Terminal Device Geofence Detection with Selective GPS Activation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current geofence awareness technologies, such as GPS, consume significant power due to continuous positioning, leading to battery drain in terminal devices.

Innovation Solution

A method where terminal devices use a positioning library to determine proximity to a geofence by analyzing communication access information, such as cell and Wi-Fi data, and activate GPS only when necessary, reducing continuous module usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If GPS positioning is used continuously to detect geofence entry, then positioning accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning process is divided into two segments: coarse positioning using low-power cell/Wi-Fi location data to determine proximity to geofence, and fine positioning using GPS only when the terminal is close to the geofence boundary. This segmentation allows the system to maintain positioning accuracy while significantly reducing power consumption by using GPS selectively rather than continuously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary positioning using cell and Wi-Fi location data before activating GPS. By first determining the terminal's approximate location using low-power methods and only then activating GPS when needed (when close to geofence), the system prepares in advance to avoid unnecessary GPS usage while ensuring accurate geofence detection when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If GPS module is activated continuously for geofence detection, then geofence detection accuracy is improved, but battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeofence detection accuracyVSAvoidbattery life
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous GPS activation, the system uses periodic action by first checking coarse location data and only activating GPS periodically when the terminal approaches the geofence area. This periodic activation based on proximity detection maintains geofence detection accuracy while extending battery life by minimizing GPS usage duration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The detection process is segmented into two stages: initial screening using low-power cell/Wi-Fi location data, and detailed verification using GPS only when needed. This segmentation ensures geofence detection accuracy is maintained through the verification stage while extending battery life by avoiding unnecessary GPS activation during the screening stage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Use of energy by moving object

If cell and Wi-Fi positioning data are used first, then power consumption is reduced, but positioning speed may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidpositioning speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary positioning using quickly accessible cell and Wi-Fi location data before activating GPS. This preliminary action provides immediate location information for coarse geofence detection, reducing power consumption while maintaining acceptable positioning speed for the initial assessment. GPS is then activated only when needed for final verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3920558B1Method for determining that terminal device is located inside geofence, and terminal device
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3920558B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3920558B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3920558B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A method for determining that a terminal device is located inside a geofence and a terminal device are provided. The method includes: obtaining, based on a positioning library, a first geographical location corresponding to communication access information of the terminal device; if a location relationship between the first geographical location and the geofence meets a first preset condition, starting a positioning module to obtain a second geographical location of the terminal device; and determining, based on the second geographical location, that the terminal device is located inside the geofence. In this manner, the terminal device does not need to keep starting the positioning module, but may determine the first geographical location based on the positioning library and the communication access information. When the first geographical location meets a condition, the terminal device starts the positioning module to obtain the second geographical location, and then determines, based on the second geographical location, that a mobile phone is located inside the geofence. This helps reduce power consumption.