Method and apparatus for power control of a location-based mobile device
View Patent ↗A technique to extend location-based (e.g. GPS) mobile device battery lifetime by reducing the location-based (e.g. GPS) circuitry power consumption is provided. The technique defines and controls when to start power and when to stop power to the device in the context of a mobile terminating (MT) location request and/or a mobile originated (MO) location request that is either on-demand or periodic.
1. A method implemented in a network having a location based services server, a location-based services client and a mobile device having location based functionality, the method comprising:
sending a control message having information dictating a start time and a period for a power sequence to the mobile device to activate power to the location based functionality of the mobile device;
sending a mobile terminating location request to the mobile device during the period based on a request from the client;
receiving a location report from the mobile device based on the mobile terminating location request; and
sending the location report to the client.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the request from the client is a mobile terminating location request.
3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the request from the client is sent to the location-based services server on a periodic basis.
4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the control message defines periodic activation of power for the location based functionality.
5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the control message is sent on-demand based on the request from the client.
6. A system comprising:
a location-based services client; and
a location based services server operative to send a control message having information dictating a start time and a period for a power sequence to a mobile device to activate power to location based functionality of the mobile device, send a mobile terminating location request to the mobile device during the period based on a request from the client, receive a location report from the mobile device based on the mobile terminating location request and send the location report to the client.
7. The system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the request from the client is a mobile terminating location request.
8. The system as set forth in claim 7 wherein the request from the client is sent to the location-based services server on a periodic basis.
9. The system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the control message defines periodic activation of power for the location based functionality.
10. The system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the control message is sent on-demand based on the request from the client.
11. A method implemented in a network having a location based services server and a mobile device having location based functionality, the method comprising:
activating power to the location based functionality of the mobile device for a fixed period of time, the fixed period of time including a start time and an end time;
sending a mobile originating location request from the mobile device;
receiving a location report at the mobile device based on the mobile originating location request.
12. The method as set forth in claim 11 further comprising selectively activating power to the location based functionality of the mobile device after receiving the location report by the mobile device.
13. The method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the activating and de-activating are accomplished in a periodic manner.
14. The method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the activating and de-activating are accomplished on an on-demand basis.
15. A system comprising:
a mobile device having location based functionality, the mobile device being operative to activate power to the location based functionality for a fixed period of time, and send a mobile originating location request,
and wherein the fixed period of time includes a start time and an end time.
16. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the mobile device is operative to selectively activate power to the location based functionality of the mobile device after receiving a location report at the mobile device.
17. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the activating and de-activating are accomplished in a periodic manner.
18. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the activating and de-activating are accomplished on an on-demand basis.
19. The system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the location based functionality is Global Positioning System functionality.
20. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the location based functionality is Global Positioning System functionality.
21. The system as set forth in claim 15 further comprising a location based services server operative to receive the mobile originating location request and send a location report to the mobile device based on the mobile originating location request.