Techniques for transitioning an electronic device between different selectable power modes

Abstract

Techniques are provided which may be implemented in various methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture for use by a device that is operable in a plurality of modes, including “higher power mode” and a “lower power mode”. In an example implementation, a device that is operable in a plurality of selectable power modes may measure a signal strength value for a signal acquired from a ground-based transmitter, and transition operation to a lower power mode, wherein at least a portion of a receiver used to acquire the signal is disabled, based, at least in part, on: (a) a profile test indicating that the device is within a characterized environment, wherein the profile test is satisfied, at least in part, by the signal strength value; or (b) an indication based, at least in part, on the signal strength value, that the device is in a constrained motion state; or (c) both (a) and (b).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising, with a device operable in a plurality of power modes:
 measuring a signal strength value for a signal acquired from a ground-based transmitter; and   transitioning operation of said device to a lower power mode, wherein at least a portion of a receiver used to acquire said signal is disabled, based, at least in part, on:
 (a) a profile test indicating that said device is within a characterized environment, wherein said profile test is satisfied, at least in part, by said signal strength value; or 
 (b) an indication based, at least in part, on said signal strength value, that said device is in a constrained motion state; or 
 (c) both (a) and (b). 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 transitioning operation of said device to said lower power mode based further, at least in part, on one or more attribute values.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of said one or more attribute values is obtained from one or more signals from at least one of: an inertial sensor; or an environment sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising, with said device operating in a power mode other than said lower power mode:
 using said receiver to perform a search for signals transmitted from a plurality of ground-based transmitters; and   selecting said signal from a plurality of signals identified in said search based, at least in part, on a comparison of corresponding signal stability values for said plurality of signals.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of said signal stability values is based, at least in part, on at least one of: a type of received signal; a received signal phase measurement; a received signal phase drift measurement; a received signal frequency; a received signal frequency stability; a received signal availability measurement; a transmitter position uncertainty; a transmitter range; a transmitter power; a type of transmitter; or a type of transmitter antenna. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising, with said device operating in a power mode other than said lower power mode:
 accessing, for one or more ground-based transmitters, at least a portion of at least one of: a base station almanac; or a neighbor list; and   selecting said signal based, at least in part, on said at least said portion.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 enabling use of at least one of: a transmitter; or said receiver while said device is operating in a power mode other than said lower power mode.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for use in a device operable in a plurality of selectable power modes, the apparatus comprising:
 means for measuring a signal strength value for a signal acquired from a ground-based transmitter; and   means for transitioning operation of said device to a lower power mode, wherein while said device is operating in said lower power mode at least a portion of a receiver used to acquire said signal is disabled, based, at least in part, on:
 (a) a profile test indicating that said device is within a characterized environment, wherein said profile test is satisfied, at least in part, by said signal strength value; or 
 (b) an indication based, at least in part, on said signal strength value, that said device is in a constrained motion state; or 
 (c) both (a) and (b). 
   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , and further comprising:
 means for transitioning operation of said device to said lower power mode based further, at least in part, on one or more attribute values.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of said one or more attribute values is obtained from one or more signals from at least one of: an inertial sensor; or an environment sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , and further comprising, with said device operating in a power mode other than said lower power mode:
 means for performing a search for signals transmitted from a plurality of ground-based transmitters; and   means for selecting said signal from a plurality of signals identified in said search based, at least in part, on a comparison of corresponding signal stability values for said plurality of signals.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of said signal stability values is based, at least in part, on at least one of: a type of received signal; a received signal phase measurement; a received signal phase drift measurement; a received signal frequency; a received signal frequency stability; a received signal availability measurement; a transmitter position uncertainty; a transmitter range; a transmitter power; a type of transmitter; or a type of transmitter antenna. 
     
     
         13 . A device operable in a plurality of selectable power modes, the device comprising:
 a receiver; and   a processing unit to:
 obtain a signal strength value for a signal acquired from a ground-based transmitter using said receiver; and 
 transition operation of said device to a lower power mode, wherein at least a portion of said receiver is disabled, based, at least in part, on: 
 (a) a profile test indicating that said device is within a characterized environment, wherein said profile test is satisfied, at least in part, by said signal strength value; or 
 (b) an indication based, at least in part, on said signal strength value, that said device is in a constrained motion state; or 
 (c) both (a) and (b). 
   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , said processing unit to further:
 transition operation of said device to said lower power mode based further, at least in part, on one or more attribute values.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , and further comprising at least one of: an inertial sensor; or an environment sensor, and wherein at least one of said one or more attribute values is obtained from one or more signals from at least one of: said inertial sensor; or said environment sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , said processing unit to further, with said device operating in a power mode other than said lower power mode: use said receiver to perform a search for signals transmitted from a plurality of ground-based transmitters; and select said signal from a plurality of signals identified in said search based, at least in part, on a comparison of corresponding signal stability values for said plurality of signals. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of said signal stability values is based, at least in part, on at least one of: a type of received signal; a received signal phase measurement; a received signal phase drift measurement; a received signal frequency; a received signal frequency stability; a received signal availability measurement; a transmitter position uncertainty; a transmitter range; a transmitter power; a type of transmitter; or a type of transmitter antenna. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 13 , said processing unit to further, with said device operating in a power mode other than said lower power mode: access, for one or more ground-based transmitters, at least a portion of at least one of: a base station almanac; or a neighbor list, and select said signal based, at least in part, on said at least said portion. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 13 , and further comprising a transmitter, with said device operating in a power mode other than said lower power mode, said processing unit to further enable use of at least one of: said transmitter, or said receiver. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer implementable instructions executable by a processing unit of a device to:
 obtain a signal strength value for a signal acquired from a ground-based transmitter; and   transition operation of said device to a lower power mode wherein while said device is operating in said lower power mode at least a portion of a receiver used to acquire said signal is disabled, based, at least in part, on:   (a) a profile test indicating that said device is within a characterized environment, wherein said profile test is satisfied, at least in part, by said signal strength value; or   (b) an indication based, at least in part, on said signal strength value, that said device is in a constrained motion state; or   (c) both (a) and (b).   
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 20 , said computer implementable instructions being further executable by said processing unit to:
 transition operation of said device to said lower power mode based further, at least in part, on one or more attribute values.   
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of said one or more attribute values is obtained from one or more signals from at least one of: an inertial sensor; or an environment sensor. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 20 , said computer implementable instructions being further executable by said processing unit to, with said device operating in a power mode other than said lower power mode:
 initiate said receiver to perform a search for signals transmitted from a plurality of ground-based transmitters; and   select said signal from a plurality of signals identified in said search based, at least in part, on a comparison of corresponding signal stability values for said plurality of signals.   
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of said signal stability values is based, at least in part, on at least one of: a type of received signal; a received signal phase measurement; a received signal phase drift measurement; a received signal frequency; a received signal frequency stability; a received signal availability measurement; a transmitter position uncertainty; a transmitter range; a transmitter power; a type of transmitter; or a type of transmitter antenna. 
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 20 , said computer implementable instructions being further executable by said processing unit to, with said device operating in a power mode other than said lower power mode: access, for one or more ground-based transmitters, at least a portion of at least one of: a base station almanac; or a neighbor list; and select said signal based, at least in part, on said at least said portion.