Mobile location devices and methods

• US 7,577,442 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Ashall, Peter, Lammintaus, Arto, Oksanen, Olli, Norta, Heikki
• Primary Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US11/848,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20070290923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4566, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/414.1, 455/403, 455/550.1, 455/421, 455/422.1, 455/90.3, 455/575.1, 342/357.1, 340/990, 340/395, 701/1, 701/2, 701/36, 701/209, 701/211, 701/100, 701/201, 701/204
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/09 providing processing capability normally carried out by the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/017 Detecting state or type of motion
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/019 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0205 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

A mobile location device comprising geographical location means to provide device geographical location information and motion detection means to detect motion of the device, wherein the geographical location means is arranged to provide device geographical location information according to whether motion of the mobile location device is detected by the motion detecting means.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

control circuitry configured to control activation/deactivation of geographical location circuitry to provide device geographical location information according to whether motion of a mobile location device is detected, wherein the control circuitry is configured to monitor device motion over successive time periods and control operation of the geographical location circuitry in response to whether device motion has been detected over one, or a combination of more than one successive, time period,

wherein the control circuitry is configured to use a first time period when device motion has been detected and a second time period when device motion is not detected, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to provide device location information immediately upon detection of device motion and then again at one regular time interval during the detection of continued motion, and at a reduced time interval upon subsequent detection of no motion.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising motion detection circuitry configured to detect motion of the mobile location device, the motion detection circuitry comprising one or more motion sensors configured to detect changes in tilt/yaw/horizontal/vertical/rotational position individually, in multiples, or in combination.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising motion detection circuitry configured to detect motion of the mobile location device, the motion detection circuitry comprises circuitry to detect changes in device geographical location.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the circuitry is a comparison circuitry configured to compare a previous geographical location with the current geographical location to determine whether changes in geographical location have occurred.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the changes of geographical location detected are horizontal, vertical or a combination thereof.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising motion detection circuitry configured to detect motion of the mobile location device, the motion detection circuitry is configured to detect changes in motion above a threshold level.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to control operation of the geographical location circuitry to provide device geographical location information at the end of one or more of the time periods.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to operate the geographical location circuitry at regular intervals regardless of whether device motion has been detected.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to operate the geographical location circuitry at regular intervals upon detection of no motion over a particular time period.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control circuitry is configured to provide information on the operative state of the device.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the operative state information is transmitted at regular intervals, regardless of whether device motion has been detected.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to have an activated state and a deactivated state.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the operation of the geographical location circuitry to obtain current device geographical information upon detection of device motion.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the operation of the geographical location circuitry to obtain current geographical location information at a reduced frequency when device motion is not detected.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising geographical location circuitry configured to provide device geographical location information, the geographical location circuitry comprising wireless transmission circuitry, wherein the wireless transmission circuitry is configured to obtain the current geographical location information based on detection of motion.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising geographical location circuitry configured to provide device geographical location information, wherein the device is configured to receive location dependent information content from a third party terminal to which device geographical location information has been provided by the geographical location circuitry.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising geographical location circuitry configured to provide device geographical location information, wherein the geographical location circuitry is configured to obtain geographical location information by accessing location technology incorporated in a neighboring terminal or device.

18. An apparatus comprising:

means for monitoring device motion over more successive time periods; and

means for controlling activation/deactivation of geographical location circuitry to provide device geographical location information according to whether motion of a mobile location device is detected, wherein the means for controlling activation/deactivation of the geographical location circuitry comprises means for controlling operation of the geographical location circuitry in response to whether device motion has been detected over one, or a combination of more than one successive, time period, and wherein the means for controlling activation/deactivation of the geographical location circuitry is configured to provide device location information immediately upon detection of device motion and then again at one regular time interval during the detection of continued motion, and at a reduced time interval upon subsequent detection of no motion.

19. A method of operating a mobile location device comprising:

monitoring device motion detected over successive time periods;

controlling activation/deactivation of a geographical location circuitry in response to whether device motion has been detected over one, or a combination of more than one successive time periods in order to obtain device geographical location information in response to detection of motion of the mobile location device; and

providing device location information immediately upon detection of device motion and then again at one regular time interval during the detection of continued motion, and at a reduced time interval upon subsequent detection of no motion.

20. A method according to claim 19, further comprising using a first time period when device motion has been detected and a second time period when device motion is not detected.