Automatic time zone detection in devices

A mobile user device, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory device that stores program code structured to cause the processor to:
• determine location information that indicates a location of the mobile user device;
• apply a space-filling curve to the location information to generate an index value;
• apply the index value to an index file previously generated by applying the space-filling curve to world map polygon shape data indicating time zones by location to determine a time zone for the location of the mobile user device;
• and
• update a time zone setting of the mobile user device according to the determined time zone.

A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions recorded thereon that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing device, perform a method, the method comprising:

• determining location information that indicates a location of the computing device;
• applying a space-filling curve to the location information to generate an index value;
• applying the index value to an index file previously generated by applying the space-filling curve to world map polygon shape data indicating time zones by location to determine a time zone for the location of the computing device;
• and
• updating a time zone setting of the computing device according to the determined time zone.