Mobile Location Request Scheduling for Battery-Aware Positioning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Determining geographic location of a mobile device consumes power and frequent location updates requested by application programs drain battery life.

Innovation Solution

Scheduling location data requests based on device conditions, such as being outdoors or display usage, to minimize power consumption and optimize positioning system selection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If frequent location updates are requested by application programs, then location data freshness is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation data freshnessVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system schedules location requests periodically based on device conditions rather than continuously. The location manager evaluates multiple conditions (display on/off, device state, outdoor/indoor) and schedules requests only when conditions are favorable, transforming continuous location acquisition into periodic action that reduces power consumption while maintaining acceptable location data freshness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Use of energy by moving object

If location requests are scheduled based on device conditions, then power usage is reduced, but location data accuracy may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower usageVSAvoidlocation data accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The location manager implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring device conditions (display state, device state, outdoor/indoor status) and adjusting the scheduling of location requests accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that location requests are made at optimal times when the device is likely to provide accurate location data, thereby maintaining measurement precision while reducing overall power consumption through selective scheduling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4314712B1Scheduling requests for location data
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 SNAP INC
  • EP4314712B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4314712B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4314712B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems, methods, and computer readable media that schedules requests for location data of a mobile device, where the methods include selecting a first positioning system based on a power requirement, a latency requirement, and an accuracy requirement, and determining whether a first condition is satisfied for querying the first positioning system. The method further comprises in response to a determination that the first condition is satisfied, querying the first positioning system for first position data. The method further comprises in response to a determination that the first condition is not satisfied, selecting a second positioning system based on the power requirement, the latency requirement, and the accuracy requirement, determining whether a second condition is satisfied for querying the second positioning system, and in response to a determination that the second condition is satisfied, querying the second positioning system for second position data.