Determination of device body location

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9699739-B2
Application number	US-201414292750-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2014
Priority date	Jun 7, 2013
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

In some implementations, a mobile device can analyze motion sensor data and proximity sensor data during a voice call to determine whether the mobile device is on a stationary object or worn on a user's body (e.g., in the lap or pocket of a user of the mobile device). The mobile device can adjust the transmit power level of the telephony transceiver during the voice call based on the determination.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
connecting, by a mobile device, a voice call for a user of the mobile device, wherein connecting the voice call causes one or more radio frequency transmitters of the mobile device to transmit radio waves at a transmit power level;
obtaining motion data describing movement of the mobile device, wherein the motion data comprises an acceleration signal corresponding to an acceleration of the mobile device over a period of time;
obtaining proximity data describing a proximity of the mobile device to a detected object;
distinguishing between the mobile device being on the user's body or the mobile device being on an inanimate object based on the motion data and the proximity data, wherein distinguishing between the mobile device being on the user's body or the mobile device being on an inanimate object comprises:
determining a motion state of the mobile device based on the motion data, wherein determining the motion state based on the motion data comprises:
calculating a first power of the acceleration signal within a first frequency band;
calculating a second power of the acceleration signal within a second frequency band, wherein the second frequency band is higher than the first frequency band; and
determining the motion state of the mobile device based on the first power and the second power;

determining a proximity state of the mobile device based on the proximity data; and
distinguishing between the mobile device being on the user's body or the mobile device being on an inanimate object based on the determined motion state and the determined proximity state; and

adjusting the transmit power level based on distinguishing between the mobile device being on the user's body or the mobile device being on an inanimate object.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the motion state of the mobile device based on the motion data further comprises:
predicting whether the mobile device is on the user's body or on an inanimate object based on the motion data and not the proximity data;
determining that the mobile device is in an on-object motion state upon predicting that the mobile device is on an inanimate object; and
determining that the mobile device is in an on-body motion state upon predicting that the mobile device is on the user's body.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining the proximity state of the mobile device based on the proximity data comprises:
determining a distance between the mobile device and the detected object using the proximity data and not the motion data;
determining that the mobile device is in a near proximity state when the mobile device is within a first distance from the detected object;
determining that the mobile device is in an intermediate proximity state when the mobile device is between a second distance and the first distance from the detected object, where the second distance is greater than the first distance; and
determining that the mobile device is in a far proximity state when the mobile device is further than the second distance away from the detected object.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein distinguishing between the mobile device being on the user's body or the mobile device being on an inanimate object based on the determined motion state and the determined proximity state comprises:
determining that the mobile device is on the user's body when the mobile is device is in an on-body motion state and the near proximity state.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the motion state of the mobile device based on the first power and the second power comprises:
calculating a ratio between the second power and the first power;
comparing the ratio to a threshold ratio value;
determining that the mobile device is in an on-object motion state when the ratio is greater than the threshold value.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the threshold ratio value is dependent on at least the first power or the second power.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the motion state of the mobile device based on the motion data further comprises:
calculating a third power of the acceleration signal within a third frequency band, wherein the third frequency band is different than the first frequency band and the second frequency band; and
determining the motion state of the mobile device based further on the third power.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the transmit power level comprises:
determining that the mobile device is on the user's body; and
responsive to determining that the mobile device is on the user's body, reducing the transmit power level.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the transmit power level comprises:
determining that the mobile device is on an inanimate object; and
responsive to determining that the mobile device is on an inanimate object, increasing the transmit power level.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processes, causes:
connecting, by a mobile device, a voice call for a user of the mobile device, wherein connecting the voice call causes one or more radio frequency transmitters of the mobile device to transmit radio waves at a transmit power level;
obtaining motion data describing movement of the mobile device, wherein the motion data comprises an acceleration signal corresponding to an acceleration of the mobile device over a period of time;
obtaining proximity data describing a proximity of the mobile device to an object;
distinguishing between the mobile device being on the user's body or the mobile device being on an inanimate object based on the motion data and the proximity data, wherein distinguishing between the mobile device being on the user's body or the mobile device being on an inanimate object comprises:
determining a motion state of the mobile device based on the motion data, wherein determining the motion state based on the motion data comprises:
calculating a first power of the acceleration signal within a first frequency band;
calculating a second power of the acceleration signal within a second frequency band, wherein the second frequency band is higher than the first frequency band; and
determining the motion state of the mobile device based on the first power and the second power;

determining a proximity state of the mobile device based on the proximity data; and
distinguishing between the mobile device being on the user's body or the mobile device being on an inanimate object based on the determined motion state and the determined proximity state;

adjusting the transmit power level based on distinguishing between the mobile device being on the user's body or the mobile device being on an inanimate.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein determining the motion state of the mobile device based on the motion data further comprises:
predicting whether the mobile device is on the user's body or on an inanimate object based on the motion data and not the proximity data;
determining that the mobile device is in an on-object motion state upon predicting that the mobile device is on an inanimate object; and
determining that the mobile device is in an on-body motion state upon predicting that the mobile device is on the user's body.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein determining the proximity state of the mobile device based on the proximity data comprises:
determining a distance between the mobile device and the detected object using the proximity data and not the motion data;
determining that th

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Juang Ben-Heng
• Tran Hue Duc
• Pham Hung A
• Howell Adam S
• Zhang Hengliang
• Dervisoglu Gunes

Classifications

• H04W52/367

  Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range · CPC title

• H04W52/285

  taking into account the mobility of the user · CPC title

• H04W52/146 Primary

  Uplink power control · CPC title

• H04W52/283

  Power depending on the position of the mobile · CPC title

• H04B17/27

  for locating or positioning the transmitter · CPC title