motion sensor; and

altering a rate of the position updates up or down depending on the amount of movement.

56. A method as recited in claim 47, wherein the mobile device includes a motion monitoring unit, and

wherein the method comprises:

determining an amount of movement of the mobile device based on data from the motion monitoring unit;

altering a rate of the position updates up or down depending on the amount of movement; and

ensuring that, notwithstanding amount of movement, the rate of the position updates is at least at a minimum rate, the minimum rate being greater than zero.

57. A method as recited in claim 47, wherein the mobile device includes a motion monitoring unit, and

wherein the method comprises:

acquiring data via the motion monitoring unit; and

transmitting, via the communication interface, the data acquired via the motion monitoring unit.

58. A method as recited in claim 57, wherein the transmitting of the data acquired via the motion monitoring unit is transmitted with the position update.

59. A method as recited in claim 57, wherein the transmitting of the data acquired via the motion monitoring unit includes speed data or direction of movement data of the mobile device.

60. A method as recited in claim 57, wherein the transmitting of the data acquired via the motion monitoring unit includes vibration data or force data of the mobile device.