method for improving discovery of preferred mobile computing locations

Abstract

A method for improving discovery of preferred mobile computing locations includes monitoring sensor data corresponding to a mobile computing device (MCD) and monitoring non-GPS network data implemented by the mobile computing device. Additionally, the method determines whether sensor data and non-GPS network data indicate that the mobile computing device is stationary within a cell site as well as scanning any network that the mobile computing device is electronically linked to. In short, the method discovers an improved preferred mobile computing location based on the sensor data and non-GPS network data that provide reliable information that the mobile computing device is stationary within the cell site. The sensor data and non-GPS network data are converged when several corresponding scans produce overlapping results.

1 . A method for improving discovery of preferred mobile computing locations without relying on GPS data, comprising:
 monitoring sensor data corresponding to a mobile computing device (MCD);   monitoring non-GPS network data implemented by the mobile computing device;   determining whether sensor data and non-GPS network data indicate that the mobile computing device is stationary within a cell site;   scanning a network that the mobile computing device is electronically linked to; and   discovering an improved preferred mobile computing location based on the sensor data and non-GPS network data providing reliable information that the mobile computing device is stationary within the cell site, wherein the sensor data and non-GPS network data are converged when a plurality of corresponding scans produce overlapping results.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a step of providing at least two elapsed time periods for receiving cell identification data. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor data is selected from the group consisting of electrical charging port data, pedometer data, accelerometer data, and remaining battery life data. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-GPS network data is selected from the group consisting of connection to Bluetooth device, connection to a near field communication device, connection to a Wi-Fi device; and connection to a cellular device. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor data indicates that the MCD is charging. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the elapsed time periods for receiving cell identification data are reduced when the MCD is charging. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein data corresponding to at least one cell ID is stored during at least one elapsed time period. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of cell IDs are received during the elapsed time periods. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising the step of comparing the plurality of cell IDs to Wi-Fi access points. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising the step of converging at least one cell ID and at least one Wi-Fi access point where an overlap of similar set of cell ID and Wi-Fi access point are found. 
     
     
         11 . A method for reducing current drain associated with Wi-Fi scanning performed by a mobile communication device (MCD), comprising the steps of:
 determining location of the MCD;   determining whether MCD is electrically connected to a power source that delivers electrical current to an onboard battery of the MCD; and   reducing a timer associated with Wi-Fi scanning performed by the (MCD) to cause a change in scanning intervals such that predetermined scanning is performed instead of random and frequent scanning.   
     
     
         12 . A method for computing cell identification data and Wi-Fi access point data to latitude and longitude location data, comprising the steps of:
 determining distinct Wi-Fi access points captured from a Wi-Fi scanner within a mobile communication device (MCD);   determining cell identification data as received by the MCD;   analyzing whether one or more Wi-Fi access points and cell identification data overlap from a plurality of received Wi-Fi access points and cell identification data; and   converging overlapping Wi-Fi access points and cell identification data such that an associated location is tagged with a singular latitude and longitude address.   
     
     
         13 . A method for determining whether a mobile communication device (MCD) is stationary within a cell site, comprising the steps of:
 determining that the MCD is transmitting a cell site change;   determining whether the MCD is currently in a cell site that has been placed in a bouncing cache;   determining whether a location timer is active, if the current cell site is not in the bouncing cache;   placing current cell site within the bouncing cache and restarting location timer, if location timer is active; and   emptying the bouncing cache and placing the current cell site within the bouncing cache, if location timer is inactive.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the current cell site is determined to be within a bouncing cache and further comprising the steps of:
 determining whether the location timer is active;   stopping a decay timer for current cell site; if the location timer is inactive   starting the decay timer for a previously found cell site; if the location timer is inactive.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:
 capturing location data;   starting a decay timer for all received cell sites except the current cell site within the bouncing cache.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of:
 removing the current cell site from the bouncing cache when a decay timer expires.