Global-positioning system (gps) update interval based on sensor data

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting at a pre-determined polling frequency an activation signal waking from a sleep mode an application on a mobile computing device and causing the application to activate a location service of the mobile computing device for a pre-determined sampling duration. The pre-determined polling frequency and the pre-determined sampling duration are determined at least in part by detecting a movement of the mobile computing device. The method also includes receiving location data from the mobile computing device after the pre-determined sampling duration. The location data is responsive to a transmission signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 by a server, sending at a pre-determined polling frequency an activation signal waking from a sleep mode an application on a mobile computing device of a first user and causing the application to activate a location service of the mobile computing device for a time period of a pre-determined sampling duration, the pre-determined polling frequency and the pre-determined sampling duration being determined at least in part by detecting a movement of the mobile computing device;   by the server, receiving location data from the mobile computing device after the pre-determined sampling duration,   by the server, accessing a social graph of a social-networking system, the first user being a user of the social-networking system;   by the server, determining whether a current location of one or more second users is within a pre-determined proximity from the first user based on the received location data of the mobile computing device, the second users being users of the social-networking system and connected to the first user within the social graph; and   by the server, when it is determined that the current location of a second user of the one or more second users is within the pre-determined proximity from the first user, notifying the first user of the location of the second user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, after receiving the location data from the mobile computer device, reverting the application back to the sleep mode and deactivating the location service of the mobile computing device until a next activation signal is sent based on the pre-determined polling frequency. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 by the server, determining a battery level of the mobile computing device,   wherein when the battery level is lower than a pre-determined level, decreasing the time period of the pre-determined sampling duration.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting a movement of the mobile computing device further comprises:
 by the server, determining a travel distance of the mobile computing device based on the received location data; and   by the server, adaptively adjusting the pre-determined polling frequency and pre-determined sampling duration based at least in part on the determined travel distance of the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein when the travel distance is determined to be more than a pre-determined travel distance, sending lower-bandwidth information to the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the travel distance is determined based at least in part on output from an accelerometer or gyroscope of the mobile computing device, and   wherein the location service comprises polling a location of a cellular tower, a location of a WI-FI hotspot, or a GPS function of the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         7 . One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software configured when executed to:
 send at a pre-determined polling frequency an activation signal waking from a sleep mode an application on a mobile computing device of a first user and causing the application to activate a location service of the mobile computing device for a time period of a pre-determined sampling duration, the pre-determined polling frequency and the pre-determined sampling duration being determined at least in part by detecting a movement of the mobile computing device;   receive location data from the mobile computing device after the pre-determined sampling duration;   access a social graph of a social-networking system, the first user being a user of the social-networking system;   determine whether a current location of one or more second users is within a pre-determined proximity from the first user based on the received location data of the mobile computing device, the second users being users of the social-networking system and connected to the first user within the social graph; and   when it is determined that the current location of a second user of the one or more second users is within the pre-determined proximity from the first user, notify the first user of the location of the second user.   
     
     
         8 . The media of  claim 7 , wherein the software is further configured to, after receiving the location data from the mobile computer device, revert the application back to the sleep mode and deactivate the location service of the mobile computing device until a next activation signal is sent based on the pre-determined polling frequency. 
     
     
         9 . The media of  claim 7 , wherein the software is further configured to determine a battery level of the mobile computing device such that when the battery level is lower than a pre-determined level, the time period of the pre-determined sampling duration is decreased. 
     
     
         10 . The media of  claim 7 , wherein detecting a movement of the mobile computing device further comprises:
 determining a travel distance of the mobile computing device based on the received location data; and   adaptively adjusting the pre-determined polling frequency and pre-determined sampling duration based at least in part on the determined travel distance of the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         11 . The media of  claim 10 , wherein when the travel distance is determined to be more than a pre-determined travel distance, sending lower-bandwidth information to the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         12 . The media of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the travel distance is determined based at least in part on output from an accelerometer or gyroscope of the mobile computing device, and   wherein the location service comprises polling a location of a cellular tower, a location of a WI-FI hotspot, or a GPS function of the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         13 . A device comprising:
 a processor coupled to a storage; and   one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media coupled to the processor and embodying software configured when executed to:
 send at a pre-determined polling frequency an activation signal waking from a sleep mode an application on a mobile computing device of a first user and causing the application to activate a location service of the mobile computing device for a time period of a pre-determined sampling duration, the pre-determined polling frequency and the pre-determined sampling duration being determined at least in part by detecting a movement of the mobile computing device; 
 receive location data from the mobile computing device after the pre-determined sampling duration; 
 access a social graph of a social-networking system, the first user being a user of the social-networking system; 
 determine whether a current location of one or more second users is within a pre-determined proximity from the first user based on the received location data of the mobile computing device, the second users being users of the social-networking system and connected to the first user within the social graph; and 
 when it is determined that the current location of a second user of the one or more second users is within the pre-determined proximity from the first user, notify the first user of the location of the second user. 
   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the software is further configured to, after receiving the location data from the mobile computer device, revert the application back to the sleep mode and deactivate the location service of the mobile computing device until a next activation signal is sent based on the pre-determined polling frequency. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the software is further configured to determine a battery level of the mobile computing device such that when the battery level is lower than a pre-determined level, the time period of the pre-determined sampling duration is decreased. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein detecting a movement of the mobile computing device further comprises:
 determining a travel distance of the mobile computing device based on the received location data; and   adaptively adjusting the pre-determined polling frequency and pre-determined sampling duration based at least in part on the determined travel distance of the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein when the travel distance is determined to be more than a pre-determined travel distance, sending lower-bandwidth information to the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the travel distance is determined based at least in part on output from an accelerometer or gyroscope of the mobile computing device, and   wherein the location service comprises polling a location of a cellular tower, a location of a WI-FI hotspot, or a GPS function of the mobile computing device.