Motion sensor data processing using various power management modes

• US 8,392,735 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2012
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Mucignat, Andrea, Gupta, Saurabh
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, VINCENT HUY
• Application Number:
  US13/561,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20120297226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 218 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/320, 713/323, 713/324
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methods for processing motion sensor data using various power management modes of an electronic device are provided. Power may be provided to a motion sensor during a first power mode of the device. In response to the motion sensor detecting a motion event with a magnitude exceeding a threshold, the sensor may transmit a wake up signal to a power management unit of the device. In response to receiving the wake up signal, the power management unit may switch the device to a second power mode. The device may provide power to a processor and load the processor with a motion sensing application when switching to the second power mode. During the second power mode, motion sensor data may be processed to determine that the motion event is not associated with an intentional user input and the device may return to the first power mode.

Claims

1. A method for controlling power consumption of an electronic device, the method comprising:

processing first motion sensor data for a first duration of time during a first active power mode of the device;

detecting that the first processed motion sensor data identifies a first motion event occurring a first number of times during the first duration of time at a first rate;

switching from the first active power mode to a first inactive power mode of the device in response to the detecting;

returning from the first inactive power mode to the first active power mode after a second duration of time;

processing second motion sensor data for a third duration of time;

determining that the second processed motion sensor data identifies the first motion event occurring a second number of times during the third duration of time at the first rate; and

responding to a third number of the first motion event, wherein the third number equals the second number plus the product of the second duration of time and the rate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second duration of time is longer than the third duration of time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first motion event is a user stepping event.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the responding comprises storing the third number in a counter indicative of the amount of steps taken by a user of the device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the switching comprises:

unloading a motion sensing application from a processor of the device; and

deactivating at least a portion of the processor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises detecting that the first processed motion sensor data identifies the first motion event occurring the first number of times at a consistent rate for the first duration of time, and wherein the first rate is the consistent rate.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises determining that the second processed motion sensor data identifies the first motion event occurring the second number of times at a consistent rate for the third duration of time, and wherein the first rate is the consistent rate.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first motion event comprises a foot lifting motion event and a foot landing motion event.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the device uses less power when operating in the first active power mode than when operating in the first inactive power mode.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the responding comprises displaying the third number to a user of the device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before the switching, responding to the first number of the first motion event.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing the first motion sensor data, the detecting, the switching, the returning, the processing the second motion sensor data, the determining, and the responding are performed by the device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is unable to process motion sensor data while the device is operating in the first inactive power mode.

14. Non-transitory computer-readable media for controlling an electronic device, comprising computer-readable code recorded thereon for:

processing first motion sensor data for a first duration of time during a first active power mode of the device;

detecting that the first processed motion sensor data identifies a first motion event occurring a first number of times during the first duration of time at a first rate;

switching from the first active power mode to a first inactive power mode of the device in response to the detecting;

returning from the first inactive power mode to the first active power mode after a second duration of time;

processing second motion sensor data for a third duration of time;

determining that the second processed motion sensor data identifies the first motion event occurring a second number of times during the third duration of time at the first rate; and

responding to a third number of the first motion event, wherein the third number equals the second number plus the product of the second duration of time and the rate.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the second duration of time is longer than the third duration of time.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the first motion event is a user stepping event.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16, wherein the responding comprises storing the third number in a counter indicative of the amount of steps taken by a user of the device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the switching comprises:

unloading a motion sensing application from a processor of the device; and

deactivating at least a portion of the processor.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the detecting comprises detecting that the first processed motion sensor data identifies the first motion event occurring the first number of times at a consistent rate for the first duration of time, and wherein the first rate is the consistent rate.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the determining comprises determining that the second processed motion sensor data identifies the first motion event occurring the second number of times at a consistent rate for the third duration of time, and wherein the first rate is the consistent rate.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the first motion event comprises a foot lifting motion event and a foot landing motion event.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the device uses less power when operating in the first active power mode than when operating in the first inactive power mode.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the responding comprises displaying the third number to a user of the device.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, further comprising additional computer-readable code recorded thereon for, before the switching, responding to the first number of the first motion event.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the device is unable to process motion sensor data while the device is operating in the first inactive power mode.

26. A method for controlling an electronic device, the method comprising:

processing first motion sensor data from a motion sensor for a first duration of time while the device is operating in a first active power mode of the device;

detecting that the first processed motion sensor data identifies a first motion event occurring a first number of times during the first duration of time at a first rate;

switching from the first active power mode to a first inactive power mode of the device in response to the detecting;

after the switching, operating the device in the first inactive power mode of the device for a second duration of time;

after the operating, returning from the first inactive power mode to the first active power mode;

after the returning, processing second motion sensor data from the motion sensor for a third duration of time while the device is operating in the first active power mode of the device;

determining that the second processed motion sensor data identifies the first motion event occurring a second number of times during the third duration of time at the first rate; and

in response to the determining, responding to a third number of the first motion event, wherein the third number equals the second number plus the product of the second duration of time and the first rate.