Low Power Indoor Outdoor State Determination Using Sensor Gating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for determining the indoor/outdoor state of a mobile device are power-intensive and often inaccurate, as they rely on high-power sensors that cannot be maintained in an always-on mode, leading to inefficient battery usage and unreliable state determinations.
Innovation Solution
The use of a combination of low-power and high-power sensors, where low-power sensors such as accelerometers and ambient light sensors are used to gate the usage of high-power sensors like GPS and cameras, allowing for an always-on, low-power determination of the device's indoor/outdoor state by periodically checking for movement and light intensity to conserve battery life and improve accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-power sensors (GPS, camera, Bluetooth, WLAN) are used to determine indoor/outdoor state, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is segmented into two tiers: low-power sensors (accelerometer, ambient light sensor) that operate continuously, and high-power sensors (GPS, camera, Bluetooth, WLAN) that are activated only when needed. This segmentation allows the system to maintain accurate indoor/outdoor state determination while minimizing energy consumption by using each sensor type only when its specific capabilities are required.
Solution Approach 2:
Low-power sensors perform preliminary detection of motion and ambient light conditions before activating high-power sensors. The accelerometer detects motion events and the ambient light sensor measures light intensity levels, providing preliminary data that determines whether high-power sensors need to be activated. This preliminary action prevents unnecessary activation of energy-intensive sensors.
2Reliability
If high-power sensors are used continuously for indoor/outdoor state determination, then reliability is improved, but use of energy increases making always-on mode infeasible
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from continuous high-power sensor operation to periodic activation based on triggering conditions. Low-power sensors continuously monitor for motion events and ambient light changes, and only activate high-power sensors when these periodic checks detect relevant conditions. This periodic action maintains reliability by ensuring sensors are activated when needed while enabling always-on mode by dramatically reducing average power consumption.
3Use of energy by moving object
If low-power sensors are used alone for indoor/outdoor state determination, then use of energy is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Low-power sensors act as intermediaries that bridge the gap between continuous operation and high-precision measurement. The accelerometer and ambient light sensor continuously monitor conditions and serve as mediators that trigger high-power sensor activation only when their measurements indicate a potential state change. This intermediary role allows the system to maintain high measurement precision when needed while operating in low-power mode during stable conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for determining indoor/outdoor state of a mobile device are presented. In some embodiments, a mobile device may maintain an indoor/outdoor state. The mobile device may include at least one first sensor and at least one second sensor, the first sensor associated with higher power consumption than the second sensor. The mobile device may gate off the first sensor and using the second sensor to obtain a sensor reading, if the second sensor can generate a reading indicative of the indoor/outdoor state of the mobile device. The mobile device may use the first sensor to obtain a sensor reading, if the second sensor cannot generate a reading indicative of the indoor/outdoor state of the mobile device. The mobile device may update the indoor/outdoor state of the mobile device based on a reading received from one of the first and the second sensors.