Method Of Reducing Power Consumption Within A Portable Communication Device

Abstract

A method for reducing power consumption within a portable communication device, where the device includes a plurality of spatial sensing modules includes detecting a location of the portable communication device to a desired level of accuracy; determining that the location of the portable communication device is indoors; using one or more of the spatial sensing modules to sense a motion state or a spatially stationary state of the portable communication device by detecting changes in the surroundings of the portable communication. Detecting changes in the surroundings of the portable communication device includes using an inertial motion sensor to detect that the portable communication device is stationary; and using a control module of the device, for selectively switching ON or switching OFF one or more of the plurality of spatial sensing modules in a hierarchical manner, to reduce power consumption, in response to one or more of sensing the motion state, the spatially stationary state of the device or detecting change in surroundings of the portable communication device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of reducing power consumption within a portable communication device, the device including a plurality of spatial sensing modules, the method comprising:
 detect a location of the portable communication device to a desired level of accuracy;   determine that the location of the portable communication device is indoors;   use one or more of the spatial sensing modules to sense a motion state or a spatially stationary state of the portable communication device by detecting changes in the surroundings of the portable communication, wherein detecting changes in the surroundings of the portable communication device comprises:   using an inertial motion sensor to detect that the portable communication device is stationary; and   using a control module of the device, for selectively switching ON or switching OFF one or more of the plurality of spatial sensing modules in a hierarchical manner, to reduce power consumption, in response to one or more of sensing the motion state, the spatially stationary state of the device or detecting change in surroundings of the portable communication device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the desired level of accuracy is one of a block level location, a street level location, an indoor location or a micro-level location. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein signals between a cellular transceiver and a cellular base station in communication with the cellular transceiver are analysed to determine the block level location of the portable communication device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein a GPS module is used to determine the street level location of the portable communication device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein a short range sensing module is used to determine the indoor location of the portable communication device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a camera, microphone and inertial motion sensor are used to determine the micro-level location of the portable communication device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting a change in the surroundings of the portable communication device further comprises using a sound detector to detect a sound corresponding to placement of the portable communication device in a stationary location. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting a change in the surroundings of the portable communication device further comprises using a light detector to detect a change in lighting in the surrounding of the portable communication device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting changes in the surroundings of the portable communication device comprises:
 using a camera device to capture images of the surroundings of the portable communication device, wherein a change in the images of the surroundings is indicative of movement of the portable communication device.   
     
     
         10 . A non-transient computer programmable product recorded on a machine-readable data storage media and being executable on computing hardware, for implementing the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A portable communication device provided with a battery and operable to save energy stored within its battery, the device comprising:
 a plurality of spatial sensing modules for sensing motion or a spatially stationary state of the device, and to continuously monitor the device's surrounding; and   a control module operatively connected to the plurality of spatial sensing modules, the control module being configured to selectively switch ON or switch OFF one or more of the spatial sensing modules in a hierarchical manner, to reduce power consumption, in response to sensing motion or a spatially stationary state of the device, and/or in response to monitoring the device's surroundings, wherein the spatial sensing module includes at least one inertial motion sensor incorporated within the portable communication device for sensing movement of the device.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the inertial motion sensor includes at least one of: a linear accelerometer, a rotation sensor, an angular accelerometer, a sound detector, and a light detector.