Detecting indoor and outdoor usage of a mobile device
View Patent ↗Mobile devices may be subject to different operational constraints in different geographies or circumstances. For example, power levels may be limited for transmissions in certain countries. The geographic position of a mobile device may be identified and used for determining the applicable local regulations. The local regulations may allow for different operational constraints depending on whether a device is located indoors or outdoors. Accordingly, a determination of indoor/outdoor state may be used to maximize device performance while also complying with appropriate regulations/circumstances.
1. A method for regulating a device comprising:
identifying a geographic position of the device;
obtaining regulations related to the identified geographic position;
determining a location state of the device, wherein the device detects location state information utilizing one or more of:
analysis of characteristics of a signal received by the device from another device;
analysis of characteristics of multipath signals received by the device from the another device; or
use of assisted global positioning system (A-GPS) mode of operation by the device;
receiving one or more of a global positioning system (GPS) signal, an assisted GPS (A-GPS) signal, or a communications signal from the another device as a multipath propagation signal;
wherein:
the determining the location state further comprises determining the location state based on a strength of the received one or more of the GPS signal, the A-GPS signal, or the multipath propagation signal from the another device;
the determining the location state further comprises:
comparing a threshold value to the strength of the received signal, wherein the threshold value is a first threshold value for the GPS signal, a second threshold value for the A-GPS signal, and a third threshold value for the multipath propagation signal from the another device; and determining the location state of the device based on the comparison; and
the location state for the GPS signal and the A-GPS signal is an indoor state when the strength of the received signal is less than the first and the second threshold values respectively, and an outdoor state when the strength of the received signal is equal to or greater than the first and second threshold value respectively, and the location state for the multipath propagation signal from the another device is an indoor state when the strength of the received signal is equal to or greater than the third threshold value, and an outdoor state when the strength of the received signal is less than the third threshold value; or
wherein:
the determining the location state further comprises determining a location state of the device based on the number of the detected multipath propagation signals from the another device, wherein the location state is an indoor state when the number is greater than two and an outdoor state when the number is equal to or fewer than two; and
adjusting operational constraints of the device based on the obtained regulations and the determined location state of the device which is based on, at least, the location state information detected by the device.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the obtaining comprises obtaining regulations related to the identified geographic position from a network or from a memory on the device.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the location state comprises an indoor state and an outdoor state.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the location state is an indoor state when an A-GPS signal is detected.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the operational constraints comprise a power transmission level or a frequency of transmission from the device.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein information on which network the device has registered to includes a country code that identifies the country for the geographical position.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the identifying step comprises registering on a network and identifying a geographic position of the device, wherein the geographic position of the device is based on information on which network the device has registered to.
8. A device comprising:
a processor that communicates through a wireless communication subsystem adapted to:
identify a geographic position of the device;
obtain regulations related to the identified geographic position;
determine a location state for the device, wherein the device detects location state information utilizing one or more of:
analysis of characteristics of a signal received by the device from another device;
analysis of characteristics of multipath signals received by the device from the another device; or
use of assisted global positioning satellite (A-GPS) mode of operation by the device;
receive one or more of a global positioning satellite (GPS) signal, an assisted GPS (A-GPS) signal, or a communications signal as a multipath propagation signal from the another device;
wherein:
the processor is further adapted to determine a location state of the device based on strength of the received one or more of the GPS signal, the A-GPS signal, or the multipath propagation signal from the another device;
the processor is further adapted to:
compare a threshold value to the strength of the received signal, wherein the threshold value is a first threshold value for the GPS signal, a second threshold value for the A-GPS signal, and a third threshold value for the multipath propagation signal from the another device; and
determine the location state of the device based on the comparison; and
the location state for the GPS signal and the A-GPS signal is an indoor state when the strength of the received signal is less than the first and the second threshold values respectively, and an outdoor state when the strength of the received signal is equal to or greater than the first and second threshold value respectively, and the location state for the multipath propagation signal from the another device is an indoor state when the strength of the received signal is equal to or greater than the third threshold value, and an outdoor state when the strength of the received signal is less than the third threshold value; or
wherein: the processor is adapted to determine a location state of the device based on the number of the detected multipath propagation signals from the another device, wherein the location state is an indoor state when the number is greater than two, and an outdoor state when the number is equal to or fewer than two; and
adjust operation constraints of the device based on the obtained regulations and the determined location state of the device which is based on, at least, the location state information detected by the device.
9. The device of claim 8 wherein the location state comprises an indoor state and an outdoor state.
10. The device of claim 8 wherein the location state is an indoor state when an A-GPS signal is detected.
11. The device of claim 8 wherein the processor is adapted to register on a network and identify a geographic position of the device, wherein the geographic position of the device is based on a mobile country code on a network that the device has registered to.
12. The device of claim 8 wherein the operational constraints comprises a power transmission level or a frequency of transmission from the device.
13. The device of claim 8 wherein the device further includes a wireless communications subsystem.
14. A mobile device comprising:
a processor that communicates through a wireless communication subsystem;
an identifier that identifies a geographic position of the mobile device and identifies regulations related to the identified geographic position;
a determiner that determines a location state for the mobile device based in part on analysis by the device of one or more of a global positioning system (GPS) signal, an assisted GPS (A-GPS) signal, or a communications signal received as a multipath propagation signal from another device utilizing one or more of:
analysis of characteristics of a signal received by the device from the another device;
analysis of characteristics of multipath signals received by the device from the another device; or use of assisted global positioning satellite (A-GPS) mode of operation by the device;
receive one or more of a global positioning satellite (GPS) signal, an assisted GPS (A-GPS) signal, or a communications signal as a multipath propagation signal from the another device;
wherein:
the processor is further adapted to determine a location state of the device based on strength of the received one or more of the GPS signal, the A-GPS signal, or the multipath propagation signal from the another device;
the processor is further adapted to:
compare a threshold value to the strength of the received signal, wherein the threshold value is a first threshold value for the GPS signal, a second threshold value for the A-GPS signal, and a third threshold value for the multipath propagation signal from the another device; and determine the location state of the device based on the comparison; and
the location state for the GPS signal and the A-GPS signal is an indoor state when the strength of the received signal is less than the first and the second threshold values respectively, and an outdoor state when the strength of the received signal is equal to or greater than the first and second threshold value respectively, and the location state for the multipath propagation signal from the another device is an indoor state when the strength of the received signal is equal to or greater than the third threshold value, and an outdoor state when the strength of the received signal is less than the third threshold value;
or wherein:
the processor is adapted to determine a location state of the device based on the number of the detected multipath propagation signals from the another device, wherein the location state is an indoor state when the number is greater than two, and an outdoor state when the number is equal to or fewer than two; and
a regulator that adjusts the mobile device based on the identified regulations and the determined location state.
15. The mobile device of claim 14 wherein the location state comprises an indoor state and an outdoor state.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein the location state is associated with a level of confidence and in instances when the location state does not associate with a certain degree of confidence, a user is prompted to provide or confirm the location state.