A mobile terminal capable of selecting optimum satellites among a plurality of positioning satellites and a method of selecting positioning satellites are disclosed with reference to embodiments of the present invention. If DOP (dilution of precision) increases as the number of positioning satellites increases, satellites to be used for positioning are automatically selected from GNSS satellites based on satellite information and a user's menu setting. This can enhance the accuracy of positioning and can reduce battery consumption. In particular, satellites for positioning are spaced from each other by a prescribed distance to reduce DOP, thereby enhancing the accuracy of positioning. Further, multipath signals are reduced in order to enhance the accuracy of positioning.

A method is described of using the mobile device so as to control the drain of power from the power source of the mobile device, the mobile device having at least two location determination techniques having respective power drain characteristics, the method includes selecting the location determination technique having a lower power drain characteristic the greater the determined distance of the mobile device from a predetermined location or area, and selecting the location determination technique having the greater power drain characteristic the smaller the determined distance of the mobile device from a predetermined location or area. The method thus uses the least accurate technique when furthest away and the most accurate technique when closer to a predetermined location or area.

A system for providing real-time always-on location is presented for maintaining the current location of a mobile device, while saving the battery by managing the GPS in a power-saving mode while the device is considered to be stationary. The system also provides a real-time location in an indoor environment where a GPS signal may not be available. Additionally, methods for driving detection are also presented.

A tracking device broadcasts beacon signals that are separated in time by broadcast intervals. The tracking device determines the broadcast intervals based on a behavior model. The behavior model specifies one or more conditions, such as times of day within a 24-hour day, and associates a usage probability with each condition. A higher usage probability causes the tracking device to broadcast beacon signals at shorter broadcast intervals. A mobile device in communication with the tracking device can reconfigure the behavior model, either by modifying portions of the behavior model or by replacing the behavior model with a different behavior model. This allows the behavior model to adapt to different circumstances, such as different usage patterns during weekdays, weekends, and vacations.

A geo-fence capable device is disclosed that is capable of performing an accurate geo-fence operation while minimizing power consumption. The device includes sensors, Wi-Fi connectability and GNSS. Sensors intermittently detect whether the device is in motion. When determined to be in motion, Wi-Fi is used to acquire a wireless access point list and to compare the access point list to previously-stored access points in order to determine whether the device is still within a particular region. GNSS is used to confirm exit from a region and to intermittently monitor whether the device has entered a new region. GNSS and application processor use can be minimized by utilizing sensor and Wi-Fi functionality as preliminary region monitors.

The inventive concepts provides indoor positioning capabilities and door monitoring to facilities including but not limiting to day care providers and elderly care facilities in order for them to be able to quickly position someone inside the building as well as to be forewarned when they are going somewhere they shouldn't be i.e. near an exit way. The system also offers two way communications to the staff in the facility when a management server is implemented.

A method of determining a location of a measurement device includes determining, at a server: measurement times of first positioning signal measurements, of first positioning signals from first positioning signal sources and/or a subset of positioning signal sources of second positioning signal sources. The method includes sending at least one measurement command from the server to the measurement device to cause the measurement device to obtain the first positioning signal measurements in accordance with the measurement times and/or obtain second positioning signal measurements of second positioning signals sent from the subset of positioning signal sources. The method includes: receiving, at the server from the measurement device, measurement data corresponding to the first positioning signal measurements and/or the second positioning signal measurements; and determining, at the server, the location of the measurement device based on the measurement data.

Disclosed herein is a technology for detecting the location of a mobile computing device. A method for detecting the location of a mobile computing device includes the steps of (a) obtaining time, (b) storing the time and location information including GPS information and base station information associated with the time, and (c) obtaining base station information at the present time and estimating current GPS information without using a GPS if a correlation between the stored time and base station information is a specific reference or more.

A wireless computing device may scan a frequency set. A first group of base stations may use the frequencies in the frequency set. Based on information relating to one or more base stations in the first group of base stations, the wireless computing device may estimate its location. The wireless computing device may further select a frequency subset of the frequency set. A second group of base stations may use the frequencies of the frequency subset. Based on information relating to one or more base stations in the second group of base stations, the wireless computing device may again estimate its location. If the two estimated locations are within a threshold distance of one another, the wireless computing device may perform, during a subsequent location-estimating operation, an additional frequency scan using the frequency subset.

Disclosed are systems, methods and devices for obtaining round trip time measurements for use in location based services. In particular implementations, a fine timing measurement request message wirelessly transmitted by a first transceiver device to a second transceiver device may permit additional processing features in computing or applying a signal round trip time measurement. Such a signal round trip time measurement may be used in positioning operations.