Contextually Aware Mobile Device

Abstract

A method for determining if a mobile device is in a vehicle includes monitoring an acceleration of the mobile device for a time interval during a period of time. The method also includes calculating one or more characteristics of the acceleration of the mobile device during the time interval and comparing the one or more characteristics of the acceleration to a set of threshold values. The method further includes determining the state of the mobile device based on the comparison of the one or more characteristics of the acceleration to the set of threshold values, wherein the state of the mobile device includes an in-vehicle state, a non-vehicle state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for determining is in a vehicle comprising:
 monitoring an acceleration of the mobile device for a time interval during a period of time;   calculating one or more characteristics of the acceleration of the mobile device during the time interval;   comparing the one or more characteristics of the acceleration to a set of threshold values; and   determining a state of the mobile device based on the comparison of the one or more characteristics of the acceleration to the set of threshold values, wherein the state of the mobile device comprises an in-vehicle state and a non-vehicle state.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the time interval is less than ten percent of the time period. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more characteristics include rotation, mean magnitude, maximum magnitude, minimum magnitude and standard deviation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 based on determining that the mobile device is in the non-vehicle state, changing the time interval during the period of time.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 based on determining that the mobile device is in the non-vehicle state, changing a sampling rate for monitoring the acceleration of the mobile device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 based on determining that the mobile device is in the non-vehicle state, activating a GPS sensor and calculating a location of the mobile device.   
     
     
         7 . A method for activating an application on a mobile device, the method comprising:
 monitoring an acceleration of the mobile device for a time interval during a period of time;   calculating one or more characteristics of the acceleration of the mobile device during the time interval;   comparing the one or more characteristics of the acceleration to a set of threshold values;   determining a state of the mobile device based on the comparison of the one or more characteristics of the acceleration to the set of threshold values, wherein the state of the mobile device comprises an in-motion state, an in-vehicle state and a stationary state;   based on determining a change of the state of the mobile device, activating the application.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising calculating and updating the location of the mobile device to the application. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein calculating of the location of the mobile device includes activating a GPS Sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein calculating of the location of the mobile device includes activating a Wifi positioning system. 
     
     
         11 . A method for performing an automatic check-in with a mobile device, the method comprising:
 monitoring an acceleration of the mobile device for a time interval during a period of time;   calculating one or more characteristics of the acceleration of the mobile device during the time interval;   comparing the one or more characteristics of the acceleration to a set of threshold values;   determining a state of the mobile device based on the comparison of the one or more characteristics of the acceleration to the set of threshold values, wherein the state of the mobile device comprises an in-motion state, an in-vehicle state and a stationary state;   based on determining a change of the state of the mobile device, performing the automatic check-in with the mobile device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising calculating and updating the time associated with being in a state of the mobile device to the automatic check-in. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising calculating and updating the location of the mobile device to the automatic check-in. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein calculating of the location of the mobile device includes activating a GPS sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein calculating of the location of the mobile device includes activating a Wifi positioning system.