Location-Aware Mobile App Management via Automatic Activation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in finding and managing location-specific mobile applications on their devices, as conventional methods require significant manual effort and do not effectively deactivate or activate apps based on the user's current location, leading to resource inefficiencies and irrelevant notifications.
Innovation Solution
The technology automatically manages mobile applications by determining the device's location and activating or deactivating apps based on contextual factors, such as user behavior, location, and ambient wireless signals, using a database of app associations and crowd-sourced information to recommend and update relevant apps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users manually manage location-specific applications, then they can control which apps are active, but it requires significant manual effort and time
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines the device's location using GPS and other sensors, queries the database for location-specific applications, and activates or deactivates apps without user intervention. This self-service mechanism eliminates manual management effort while ensuring relevant apps are available.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-loads location-specific applications into the database before the user needs them. When the device enters a new location, the relevant apps are already prepared and can be quickly activated without requiring users to search or manually configure anything.
2Adaptability or versatility
If all location-specific applications remain active, then users have access to all possible apps, but device resources are wasted on unused applications
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains different application states for different locations. Apps are activated only when the device is in or near their associated location, and deactivated when the device moves away. This localized approach ensures apps are available when needed while conserving resources when not needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the state of applications based on real-time location data. As the device moves between locations, apps are automatically activated or deactivated, creating a dynamic resource allocation system that adapts to current contextual needs rather than maintaining static app states.
3Ease of operation
If the system automatically activates location-specific apps, then user effort is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a database as an intermediary layer between location data and application management. The database stores associations between locations and applications, allowing the system to automatically determine which apps to activate without complex decision logic in the device itself. This intermediary simplifies the overall system architecture.
4Loss of information
If the system provides notifications for all installed apps, then users receive complete information, but irrelevant notifications reduce user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides notifications only for applications that are currently active based on the device's location. By activating apps locally at their associated locations and deactivating them elsewhere, the system ensures notifications are relevant to the user's current context while maintaining complete information availability when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are techniques related to managing mobile applications (“apps”) of a mobile device based, at least in part, upon the determined location of the device. The techniques described herein are especially suited for situations where the present location differs from the locations associated with particular apps that are already installed on the mobile device. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.