Multi-Stage Device Orientation Detection

Abstract

In general, in one aspect, a method includes receiving data from one or more motion sensors of a mobile device and calculating, after the period of time, a statistical measurement of the motion sensor data. The method also includes comparing the calculated statistical measurement to one or more threshold values, and, based on the comparing, determining a dynamic state of the mobile device. The method also includes, based on the determined dynamic state, determining an orientation of the mobile device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method comprising:
 receiving data from one or more motion sensors of a mobile device;   based on the received motion sensor data, determining that the mobile device has transitioned between a portrait orientation and a landscape orientation;   based on the received motion sensor data, determining that the mobile device has transitioned between a position in which a display surface of the mobile device is tilted toward a direction of gravity and a position in which the display surface of the mobile device is approximately perpendicular to the direction of gravity;   based on determining that the mobile device has transitioned between the portrait orientation and the landscape orientation and determining that the mobile device has transitioned between the position in which the display surface of the mobile device is tilted toward the direction of gravity and the position in which the display surface of the mobile device is approximately perpendicular to the direction of gravity, determining that a user of the mobile device is interacting with the mobile device in a lying position; and   displaying information on the mobile device based on the determination that the user of the mobile device is interacting with the mobile device in a lying position.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , comprising:
 based on determining that the user of the mobile device is interacting with the mobile device in a lying position, maintaining an orientation with which information is displayed by the mobile device when the user transitions between lying positions.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , comprising:
 receiving data from a light sensor; and   based on the data received from the light sensor, determining whether the mobile device is in a darkened area,   wherein determining that the user of the mobile device is interacting with the mobile device in the lying position is based on determination that the mobile device is in a darkened area.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein:
 receiving data from the one or more motion sensors of the mobile device includes receiving data from an accelerometer, the received accelerometer data including acceleration data associated a first axis extending perpendicular to the display surface of the mobile device; and   determining that the mobile device has transitioned between the position in which the display surface of the mobile device is tilted toward the direction of gravity and the position in which the display surface of the mobile device is approximately perpendicular to the direction of gravity includes determining that the acceleration associated with the first axis transitions between being greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , comprising displaying information on the mobile device in a manner that corresponds to either the portrait orientation or the landscape orientation. 
     
     
         29 . A system comprising:
 a mobile device configured for:
 receiving data from one or more motion sensors; 
 based on the received motion sensor data, determining that the mobile device has transitioned between a portrait orientation and a landscape orientation; 
 based on the received motion sensor data, determining that the mobile device has transitioned between a position in which a display surface of the mobile device is tilted toward a direction of gravity and a position in which the display surface of the mobile device is approximately perpendicular to the direction of gravity; 
 based on determining that the mobile device has transitioned between the portrait orientation and the landscape orientation and determining that the mobile device has transitioned between the position in which the display surface of the mobile device is tilted toward the direction of gravity and the position in which the display surface of the mobile device is approximately perpendicular to the direction of gravity, determining that a user of the mobile device is interacting with the mobile device in a lying position; and 
 displaying information on the mobile device based on the determination that the user of the mobile device is interacting with the device in a lying position. 
   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , the mobile device configured for:
 based on determining that the user of the mobile device is interacting with the mobile device in a lying position, maintaining an orientation with which information is displayed by the mobile device when the user transitions between lying positions.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , the mobile device configured for:
 receiving data from a light sensor; and   based on the data received from the light sensor, determining whether the mobile device is in a darkened area,   wherein determining that the user of the mobile device is interacting with the mobile device in the lying position is based on determination that the mobile device is in a darkened area.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein:
 receiving data from the one or more motion sensors of the mobile device includes receiving data from an accelerometer, the received accelerometer data including acceleration data associated a first axis extending perpendicular to the display surface of the mobile device; and   determining that the mobile device has transitioned between the position in which the display surface of the mobile device is tilted toward the direction of gravity and the position in which the display surface of the mobile device is approximately perpendicular to the direction of gravity includes determining that the acceleration associated with the first axis transitions between being greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 29 , the mobile device configured for displaying information in a manner that corresponds to either the portrait orientation or the landscape orientation. 
     
     
         34 . A non-transitory computer readable storage device storing a computer program product configured to cause a mobile device to perform operations comprising:
 receiving data from one or more motion sensors;   based on the received motion sensor data, determining that the mobile device has transitioned between a portrait orientation and a landscape orientation;   based on the received motion sensor data, determining that the mobile device has transitioned between a position in which a display surface of the mobile device is tilted toward a direction of gravity and a position in which the display surface of the mobile device is approximately perpendicular to the direction of gravity; and   based on determining that the mobile device has transitioned between the portrait orientation and the landscape orientation and determining that the mobile device has transitioned between the position in which the display surface of the mobile device is tilted toward the direction of gravity and the position in which the display surface of the mobile device is approximately perpendicular to the direction of gravity, determining that a user of the mobile device is interacting with the mobile device in a lying position; and   displaying information on the mobile device based on the determination that the user of the mobile device is interacting with the mobile device in a lying position.   
     
     
         35 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 34 , the operations comprising:
 based on determining that the user of the mobile device is interacting with the mobile device in a lying position, maintaining an orientation with which information is displayed by the mobile device when the user transitions between lying positions.   
     
     
         36 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 34 , the operations comprising:
 receiving data from a light sensor; and   based on the data received from the light sensor, determining whether the mobile device is in a darkened area,   wherein determining that the user of the mobile device is interacting with the mobile device in the lying position is based on determination that the mobile device is in a darkened area.   
     
     
         37 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 34 , wherein:
 receiving data from the one or more motion sensors of the mobile device includes receiving data from an accelerometer, the received accelerometer data including acceleration data associated a first axis extending perpendicular to the display surface of the mobile device; and   determining that the mobile device has transitioned between the position in which the display surface of the mobile device is tilted toward the direction of gravity and the position in which the display surface of the mobile device is approximately perpendicular to the direction of gravity includes determining that the acceleration associated with the first axis transitions between being greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold.   
     
     
         38 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 34 , the operations further comprising displaying information on the mobile device in a manner that corresponds to either the portrait orientation or the landscape orientation.