Geo-fence Detection via Adaptive Location Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining when a mobile communications device has entered or exited a geo-fence are inefficient, inaccurate, and battery-intensive, raising privacy concerns and consuming excessive energy due to periodic location reporting.
Innovation Solution
A method where a mobile communications device equipped with a location detection application communicates with a server to query and transmit location data only when a significant change occurs, switching between low and high resolution location detection methods as needed to efficiently determine proximity to geo-fences, thereby reducing energy consumption and improving accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If periodic location reporting is used to detect geo-fence crossings, then the server can determine when a device enters or exits a geo-fence, but energy consumption increases and privacy concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and storing geo-fence boundary data and proximity information on the mobile device before actual geo-fence crossing events occur. This allows the device to autonomously determine geo-fence proximity and trigger location updates only when necessary, eliminating continuous periodic reporting while maintaining reliable detection capability.
2Speed
If high location reporting rate is used to ensure timely server response, then geo-fence crossing detection is timely, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device performs self-service by autonomously determining its own proximity to geo-fences using stored boundary data and proximity calculations. The device independently triggers location updates only when geo-fence proximity is detected, eliminating the need for continuous server-pulled location reports and reducing energy consumption while maintaining timely response.
3Reliability
If periodic location reporting is used, then geo-fence crossing can be detected, but location accuracy is reduced due to poor GPS energy profile
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-storing geo-fence boundary data and proximity information on the mobile device. This allows the device to use accurate location data when needed without continuous GPS updates, improving location accuracy while reducing energy consumption through selective rather than continuous reporting.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for determining when a mobile communications device has crossed a geo-fence. The method comprises (a) providing a mobile communications device (209) equipped with an operating system and having a location detection application resident thereon, wherein the mobile communications device is in communication with a server (211) over a network (203), and wherein the server maintains a geo-fence database (213); (b) receiving, from the operating system, a notification that (i) the location of the mobile communications device has changed by an amount that exceeds a predetermined threshold, or (ii) that a period of time has passed; (c) querying the operating system for a data set comprising the general location of the mobile communications device and the corresponding location accuracy; (d) transmitting the data set to the server; and (e) receiving from the server, in response, a set of geo-fences (205) proximal to the general location.