Adaptive Location Sensing for Mobile Phones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing location sensing technologies in electronic devices face challenges in providing continuous, accurate, and resource-efficient solutions, often requiring cloud-based processing and storage, which raises security and privacy concerns.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for location sensing that utilizes embedded sensors, processors, and modules like GPS and network location providers to passively collect location coordinates, selectively choose data sources based on accuracy and power usage, and adjust sampling intervals based on user activity and stay area status, ensuring local processing and reduced network usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If continuous location sensing is performed to improve location accuracy, then location precision is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the location sampling interval based on user activity state. When the user is stationary or moving slowly, the sampling interval increases to reduce energy consumption. When the user is moving quickly, the sampling interval decreases to maintain location accuracy. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between continuous location sensing and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the sampling parameter (time interval between location requests) based on detected user activity. The processor monitors user activity through sensors and modifies the location sampling frequency accordingly, transforming a static sampling approach into an adaptive one that balances accuracy and energy usage.
2Measurement precision
If location data is continuously collected and uploaded to cloud for processing, then location accuracy is improved, but user privacy security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and processes only essential location information locally on the device rather than continuously uploading all location data to the cloud. The processor determines location requests based on user activity and only transmits necessary location updates, removing unnecessary data transmission that compromises privacy while maintaining accurate location tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The device's local processor acts as an intermediary between location sensing and cloud communication. It filters and processes location data locally, determining when and what to upload to the cloud based on actual location changes and user activity, thereby reducing privacy risks while maintaining service functionality.
3Measurement precision
If frequent location requests are made to improve location tracking, then location precision is improved, but resource efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous location requests, the system implements periodic location sampling with variable intervals. The sampling period is adjusted based on user activity detection - longer periods during stationary states and shorter periods during movement. This periodic approach maintains location tracking accuracy while significantly improving resource efficiency compared to continuous requests.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs location sensing at partial frequency rather than continuously, adjusting the sampling rate to match actual location change needs. By using user activity detection to modulate the sampling frequency, the system achieves adequate location tracking with reduced resource consumption, avoiding excessive location requests.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of this disclosure provide techniques used in a location sensing service and a timeline service implemented in a host device for providing location history. In particular, the location sensing service may passively collect location coordinates of the device using requests made by third party applications. The location sensing service may receive a signal comprising an intent for a location request in response to a change in the user activity or in response to a change in a cellular identification of the device. The device may determine that a time elapsed from a previous location request and a time corresponding with receiving one or more of the signals exceed a time threshold and, based thereon, request a location coordinate of the device.