Dead reckoning using proximity sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9736701-B2
Application number	US-201213475603-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2012
Priority date	Oct 28, 2011
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

Various arrangements for limiting inaccuracy of dead reckoning are presented. Proximity data may be collected using a plurality of proximity sensors of a mobile device. A position of the mobile device may be determined in relation to a user using the proximity data. Whether to determine a location of the mobile device using a dead reckoning technique may be determined at least partially based on the position of the mobile device in relation to the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
collecting proximity data using a plurality of proximity sensors of the mobile device;
determining a position of the mobile device in relation to a user of the mobile device, the position determined using the proximity data;
determining a first geographic location of a mobile device using an absolute geographic location measurement; and
selecting a maximum allowed period of time from a plurality of maximum allowed periods of time, based on the position of the mobile device in relation to the user determined using the proximity data, to track the mobile device using a dead reckoning technique,
wherein the dead reckoning technique comprises determining a second geographic location of the mobile device based, at least in part, on information indicative of displacement of the mobile device from the first geographic location; and
wherein each of the plurality of maximum allowed periods of time is associated with a different position of the mobile device in relation to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
tracking, via the dead reckoning technique, the mobile device for up to the maximum allowed period of time.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in response to determining that the mobile device is proximate to a chest or a leg of the user, selecting a first maximum allowed period of time from the plurality of maximum allowed periods of time, the first maximum allowed period of time having a duration longer than a second maximum allowed period of time from the plurality of maximum allowed periods of time, the second maximum allowed period of time associated with the mobile device being proximate to an ear of the user.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in response to determining that the mobile device is proximate to an ear of the user, selecting a first maximum allowed period of time from the plurality of maximum allowed periods of time, the first maximum allowed period of time having a duration shorter than a second maximum allowed period of time from the plurality of maximum allowed periods of time, the second maximum allowed period of time associated with the mobile device being proximate to a leg or chest of the user.

5. The method claim 1 , wherein, in response to determining that the mobile device is gripped in a hand of the user, selecting a first maximum allowed period of time from the plurality of maximum allowed periods of time, the first maximum allowed period of time having a duration shorter than a second maximum allowed period of time from the plurality of maximum allowed periods of time, the second maximum allowed period of time associated with the mobile device being proximate to a leg or chest of the user.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information indicative of displacement comprises acceleration data that is used to track the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
collecting acceleration data using an accelerometer of the mobile device; and
determining the second geographic location of the mobile device using the acceleration data.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of proximity sensors is a plurality of capacitive proximity sensors.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether the mobile device is remote from the user; and
in response to determining that the mobile device is remote from the user, ceasing to track the mobile device using the information indicative of displacement.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
a first proximity sensor of the plurality of proximity sensors is proximate to a speaker of the mobile device;
a second proximity sensor of the plurality of proximity sensors is configured to determine whether the user is gripping the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
in response to determining that the mobile device is proximate to a chest or a leg of the user, selecting a first maximum allowed period of time from the plurality of maximum allowed periods of time, the first maximum allowed period of time having a duration longer than a second maximum allowed period of time from the plurality of maximum allowed periods of time, the second maximum allowed period of time associated with the mobile device being proximate to an ear of the user; and
in response to determining that the mobile device is gripped in a hand of the user, selecting a third maximum allowed period of time from the plurality of maximum allowed periods of time, the third maximum allowed period of time having a duration shorter than the second maximum allowed period of time.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the position of the mobile device in relation to the user of the mobile device includes:
determining a body part of the user that the mobile device is in closest proximity to from a plurality of body parts.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the selecting the maximum allowed period of time from the plurality of maximum allowed periods of time is based on the determined body part.

14. A mobile device comprising:
a plurality of proximity sensors; and
a processor configured to:
collect proximity data using the plurality of proximity sensors;
determine a position of the mobile device in relation to a user of the mobile device, the position determined using the proximity data;
determine a first geographic location of a mobile device using an absolute geographic location measurement; and
select a maximum allowed period of time from a plurality of maximum allowed periods of time, based on the position of the mobile device in relation to the user determined using the proximity data, to track the mobile device using a dead reckoning technique,
wherein the dead reckoning technique comprises determining a second geographic location of the mobile device based, at least in part, on information indicative of displacement of the mobile device from the first geographic location; and
wherein each of the plurality of maximum allowed periods of time is associated with a different position of the mobile device in relation to the user.

15. The mobile device of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
track, via the dead reckoning technique, the mobile device for up to the maximum allowed period of time.

16. The mobile device of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
in response to determining that the mobile device is proximate to a chest or a leg of the user, select a first maximum allowed period of time from the plurality of maximum allowed periods of time, the first maximum allowed period of time having a duration longer than a second maximum allowed period of time from the plurality of maximum allowed periods of time, the second maximum allowed period of time associated with the mobile device being proximate to an ear of the user.

17. The mobile device of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
in response to determining that the mobile device is proximate to an ear of the user, select a first maximum allowed period of time from the plurality of maximum allowed periods of time, the first maximum allowed period of time having a duration shorter than a second maximum allowed period of time from the plurality of maximum allowed periods of time, the second maximum allowed period of time associated with the mobile device being proximate to a chest or leg of the user.

18. The mobile device of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
in response to determining that the mobile device is gripped in a hand of

Assignees

• Forutanpour Babak
• Sheynblat Leonid
• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Forutanpour Babak
• Sheynblat Leonid

Classifications

• G01C21/1652

  with ranging devices, e.g. LIDAR or RADAR · CPC title

• G06F1/1684

  Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675 · CPC title

• G01C22/006 Primary

  Pedometers · CPC title

• H04W24/00 Primary

  Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements · CPC title

• G01C21/165

  combined with non-inertial navigation instruments · CPC title