Method for detecting context of a mobile device and a mobile device with a context detection module

Abstract

A method for detecting a context of a mobile device (100) equipped with sensors (111, 121, 122, 131) and a context detection module (109) in which the sensors (111, 121, 122, 131) are assigned to at least two groups (110, 120, 30), each of which comprises at least one sensor (111, 121, 122, 131), and each group (110, 120, 130) is allocated a group classifier (116, 126, 136) 10 adapted to detect, in a form of a classification result, currently identified, by means of a given classifier, context of the device (100) based on indications of the sensors (111, 121, 122, 131) belonging to the given group, characterized in that with a use of the context detection module, whereas the groups (110, 102, 130) of sensors are ordered hierarchically, and the device context is detected 1 by reading a classification result indicated by the classifier (116, 126, 136) of the currently active group, wherein in case of detection of an identified context in the active group, switching on power supply of the sensors and activating classification in a group (110, 120, 130) with a level higher by one level and reading the context indicated by said group's classifier, wherein based on the 20 results of the classification indicated by the higher groups' classifiers (116, 26, 136), executing adaptation of the configuration of lower groups' classifiers (116, 126, 136).

1 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . An apparatus configured to worn on a user wrist, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of sensors and a plurality of sensor groups, the plurality of sensors including an accelerometer, a microphone, and a location sensor, wherein each of the sensor groups is assigned at least one of the sensors, and wherein the plurality of sensor groups are arranged hierarchically; and   a plurality of classifiers, wherein each classifier is assigned to a sensor group, and   wherein each classifier is configured to evaluate one or more contexts based on signals from one or more sensors assigned to the same sensor group as the classifier;   wherein the apparatus is configured to:
 activate a classification by a classifier assigned to a first sensor group to evaluate a first context of the apparatus; 
 activate a classification by a classifier assigned to a second sensor group to evaluate the first context of the apparatus after a result of the classification by the classifier assigned to the first sensor group; and 
 adapt a configuration of the classifier assigned to the first sensor group based, at least in part, on a result of the classification by the classifier assigned to the second sensor group. 
   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein at least one of the sensor groups is assigned two or more of the classifiers. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the two or more classifiers assigned to the same sensor group are configured to evaluate different contexts of the mobile device. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein at least one of the classifiers is configured to evaluate a plurality of contexts of the mobile device. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein classification by the classifier assigned to the first sensor group to evaluate the first context is performed continuously. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein classification by the classifier assigned to the first sensor group to evaluate the first context of the mobile device is performed periodically. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein the periodic classification comprises a variable period. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the variable period is dependent upon a location determined by the location sensor. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the apparatus is a watch that is configured to change a mode of operation of one or more sensors assigned to the second sensor group from a first power state to a second power state when the classification by the classifier assigned to the second sensor group is activated. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the apparatus is configured to activate the classification by the classifier assigned to the second sensor group responsive to the result of the classification by the classifier assigned to the first sensor group being positive. 
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the apparatus is configured to activate the classification by the classifier assigned to the second sensor group responsive to the result of the classification by the classifier assigned to the first sensor group being negative. 
     
     
         48 . A mobile device, comprising:
 a plurality of sensors and a plurality of sensor groups, the plurality of sensors including an accelerometer, a magnetic field sensor, a light sensor, a compass, and a location sensor, wherein each of the sensor groups is assigned at least one of the sensors, and wherein the plurality of sensor groups are arranged hierarchically; and   a plurality of classifiers, wherein each classifier is assigned to a sensor group, and   wherein each classifier is configured to evaluate one or more contexts of the mobile device based on signals from one or more sensors assigned to the same sensor group as the classifier;   wherein the mobile device is configured to:
 evaluate a first context of the mobile device by activating a classification using at least two of the classifiers in sequence; and 
 adapt a configuration of a classifier based, at least in part, on a result of a classification by another classifier. 
   
     
     
         49 . The mobile device of  claim 48 , wherein activating classification using at least two of the classifiers in sequence comprises activating a classification by a subsequent classifier after a positive classification by a prior classifier. 
     
     
         50 . The mobile device of  claim 48 , wherein the mobile device is further configured to evaluate a second context of the mobile device by activating classification using at least two of the classifiers in sequence. 
     
     
         51 . A method for detecting a context of a wrist-based mobile device equipped with a plurality of sensors, comprising:
 assigning the plurality of sensors to a plurality of sensor groups, wherein each sensor group is assigned at least one sensor, and wherein the plurality of sensor groups are arranged hierarchically;   activating a classification by a subsequent classifier after a result of a classification by a prior classifier; and   adapting a configuration of the prior classifier based, at least in part, on a result of the classification by the subsequent classifier.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the plurality of sensor groups are arranged hierarchically such that a total amount of energy required to determine a classification result in lower level groups is less than an amount of energy required to determine a result of the classification in groups of higher levels. 
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the plurality of sensors further includes a magnetic field sensor, a light sensor, and a compass.