Context-Aware Positioning Control for Low-Latency Location Services

Solution Overview

Problem

Current location services either drain device battery or provide imprecise positioning information due to reactive approaches, leading to unreasonable delays and performance impacts.

Innovation Solution

A system that proactively determines positioning information based on user context, using low power processors and application processors to establish fences with varying granularities, adjusting power states and techniques to minimize battery drain and latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If constant positioning information is provided for a device, then positioning precision is improved, but device battery is drained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidbattery drain

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by proactively determining positioning information and establishing fences before the user actually needs them. When the device is in transit to a defined location, the system anticipates the user's potential need for location services and prepares positioning data in advance, so that when the user enters the location, the information is already available without causing battery drain from constant monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts positioning strategies based on device state and user context. It transitions between different positioning modes (reactive vs. proactive) depending on whether the device is stationary or in transit, and adjusts fence granularity dynamically - using coarse fences during transit and fine fences when the user is at the destination, thereby optimizing the balance between positioning precision and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If reactive approach is used for requesting location information, then battery consumption is reduced, but unreasonable delay occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery consumptionVSAvoiddelay

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by proactively determining positioning information and establishing fences before the user actually needs them. When the device is in transit to a defined location, the system anticipates the user's potential need for location services and prepares positioning data in advance, so that when the user enters the location, the information is already available without causing battery drain from constant monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts positioning strategies based on device state and user context. It transitions between different positioning modes (reactive vs. proactive) depending on whether the device is stationary or in transit, and adjusts fence granularity dynamically - using coarse fences during transit and fine fences when the user is at the destination, thereby optimizing the balance between positioning precision and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If imprecise positioning information is provided, then battery drain is avoided, but positioning precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery drainVSAvoidpositioning precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the positioning system into two distinct processor components: a low-power processor that handles basic positioning tasks and fence management, and a high-performance application processor that provides precise positioning information when needed. This segmentation allows the system to maintain positioning accuracy by using the application processor selectively rather than constantly, thereby reducing overall power consumption while preserving the capability for high-precision positioning when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts positioning strategies based on device state and user context. It transitions between different positioning modes (reactive vs. proactive) depending on whether the device is stationary or in transit, and adjusts fence granularity dynamically - using coarse fences during transit and fine fences when the user is at the destination, thereby optimizing the balance between positioning precision and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250386164A1Proactive provision of positioning information based on user context

Publication Date: 2025.12.18 APPLE INC

AI summary

Embodiments described herein provide for a system, a non-transitory machine-readable medium, and methods to provide location services. In an embodiment, a method includes receiving at least one indication of a change in location status for an electronic device. The method also includes determining a prediction for an upcoming location status based on the at least one indication and analysis of user data accessible on the electronic device and selecting a processor type for determining positioning information for the electronic device based on the prediction.