Automatic wake to update wireless connectivity

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9967823-B2
Application number	US-201514720615-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2015
Priority date	May 22, 2015
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

A computing device updates wireless connectivity information while the device is in an idle state, in expectation of user-interaction. Power is suspended to wireless network circuitry in a mobile device, for example, when the device is in an idle state. On detecting a movement of the mobile device, a location sensor is activated to read a current location of the mobile device while power to the wireless network circuitry is suspended. Based on the current location being a threshold distance from a location determined before power to the wireless network circuitry was suspended, the wireless network circuitry is activated and a current listing of wireless access points near the mobile device is determined without user interaction with the virtual features of the device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
suspending power to wireless network circuitry in a mobile device, the wireless network circuitry configured to communicate with wireless access points for one or more wireless local area networks (WLANs);
detecting a movement of the mobile device based on one or more motion sensors in the mobile device;
activating, based on the detected movement, a location sensor in the mobile device to read a current location of the mobile device while power to the wireless network circuitry is suspended; and
based on the current location being a threshold distance from a location determined before power to the wireless network circuitry was suspended, activating the wireless network circuitry and determining a current listing of wireless access points near the mobile device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
activating a timer on detecting the movement, wherein the location sensor is activated when the activated timer reaches a predetermined threshold period of time since the movement was detected.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the movement comprises detecting a predetermined threshold amount of movement.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless network circuitry is activated without user-interaction with the mobile device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless network circuitry is configured to communicate with the wireless access points using one or more IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 protocols.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
suspending power to a display of the mobile device in connection with suspending power to the wireless network circuitry, wherein the display remains without power when the wireless network circuitry is activated; and
determining a second current listing of wireless access points.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , further comprising:
connecting to a WLAN in connection with determining the second current listing of wireless access points; and
receiving one or more updates to one or more respective applications operating on the mobile device while power to the display is suspended.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , further comprising:
determining that the mobile device is not connected to any WLAN before power to the wireless network circuitry is suspended;
programming the mobile device to activate the location sensor when the movement is detected, wherein activating the location sensor is based on the mobile device not being connected to any WLAN before power to the wireless network circuitry is suspended;
connecting to a WLAN in connection with determining the second current listing of wireless access points; and
after determining the second current listing of wireless access points, storing the current listing, suspending power to the wireless network circuitry, and configuring the mobile device to not activate the location sensor and to not activate the wireless network circuitry on a future detection of movement of the mobile device.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising:
after determining the second current listing of wireless access points, configuring the mobile device to activate the wireless network circuitry at a predetermined time, the predetermined time being based on a history of user-interactions with the mobile device; and
activating the wireless network circuitry at the predetermined time while power to the display is suspended.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the location sensor reads the current location of the mobile device using a global positioning system (GPS) and the threshold distance is based on GPS coordinates.

11. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
suspending power to wireless network circuitry in a mobile device, the wireless network circuitry configured to communicate with wireless access points for one or more wireless local area networks (WLANs);
detecting a threshold amount of a movement of the mobile device based on one or more motion sensors in the mobile device while power to the wireless network circuitry is suspended;
based on detecting the threshold amount of the movement, activating a timer while power to the wireless network circuitry is suspended; and
based on a threshold period of time since the timer was activated, activating the wireless network circuitry and determining a current listing of wireless access points near the mobile device.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
activating, based on the threshold period of time, a location sensor to read a current location of the mobile device while power to the wireless network circuitry is suspended, wherein the wireless network circuitry is activated when the current location is a threshold distance from a location determined before power to the wireless network circuitry was suspended.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
suspending power to a display of the mobile device in connection with suspending power to the wireless network circuitry, wherein the display remains without power when the wireless network circuitry is activated; and
determining a second current listing of wireless access points.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , further comprising:
connecting to a WLAN in connection with determining the current listing of wireless access points; and
receiving one or more updates to one or more respective applications operating on the mobile device while power to the display is suspended.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the wireless network circuitry is activated without user-interaction with the mobile device.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the wireless network circuitry is configured to communicate with the wireless access points using one or more IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 protocols.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining that the mobile device is not connected to any WLAN before power to the wireless network circuitry is suspended;
programming the mobile device to activate the location sensor when the movement is detected, wherein activating the location sensor is based on the mobile device not being connected to any WLAN before power to the wireless network circuitry is suspended;
connecting to a WLAN in connection with determining the current listing of wireless access points; and
after determining the current listing of wireless access points, storing the current listing, suspending power to the wireless network circuitry, and configuring the mobile device to not activate the location sensor and to not activate the wireless network circuitry on a future detection of movement of the mobile device.

18. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
suspending power to wireless network circuitry in a mobile device, the wireless network circuitry configured to communicate with wireless access points for one or more wireless local area networks (WLANs);
determining a wake up time for the mobile device based on a history of user-interactions with the mobile device;
activating, at the determined wake up time, a location sensor in the mobile device to read a current location of the mobile device while power to the wireless network circuitry is suspended; and

Assignees

• Google Inc
• Google Llc

Inventors

• Basehore Derek
• Levich Alexandra

Classifications

• H04W88/06

  adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals · CPC title

• H04W4/029

  Location-based management or tracking services · CPC title

• H04W84/12

  WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] · CPC title

• H04W52/0258

  controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day · CPC title

• H04W52/282

  taking into account the speed of the mobile · CPC title